WATCH / SHARE “SOUL SEEKER” LIVE HERE
WESTERN CANADIAN TOUR DATES BEGIN MAY 25, JAPAN TOUR DATES BEGIN JUNE 21
JESSE NORTHEY’S NEW LP, ONION KNIGHT, OUT NOW VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS
BUY / STREAM ONION KNIGHT HERE
This month, Jesse Northey will play a few shows in Western Canada, bringing his newest album, Onion Knight, on a string of dates throughout Alberta. Then, in June, the celebrated songwriter will return to Japan for a run of performances, his second time touring the country. “Japan is a total dream world,” says Northey. “The musicians we played with last time were so professional and unique and eclectic, it was such a wild experience and every night we would eat the most amazing food. I can’t wait to go back!” Full tour dates can be found below.
For a taste of what to expect from Jesse Northey live, today he’s sharing a new performance video of “Soul Seeker” from Onion Knight. “I’ve been really looking forward to doing some sort of live video with an actual upright piano and the full band all in the same room for a long time,” says Northey. “I always practice and write my songs on a piano but it’s never that way at a gig. Felt right at home here showing off my slick band – featuring Chloe Doucet, Mawzy, and Steve Foster - all artists in their own right. It was filmed by Sam Tudor who put us all at ease. A few candles doesn’t hurt either.”
WATCH / SHARE “SOUL SEEKER” LIVE HERE
MORE ABOUT ONION KNIGHT
If one was to analyze the DNA of Jesse Northey music, its double helix might look an awful lot like a sharp insider's take on the world of capital “P” pop songcraft. A decade and change into his career, Northey has long established his own voice as a songwriter, but the music palpably pulses with inspiration from the decades' worth of tune-smiths that have come before him. In tandem with lyrics that explore the myriad ways in which we need to dismantle the artifice of masculinity, societal norms, and creativity-sapping careerist ambitions, this is music firmly rooted in the classics, but cut with a clear-eyed contemporary viewpoint.
WATCH / SHARE “SOUL SEEKER” HERE
On his new album Onion Knight, Northey presents a widescreen distillation of these influences, brought to life with exceptional warmth and attention to detail by ace producer Thomas D’Arcy (The Sheepdogs, NOBRO, Yukon Blonde) at Taurus Studios in Toronto. “Onions are associated with crying,” Northey says. “I wanted to conjure an imagery that confronts the stoic heroism associated with masculinity and take a jab at it.” And he's done just that: the feel of Onion Knight is classic but also urgent, tackling modern anxieties and buffered by a warm, rich psychedelia that is inviting as it is pristine.
The drums are lush and up front, the bass melodic and McCartney-esque, and the songs are driven by piano, vintage keyboards, and shimmering synths. All of these elements readily bring to mind titans of song such as Elliott Smith, Harry Nilsson, Aimee Mann, and Spoon, as well as contemporaries such as Chris Cohen and Andy Shauf.
WATCH / SHARE “BOTH EYES CLOSED” HERE
MORE ABOUT JESSE NORTHEY
Northey has maintained a parallel career behind the curtains of the music world. His work as an engineer and producer has afforded him plenty of time to hone his studio skills, and his place on the High Priestess Publishing roster has led to songs appearing in far flung places such as the Amazon's documentary on Pete Buttigieig, former Indiana Mayor turned presidential candidate. As the leader of Jesse & The Dandelions, he has shared stages with Hollerado, Said the Whale, and July Talk, and toured extensively in Japan. And since 2020, he's been the man behind Victory Pool Records, a record label and management company, helping to shepherd an impressive variety of acts such as Witch Prophet, The Deep Dark Woods, Marlaena Moore, Ghost Woman and Ombiigizi.
BUY / STREAM ONION KNIGHT HERE
WESTERN CANADA TOUR
May 25 - The Aviary - Edmonton, AB
May 26 - The Owl - Lethbridge, AB
May 27 - Etown Getdown - Calgary, AB
JAPAN TOUR
Jun 21 - Nagoya - k.d.japon
Jun 22 - Umeda,Osaka - Hardrain
Jun 23 - Okayama - Pepper Land
Jun 24 - Yamagata - Raf-Rec
Jun 25 - Matsumoto - Give Me Little More
Jun 26 - Omiya, Greater Tokyo - hisomine
Jun 27 - Shibuya,Tokyo - home
Jun 28 - Kochi - Chaotic Noise
Jun 29 - Tokushima - Crowbar
Jun 30 - Takamatsu - Toonice
