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Apr 24, 2019 By Christopher Roberts Bedouine

Bedouine, the project of singer/songwriter Azniv Korkejian, is releasing a new album, Bird Songs of a Killjoy, on May 31 via Spacebomb. Now she has shared another song from the album, “Echo Park,” via a video for the track. She has also announced some more tour dates, including some opening for Jose Gonzalez. Tom Salvaggio directed the video, which was filmed in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Watch the video and check out the tour dates below.

Korkejian had this to say about the song in a press release: “‘Echo Park’ started as kind of a joke. I was annoyed that my usual café was busy and there was nowhere to sit. I turned back around to my apartment, picked up the guitar, and started riffing on the neighborhood - it ended up being a really fun tune. I love my neighborhood but the rate at which things change can make your head spin. This song is about hanging on for dear life.”

Previously Bedouine shared two songs from the album, both via videos: “When You’re Gone” (it was one of our Songs of the Week) and “Bird” (it was also one of our Songs of the Week).

Bedouine released her self-titled debut album in 2017 via Matthew E. White’s Spacebomb label. It was one of our Top 100 Albums of 2017 and one of our Top 15 Debut Albums of 2017. Gus Seyffert (Beck, Norah Jones, Michael Kiwanuka) produced Bird Songs of a Killjoy in his LA studio.

When Korkejian recorded and released her debut album she was an unknown and even some close to her weren’t aware of her talent. “After I released the first record and got a little press, all my friends said: I didn’t know you played music!” she says in the official bio for the album.

After all the attention, glowing press, tours, and late night appearances associated to the first album, Korkejian had to face up to the pressure of recording a satisfying follow-up. “The stakes do feel higher,” Korkejian admits in the bio. “The fact there are stakes to begin with! When I recorded my first record I had no idea if it would come out, and I was OK with that. It was just thoughts I needed to put down - a personal project. There’s something so beautiful in that. With the second record that feels a little compromised. I try not to get too wrapped up in how people will receive it but, whether I want to or not, that’s the reality.”

Still, with Bird Songs of a Killjoy she hasn’t radically reinvented or expanded her sound. “I don’t wanna call this a sequel,” Korkejian says. “It’s not necessarily a continuation but it’s not a departure either. There’s just so much there that I am still proud of that I didn’t want to put aside just because it came from the same time.”

Korkejian was born in Aleppo, Syria to Armenian parents, but spent her childhood in Saudi Arabia and then moved to America when her family won a Green Card lottery. She’s lived all over the U.S., including Boston, Houston, Lexington, Austin, Savannah, and Los Angeles. Musically she’s got a ‘60s/‘70s singer/songwriter vibe akin to First Aid Kit or Laura Marling, with some hints of Natalie Prass too.

Read our 2017 interview with Bedouine.

Bedouine Tour Dates:

Jun. 1 - Las Vegas NV - Emerge Music and Impact Conference
Jun. 6 - Brooklyn NY - Rough Trade
Jun. 7-8 - Sonoma CA - Huichica
Jun. 13 - Los Angeles CA - The Moroccan Lounge
Jun. 28 - Nashville TN - Musicians Corner at Centennial Park
Jul. 26 - Calgary Alberta - Calgary Folk Music Festival at Prince’s Island Park
Jul. 27 - Calgary Alberta - Calgary Folk Music Festival at Prince’s Island Park
Aug. 24 - Port Townsend, WA - Thing at McCurdy Pavilion Lawn
Aug. 25 - Denver CO - Denver Botanic Gardens *
Aug. 26 - Boulder CO - Chautauqua Auditorium *
Aug. 28 - Omaha NE - Slowdown *
Aug. 29 - Kansas City MO - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts - Helzberg Hall *
Aug. 30 - St. Louis MO - The Pageant *
Aug. 31 - Milwaukee WI - Pabst Theatre *
Sep. 7 - London UK - Queen Elizabeth Hall
Oct. 5 - Chicago IL - Schubas Tavern
Oct. 7 - Toronto ON - The Drake
Oct. 8 - Montreal QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB
Oct. 9 - Allston MA - Great Scott
Oct. 11 - Washington DC - Songbyrd
Oct. 12 - Philadelphia PA - World Cafe Live - Upstairs
Oct. 13 - Richmond VA - Richmond Music Hall
Oct. 15 - Asheville NC - The Mothlight
Oct. 18 - Minneapolis MN - The Cedar Cultural Center

* w/ Jose Gonzalez

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