News

Tracey Browne Releases An App

• 11th Feb 2013

Coupled with Tracey Browne’s physical album release, ‘Everyone is Ordinary’ can also be streamed via an app!

It’s a free app, features streaming of the album, with scrolling lyrics and social media integration. It’s for iOS devices, like the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. When it first appeared, it was downloaded over 1000 times worldwide in the first week, and is now up to around 4000 downloads, mainly in China, USA, Canada and UK (where it reached top 40 in the app charts in those countries) – but also as far afield as Colombia, Venezuela, Korea and Puerto Rico.

The app is searchable on the Apple app store under ‘Everyone Is Ordinary’, or the direct link is here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tracey-browne-everyone-is/id477419445?ls=1&mt=8

Tracey released her single River City in Nov, a brilliant debut from an artist who can count Thea Gilmore as a fan. Taken from her debut album Everyone is Ordinary and invoking comparison to a host of singer-songwriters including…A British Joan Osborne perhaps, a 21st century Kirsty MacColl, a folkier Sarah McLachlan, a poppier Sheryl Crow …

Championed by Nigel Stonier and Thea Gilmore, River City features backing vocals from Thea herself and fellow Manchester songwriter Jacob H James; Tracey has also garnered praise from Lavinia Blackwall (of Trembling Bells) and has supported O’Hooley & Tidow (voted Best Act of Cambridge Folk Festival 2012 by The Guardian).

Hers is a sound that transcends comparisons; often deceptively straightforward and shot through with a pop sensibility, Browne’s material seems hand crafted to catch those fleeting, transient moments, the times in lives where the axis tilts and the season begins to change.

Tracey is also a qualified and experienced sound engineer, based mostly out of Airtight Studios in Manchester , an established studio which has regularly played host to acts of the calibre of Paul Weller and I Am Kloot. Tracey engineers and produces bands and fellow songwriters on a regular basis at Airtight.

It was two years ago while playing a series of charity bike rallies across the UK that it was pointed out to Tracey that her own tunes, often personal and intimate, were reducing the bikers in her audience – normally inebriated and waiting for their favourite cover versions – to tears and to impassioned and frequent requests to play ‘em again…

Tracey’s answer was to find, not a studio, but a 17th century church in Northenden, Greater Manchester. Perceiving something magical in the acoustics, she gathered a team of musicians and producer of choice Nigel Stonier – who, having worked with Thea Gilmore, Joan Baez, Martha Wainwright and Clare Teal to name but a few, knows a quality singer songwriter when he hears one. Jumping in at any hour of the day or night, Tracey engineered AND performed, literally hitting the record button in the control room then dashing through to the studio area to perform her vocal overdubs.

The result is a stunningly fine 11 track album in which the emotions of Tracey’s songs take flight on the empathy of the musicians and the combination of spirit and quirk brought to the recording process.

Tour Dates –

Thurs 24th Jan @ The Sage, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR. – 7.45pm ‘Folk Rising’ showcase night alongside Fran Smith, and Matt Stalker & Fables. Sunday 27th Jan @ The Klondyke Club, Burnage Range, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 2HQ – 2pm

Tracey Browne’s Sunday Songwriter Sessions, featuring Tracey Browne and Raevennan Husbandes. £4 (conc available)

Thursday 7th Feb @ The First Chop, Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, BL0 9HU – 9pm onwards No support, two extended sets from Tracey. Free entry

Friday 8th Feb @ The Puzzle Hall Inn, 21 Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2RF – 9pm onwards. No support, two sets from Tracey Free entry

Friday 22nd Feb @ The Oakwood, 67 High Street West Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 8AZ – doors 7.30pm. Supporting set for the main act, Kirsty McGee.

Friday 27th Feb @ Surya, 156 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JL – 7.30pm onwards.