Jenny Mitchell - Tug of War (2022)

Produced by Matt Fell, Tug of War is a deep and emotional dive, for the artist and the listener. It finds Mitchell at her most raw and honest as a storyteller while creating a musical work that’s as rich and fertile as the farming country in New Zealand where she grew up. The title, Tug of War, hints at the turmoil at the heart of the songs while the musical settings draw on inspiration from old-timey country to dark folk mountain music and classic singer-songwriter albums. The music defies easy categorisation but if you admire music by genre-defying artists from Emmylou Harris to Kasey Chambers and Jason Isbell, you are going to love Tug of War.

Mitchell explains, “Tug of War is years of writing, recording, filming and collaborating. When I reflect on the process now, this collection of songs are so much more than I initially imagined they’d be so it’s fair to say I’m very excited to be announcing the news today. Matt and I have really explored my sound and I can’t wait for people to hear that.

“Like many in their early twenties, my life has been turned inside out in the past couple of years. I’ve lost people, learnt lessons and also had some of the best moments of my life along the way. So it’s fair to say this record is a bit of a mixed bag. I feel very lucky to have created it with the incredible players and producers that I did. Counting down to July 22.”

As an adult the richness of her life experiences is reflected in the variety of topics she addresses in her songs. Mitchell is a writer with important things to say, and brave enough to say them.

Mitchell made her stage debut at four with her country-music loving father Ron at the local country music club in Gore near Invercargill in New Zealand’s south. At 14 she placed third in national TV show New Zealand’s Got Talent, a formative experience which taught her how to stand up for herself and to believe in the songs she was writing.

"Her songwriting sits well between the darkness and the light that this genre is capable of when at its very best. I was reminded of Emmy Lou Harris and The Civil Wars, even Over The Rhine," Ambient Light.

'This album gently takes a hold of you and rocks you and shakes you with equal measure. Its sophisticated, yet simple and makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. I am a huge fan of Jenny Mitchell's work and this album truly has the graceful grit we all need right now" - Fanny Lumsden