Toronto-based singer-songwriter Denielle Bassels returns with Little Bit a’ Love, her first new album since 2017.
“I felt a deep longing to create something that delved even deeper into the human experience, and so Little Bit a’ Love is a collection of songs that explores themes of loss, depression, and the pursuit of purpose, all while celebrating the unwavering spirit of love,” Bassels says.
The 10-track recording features nine original songs written by Bassels (two of which were co-written with Mike Mathieson) along with a cover of “I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” from The Jungle Book.
Described as a blend of folk, swing, and blues, the album finds Bassels exploring new vocal styles and approaches to orchestration.
The album’s large lineup of musicians includes violinist Drew Jurecka; bassists Scott Hunter, Robert Lee, and Russ Boswell; guitarists Tak Arikushi, Andy Mac and Julien Bradley-Combs; clarinetist Jacob Gorzhaltsan; saxophonist Rob Christian; drummer Andrew Scott; percussionist Chendy Leon; vibraphonist Thom McKay and backing vocalist Meg Contini.
Little Bit a’ Love is the followup to Bassels’ 2017 recording What About Wool Wishbags. Seven of the 11 songs on that album went on to win songwriting awards, with “Cool Cool Water” garnering a grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Here’s the track listing:
- Little Bit a’ Love
- Pooter and Significo
- Tangled Thread
- Catch Her and She Gone
- Lazy Gazing
- Gone
- Big Bad Wold
- I Only Wanna Sing
- Fluffy the Abandoned Cottonball
- I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)
Denielle Bassels’ Little Bit a’ Love is out June 2, 2023.
