While recent global happenings might seem to inspire darker or more unsettling music, Valerie June, a Grammy-nominated americana singer-songwriter from Tennessee and a Bob Dylan enthusiast, is countering this trend with optimism. She characterizes her sixth studio album as “a bold declaration to dismantle skepticism, surveillance, and doomscrolling,” aiming for listeners to “embrace your existence. connect, weep, share…”
The uplifting track “Joyful Joy!” employs the imagery of a seed’s struggle to break through the soil as a metaphor for resilience; it conveys that “you will find joy within your soul.” Similarly, “Endless Tree,” reflects her concerns about “watching the news every evening,” yet reassures that it only takes one spark to “light up the darkness.”
Produced by M Ward alongside notable collaborators like Norah Jones and the Blind Boys of Alabama, June’s work features an eclectic mix of instrumentation ranging from her piano melodies to vibrant New Orleans brass sounds. Her distinctive vocals shine through with an unfiltered purity that feels both spontaneous and childlike; blending elements of folk, blues, gospel, soft psychedelia, and soul seamlessly throughout her songs.
“Trust the Journey,” reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” possesses a captivating charm while “All I Really Want To Do,” driven by keyboards celebrates sheer joyfulness in its essence.
The overall atmosphere is predominantly positive; however, in the enchanting track “I Am In Love,” she adopts a more contemplative tone—questioning love’s meaning with lines like “What does it signify? Are these genuine words?”—stretching each vowel into gorgeous resonance.