Janiva Magness is a blues force to be reckoned with. She’s garnered a whopping 25 Blues Music Award Nominations, and is the second woman ever to win the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. Part of this tremendous success comes from Magness’ deep connection to music—as an orphan raised in a turbulent foster care system, bouncing from home to home, discovering the blues gave her a reason to live and thrive, and she poured her heart into her craft. That talent and dedication burns through to this day, and the singer will release her 12th album, and first on Blue Élan Records, Love Wins Again, on April 8th.
Today, Elmore is premiering a track from Magness’ upcoming release, “Your House Is Burnin’.” It takes off like a shot, with a funky horn intro and keeps up a breakneck pace from start to finish. And though the song feels like a danceable jam, it carries an important message. Magness explains, “Dave Darling (the album’s producer and partial or full songwriter on nine songs) said, “Why don’t we write a protest song?” I said, “Hell yeah, it’s about time.” This song is a call to action. It’s a jubilation, a celebration to try to encourage or inspire people to stand up and take back some of our power as a group, as a country, as a city, as a state, as a nation, as humanity…to take back our power. It’s a wakeup call or a wakeup shout.” Love Wins Again marks the fifth time Magness has teamed up with Darling, a four-time Grammy nominated producer who has worked with Glen Campbell, Brian Setzer, Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx and many more.
Darling helped Magness finely hone her ferocious sound for the record, and energy radiates from this track in particular. “Woman to woman and skin to skin, right now here is where we begin,” Magness growls with urgency, as an guitar wails behind her.
Catch Magness on tour through May, and listen to “Your House Is Burnin’” below.
Thurs., Sat.-Mon., March 24-28 BYRON BAY, Australia Byron Bay Bluesfest
Fri., April 15 SUTTER CREEK, CA SUTTER CREEK THEATRE
Sat., April 16 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Biscuits & Blues
Tue.-Wed., April 19-20 SEATTLE, WA Jazz Alley
Fri., Sat. April 22-23 PORT WASHINGTON, WA Upstage
Wed., April 27 SELLERSVILLE, PA Sellersville Theater
Thur., April 28 SHIRLEY, MA Bull Run
Fri., April 29 FALL RIVER, MA Narrow Center for Performing Arts
Sat., April 30 MANHATTAN, NY The Cutting Room
Sun., May 1 WARRENDALE, PA Jergel’s
Tue., May 3 WASHINGTON, DC The Hamilton
Sat., May 7 – MEMPHIS, TN – Rum Boogie
Be the first to comment!