Tess Parks “Crown Shy”

Photo credit: Ruari Meehan

Here is the latest single from Canadian singer-songwriter Tess Parks. He now lives in London, Parks wrote “Crown shyness” alongside long-time band member and collaborator Ruari Meehan. There are hypnotic, dreamy layers and the combination of Park and Meehan's voices has an otherworldly beauty. The strings, arranged by Marco Ninni and played by Joe Butler, add to the shimmering, ethereal feel of the music, rising as the song slowly builds.

“Crown shyness” celebrates human connection and expresses Parks' gratitude to her family. She explains: “This was the only song on the album that we didn’t write from a distance and inspired us to finish the album in person. Ruari sent me this song in early July 2023, literally seconds after I said goodbye to my sister Isabella, who was traveling from King's Cross station to Paris that summer. As always, Ruari's timing was perfect and the music sounded exactly how I felt. With this song I want to thank my family – and especially my sister – for being the main reason I got sober after drinking, and for the happiness I felt when I reconnected after a few broken years took in my sister. But in a broader sense, it's important to remember that everyone in the world is related to each other. We are all one family. We can all always be on the same team. When we become aware of our similarities rather than our differences, when we recognize and own our part in every situation, and understand that we are co-creators of our realities, our worlds can truly change and it will feel like a miracle.”

The accompanying video by Adam Carr is a beautifully shot, cinematic image. The artfully crafted film follows an astronaut who wakes up in the early morning light, explores her natural surroundings and collects objects along the way. It fits the feel of the song remarkably well.

The single is the second from Parks' upcoming album 'Pomegranate'will be released on October 25, 2024. Meehan produced the album and mixed the songs with GRAMMY-nominated engineer Mikko Gordon (Gaz Coombes, Arcade Fire). The album explores contrasting emotions: joy and heartbreak, pain and resilience. Completing the album required resilience and was a triumph for Parks himself. She says about the album: “Look – there is so much tragedy happening in the world right now. It's so easy to feel helpless. It feels smug to be someone who even sings from their own perspective. But if anything, this album is a gift of love, our contribution to the world of something beautiful that we created with so much pain. It's our message of empowerment to keep going, even when life feels unbearable and unfair – trusting that this moment will pass if you find a way to simply breathe into the next moment. When you believe that the future could really be bright…when you know that sharing your light actually has a butterfly effect, even if it's small in your community, your family, and your friends, you are capable , making a bigger impact than you realize. For a long time I felt like I never wanted to make music again. What is the point of singing? Everything is pointless. I sought refuge in painting and sat in silence for hours. There was a lot of editing involved. I am so grateful to have been given the encouragement to continue creating with sound and that is exactly what Ruari has done for me. It only seems right to give that encouragement back to others.” Ultimately, it's captivating music that will uplift and transport you. Tickets for intimate release shows in London and Brighton are available here. Enjoy.