Craig Norris Byrd’s Debut Album Takes Intimacy to Another Level
The Santa Fe-based alternative folk-rock singer/songwriter Craig Norris Byrd just released his first album called Remissions. The 10 track album is a conceptual one, a purging of all life’s pain and suffering through musical expression by stories and personal narratives. He’s not afraid to sing about the topics and subjects that we avoid thinking about. “I am not so interested in publicizing what I have done, but I am interested in sharing where this album comes from,” explains Craig. “This album is a personal statement I had to get out of the way before I could move on.”
Each song on the album is a deeply personal one for Craig, but there are a few songs on the album that encompass who Craig is as an artist. The first is he song “Gina Rides a Tiger,” about his sister Gina, who lost a battle to breast cancer. While the song has an upbeat and catchy melody, it’s juxtaposed with a deeper and sadder meaning. He sang wrote and song this song for her so to soothe her. She had suffered for 11 years while continuing to go to work and live her life while being torn apart by chemo and other invasive procedures. Nobody knew outside a small circles of people that she was dying. “I want this song to be a battle cry for any woman suffering from this devastating disease as well as their loved ones and co-workers,” says Craig. “It is a reminder to consider what may be going on in a persons life if they don't seem to be good-natured and communicative as normal.”
His song “Your Bud” is about his father’s death as a result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy due to his previous football career, as well as his dementia that made it hard for Craig to reconnect with him. This song is jazzy and smooth, utilizing the saxophone and bongo drums as the beat. “Your Bud” is a reflection of his relationship to his father, who he was estranged from for many years. Craig shares, “He died with much regret and never got the chance to meet my two sons. His mental acuity steadily diminished and he met his death in a hospital when he woke up from back surgery and did not know who he was and what was going on.”
He sings about the good in his life as well, especially about his family that he created. The song “Lincoln’s Lullaby” is a soft song that only has the deliberate picking of the guitar. It’s melodic and calming. He wrote it for his son, Lincoln, who requested a lullaby. He also wrote a love song to his wife right after they got married called “Consuelo.” This is a beautiful Latin-folk ballad sung entirely in Spanish.
Listen to Remissions:
Remissions was solely composed, arranged, and produced by Craig, but features a bevy of ace musicians supporting his fine songcraft. The album’s title speaks directly to its thematic bend. He takes the personal and makes it universal. Select artistic touchstones here include Warren Zevon, Stephen Foster, Paul Simon, Damien Rice, and Byrd’s biggest influence, John Martyn, best known for his innovative work with UK folk-jazz legends Pentangle. Craig’s creativity is also informed by his passion for dance, yoga, and non-dual philosophy.
Find more on Craig Norris Byrd via:
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