The album you’ve been waiting for has landed. Cosmic country cowgirl Caitlin Jemma’s True Meaning is a genre blending, soul-soothing, inspiration. A bright mix of folk, pop, country, and jazz filled with positive affirmations and personal reflections. Her music has been called “A study in spontaneity and passion” by Vortex, and a “little soulful and a little swinging” by Eugene Weekly. Caitlin’s idiosyncratic voice and thoughtful love songs have made her a natural choice as an opener for Valerie June, and she’s played Treefort Fest and High Sierra Music Festival. She recently recorded her latest album True Meaning with Sacha Müller at Dead Aunt Thelma’s Recording Studio. Backing her on the recording are stalwart rhythm section Nevada Sowle (bass) and Cooper Trail (drums), and Michael James on guitar, plus higher profile friends like Rainbow Girls (backup vocals), and John Craigie (harmonica).
During the existential crisis that inspired the album True Meaning, Jemma was touring cross-country in a van she’d converted to her home. A truly itinerant musician, playing nightly and learning the curves and cracks in every road in America by day. The songs on True Meaning are cosmic spirituals. Uplifting affirmations, a celebration of humility, accountability, and a soul stirring score full of soothing organ and boisterous backbeat.
On True Meaning Jemma has achieved her best work, arriving at a signature sound she’s been working out for years. Caitlin hails from a little mining town in Nevada, and classic country music resides in her veins. She’s been playing guitar since she was a teenager, admiring soul singers, playing in bluegrass bands, and voraciously consuming classic folk and rock records. Caitlin began to realize that it wasn’t what she sang, but the way that she sang it, early on. She brings a pop verve to country music, and a soulful feel to folk. Her bubbly personality buoys every song. She recorded her last album Love Notes at the OK Theater in Enterprise Oregon with Bart Budwig, and her touring band The Goodness. The album took huge steps in the directions of country, blues and soul for Jemma, and began to gather attention for her songwriting that is now growing into a landslide of fans. She went into the recording of True Meaning during the pandemic with over a decade of constant songwriting and touring behind her. She was also armed with the confidence of a seasoned musician, which allowed her to embrace all the genres she loved. If there’s a theme throughout her music it’s that she never fails to consider radical, unconditional love. True Meaning is full of Jemma’s thoughtfulness, in sparkling clarity.
Caitlin Jemma has arrived, as if from outer space. She’s leading an other-worldly band through a genre blending journey, looking inward for true meaning. Listening to the record of her explorations of the vast expanse of loneliness and love will have you over the moon.
Jemma is currently touring up and down the west coast. True Meaning is out September 17th on American Standard Time Records.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the video for “Yes,” one of the sunniest tunes and a clear standout on the new album. Featuring a big brassy band that definitely draw influence from New Orleans jazz, the song finds Jemma laying down her delightfully laid back and sultry vocals that manage to be both playful and soulful. The boat party vibes of the video serve as a perfect visual for this sun-baked anthem about embracing optimism and living in the moment. Jemma also proves to be more than capable of owning the song and playing the role of charismatic front woman, and this song is sure to make you jump at the chance to catch her performing live in all of her groovy glory.
Jemma describes the inspiration behind the song and video:
“Yes was a song I wrote during a time in my life when there was so much change and I had to let go of control and attachment to how I wanted things to turn out in my life. I had transitioned out of a long term relationship and found myself living in my minivan and crashing on friend’s couches. I was craving stability and found myself getting trapped in negative thoughts until one day – as I was playing guitar in my friend’s apartment, I thought to myself “There’s a lot that I’m upset about – but what am I saying Yes to? What can I call into my life? What can I be grateful for?” and then those positive curious thoughts became the song Yes! As for the video, I wanted to get friends together to dive into a body of water (in the video it’s Lake Sonoma) to symbolize the strength that comes from just diving in and trusting that everything will be ok.”
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