HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
ANNOUNCE INCISIVE AND TIMELY CONCEPT ALBUM ‘THE NAVIGATOR’ OUT 10 MARCH ON ATO RECORDS
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “RICAN BEACH” VIA PITCHFORK
2017 INTERNATIONAL HEADLINING TOUR ANNOUNCED
On Hurray for the Riff Raff’s new album The Navigator (March 10/ATO Records), Alynda Segarra tells an interwoven, cinematic story of a wandering soul at a crossroads of identity and ancestral weight. It finds a street kid named Navita traversing a perpetually burning city in search of herself. ‘The Navigator’ is a thrilling call to arms that could not come at a more crucial time. It also finds Hurray for the Riff Raff at its own musical intersection, delving deep into the worlds of Latin rhythms, searing rock, and incisive ballads. Watch the lyric video for ‘Rican Beach’ below
The Navigator was produced by Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Devendra Banhart) and recorded at Electric Lady Studios in NYC and Panoramic House in California. The album features percussionists Juan-Carlos Chaurand, Gregory Rogove (Rodrigo Amarante), a trio of Bomba drummers, and Doo Wop singers from New Jersey.
The 12 original songs were inspired by Segarra’s own journey from the South Bronx to the downtown punk scene and beyond, in search of her identity. She looked to poetry including Pedro Pietri’s ‘Puerto Rican Obituary’ and the Nuyorican Cafe, the singer-songwriter Rodriguez, Puerto Rican activist groups the Young Lords and the Ghetto Brothers, Fania Records and more.
Lead single “Rican Beach” addresses the gentrification of the South Bronx and the co-opting of Puerto Rican culture in NYC and beyond. The razor-sharp rock of “Living In The City” tells the story of a city on fire, inhospitable to the marginalized. “Hungry Ghost” is an introspective anthem about Navita trying to find her voice. “Nothing’s Gonna Change That Girl” foreshadows the emergence of The Navigator, a super heroine that saves her people from a dystopian future by reconnecting them with their ancestors and pride.
Says Alynda: The significance of releasing this video on the day the Army Corps of Engineers plans to evict the water protectors of Standing Rock does not escape me. I think of the water protectors and I think of the people of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico who are demanding an end to the AES dumping of coal ash which leads to water contamination.
All over the world there are heroes, who, despite suffering generations of oppression, are protecting the land and the future of our humanity. Rican Beach is a fictional place, but it was written with my ancestors in mind. It’s time to call on yours and to always remember: this land was made for you and me.
Hurray for the Riff Raff will tour extensively in 2017 and today announce a spring tour in support of the album. Full list of dates below. Tickets go on sale Friday Dec 9 at 10am on Wednesday 7th Dec.
Tour dates:
January 18 – London UK – Sebright Arms
January 19 – Newcastle UK – Cluny 2
January 20 – Glasgow UK – Celtic Connections at Drygate
January 21- Bristol UK – The Lantern
January 24 – Amsterdam ML – Paradiso, Upstairs
March 20 – Leeds – Brudenell
March 21 – Manchester UK – Deaf Institute
March 22 – London UK – The Dome
March 23 – Winchester UK – The Railway Inn
March 25 – Brighton UK – Sticky Mikes
The Navigator is currently available at the band’s official store, iTunes and Amazon for fans to pre-order with an immediate download of “Rican Beach.” The PledgeMusic pre-order features exclusive items including autographed CD and vinyl, one of a kind lyric sheets, and deluxe bundles.
PledgeMusic: http://smarturl.it/TheNavigator-Official
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TheNavigator-iTunes
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TheNavigator-Amazon
Listen to “Rican Beach” on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/hftrr-spotify
Track list:
1. Entrance
2. Living in the City
3. Hungry Ghost
4. Life to Save
5. Nothing’s Gonna Change That Girl
6. The Navigator
7. Halfway There
8. Rican Beach
9. Fourteen Floors
10. Settle
11. Pa’lante
12. Finale
http://www.hurrayfortheriffraff.com/
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