09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
'Bewitching' LA singer-songwriter to perform live in Glasgow
Jessica Pratt will play at Saint Luke's on Monday, July 14.
The musician, who is known for her 'bewitching' acoustic guitar and vocals, will present her new album, Here in the Pitch, to Scottish fans.
This is her fourth album, which was released after a five-year hiatus.
From the opening seconds of "Life Is", the album promises to be a unique musical experience.
The album begins with a percussion roll, a departure from the usual blend of her vocals and guitar.
Ms Pratt said: "In a way, it's kind of a false flag.
"But I also feel like it's a statement of intention."
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Her team for this project included multi-instrumentalist and engineer Al Carlson, keyboardist Matt McDermott, bassist Spencer Zahn, and percussionist Mauro Refosco.
Discussing her new venture, Ms Pratt said: "Having done a studio record prior, I learned how to get to the things you want and how to communicate it to people.
"The process this time was less about exploration of a new tool and more about taking what I learned and going further."
She introduces a diverse range of instruments, including timpani and glockenspiel, baritone saxophone and flute.
This is complemented by layered vocal arrangements that deliver an uplifting mood, even in the face of melancholic lyrics.
Her inspiration for the album came from the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, but she was particularly drawn to the "atmospheric silence" in those recordings.
Describing her fascination, she explained: "There are times when you feel like you're just hearing the studio for a moment.
"Those were always so intriguing for me as a young person, feeling like you could reach out and touch the texture of the sound in the air."
Tickets for her Glasgow show are available online.
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The album explores the darker side of the Californian dream, drawing inspiration from Los Angeles' seedy history and the bleak end of the hippy era.
Ms Pratt confessed: "I spend a lot of time worrying and imagining bad things happening.
"So maybe the idea of creatively inhabiting a character who wields the power is interesting."
The final track The Last Year is reminiscent of classic compositions from the Great American Songbook.
The "pitch" in Here in the Pitch refers to both "pitch darkness" and bitumen, a black viscous substance found deep in the earth.
Despite the dark undertones, Ms Pratt's optimism shines through in her performance.
She explained the album's long creation process: "I never wanted it to take this long.
"I'm just a real perfectionist.
"I was just trying to get the right feeling, and it takes a long time to do that."
