Talking about the video, Tami said: “This song is all sass and strut and I wanted the visuals to represent a celebration of not giving a damn about people’s judgements and how freeing that is. I love that this was created by a team of badass females – from Annie and Morgan directing and producing, to the girl-squad of my dreams The O’Neill Twins dancing the hell out of it, to artist Maree Robinson who painted the 1950s-musical-meets-Stepford-wives grocery aisle backdrop, I was surrounded by incredibly talented, strong, confident, creative women and that’s a sure-fire recipe for shutting down your local gossip chain!”

Director Anna Duckworth shares: “We were inspired by old Hollywood musicals where the setting was obviously a stage but the performances were so charismatic it didn’t matter. In this musical Tami is the 1960’s Stepford wife turned sassy rabble-rouser and feminist hero. The local supermarket being a hub of gossip, the birthplace of rumour, the home of busy bodies is the perfect setting for this defiant anthem.

Flanked by her girl gang, Tami takes to the shopping aisle to make a stand. She slowly makes her way down the aisle talking loudly with her squad about being sick of the judgement and double standards. But of course, because this is a musical, Tami is singing her frustrations and her gals are dancing up a storm.”

For the past decade, the Canadian-born, New Zealand-based singer/songwriter has been the queen of her adopted homeland’s country and roots music scenes. She picked up handful of Best Country Album awards at the New Zealand Music Awards and won the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll for excellence in songwriting.

With her new album, SASSAFRASS!  Neilson takes a giant step that should only bring her more widespread acclaim. On this 11-track effort, she places a heavier emphasis on soul music while not abandoning her country and rockabilly roots. Neilson conjures up a wonderfully retro style that sounds like it could be a lost gem from the late ’50s or early ’60s; however, beneath the classic veneer are frank, highly relevant lyrics.

Neilson characterizes her new album as a “mouthy lovechild of the current social climate and my own experiences as a woman, mother and daughter.” The songs address the obstacles she has faced simply because she is a female. “It’s also my attempt,” she shares, “at challenging a society that doesn’t yet treat women equally in order to shape a better future for my children.”

Neilson’s confident vocals are undoubtedly abetted by her being surrounded by familiar collaborators. She co-produced SASSAFRASS! with Ben Edwards, the co-producer of her last two critically acclaimed albums, Dynamite! and Don’t Be Afraid. Backing her up in the studio was her talented band, the Hot Rockin’ Band of Rhythm: Joe McCallum (drums), Mike Hall (bass), Brett Adams (guitar) and Neil Watson (guitar and pedal steel), who have toured with her around the globe over the past three years. A brass section and strings enhance the album’s classic qualities.  

Don’t miss Tami Neilson on her European tour in August and September – dates below.

TAMI NEILSON SASSAFRASS! EUROPEAN TOUR 2018
25 AUG: Tønder (DK) @ Tønder Festival
26 AUG: Tønder (DK) @ Tønder Festival
28 AUG: Leiden (NL) @ Q-Bus
29 AUG: Deventer (NL) @ Burgerweeshuis
30 AUG: Lier (BE) @ Ripspique
03 SEP: Paris (FR) @ Boule Noire
04 SEP: London (UK) @ Bush Hall – with Luke Winslow-King
06 SEP: Zaragoza (ESP) @ Rock & Blues
07 SEP: Madrid (ESP) @ El Sol
08 SEP: Valencia (ESP) @ Loco Club
09 SEP: Barcelona (ESP) @ Rocksound
11 SEP: Bonn (DE) @ Harmonie
12 SEP: Berlin (DE) @ Roadrunners Paradise
13 SEP: Frankfurt (DE) @ Das Bett
14 SEP: Hamburg (DE) @ Nochtspeiche