NEW ALBUM SATURN RETURN
RELEASED TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Grammy-nominated duo The Secret Sisters were featured on “CBS This Morning” this past weekend as part of their “Saturday Sessions” series performing three songs from their critically acclaimed new album, Saturn Return: “Late Bloomer,” “Nowhere Baby” and “Hold You Dear.” Both new mothers, the real-life sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers filmed the performance at Laura’s home in Green Hill, AL in honor of Mother’s Day.
Produced by Brandi Carlile, Tim Hanseroth and Phil Hanseroth, Saturn Return was released earlier this year on New West Records (stream/purchase here) and continues to receive widespread critical acclaim:
“spilling over with heart and hard-won wisdom”—★★★★1/2 AllMusic
“sumptuous harmonies and introspective songs”—★★★★American Songwriter
“there’s no doubt that The Secret Sisters, and their famed production
and musical support team, have tapped into a well, secret sauce that makes this
beautifully conceived, often introspective but never insular rootsy folk and pop so unique
and immediately likeable”—American Songwriter
“poignant, vivid, and simply beautiful…reveals two women at the
top of their crafts, reveling in their independence while cherishing the inimitable depth of
their voices together”—The Bluegrass Situation
“their most powerful record to date…brilliantly written and performed”—The Boot
“achingly lovely”—The Boston Globe
“their finest album yet”—Entertainment Weekly
“Saturn Return is an absolute triumph on every level”—Folk Alley
“gorgeous close-harmony Americana”—The New York Times
“few cast a more powerful spell than Alabama’s Laura and Lydia Rogers, who
excel at delivering emotionally charged songs with soothing poise, creating an arresting
mix of unsettling messages and luminous sounds.”—No Depression
“Saturn Return is thoroughly compelling, addressing universal concerns with thoughtful eloquence…their well-tuned sense of empathy is deeply comforting.”—No Depression
“the underrated success story of 2020 country…there’s so much warmth and
wisdom to be found in these songs, which beg repeated listens, unveiling more
thought-provoking messages each time I hear them”—Paste
“that blood harmony that Laura and Lydia Rogers possess will give you chills”—Refinery29
“the stunning country-soul opus their talent has always promised”—★★★★ Rolling Stone
“The effortlessness with which the Secret Sisters articulate their musical
emotions places Saturn Return among recent country roots gems from songwriters
like Jason Isbell and Pistol Annies.”—Rolling Stone
“Saturn Return is built on those moments of quiet fury, intimacy,
and confession—of finding their place, of learning how to find balance in a world that is anything but. They sing of struggle, of aging, of coming to terms with the realities of life both beautiful and cruel.”—Rolling Stone
“The Secret Sisters gets taken to the next level
with…Saturn Return.”—Wide Open Country
Recorded at Carlile’s home studio in Washington state, the album features Laura and Lydia singing individually for the first time instead of relying solely on their trademark harmonies—something Carlile challenged them to do. Carlile comments, “It’s really uniquely unified and harmonious when they’re in tandem and very tumultuous and deep when they’re not in tandem and I think for a brief, beautiful moment on this album we caught The Secret Sisters not in tandem for the first time.” She continues, “To be a harbinger for their honesty in these songs and to watch them work together to see the tension was one of the greatest gifts of my career because those are two very powerful people in a very interesting point in their lives.”
Named after the astrological occurrence that takes place approximately every 29 ½ years, the album heralds the arrival of a new era for Laura and Lydia—both of whom experienced extreme change and transformation during the making of the record. Grappling with the grief of losing both grandmothers, while also both becoming first-time mothers, the sisters reflect on their world view, relationships and own mortality through the album’s ten songs.
Of the album, the sisters share,
“As we age, we face obstacles that are beyond our control. Some forces are internal: insecurity, anxiety, fear. Some are external: the loss of loved ones, an unjust system and the fragility of time. Yet the mark of maturity is how you respond when you realize you’re not in control. Where do you find your resilience?
This album is a reflection of us coming to terms with how to find our power in the face of an unfair world. These songs lead listeners past ‘where happy man searches, to a place only mad women know.’ We question our purpose, our relationships, our faith. Trading the fears of our youth for the dread that rages within us as mature women.
With Saturn Return, our hope is that women can feel less alone in their journey through the modern world. We need each other more than we ever have; the less competition and the more inclusiveness and understanding, the better. We are southern women in the 21st century, convicted by our beliefs.”
Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL, The Secret Sisters have released three acclaimed full-length albums since debuting in 2010 including their most recent, 2017’s You Don’t Own Me Anymore, which was produced by Carlile and the Hanseroth twins and received a nomination for Best Folk Album at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
SATURN RETURN TRACK LIST
1. Silver
2. Late Bloomer
3. Cabin
4. Hand Over My Heart
5. Fair
6. Tin Can Angel
7. Nowhere, Baby
8. Hold You Dear
9. Water Witch
10. Healer In The Sky