Pokey LaFarge – – New album ‘Rhumba Country’ out now – UK dates in August and November

Pokey LaFarge‘s new album ‘Rhumba Country‘ is out now via New West Records.

The 10–song set was co-produced by Chris Seefried, Elliot Bergman, and LaFarge and was recorded in Los Angeles, CA & Chicago, IL. On Rhumba Country, LaFarge reveals his newly heightened devotion to making music that channels pure joy. He says, “There was a time when I glorified sadness because I lost sight of who I was, but now I understand that creating and expressing joy is my gift, and gifts are meant to be shared.” Reclaiming his voice, he has recorded his boldest album yet.

LaFarge previously shared the album’s first single, ‘Sister Andre‘. He said, “Sister André is a love song for those who are lonely and looking and waiting to love and be loved. An encouragement to never give up the patient pursuit. It could come at any time! In this case, encouragement comes from Sister André, who inspired this song the day of her passing after 118 years of age.” See the Paris Peterson-directed video HERE. He also previously shared the video for single ‘One You, One Me‘ which Paste Magazine called “brooding, time-worn…rich and vibrant.” It is a personal video diary shot on Super 8 through the Netherlands, Italy, England, France, California, and Maine. LaFarge says, “Captured over six years, this is a world travel journal of my wife, Addie Hamilton, and I from when we were dating to when we were engaged and culminating in the celebration that was our wedding”. Third single is album highlight ‘So Long, Chicago‘.

LaFarge has also announced additional UK and European dates, including a headline show at London’s Electric Brixton on 27th November. Full dates below:

After crisscrossing the nation for the last half-decade looking for a home, LaFarge found himself in Mid-Coast Maine. Upon arriving, the Illinois-born singer/songwriter/actor pursued a major life change, working 12-hour days on a local farm—a turn of events that catalyzed an extraordinary burst of creativity and redefined his sense of purpose as an artist. As he immersed himself in the album’s creation, LaFarge began dreaming up a kaleidoscopic sound informed by his love of music from far-ranging eras and corners of the globe, including mambo, tropicalia, rocksteady, and mid-century American rock-and-roll. He pares his songs down to the essential throughout the album, ornamenting each track with subtle details and showcasing his distinct voice and ineffable charisma.

His boundless curiosity for music from other cultures was vital in shaping the album’s captivating sound. “Listening to a lot of music from around the world helped simplify my approach,” he notes, naming Brazilian singer/composer Jorge Ben among his key inspirations. “The more you listen to music from around the world, you realize everybody’s got their form of country music,” he says. “It goes back to why I named the album Rhumba Country in the first place: it’s poking fun at the futility of boxing everything into a few genres, ‘What is folk music? What is country or soul?’ I’ve always bucked at all those boundaries and found it much more exciting to create my own genre.”  

In addition to his acclaimed music career, Pokey LaFarge is also an actor as well. He appeared in 2013’s The Lone Ranger (starring Johnny Depp), The Devil All The Time (starring Tom Holland and produced by Randall Poster & Jake Gyllenhaal), and played Hank Snow in CMT’s series Sun Records. He also stars in the forthcoming O’Dessa (currently in post-production and stars Sadie Sink of Stranger Things fame).

Pokey LaFarge’s Rhumba Country will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. Limited Gold vinyl and compact disc editions both autographed by Pokey LaFarge, will be available via Independent Retailers and are available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.

www.NewWestRecords.com