“Losing so much so fast forced me to figure out what really mattered. It made me realize that I’ve only got this one life, and I’d better get behind the wheel if I want to make the most of it,” says powerhouse Americana songstress Eilen Jewell.
Touring across Europe, Australia, and the United States for almost 20 years had left Jewell feeling trapped and disconnected from herself, and the pandemic that stalled her career was only the beginning. Grappling with the passing of family members and friends, and in the wake of a split with her husband (also her drummer and manager), life seemed to take a dark turn.
Settling herself in a remote cabin, Jewell maintained sanity by perusing local hiking trails in the mountains of Idaho. She found herself frequently passing a sign for “Crooked River” which called to her. Answering that magnetic pull one day, she discovered a new favorite spot, thereby deserving the honorable position as title of her latest track, “Crooked River.”
Bursting with notes of familiar country and folk twang, the single further entices audiences with hints of rock n’ roll guitar. Jewell’s vocals are sweet yet decisive, cleanly conveying those raw feelings of grief and loneliness which tend to follow major life changes. The chorus echoes the comfort Jewell found amidst nature during such a difficult time in her life. “Crooked River” became a place where she could begin to reach beyond her brokenness, stepping into the light of salvation and healing. In the first verse, she sings, “I came down here to try to get better / But it just keeps getting harder all the time.”
About her own experience, Jewell says, “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough, but I survived and I’ve come out so much stronger and more in tune with myself, and that’s the journey I wanted to capture in these songs.”
The songs (plural) Jewell is talking about will be featured on her brand new album, Get Behind The Wheel, slated for a May 5th release. “Crooked River” is the lead single from the upcoming record, which was co-produced by Will Kimbrough and will be released via Signature Sounds.
With a spirit bent on making new meaning out of the cards she was dealt, Jewell turned to her music for solace. Each heartbreak became fuel for new growth and healing through songwriting. If Jewell has learned anything from her life so far, she has come to appreciate the importance of human connection, an element that permeates the tracks on Get Behind The Wheel. The title reflects Jewell’s decision to rise above her circumstances and take back control of her life.
With eight albums to her name, Jewell has charmed fans with her illustrious stage presence, honest lyrics, and a unique sound that blends folk, country, and rock n’ roll.
Now on the other side of a slew of hardships, Jewell has leaned into this newfound strength and confidence in herself and where her life is headed. Her album will hopefully encourage listeners to “get behind the wheel” of their own lives.
Catch Eilen Jewell On Tour:
Mar 3 – Archies Creek, AU – The Archies Creek Hotel
Mar 4 – Castlemaine, AU – Theatre Royal
Mar 5 – Yackandandah, AU – Star Hotel Yackandandah
Mar 7 – Sydney, AU – Factory Theatre
Mar 9 – Thornbury, AU – Thornbury Theatre-Ballroom
Mar 10-11 – Port Fairy, AU – Port Fairy Folk Festival 2023
Mar 12 – Brunswick, AU – Brunswick Ballroom
Mar 14 – St Kilda West, AU – The Gershwin
Mar 15 – Eltham, AU – Eltham Hotel
Mar 16 – Fortitude Valley – Qld, AU – The Zoo
Mar 18-19 – Katoomba, AU – Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots, and Blues 2023
Apr 14 – Winnemucca, NV – The Martin Hotel
Apr 15 – Fallon, NV – Churchill Arts Council
May 6 – Ybor City, FL – WMNF Tropical Heatwave 2023
May 9 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
May 10 – Nashville, TN – City Winery
May 11 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
May 12 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
May 13 – Greer, SC – Albino Skunk Music Festival 2023
May 14 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage
Jun 24 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival 2023
Jun 25 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House
Jun 27 – New York, NY – City Winery NYC
Jun 28 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
Jun 29 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Jun 30 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
July 1 – Red Hook, NY – Hardeman Orchards
July 2 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square
July 5 – Woodbridge, NJ – Woodbridge Wednesdays
July 6 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
July 7 – Frenchtown, NJ – ArtYard
July 8 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts of Homer
July 9 – Buffalo, NY – Sportsmens Tavern
Sep 7 – Berwyn, IL – Fitzgerald’s
