Lullaby Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2012
 
MARTHA’S TROUBLE TO RELEASE ALBUM OF LULLABIES ON MAY 8, 2012
(Just In Time For Mother’s Day!)
 
Album Recording And Promotion Fully Funded
By Kickstarter Campaign
 
“Dreamland has come and it is peaceful, it’s where imaginations fly.
These safe and loving arms that keep you, will always be by your side.”
– “Goodnight Sweet Child” by Martha’s Trouble
 
Indie folk duo Martha’s Trouble (Rob and Jen Slocumb) has completed its album of lullabies for children.  Set for release on May 8, 2012 (just in time for Mother’s Day!), the album is entitled “A Little Heart Like You.”  Featuring 10 songs (see full track listing below), the album includes four original songs, four traditional songs, one “mash-up” (of “You Are So Beautiful” and Brahm’s Lullaby,” dubbed “Slocumb’s Lullaby”), and one song that includes three bedtime prayers put to music.  Also to be featured in the package alongside the lyrics will be custom illustrations from Vickey Wheeler (an artist based in Birmingham, AL) to create a piece that melds music and art together that is visually enjoyable for kids (and parents too).  Produced by Chris Rosser (who also played on the album) and Martha’s Trouble, the album was recorded in both Asheville, NC and Auburn, AL.  The duo created a very organic, acoustic record, utilizing soothing, calming instruments and repetitive beats (with only hand percussion such as djembe, cajon, kanjira, and frame drum) for a sound that is both feel-good and relaxing.
 
“There are a lot of great lullabies out there that have been around for years that people just don’t know about anymore,” says Jen Slocumb, half of the husband-and-wife group.  “It’s kind of like a lost art form to me.  It’s something that’s been overlooked, and it’s been around for centuries — parents singing to their kids.  We wanted to bring back lullabies and create something beautiful and relaxing to listen to.  After we decided to do this CD, I’ve had a lot parents say to me, ‘I’m so glad you are doing this because when I put my kids to sleep, I don’t know what to sing to them.’”
 
The project has been funded via a Kickstarter campaign which was held in early 2012 and raised over $10,000 to cover the cost of recording and promoting the album.  Many of those offering financial support to the Auburn, AL-based duo were area businesses.  The local Arts Association has also been extremely supportive of Martha’s Trouble and this project in particular.
 
Says Jen of the album:  “Since we’ve been touring the country for years, I’ve had mothers come up to me all the time and say, ‘My child knows your voice,’ ‘We play your music for my children and it calms them down.’ We’ve been asked time and time again, ‘When are you going to do a children’s CD?’ Well, this is it.  These are the songs that we sing to our kids and have since they were babies.  The Martha’s Trouble lullaby album is a collection of music that works not only for babies, but for older children as well. In this busy world that our kids are growing up in, we all need a little peace and we hope that this music will bring a little of that to children at bedtime.”
 
The duo plans to embark on a summer tour in support of the new album (tour dates will be announced later this spring).  Martha’s Trouble most recently completed the “At Your House” concert tour in the fall of 2011, which saw them performing at house concerts ranging across the East Coast and Southeast.  The “At Your House” tour was in support of their most recent release, “Anchor Tattoo,” which was released in February 2011.  “Anchor Tattoo” was the band’s tenth self-released record and the follow up to “Forget October,” which came out five years prior.   Said Billboard of the record:  “With its 10th album, ‘Anchor Tattoo,’ the Alabama-based husband-and-wife duo Martha’s Trouble continues to intensify the mystery as to why it remains a hidden gem.”
 
“A Little Heart Like You” track listing:
Goodnight Sweet Child
Slocumb’s Lullaby
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
You Are My Sunshine
A Little Heart Like You
Precious Love
Bedtime Prayer
Hush Little Baby
Jesus Loves Me
Special To Me
www.marthastrouble.com
www.facebook.com/marthastrouble
www.twitter.com/marthastrouble
www.reverbnation.com/marthastrouble
 
For more information contact: 
Krista Mettler / Skye Media & Design
skyemedia@comcast.net

About this time last week we were about 9 hours into day 2 of what would be a 14 hour mix session.  After a few rounds of revisions we are happy to say that as we write this post the final mixes are playing in the background and we could not be more pleased!

Last Friday we started to make our way to Asheville, NC for the weekend.  After a stop in Atlanta, and then short recording session with the dobro player (Will Staughan) via Skype in the car (how cool is that!) we stopped in Greenville, SC for the night.  Greenville is one of our favorite small cities in the south, so of course we had to go out for dinner on Main St. in Greenville. We will be back soon!

The next morning we hit the road early to get to Asheville for our 10am mix session. The next 48hrs would consist of listening, listening, coffee run, and more listening.  Working with our producer and friend, Chris Rosser who is also an extraordinary multi-instrumentalist (www.freeplanetradio.com) is always so much fun and that makes the long days so much easier to endure.

We can’t wait to share the lullabies with you! May 8 will be here before we know it.

MT