Americana singer-songwriter Amilia K. Spicer releases her third album, Wow and Flutter on April 28, 2017. In the meantime to tease and whet our appetites, Spicer has premiered the music video for the single “Fill Me Up”, taken form the same album. The video clip, filmed in the very woods she explored as a child in rural Pennsylvania, features scenes of Spicer re-discovering those woods while playing the song. In a way Amilia Spicer’s songs are like attic-cleaning activities, when one discovers, reminisces and examines past experiences. The result is a most personal and engaging recording. “Fill Me Up,” has been described as Spicer’s plea to the universe to ‘fulfill’ her broken soul.
A multi-instrumentalist, Spicer delivers a poignant and thought-provoking experience. The production is bright and the highly polished instrumentation is tight, with the sound of gently thumping drums, a deep rolling bass, intense acoustic guitar licks and some inimitable harmonies to match. The sprawling musical arrangement is an excellent fit for the material involved, while Spicer’s vocals are, as you would expect, inspiring and practically flawless.
Listening to the tune, Spicer’s relationship with her past and her inner self is a wonderful way to become aware and a part of her personal and musical heritage. She has a wonderful vocal range and the song has the ability to capture your mind as well as your heart.
Its beauty and intimacy makes her songs something you will play, with a certain degree of regularity. And put together with the depth and conviction she injects into her songwriting makes Amilia Spicer almost irresistible to the ear.
It’s great to see an artist dig so deep and far back, and deliver music that can resonate with all our own experiences. Amilia Spicer gives a fine account of the most reserved, observational and confrontational aspects of her life experiences, presenting a brace of new songs with an urgency and sincerity that makes the listener feel as though they were by her side along each and every step of the way.
Spicer has recruited an all-star line-up for Wow and Flutter. Keyboardists Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers, Foo Fighters) and Mike Finnegan (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) contribute, as does Woody Guthrie disciple and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave, alongside bassist Daryl Johnson (Stones/Dylan). Guitarists Tony Gilkyson (X, Lone Justice) and Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams) appear as special guests.
MORE ABOUT AMILIA K. SPICER: When Spicer answered music’s call, she was first discovered at a Los Angeles club. That led to a rare main stage Kerrville Folk Festival debut, three Kennedy Center performances, song placements in several high-profile TV productions (Party of Five, Dawson’s Creek), and more. Spicer’s first two releases, Like an Engine and Seamless were released to critical acclaim, with New Texas Magazine calling Spicer “A formidable talent.” Spicer’s music has also earned comparisons to that of Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, and Lanois.
During the writing process for Wow and Flutter, Spicer took time to work on several other projects. Among these, she has been lauded for her contributions to Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young and A Case for Case: A Peter Case Tribute with John Prine. She also appeared on the 2009 Safety Harbor Kids Holiday Collection, alongside Jackson Browne, Sheila E, and Paul Barrere. Spicer has enjoyed other collaborations as well, most notably appearing on albums by John Gorka and the final Rounder release from the late Bill Morrissey.
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