Campbell / Jensen is a new project from two musicians with a vast array of experience across the worlds of Americana, country, bluegrass, gypsy jazz and rock. Ashley Campbell is an acclaimed solo artist whose music has taken her all over the world, including supporting Kris Kristofferson and The Bellamy Brothers, and she has also performed in her father Glen Campbell’s band and appeared in the video for Rascal Flatts’ country smash ‘Banjo’. Meanwhile, Thor Jensen has toured as part of Hazmat Modine and in Stephane Wrembel’s band, as well as opening for Dr. Dog and Portugal. The Man as a member of Quiet Life.
The duo are set to release their debut album, ‘Turtle Cottage’, on November 3rd via Vacancy Records. They launch the album alongside its lead single ‘P&P’ and will follow the album’s release with a full UK and Ireland headline tour.
‘P&P’ is a compelling introduction to the fervent creative connection shared by the two musicians. On a song that leans deeper into pastoral folk, their voices intertwine in harmony, with Ashley’s beautifully pure vocals complemented by Thor’s seasoned baritone. Listen HERE
Ashley says, “It’s fitting that our first single is the first song that we wrote together. It embodies both the joy and fear that comes with new beginnings. Both beautiful and exciting; who knows where it may take us?”
At times energising and at others sweetly reflective, ‘Turtle Cottage’ possesses an intimacy that feels as if you’re witnessing Campbell / Jensen’s stellar songwriting unfold before you. In addition to their vocals, their musicianship is just as intuitive, with Thor’s virtuoso guitar playing feeling like the perfect fit as Ashley switches between banjo and guitar. It’s an album that’s engaging and lovably unhurried, with highlights including the pair sharing witty lyrics on ‘A Song By Vampires, For Vampires’, letting Thor take the lead on ‘Perfectly Alright’, and orchestrating a wall-of-sound primarily using banjos on ‘Exit Zero’.
Thor adds, “Writing these songs was an incredible experience, but recording them at Turtle Cottage provided a depth to the music, and allowed us to hear them with fresh ears which I only hope translates to the listener.”
The roots behind the project go back to childhood, when Ashley grew up listening to the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt that her dad loved so much. Years later she decided she wanted to learn how to play in that style, and was introduced to Thor, who could teach her and had just moved to Nashville a week beforehand. That was in September 2021, but they enjoyed collaborating together so much that they started playing duo shows the following May – one of their earliest being a UK tour supporting ‘Wichita Lineman’ legend Jimmy Webb before continuing with further gigs in both the UK and US.
Their first release was their take on ‘Long Way Home’ by Tom Waits, but they soon had a strong catalogue of their own original songs. They booked Turtle Cottage, a quiet home-from-home on Mahee Island, near Comber in Northern Ireland in January 2023, and set-up an impromptu studio to record the album which was subsequently named after the building it was crafted in.
Pre-order information for ‘Turtle Cottage’ will be announced soon.
Tickets for Campbell / Jensen’s upcoming headline tour are available HERE. Their compelling live performances can be demonstrated with an RK Presents performance of ‘P&P’, which was filmed in Nashville. The dates are:
NOVEMBER
3rd – Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms
6th – London, St. Pancras Old Church
9th – Brighton, Mid-Sussex Music Hall
12th – Birmingham, Kitchen Garden Cafe
15th – Bangor, The Court House
16th – Bangor, The Court House
17th – Galway, Monroe’s Live
18th – Letterkenny, The RCC
19th – Clonakilty, De Barra’s
21st – Dublin, The Ruby Sessions
‘Turtle Cottage’ tracklist:
