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 Beth
Hart's voice stirs more than the emotions. It is a uniquely
powerful vocal presence that paints pictures, parses prose
and sculpts statues in every song. While it is difficult to
define the essence of great art, you sure know it when you
hear it.
Beth's remarkable artistry attracted superstar producers
David Foster, Hugh Padgham and Mike Clink to collaborate with
her on her very first album, 1996's Immortal (Atlantic). Perhaps
her gift for turning each song into a deeply personal communication
between singer and listener was most evident on "L.A.
Song," her worldwide radio smash (a Top 5 AC hit in the
U.S.) from her second album, 1999's Sceamin' For My Supper
(Atlantic). Beth's charismatic performances of the song on
Leno, Letterman and Kilborn touched off strong audience reaction
nationwide creating phenomenal spikes in sales and radio requests
across the country. The fire in that very special voice seemed
to engulf America. Apparently, you know it when you see it,
as well.
However, the mark of a really great artist is that they will
always find room to grow.
Leave The Light On, Beth's KOCH records debut, is an outstanding
document of personal and professional development and her
finest work to date. The recording is a revealing and courageous
visit to a location of raw emotion, a place so hidden in the
heart of the deeply personal, that only someone of her artistic
integrity could draw us a map.
Beth stated, "With this album I wanted to wrestle with
the edges a little and stretch out. I wasn't going to allow
myself to be too traditional. I avoided the typical. I'm not
afraid of the feelings I express because all of them are totally
real. I know the difficulties of the experiences I sing about.
I've been through every one of them."
Oliver Leiber, who was a key collaborator on the current
project and had previously teamed with Beth on "L.A.
Song," noted, "I've known Beth for over 5 years
and in that time some amazing changes have happened. She's
grown so much as a woman and as an artist. Her latest work
reflects what a great place she's in." The first single,
"Leave The Light On," which was produced by Leiber,
addresses the most basic of human needs and fears: security.
We "leave the light on" to combat all those threats
that move under the cover of night. While as we grow older
we try to be less afraid of the dark, sometimes those old
demons can seem like they never went away. Once again, Beth
is able to tap into that universal experience with affective
precision. The track is already charting in the Top 10 after
only 6 weeks of airplay in New Zealand, where the album was
released early to coincide with Beth's sold-out June tour
with David Gray.
"World Without You," which was produced by Oliver
Leiber and written by Leiber and John Shanks, again takes
us to a lonely but familiar place. As Beth noted, "It
talks about a very painful situation that most of us have
had to deal with in our lives. You're in love with someone
who leaves you and now you have to face the new reality."
Oliver knew that Beth was perfect for this particular song.
Leiber exclaimed, "Beth is one of the few artists who
can really deliver these lyrics. Something this complex requires
a true singer to pull it off because it's so emotionally draining."
About "Lay Your Hands On Me," which was produced
by Danny Saber and written by Beth and her guitarist, Jon
Nichols, Beth says, "This song is dark and hot and reveals
what every woman wants but few have the courage to ask for."
On the experience of recording with Beth, Saber remarked,
"Producing her on this track was like sculpting, because
there was so much great raw material to work with. I wanted
her to be inspired to lay down as much as she wanted and she
made it sexy and soulful. It reminded me of the way Mick Jagger
would have approached it."
"Sky Full Of Clover" examines the strength of faith
and finds its center in the spirituality of roots Gospel music.
Producer Mike Bradford, who also produced several other cuts
on the album, admits, "This is one of the most meaningful
songs any artist has released in a long time. I can actually
hear it being played in a church 20 years from now and the
parishioners thinking it's a traditional hymn instead of a
pop song. It's rare to find a singer/songwriter who has that
gospel, church-like spirit in her music."
In the final analysis, finding harmony with real human emotion
is what Beth Hart is all about. She enthuses, "When your
life is in balance, you really know where to put your energy.
This album is going to make people think, because it's all
about having positive new things to say about experiences
we all share. That's why we spent so much time on it. All
involved were not going to be satisfied until it felt real
and felt right! When you're happy, when you've found your
place in the world, great things come out of you."
Beth Hart's KOCH Records debut Leave The Light On will be
released on Tuesday, October 21st.
What are the heavies saying about Beth Hart?
"Beth Hart is quite simply, one of the finest singers
I've ever heard. Period."
-- Mike Bradford (Producer Kid Rock , Uncle Kracker)
"Beth Hart is the real deal. You know it from the first
time you hear her."
-- Oliver Leiber (Producer/Songwriter The Corrs, BBMak)
"Beth's got an awesome, one-of-a-kind voice. She's really
something special. What I liked about Beth from the very first
time I saw her perform was her intimacy and sincerity. It
was like the audience was invited to hear her in her own living
room."
-- Danny Saber (Producer/Remixer The Rolling Stones, U2,
David Bowie)
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