Is the ability to shatter a person’s heart into tiny little pieces with three part harmonies a recognized super power? It should be and the trio of Aoife O’ Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins (collectively ‘I’m With Her‘) should get their own comic book or Marvel movie series or something, because my hearts in pieces on the floor after listening to the new single “Little Lies” a few times.
While the three songwriter/instrumentalists have known each other for a long while, we finally got this magical collaboration “officially” in 2015 with a run of dates and festival appearances that solidified the trio as a thing…and a damn good thing at that. I ran into Aoife last summer at Newport Folk and asked about what was going on with the trio. They had retreated to a cabin in the Northeast for a bit to write and sadly fell somewhat silent as a group for much of 2016, until earlier this year with announcements performing as “American Acoustic” in collaboration with Punch Brothers and Julian Lage. At that point in time during NFF, O’Donovan was a bit stonefaced and tight lipped saying only that something would be coming, in time. The three have been busy own their own, but it seems that it is finally time…
Though this track is led by Aoife, technically speaking, the blending and interwoven elements from each of the three members on this new track can’t be stressed enough. Its those little moments in “Little Lies” that hit you the hardest if you listen in and let them wash over you. The chest fluttering lightness that is induced by their three voices when they interact and dance around one another. Watkin’s effortless fiddle lines that soar and the light picking of Jarosz’s octave mandolin that sits just above the acoustic guitar creation for a sonic carousel of gorgeous sound. Playful and jubilant. Beautiful and sorrowful at times but with a light that lifts you up just a bit. Inspired.
The live session (hopefully) marks the beginning of even more new music to come from the band. There is a pre-order link on their website for an EP comprised of this song alongside 5 other tracks recorded live in December, 2015 at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Get it.