THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kelly Jamieson considers himself a late bloomer as a singer-songwriter, but since the Toronto artist released his self-titled debut album in 2015, he has fully dedicated himself to the craft, and has slowly but consistently been building an impressive body of work that ranges from deftly executed heartland rock to lush balladry.
Jamieson displays that diversity once again on his third full-length collection, Too Close To The Sun, made in collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Craig Smith, who also helmed Jamieson’s 2020 album Pure Gold. Work on Too Close To The Sun commenced in early 2022 at Smith’s studio in Collingwood, Ontario, with a crew that also included drummer John Hall, and contributions from Austin keyboardist Jay Stiles. Jamieson credits Smith for having an overall vision for the record, while simultaneously not imposing any creative restrictions.
“The entire recording process was a super fun experience,” Jamieson says. “I brought around 20 songs to go through. I tend to write in all different styles, so with Craig we played through the tunes. We were able to put together seven that seemed to fit well together and we worked to create the sonic footprint that would serve the songs best.”
Many of those songs were inspired by the personal stories of people in Jamieson’s life, specifically the title track, which Jamieson wrote after encountering a friend who was living life dangerously fast and hard. Conversely, the psychedelic-tinged Sky was written as a positive message to Jamieson’s first niece upon her arrival on the planet. Other tracks such as When The River Turns To Dust and Heroes simply offer stadium-level roots rock in the tradition of Tom Petty and Drive-By Truckers.
“My songwriting journey is still relatively new,” Jamieson admits, “but with the experience I’ve gained over the past 10 years, I am finding it easier to be more open and honest in my writing, and to craft the songs in a way to make a strong connection with the listener.”
He adds, “I believe that good songs will come along in time if you just keep writing. My songwriting heroes are all master storytellers who can make you feel as if you’re standing inside the song. Aside from that, they can all deliver a beautiful fingerpicked ballad or a tearjerker, while banging out a rocker on the next track. I hope my work reflects that kind of versatility.”
Indeed, Too Close To The Sun is a significant step forward for Jamieson, seven songs that showcase an innate ability to touch our souls while also allowing us to get lost in the groove.”
