For the past decade, Brett Treacy, Jeremy Kolmin and Aaron Nystrup’s paths have crossed, diverged, reunited and evolved, leading the college friends from South Carolina to New York. In 2010, Treacy (vocals, guitar) began focusing on his original material, and he expanded and matured that sound by adding Kolmin (guitar), Nystrup (bass) and Aidan Shepard (drums). Everest Cale was born, with each member’s own talents building on Treacy’s foundations. The band’s name was derived from Treacy’s likening the feat of songwriting to summiting Mount Everest and his profound admiration for artist J.J. Cale.
Everest Cale is best known for their exhilarating live shows, but they also have a handful of albums under their belt. While 2020 put a pause on headliner engagements at venues like Mercury Lounge and Knitting Factory, the band has been working on the release of a series of new singles for their fans around the world.
Today Glide is excited to premiere one of those new singles, “My Ally.” The was brought to fruition shortly after Brett received his first ukulele as a gift and learned a few chords. With lyrics that focus on how we won’t see real change until we see policy change, the song is a soft and dreamy folk meditation that also feels like something of a protest song. The comforting and sunny tone of the ukulele serves as an intriguing contrast to subject matter that is anything but. At a time when the world is in flux and people are demanding change, “My Ally” serves as a fitting anthem.
Listen to the track and read our chat with Brett Treacy below…
We are living through an unprecedented time in the United States. Did current/recent events influence the writing of this song? Talk a little about where the inspiration for the song came from.
The world doesn’t need another white male president or CEO. It needs more white men to use their influence to lift up others. It needs allies.
How did you arrange the song? did you work it out in rehearsals? or did you arrange it and write parts as you recorded it?
I received my first ukulele as a gift and learned a few chords. This song came out as quickly as it took to learn the chords. We played a lot of different version live, and then worked out the stripped down recorded version.
This is a more acoustic/mandolin driven song – what inspired this sonic direction?
I’ve always enjoyed listening to sad songs. But there’s something about the ukulele where it makes even the saddest songs sound happy. You really have to fight the instrument to win that battle. The ukulele won this round.
How does living in NYC influence your songwriting?
I tend to be reclusive by nature. The writing process for me fosters that behavior. But in my small Brooklyn apartment, I don’t sing out loud while writing because I don’t want to let my anxiety of disturbing the neighbors deter my focus . So I tend to write the vocals completely in my head. I get to hear the song for the first time along with the rest of the band at our rehearsal space.
What was the recording process like?
Red wine and friendship! The majority of the song was recorded in Jeremy’s apartment keeping his neighbors awake. I don’t feel anxious about being loud at other peoples apartments.
What was it like trying to keep a band together during a pandemic? what were some of the things you did to keep creativity flowing and alive?
We signed a lease for a rehearsal space last February and paid rent for months for a space we never used. We scheduled monthly zoom chats where we got drunk and did our own version of drunk history.
What is important to share with the rest of the world about this song and its recording?
We won’t see real change until we see policy change. “Sit each of them down, locked in a room they can’t get out. Until all sides agree, sign into law and believe we are all on the same side of the fight.”
