The chart-topping, award-winning Ferris & Sylvester’s upcoming album ‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’ (out August 14th) explores their own experiences of finding hope in life’s darkest moments – and in the process offers an audio embrace for fans who are experiencing similar challenges. That deeply personal confessional quality is particularly powerful in their new single ‘Tiny Little Love’.
Issy Ferris was 32-weeks pregnant when the duo headed to Nashville for a four-day trip to play their final shows before parenthood. ButIssy fell gravely ill, resulting in their son being born both prematurely and far from home. Those four days spiralled into an enforced extended stay: nineteen days spent in a neonatal intensive care unit, followed by another four weeks of recovery in the local area.
While their trauma from the situation is undeniable, Issy also acknowledges that the NICU was “where we had some of the best moments of our lives, thanks to the unimaginable kindness from the nurses and doctors. It’s where we got to know our son.” She recently shared their story in-depth with The Somerset Leveller.
Even without that context, the ‘70s-tinged ‘Tiny Little Love’ would be delicate and touching. But with the knowledge that it was written moments before their son’s premature birth with both mother and child’s futures unknown, it becomes something all the more profound as Issy sings, “Tiny little, terrifying love, we’re gonna be alright.” Hope, of course, can mean everything.
Issy Ferris says, “This song came to life in a terrifying moment. Our son was hours away from being born seven weeks early, we were thousands of miles from home touring in Nashville and we had no idea what the future held. It was our lullaby. Just like the rest of this album, we realised that writing about hope holds a lot more meaning in the hard times. That’s where the stuff of life is. Where you find out what you’re made of. Where you feel your outer edges. That’s what writing this song felt like.”
Ferris & Sylvester have since become patrons for the pregnancy and baby charity Tommy’s, setting up a fundraiser as well as contributing income from their ‘Songs That Saw Us Through’ EP.
The lullaby tone of ‘Tiny Little Love’ continues the sonic eclecticism showcased by the duo’s recent singles, of which are united by their warm, natural vocal harmonies and their positive spirit. Their other songs span the country-rock ‘Jealous’ to the blues garage-rock of ‘5-4-3-2-1’, taking in laidback summer vibes with ‘Fishing Song’ and soulful Americana with the title track. Collectively they demonstrate that this will be their strongest and most vulnerable set to date – and fully primed to build on previous accomplishments such as topping the Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, claiming Album of the Year at the Americana UK Awards, and winning new admirers at Glastonbury and SXSW.
‘It’s A Joy To Be Alive’ is available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on pink vinyl with a signed insert and a signed CD. Album bundle offers also include new merch items.
Photo credit – press photo
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