The Rescues' AG fearlessly covers The Beatles
Tue. October 9, 2012 4:14 PM
New York, NY -
Stumbling across an artist as fearless as AG is a rare and breathtaking occurrence. Taking risks that most artists would likely shy away from seems to be a favorite hobby of hers. Mixing elements of the traditional singer-songwriter style with 80's tinges, she comes up with a blend some have compared to Feist or Metric, but manages to infiltrate ears with a signature sound that is all her own. With 8 albums under her belt, she has performed alongside artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Tegan and Sara, and Jeff Buckley.
After gaining buzz as a singer/songwriter in the LA scene, and finding her music featured on TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Ghost Whisperer, In Plain Sight, Studio 60, Men in Trees and One Tree Hill, AG put her solo career on hold and dove headfirst into the supergroup of local troubadours known as The Rescues, alongside other established songwriters Rob Giles, Kyler England, and Gabriel Mann. Signed to Universal Records, the band released the critically acclaimed Let Loose The Horses and toured nationally in support.
After The Rescues tour wrapped, AG returned to focusing on her solo material and released Me After You, a beautifully raw album. From beneath electronically influenced sonic landscapes, AG's voice rises and exposes her heart, soul, and secrets. On the title track, she invites us to see her hindsight with 20/20 vision, as she realizes she has mistakenly let go of a lover. "I know I hold the smoking gun but clearly anyone would rather be you after me, than me after you," she humbly declares - an all too relatable theme.
Now AG's voracious appetite for challenge has reared its head once again, in what she describes as the hardest thing she's ever done as an artist: putting together an EP of Beatles songs. Through a twist of fate, her publishing company ended up with the rights to the only 6 Beatles songs not owned by Sony, and the opportunity to make the songs her own while keeping the essence of The Beatles intact was simply too intriguing for an artist like AG to resist.
Perhaps it can also be attributed to fate that this year, 2012, marks the 50 year anniversary of the pivotal time when Ringo joined up with John, Paul, and George and The Beatles as we know them were born. A half century ago, the androgyny of The Fab Four made them stand out from their contemporaries, albeit while raising a few eyebrows. Now, AG's covers EP - simply titled The Beatles - is sure to similarly push the envelope with brave interpretations of well known and loved tunes.
As an out lesbian who is passionate about the rights of the gay and transgender communities, she is once again laying everything on the line with gender-bending versions of songs such as first single "I Wanna Be Your Man." Her signature 80's influenced sound is also present in the digital backing tracks on "From Me To You," challenging your body to sit still through even one listen. On "She Loves You," AG's achingly genuine voice reaches through your ears and squeezes your heart. One can only wonder if she was thinking of the girl from "Me After You" while recording this, making it deeply personal.
In addition to being a truly enjoyable listening experience, this EP is important. It shows how far we have come as an accepting, loving, creative society. And it inspires us to continue to grow, to reach the peaceful world John Lennon once dared us to imagine. Therefore it is only fitting that The Beatles will be released on Lennon's birthday, October 9th.
After gaining buzz as a singer/songwriter in the LA scene, and finding her music featured on TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Ghost Whisperer, In Plain Sight, Studio 60, Men in Trees and One Tree Hill, AG put her solo career on hold and dove headfirst into the supergroup of local troubadours known as The Rescues, alongside other established songwriters Rob Giles, Kyler England, and Gabriel Mann. Signed to Universal Records, the band released the critically acclaimed Let Loose The Horses and toured nationally in support.
After The Rescues tour wrapped, AG returned to focusing on her solo material and released Me After You, a beautifully raw album. From beneath electronically influenced sonic landscapes, AG's voice rises and exposes her heart, soul, and secrets. On the title track, she invites us to see her hindsight with 20/20 vision, as she realizes she has mistakenly let go of a lover. "I know I hold the smoking gun but clearly anyone would rather be you after me, than me after you," she humbly declares - an all too relatable theme.
Now AG's voracious appetite for challenge has reared its head once again, in what she describes as the hardest thing she's ever done as an artist: putting together an EP of Beatles songs. Through a twist of fate, her publishing company ended up with the rights to the only 6 Beatles songs not owned by Sony, and the opportunity to make the songs her own while keeping the essence of The Beatles intact was simply too intriguing for an artist like AG to resist.
Perhaps it can also be attributed to fate that this year, 2012, marks the 50 year anniversary of the pivotal time when Ringo joined up with John, Paul, and George and The Beatles as we know them were born. A half century ago, the androgyny of The Fab Four made them stand out from their contemporaries, albeit while raising a few eyebrows. Now, AG's covers EP - simply titled The Beatles - is sure to similarly push the envelope with brave interpretations of well known and loved tunes.
As an out lesbian who is passionate about the rights of the gay and transgender communities, she is once again laying everything on the line with gender-bending versions of songs such as first single "I Wanna Be Your Man." Her signature 80's influenced sound is also present in the digital backing tracks on "From Me To You," challenging your body to sit still through even one listen. On "She Loves You," AG's achingly genuine voice reaches through your ears and squeezes your heart. One can only wonder if she was thinking of the girl from "Me After You" while recording this, making it deeply personal.
In addition to being a truly enjoyable listening experience, this EP is important. It shows how far we have come as an accepting, loving, creative society. And it inspires us to continue to grow, to reach the peaceful world John Lennon once dared us to imagine. Therefore it is only fitting that The Beatles will be released on Lennon's birthday, October 9th.