“Our music has always brought us back together. It’s been the song underneath everything. Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud. We always come back to the song.”
Symbiosis, that innate interaction between two people that results in creative sparks, new life and artistic reward, is at the core of the personal and artistic relationship that Sarah Humphreys & Kristen Lee Morris have formed and nurtured together. In life and music they’ve trodden their own successful paths, but together – that’s where a unique type of magic happens.
Individually, Morris has made his mark with his solo albums Ruins (2014) and Hillbilly Blues (2018) while Humphreys achieved national recognition with four indie-folk albums, most recently Strange Beauty in 2019. When the Blue Mountains duo released their debut self-titled album in 2016 they received widespread acclaim for the way they interlaced their vocal harmonies with deep and heartfelt resonance, across sonic landscapes of folk and country music. The Sydney Morning Herald described it as “a reminder of why Gram and Emmylou’s brief partnership still resonates 40 years on.”
Outside of the studio, Eagle & The Wolf took their music to the people, over the last five years sharing stages with the likes of The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA), Phil and Dave Alvin (USA), Kasey Chambers, Charlie Parr (USA), Kim Richie (USA), Archie Roach, Katie Noonan and Kevin Bennett.
Then came album number two. As Humphreys explains, the journey from Eagle & The Wolf to its follow-up was fraught with difficulties. “A planned baby, relentless touring, a surprise baby and a hard pregnancy, arguments, creative differences, raising children, being parents and step-parents, getting married, mental health struggles, lack of sleep, health struggles, moving to the blue mountains, homeschooling adventures, two solo records, a lot has happened since our last album!”
Ultimately that rocky path provided the hurdles and the reason why the new album Two Lovers was wrestled and finessed into existence. “We needed the pressure off to allow the magic to come out from hiding. As soon as we did that and made that decision, the songs started pouring out again and they were so easy to record. Mostly first and second takes, capturing a feeling – not perfection,” says Humphreys.
“What’s the point of making an album that doesn’t interest you? That doesn’t make you feel excited? Going through the motions is not what we were here to do – Americana paint-by- numbers. It was good but it bored us,” states Humphreys resolutely. “Instead we made an album that is strange, interesting, flawed, clunky and absolutely beautiful.”
“We’re making records for people’s hearts.”
As listeners will soon experience, the new album is a collection of songs that sigh and swoon with stark honesty and romantic optimism. Inhabiting the world of atmospheric folk, primal blues and the shimmer and sway of the best kind of country music, these vignettes portray the trials and tribulations of life. With their sublime voices leading the dance, the music of Eagle & The Wolf possesses a direct line to a kind of earthly gospel that makes it inherently soul music.
New singles ‘Something Good’ and ‘Currawong’ are scheduled for release in July and August prior to the release of the album Two Lovers on September 17th, 2021
“Two of Australia’s finest singer-songwriters, indie-pop goddess Sarah Humphreys and alt-country troubadour Kristen Lee Morris, met, fell in love and now they’re making beautiful folk music together as Eagle & The Wolf.“
Timber & Steel
“Separately Sarah and Kris are two of my favourite singer/songwriters ever but the first time I heard their voices together I was taken to a whole other place! The blend was like nothing I had ever heard before and broke my heart in the most beautiful way.“
Kasey Chambers
“Eagle & The Wolf are about as authentic as contemporary roots music can get, an undeniably unique collaboration between two immensely talented musicians.“
Rhythms Magazine
“A reminder of why Gram and Emmylou’s brief partnership still resonates 40 years on.”
Sydney Morning Herald
Contact: kristenmorris@gmail.com