CHRIS VELAN REVEALS NEW VIDEO FOR “LISTEN, ELIJAH”

MONTREAL SONGWRITER TO RELEASE HOWARD BILERMAN-PRODUCED ALBUM GLOW ON MARCH 4 VIA NEWSONG RECORDINGS

CANADIAN TOUR DATES BEGIN MARCH 22

WATCH AND SHARE THE VIDEO FOR GLOW ALBUM TRACK “LISTEN, ELIJAH” HERE

With only a week remaining until he releases his sixth LP, Glow, Montreal songwriter and producer Chris Velan is treating fans to a video for album track “Listen Elijah.” Set for release on March 4 via NewSong Recordings, the album was co-produced with Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Wolf Parade, Vic Chestnutt). Also Joining Velan in studio was an all-star band of Montreal musicians; Jamie Thompson (Islands, The Unicorns) sitting at the drums, Morgan Moore (Barr Brothers, Blood and Glass) on bass, Max Henry (Suuns) playing keys, with Ariel Engle (AroarA) and Ngabo Kiroko (Dear Denizen) providing backup vocals. Today we get a sneak peek into the dynamics of that recording process with the new video for “Listen, Elijah” shot live in studio during the recording.

“This ended up being the only studio footage we shot during our days recording the album at hotel2tango,” say Velan. “But it was enough to capture the fun of tracking this outlier on the record. ‘Listen, Elijah’ plays with its heavier theme of everyday, existential annihilation under a pretty poppy, sing-along sound. It's a bit of a cheeky rebuff to the arrival of the prophet of the apocalypse – something akin to, ‘Hey, thanks but no thanks. We got it covered. We have no choice, in any case.’ So it's kind of like calling off a hitman who we've set on ourselves.”

WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO FOR “LISTEN, ELIJAH” HERE

The songs on Glow want to pull back the curtain and let the light in. They’re about taking that long, unflinching look in the mirror, shattering mythologies, both personal and collective, and naming the lies that keep us caged. Whether refusing the clean-up job of a prophet in “Listen, Elijah”, or invoking grace in “Call Me Into Your Heart”, Velan’s latest collection of songs seems intent on finding joy at the end of the world - where no matter how frightening the outcome, the end is never the end, just a great new beginning.

It’s a path of inquiry that began for Velan on his previous album, The Long Goodbye, a raw and confessional reckoning with the break-up of a long-term relationship. While echoes of that ache remain in his latest release, Velan’s writing now looks forward with a faith in the blossoming power of love, connection, and the other intangibles that sustain life and will.

On March 22, Velan takes to the road to support the album with a string of tour dates across Canada. Full tour dates are listed below. Glow is available for pre-order now on Pledge Music along with other exclusive items.

WATCH AND SHARE THE VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK “GLOW” HERE
LISTEN TO AND SHARE FIRST SINGLE “un-AMERICAN GOTHIC HERE

PRE-ORDER GLOW HERE VIA PLEDGE MUSIC

CHRIS VELAN TOUR DATES

Mar 22 - Victoria, BC - The Copper Owl w/ David Beckingham (Hey, Ocean!), Jake Mcfadden
Mar 23 - Vancouver, BC - Railway Club w/ David Beckingham (Hey, Ocean!)
Apr 6 - Montreal, QC - Divan Orange
Apr 9 - Sutton, QC - Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier
Apr 12 - Toronto, ON - The Burdock
Apr 15 - Halifax, NS - Company House w/ Carmel Mikol
May 2-8 - Toronto, ON – CMW