Premiere: Keely Burn And The Tea Lights Chart A Collaborative Journey On Never Stuck In One Place
Perceptive and nimble, the songwriting of Keely Burn has always had an impressive reach, from her crafty debut EP Lightning Eyes to the impassioned album Not My Masterpiece. Whether armed with just a ukulele and microphone or backed by a bevy of instruments, her songs resonate with intention, matching the individual charm of each tune while still connecting it to an overarching sound that she calls her own. Recently, Burn has been pushing and stretching the scope of her prose and melodies alongside The Tea Lights, an exceptional backing band she has assembled to help further expand her musical reach. The result of their drive and focus is Never Stuck In One Place, a new EP that captures the wandering spirit of her music with tracks that showcase how eclecticism and camaraderie can push songwriting to the next level. Out everywhere on Friday, July 7th, The Auricular is excited to premiere this EP today with an exclusive stream below.
The Tea Lights genesis began with Not My Masterpiece, Burn’s proper debut album released back in 2021. To celebrate the release, Burn wanted to perform the songs alongside a full band in order to bring the album’s vivid sound to life. In filling out the backing group, she reached out to various connections she’s made in town over the years at musical functions from Woman Crush Wednesday at The Camel to helping out behind the scenes at Sound Of Music with famed producer & engineer John Morand. Guitarist Ryan Irby, drummer Alonzo Jefferson, bassist Doc Thomas, and backing vocalist Eliza Frances all joined in for that 2021 performance, helping Burn to realize her vision while also adding their unique talents to the mix. After that performance, the potential for collaboration and exploration was apparent to each member and the quintet began playing around town in spaces big and small as they continued to develop their musical chemistry.
A dynamic and cohesive unit quickly emerged, one led by a sharp artistic vision but also informed by the songwriting and performing skills of each member. Guitarist Ryan Irby was already in the midst of finalizing his own collaborative work, Apogee, which was released earlier this year and featured members of The Tea Lights as well as other prominent voices in the Richmond music scene like Erika Blatnick (Rikki Rakki), Kailey Conner, and Ali Foley Shenk (WKNDR). Before that album came Fire Moon, the second studio album by Eliza Frances that was the culmination of dynamic single releases that began in 2020 with the rousing track “Stages.” Long before both of those releases, Doc Thomas had released music under the name Dirty Metal Lefty, most notably on 2018’s See, What Had Happened Was…, a swirling concoction of blues, hard rock, and soul. Throughout all of these releases, multi-instrumentalist Alonzo Jefferson had been making a name for himself around town at open mic nights and Brambly Park gigs while supporting other artists and helping the Infamous Muscle Entertainment brand.
All of that expertise helps fuel the compositions on Never Stuck In One Place, a record that lives up to its name with distinct tracks that cover an impressive musical terrain. The opening track “Mine” details the assorted styles at play with a dancing funk track that starts the record on a tight groove. “Unsteady” slides in next with a slinky pace, reminiscent of classic soft rock anthems in the vein of Carly Simon and Carole Kings where expert session musicians helped bolster some iconic compositions. The traversing doesn’t stop there as a brisk pop stroll comes in next on “No Moss On This Stone,” a buoyant track that shows how their flourishes enhance Burn’s already impressive songwriting. “Weekend Activist” rounds out the journey not too far off from the previous jaunt, but with more nuanced instrumentation and forceful execution that help to sharpen the song’s piercing tone.
Lyrically, Burn is as savvy as ever on these new songs, covering the burden of trust while also contending with a sense of community despite holding on to wayfaring ambition. “I weaponize my hesitation\ As an excuse, or an explanation,” she offers on “Unsteady,” an intimate revelation that speaks to the lyrical clarity at play on the record. Later, that precision helps her land a particularly fiery taunt that comes from a place of awareness and concession (“It’s my business to whine\ ‘Cause I’m a musician\ And you’re not better\ Than a fucking politician“). Viewed as a portfolio of her songwriting, Burn certainly rises to the occasion, offering a lyrically dense record that somehow seems to eclipse the dexterity of The Tea Lights.
Still, the record triumphs due to the collaborative spirit of the group, a true testament to the strength of The Tea Lights as a unit. That strength comes through in a jovial way on the closing track of the EP, “Ce N’est Pas Une Chanson Cachee,” an outro comprised of studio chatter that captures the joy that drove the recording process. “It’s going to sound really great with a band too,” Burn states in the opening moments, something that rings true with each composition. Like with Burn’s previous works, these are sharp songs that could sound great with just acoustic strings and a mic. When you add in the tactile and textural talent of each member though, you get something that far exceeds a songwriter’s portfolio and becomes a demonstration of Richmond’s collaborative spirit, where chance encounters can lead to your own work becoming elevated and exalted years later. It’s here where the art of Keely Burn has thrived over the years, with no end in sight as it keeps growing and improving to match her lyrical drive and melodic wonder.
Never Stuck In One Place will be released to all streaming platforms on Friday, July 7th, most notably Spotify and Bandcamp. Make sure to bookmark Keely Burn’s website for more information on new releases and upcoming concerts.
