Jordan Klassen Shares “Live Another Life” From Upcoming Album, Marginalia
Following last month’s launch of the groove-laden lead single, “Cocoon,” acclaimed BC-based singer-songwriter and producer, Jordan Klassen, is thrilled to now announce the forthcoming release of his new album, Marginalia. Arriving October 20, the album serves as a companion piece to his 2022 release, Glossolalia. Pre-save Marginalia here and pre-order the album on vinyl here.
When Klassen set out to write Glossolalia, he tapped into a new creative well. In the midst of recording the record, he found himself continuing to write, coming away from the process with two distinct yet complementary bodies of work. Marginalia now rounds out the collection from this period. Composing Glossolalia mostly with guitar, Klassen created a subtly blossoming record that perhaps nailed his “fairy folk for troubled times” approach better than ever before. The arrangements on Glossolalia were reduced to the bare essentials to support his voice with minimal production. While troubles are not a thing of the past, times are now different, and thus, Marginalia is the other side of the musical coin: smoother, fuller, and more elegant than its predecessor.
While not “folky”, Marginalia is poetic like its sister record, but more melodic and less stripped down than what Klassen has produced before. From the contemplative opener, “You, Yourself,” which pulls lines from an orthodox prayer to the emotional closer, “Vanya,” a song written as a gift to his sister during a season of hardship, Klassen once again has impressively demonstrated his ability to evoke an incredibly deep poetic auditory experience.
Songs primarily are led from piano with sweeping orchestral arrangements. Diverse keyboard tones are used to move songs forward while also setting an emotional atmosphere, perhaps best expressed in Old Flame. Klassen writes about his sobering awareness that he has spent “Half my existence pushed out on a ledge,” as he acknowledges the persistence of his own mental battles. One can easily visualize the songwriter recognizing the emotional power of memories, like a bad relationship that still has power over him even as he tries to break free. The newly released track, “Live Another Life,” continues the expression of emotional struggle with intrusive thoughts that haunt the songwriter and tell a different narrative where “All the conversations (are) never true).”
“This song is about my own struggle with mental illness,” reflects Klassen. “With intrusive thoughts often one can start to believe a completely different narrative about who they are and what they value, it’s like living another life in your head.”
“Live Another Life” features stirring additional vocals from fellow BC artist, Alexandria Maillot – an atmospheric track highlighted by evocative storytelling lyrics and warm, muted piano.
With this new body of work, Klassen’s ultimate message is that what feels intangible can be revealed by peering into the marginalia. The sacred is manifested all around us, “in touch and taste and smell,” there for us to discover if we look for it.
Look for more to be revealed of Marginalia soon, and tune in to “Live Another Life” below.
Upcoming Shows:
September 15 – Delta, BC – Barnside Harvest Festival
October 4 – Kelowna, BC – Benvoulin Church
October 5 – Rossland, BC – Flying Steamshovel
October 7 – Calgary, AB – King Eddy
October 8 – Red Deer, AB – Red Hart Brewing
October 11 – Winnipeg, MB – WECC
October 12 – Saskatoon, SK – The Capitol
October 13 – Regina, SK – Artesian
October 14 – Edmonton, AB – The Aviary
October 15 – Kamloops, BC – Effie Arts Collective
October 19 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
*more to be announced soon*