
A tireless creator, Suzanne Santo has built her sound in the grey area between Americana, Southern-gothic soul, and forward-thinking rock & roll. It is a sound that nods to her past—a childhood spent in the Rust Belt which is also where she learned to love a yard sale; a decade logged as a member of the L.A.-based duo HoneyHoney; the acclaimed solo album, Ruby Red, of which Paste called “shameless, self-aware dialogue that opens the door for conversation that leads to real healing;” and the world tour that took her from Greece to Glastonbury as a member of Hozier’s band—while still exploring new territory. With Yard Sale, Santo boldly moves forward, staking her claim once again as an Americana innovator. It is an album inspired by the past, written by an artist who is only interested in the here-and-now. For Suzanne Santo, the here-and-now sounds pretty good. (Suzanne Santo, 2021)
Yard Sale, the sophomore solo album from now Austin, Texas-based Suzanne Santo, is comprised of 12 songs written between Hozier rehearsals, some with Santo holing up in a farmhouse on the rural Irish coast, while others were finished during bus rides, backstage writing sessions, and hotel stays. A multi-faceted creative, fans likely know Santo from her work in musical duo HoneyHoney and from her extensive touring with the aforementioned Hozier in which she was both the opener and a band member. The Cleveland, Ohio-born artist’s creative output also extends to the screen, having had acting roles in several series and features. Recently, Santo released Yard Sale’s third single “Save For Love.” It is available on all streaming platforms by clicking here. Yard Sale releases August 27 via Soundly Music.
The album presents Santo at the very top of her game musically, writing her own string arrangements and singing each song in an agile, acrobatic voice—perhaps in part due to the cathartic making-of process and what that has meant for her professionally and personally. At times, she bridges the gap between indie-rock and neo-soul. On other tracks, she mixes gospel influences with a deconstructed R&B beat. Fans will hear layers of spacey, atmospheric electric guitar and Shakey Graves on a rainy-day ballad driven forward by a metronomic drum pattern, and Gary Clark Jr. punctuating with fiery fretwork. Both Shakey Graves and Gary Clark Jr. represent Santo’s commitment to and respect for Austin’s musical community. Realizing that there is more than just tequila in the water in Texas, Santo’s move to Austin and this album is the musical equivalent of a homeowner’s purging of old possessions in order to clear up some much-needed room.
The album’s first single “Bad Beast” is also available for listening on all DSPs and by clicking here, and finds Santo wrestling creativity out of a particularly gripping bout with insomnia. “Common Sense,” the album’s second single, was released in June, and is also available for streaming by clicking here.
Yard Sale Track listing:
1. Over and Over Again
2. Mercy
3. Gold Rush
4. Save For Love
5. Bad Beast
6. Since I Had Your Love
7. Afraid Of Heights
8. Fall For That
9. Common Sense
10. To No End
11. Idiot
12. Island
On tour:
August 25 – The Kessler w/ Arlo McKinley – Dallas, TX
August 27 – Album release show @ Antone’s – Austin, TX
September 8 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
September 13 – Holler On The Hills Festival at Hi-Fi – Indianapolis, IN
September 28 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA^
September 29 – Sessions Music Hall – Eugine, OR^
September 30 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR^
October 2 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA^
October 3 – Neurolux Lounge – Boise, ID^
October 4 – The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT^
October 9 – Wildwood Revival – Arnoldsville, GA
November 5 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT* – SOLD OUT
November 6 – Big Night Live – Boston, MA*
November 7 – Colony – Woodstock, NY
November 10 – Southern – Charlottesville, VA* – SOLD OUT
November 11 – Black Cat – Washington, DC*
November 12 – Otto Bar – Baltimore, MD*
November 13 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA*
November 14 – Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, OH* – SOLD OUT
November 16 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL*
*with Murder By Death
^supporting Jade Bird
days
hours minutes seconds
until
Yard Sale release date