Seattle, WA. (Top40 Charts/ Greyday Productions) - There are few true auteurs in pop music. The closest most so-called pop auteurs come to multi-tasking is mustering a balance between singer and songwriter. Southerly, the nom-de-tune of Krist Krueger is the product of a bona fide DIY visionary. Not only does Krueger sing, write and arrange the music of Southerly, he's a seasoned recording engineer, record label manager and professional booking agent. He remains hands-on in all aspects of his music.
The Portland artist's lush, orchestral pop is reminiscent of The National, Brendan Benson, Richard Ashcroft, Elliott Smith and former Tindersticks frontman Stuart Staples. Krueger recorded the second Southerly album, Storyteller & The Gossip Columnist, with his own full orchestra and horn arrangements. The arrangements flesh out the songs, which center on Krueger's otherwise intimate singing style. Even in his solo performances, you can almost hear the sweeping and swooning violins, horns and backing vocals that surround Krueger's every note.
Recently dubbed "a one man musical army" by Skratch magazine, Southerly revisits the golden era of lush pop orchestration. His songs include signs of great craft while finding a way to stray far outside the traditional verse/chorus structures often dictating the final product of too many modern artists. Southerly began as many musical projects do, in a basement and bedroom, this one in 2003. Touring constantly both solo and as a full band for 3 1/2 years straight, Southerly meddles with both antifolk, rock and alt country roots while taking cues from old-timers like Woody Guthrie, Jimmie Rodgers and Bill Monroe with his gypsy-like touring habits.
Southerly's previous album, Best Dressed And Expressionless featured an array of players including Ryan Heise (System and Station), Cory Gray (Desert City Soundtrack) and Andi Camp (Andi Camp). Originally recorded in April 2004 at Haywire Studios (Portland, OR) by Robert Bartleson (Wilco, Desert City Soundtrack) and produced by both Bartleson and Krueger. It is a concept album about death and coping, dedicated to three close friends and Krueger's grandmother who all passed away in 2003. The album features four "Accidentals", one for each person passed on and personalized for each individual.
In 2006 Southerly became a full band. No longer a solo singer/songwriter project, the band features players from the recordings including engineer Bartleson on bass guitar, Heise on drums and Casey Montgomery on guitar, accordion, organ and more. In July and August of 2006 the band embarked on the Kill Rock Stars' The Sound The Hare Heard Tour in support of the compilation of same name which Southerly appears alongside players such as Sufjan Stevens, Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists) and Laura Veirs.
Krueger and cohorts recently completed putting the finishing touches on Storyteller & The Gossip Columnist, Southerly's first album for the Portland, OR based Greyday Productions, which will be released worldwide on May 15th, 2007.
