With the release of her debut effort, Fading Light earlier this year, Dutch musician and singer/songwriter Annelotte de Graaf’s solo recording project Amber Arcades quickly rose to international attention for material that’s largely been influenced both time and the experience of it, continuity, magic, jet leg and her own dreams; in fact, being led by her dreams has informed much of de Graaf’s personal and creative life as she’s worked as a legal aide on UN war crime tribunals, while currently working in human rights law, assisting Syrian refugees, and even spending her life savings on a flight to NYC to record her debut effort Fading Lines with a carefully researched and chosen producer, Ben Greenberg, who has worked with The Men, Beach Fossils and Destruction Unit, and a studio backing band that includes Quilt‘s Shane Butler (guitar) and Keven Lareau (bass) and Real Esate‘s Jackson Pollis.
According to de Graaf, “Turning Light,” Fading Lines‘ latest single is about time, continuity and the magic in that; about being the protagonist in your own story while simultaneously being a supporting player in the lives of everyone around you and about how those roles and lines intertwine.” And as the Dutch singer/songwriter and musician explains the recently released video “captures these sentiments in a continuing movement (a.k.a. the most basic dance I could think of – and probably the only one I am capable of” and it continues throughout the video uninterrupted while locations, perspectives and even boundaries between moments fade and seem to collide into each other.
Sonically speaking, de Graaf and her backing band pair rapid fire, four-on-the-floor drumming, swirling and shimmering strings, twinkling electronics, a driving bass line and de Graaf’s ethereal vocals singing lyrics that reflect the relativistic nature of time and as a result, the woozy single manages to sound as though it draws from shoegaze and Brit pop equally.
de Graaf and a touring back will be embarking on a Stateside next month to support Fading Light and the tour begins with a NYC date at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium and continues with the band opening for indie darlings Nada Surf. Check out tour dates below.
Amber Arcades US Tour Dates:
9/14/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium
9/16/16 – Providence, RI @ The Met*
9/17/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
9/20/16 – Portsmouth, NH @ Artspace*
9/22/16 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Bar*
9/23/16 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern*
9/24/16 – Detroit, MI @ Loving Touch*
9/26/16 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House*
9/29/16 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge*
9/30/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West*
10/1/16 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn*
10/3/16 – Carboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle*
10/4/16 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle*
10/6/16 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern*
10/7/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café*
10/8/16 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar*
*w/ Nada Surf