NEW SINGLE: Felicity Cripps Band 'St. Christopher' + Upcoming Album 'Chasing Volcanoes'

Felicity Cripps Band unveils inspiring new single ‘St. Christopher’ taken from Chasing Volcanoes album out on Thursday 22 August 
+ Performing at the Town Folk Festival in November

Australian songwriter Felicity Cripps Band unveils the next taste of her upcoming album Chasing Volcanoes with her next single ‘St. Christopher’ out Thursday 25 July. A reflection of the power of humanity when we come together, ‘St. Christopher’ is another piece in the album's dive into a connection to Earth and the universe. The full-length LP is out Thursday 22 August and pre-orders are now available via Bandcamp.

A propelling, minimalist rock number, 'St. Christopher' tells the story of a missing child, and the immediate gathering of the community, with one objective; to find him. The song is almost a prayer to St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelling, and a reflection on those terrible hours, waiting to find a lost child. Inspired by her own experience with her nephew, Felicity used repetition and driving guitars to create a sense of unease, building to a wayward instrumental and delivering a triumphant conclusion. 

I wrote this song on the plane home from Auckland after visiting my sister and her family. My nephew had gone missing during a school concert in a rural area north of Taupo. The search party had reminded me of a mass, such a solemn and sacred gathering, with a shared objective. The power of that gathering and the focus to find my nephew was unforgettable’ - Felicity Cripps

Out Thursday 22 August, Chasing Volcanoes is a heartfelt offering, shimmering with nostalgia and psychedelic tinctures. The title pays homage to the late volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, a couple, who's life's work and philosophies also align with the album’s main themes – the search for meaningful connections with the world around us and portals into other worlds. Recorded and produced by Nick Huggins (Dirty Three, Jess Rebeiro, Jen Cloher) at Resting Bell Studio in Point Lonsdale the record was created over four years, through the birth of Felicity’s first child and owning and operating local Castlemaine arts institution Theatre Royal with her husband.

‘Making this record was a form of escape from the everyday throes of life - not that anything was bad, but it was a difficult time to navigate work, motherhood and relationships not only with my loved ones but with myself. Without those days making music and sitting in the studio with Nick, working and reworking the ideas in my head, I would have really struggled to find my sense of self again. This record was vital, hopefully not just for me, but for others also’ – Felicity Cripps

Chasing Volcanoes follows a thread, searching for connection, both in this world and with the spiritual world. Opening track ‘Can You Feel It?’ is a song derived from a vivid dream, followed by lead single ‘Volcano (It Would Be So Nice To Die With You)’ – a powerful message of dismantling egos and being present, and a call to elevate the collective consciousness in first single ‘Inside a Keyhole’. Meandering through the material, the album explores loneliness and memories of lust and love in ‘Italo Disco’ and ‘Werewolf’, the profound heartbreak of ‘You Make Me Feel Feelings’, and the sorrows of grief in ‘Palo Santo’. Featuring her perspective on an unreleased Don Walker track ‘A Cowgirl Is A Fool For Jazz’, the LP closes with her current single ‘St. Christopher’.

As both a band and duo Felicity has shared stages with Models, Robert Forster, Rob Snarski, Lindy Morrison, and more, appearing at the Townfolk Festival and Whole Loddon Love, and joining acclaimed songwriter Don Walker earlier in the year. This November Felicity Cripps Band will take to the stage at Castlemaine’s Town Folk Festival, sharing a line-up with The Teskey Brothers, Marlon Williams, Ngaiire, and many more. 

Join Felicity’s lush soundscapes; all the dreamy, dark and ethereal parts, as she challenges the bigger questions in life in her new LP Chasing Volcanoes.

‘St Christopher’ out via Gyrostream+ Bandcamp

CHASING VOLCANOES out Thursday 22 August 2024 
Pre-orders via Gyrostream + Bandcamp