Last Friday, New Zealand/Aotearoa’s Georgia Lines released her stunning debut album, The Rose of Jericho. This record is bound together by stunning vocals and mature, well-crafted songwriting drawn from life experiences. Lush instrumentation, with piano and sparkly synths to the fore, permeates throughout this gem.
The album was written over two years in response to some very difficult times faced by Georgia. Although it may be borne from heartache and grief, it is steeped in beauty, vulnerability, and nostalgia. It’s a cracking first album from an exceptional singer/songwriter.
They recorded The Rose of Jericho over a four-week period, with Nic Manders on production duties. Georgia and Nic brought in some of the finest local musicians to help out and add their sparkle. There were also a number of co-writers on the album, including Leroy Clampitt, Whakaio Taahi, Ricky Manning, Djeisan Suskov, Teeks, Nic Manders, Drew Pearson, Alex Austin, Lara Frew and Phoebe Sinclair.
So what is ‘The Rose of Jericho’? Georgia gives us the answer: “The Rose of Jericho is a flower that can survive in the desert; it can endure months of dehydration. However, when it is put back into water, it comes back to life. The name felt like the perfect way to signify my journey, one that I will look back on in 20 years’ time and see the collection of songs, The Rose Of Jericho, as the time when I wrote an album that helped me heal, process, and brought me back to life.”
The album’s care and attention to detail add to its beauty. Each subsequent listen reveals layers that might not have been apparent previously. Her lyrics are poignant and vivid, delivered with emotive vocals supported by classy instrumentation.
Georgia shares about the process: “It was such a privilege to work with Nic Manders on this record, and throughout the entire process has always felt like the perfect partnership for this body of work. His care, intention and delicacy that he approached the songs with, paired with his absolute musical wizardry was something that I really loved and admired and was deeply grateful to play a huge part of the record. For both Nic Manders and I, who we chose to collaborate with was a crucial aspect of the album’s creation.
We approached each addition to the project with careful consideration, understanding that every person brought into the fold could shift its direction. This wasn’t necessarily a negative aspect, similar to choosing colours to paint with, but rather a deliberate choice to maintain the album’s integrity and coherence. Teeks’ involvement in the duet is a perfect example of this this approach. His presence created a safe space for sharing and writing the song that needed to be written, bringing another layer of authenticity and depth to the project.”
The lead single from the album is the beautiful “Grand Illusion”. The video clip was shot in the stunning Auckland Art Gallery, where Georgia plays a rather splendid grand piano. Strings add some old-world charm, and her soaring vocals are front and centre as she sings of the grand illusion of life: “Grand Illusion reflects on the struggle and desire to create a meaningful life amidst distractions and illusions. All whilst longing for authenticity and finding comfort in embracing both beauty and pain.”
There are so many highlights on the album. The opener, “Grow Old Without You” has Rufus Wainwright gravitas. The duet with TEEKS on “Not By Your Side” is majestic.
The final single to be released earlier last month was “Wayside”, a track we’ve been enjoying since release. With a driving rhythm section complemented by powerhouse vocals and stacked harmonies it has an uplifting and inspiring message to keep going, despite the obstacles which might be in your way.
The Rose of Jericho from Georgia Lines is out now. It’s available on all streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music
You can also buy the CD, vinyl and the digital album from her Bandcamp HERE.
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