JJ Slater spent ten weeks in Taos NM creating this new batch of songs. He took the opportunity of a Residency at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation where the artists live in an adobe casita working on their craft. The foundation has welcomed visual artists, literary artists and musical composers to Taos since 1954. The results of this stay are a compelling argument for “getting away” from your comfort zone and your day to day routines.
JJ starts the segment off with an in-studio version of “One More Ride” which happens to be the first song composed for this collection. The album is a new approach by Slater to create a narrative song cycle rather than distinct songs. The songs are playful and catchy yet a soft and smoky vibe dominates throughout. That vibe is established in the first album cut which we hear in the segment called “In the Cool Salida Breeze”. The song chronicles the themes that the song cycle ties together. The fictional character leaves home and heads to a Colorado motel and undergoes a creative awakening. As the narrative progresses, the musical mood changes over the nine tracks. JJ Slater has chosen the “motel metaphor” partly because of his experience as a touring musician. The motel has different occupants with different story lines every night. His characters throughout use the hotel as a recurring vacation destination or a place of refuge or even a short term living space.
The resulting songs from the Taos retreat were recorded in part through a Mass Cultural Council grant in 2023. The album was recorded in Northampton at SideTrack Studios with JJ Slater on vocals and guitar. He is joined by Dan Bisson on bass and Kevin Mason on drums with additional contributions from Tobey Sol La Roche and Lexi Weege.
We finish the segment with “The Time is Finally Right” which coincidentally concludes ‘The Silver Key’.
JJ Slater is also a member of Signature Dish with his partner Lexi Weege. They tour widely throughout the US and are releasing new songs under that duo. JJ is currently writing a new song cycle album, some of which may be heard at live gigs. JJ Slater and Lexi Weege as Signature Dish will be playing on May 9 at Easthampton’s New City Brewery. The event will be a fundraiser for touring transportation!
Nine Volt Heart 