In the years between her 2009 LP “Love Remains” and her most recent full-length studio album, 2019’s “Minnesota,” folk singer-songwriter Alice Peacock released a collaborative album with country singer Danny Myrick in 2011 and a live album in 2014, but more significantly became a mother to three children. The influence of this life-changing development is apparent in the lyrical outlook of her latest release, songs from which the singer will perform when she returns to SOhO Restaurant & Music Club for an early evening performance on February 28. Speaking about her new album with the News-Press, Ms. Peacock remarked that whereas much of her past music was about personal relationships, “Minnesota” demonstrates more maturity with lyrics that she described as “a little less navel-gazing.”
“I think it’s gotten deeper and I think the subject matter is a little more universal and rich,” she said.
This lyrical maturity she said is largely due to having kids because as she put it, “Once you have kids it’s not all about you anymore.”
Though of course her life isn’t technically moving any faster than it always has, Ms. Peacock said that it feels as if it is passing by with greater speed as she gets older. Thus, the contemplative lyrics on “Minnesota” reflect a desire to “breathe it in, and slow down, if we can.” In order to slow down as her album expresses, Ms. Peacock and her family spend their summers at a wilderness camp in northern Minnesota free of technology. While spending the summer months in her home state allows her to get refocused on what matters most in life, the singer-songwriter admitted that it serves another function: Getting the kids away from screens.
The introspective tone of the “Minnesota” album also comes from Ms. Peacock doing something she had never really done before, writing songs about where she’s from. This is particularly apparent in the album’s title track, named for her home state. Currently residing in Cincinnati, OH, Ms. Peacock has lived in various places throughout America. She spent around a decade in Nashville, TN and even lived in Carpinteria for a short time in 2006 while she was recording her third studio album “Who I Am.” At this point, for her home is where her family is and Cincinnati thus more than qualifies. However, prior to having a family, places like Nashville, while enjoyable, never quite felt like home as Minnesota did. Taking a backwards glance at where she’s from may be something of a new practice for her, but Ms. Peacock suspects that it is one that will appear in her future music.
Most of her time now is spent at home with her children, but whenever she does hit the road Ms. Peacock said it is the most fun she has ever had touring. Particularly fond of Santa Barbara and the surrounding area from the time she spent here more than a decade ago, the singer-songwriter looks forward to returning and once again connecting with the local audience.
“It’ll just be great to play again and get back to the area and reconnect,” she said.
Tickets for Alice Peacock’s February 28 concert cost $12 and can be purchased online at www.sohosb.com. Doors to the venue will open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 6:30 p.m. SOhO Restaurant & Music Club is Located at 1221 State St. Ste. 205.
email: jgrega@newspress.com
