Lilly Hiatt is set to release Walking Proof on March 27th via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by former Cage The Elephant member Lincoln Parish (Lucinda Williams, Lissie) and features guest appearances by Amanda Shires, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Luke Schneider, and Lilly’s father, the legendary singer-songwriter John Hiatt. John’s appearance on “Some Kind Of Drug,” marks the first time the pair have appeared together on one of her records. Walking Proof is the anticipated follow up to Lilly’s breakthrough Trinity Lane, which appeared on many year-end “Best Of 2017” lists including NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and more. Lilly also received an “Emerging Act of the Year” nomination from the Americana Music Association.
Today, PopMatters has premiered the album highlight “P-Town.” They state, “It is a quintessential Hiatt tune: elements of jangle and twang intermingle with loud, flesh-raising rock ‘n’ roll and lyrical forthrightness. It shows, in sharp relief, the difference between an emerging artist and one who has arrived.” Hear the song HERE.
Rolling Stone Country previously premiered the video for the album track “Brightest Star.” The publication says “Brightest Star” is “…an irresistible slice of jangle-rock…” and “It’s an empowering song, about walking through life’s darkest moments of insecurity and self-doubt.” See the Joshua Britt & Neilson Hubbard-directed video HERE.
Following a whirlwind year of touring in support of Trinity Lane, and stripped of the daily rituals and direction of life on the road, Lilly found herself alone with her thoughts for the first time in what felt like ages. “When you’re out there on the road, you’re just kind of living, and you don’t have the chance to stop and think about how everything you’re experiencing is affecting you,” Lilly says. “When I got home, I realized there was a lot I needed to catch up on.” She did what’s always come most natural to her in times of questioning and uncertainty: she picked up a guitar.
As rewarding as Trinity Lane’s success was, the collection came from an emotionally challenging place, and Lilly found herself frequently revisiting the hurt and struggle that inspired it as she spoke candidly to the press about her painful breakup, her struggles with sobriety, and the overwhelming sadness of her mother’s suicide. Rather than succumbing to the weight of it all, Lilly managed to emerge stronger and more serene from the experience, treating it as a foundation from which she could begin the essential work of re-examining her relationships and the world around her. “When I got that little gap in my schedule, it gave me the chance to appreciate some mental stillness,” Lilly says. “I can be a pretty anxious person, but I found a sense of peace by deconstructing all of these interactions and emotions I’d experienced and reconfiguring them into songs. It helped me make sense of everything and learn to relax.”
The resulting eleven songs found on Walking Proof walk the line between Lilly’s rough, rock and roll exterior and her tender, country roots, exuding a bold vulnerability as she takes a deep and unflinching look in the mirror. What emerges is a maturity in her writing, an abiding sense of calm in the face of chaos as she learns that sometimes, you have to let go in order to get what you want most.
Lilly Hiatt has also announced her initial tour dates in support of Walking Proof, launching April 2nd in Atlanta, GA. Please see all dates below.
Walking Proof will be available on compact disc, across digital platforms, and standard black vinyl. A Limited Edition Translucent Turquoise Vinyl Pressing featuring a Black & White 12×12 insert of the cover artwork will be available at Independent Retailers. A limited to 500 copies edition autographed by Lilly Hiatt will feature One-Of-A-Kind Random Colored Vinyl, a Black & White 12×12 cover artwork insert, and a box of colored pencils is available for pre-order now via NEW WEST RECORDS.
Lilly Hiatt On Tour:
April 2nd – Atlanta, GA Vinyl
April 3rd – Charlotte, NC Free Range Brewery
April 4th – Durham, NC The Pinhook
April 5th – Richmond, VA Richmond Music Hall
April 6th – Washington, DC Union Stage
April 7th – Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
April 8th – Brooklyn, NY Rough Trade
April 10th – Hamden, CT Space Ballroom
April 11th – Boston, MA Great Scott
April 14th – Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
April 15th – Chicago, IL Schubas
April 16th – Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe
April 17th – Bowling Green, KY Tidball’s
April 18th – Nashville, TN Basement East
April 23rd – Little Rock, AR White Water Tavern
April 24th – Houston, TX Mucky Duck
April 25th – Austin, TX Mohawk
April 26th – Dallas, TX Three Links
April 30th – Denver, CO Globe Hall
May 1st – Fort Collins, CO The Armory
May 2nd – Manitou Springs, CO Lulu’s Downstairs
May 4th – Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar
May 5th – San Diego, CA Soda Bar
May 7th – Los Angeles, CA Moroccan Lounge
May 8th – San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord
May 9th – Redding, CA The Dip
May 12th – Portland, OR Doug Fir
May 13th – Seattle, WA Sunset Tavern
May 14th – Prosser, WA Brewminatti
May 15th – Boise, ID Olympic
May 16th – Hailey, ID The Mint
May 20th – Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
May 21st – Madison, WI High Noon
May 22nd – Iowa City, IA The Mill
July 18th – Whitefish, MT Under The Big Sky Festival
