Sister Hazel
Sister Hazel released their latest album, Lighter in the Dark, on February 19, 2016. The record is the band’s first studio record in 5.5 years, and their first ever country record. Guitarist Drew Copeland spoke with Spotlights & Lyrics about what this record means to the band.
The folk/alternative rock band, known for their massive hits including “All for You” and “Your Winter” went in a new direction on this latest record, working with esteemed producer Chip Matthews (“a friend to this band for a million years, and an incredibly talented producer -- we love the sound that we make with him”) and with Darius Rucker on “Karaoke Song.” Copeland explained how the collaboration with Rucker came about: “We've known him since before Hootie blew up. I can honestly tell you he is the same incredibly kind, funny, generous guy he was before all the success. All the guys from that band are that way. It was a lot of fun to get together with him and write some songs. When Barry Dean and I went down to his place in Charleston and wrote “Karaoke Song” we didn't really know what we had. But as we were walking out of the house we could hear Darius singing the chorus as he walked back up the stairs and both Barry and I looked at each other and said "man, I think we got one today". The band instantly loved the tune and when we went into the studio to record it I just asked Darius if he would be a part of the record and he was kind enough to oblige. I really love the way that one turned out.”
Interestingly, even though the record is being labeled as “country,” the band didn’t set out to create a country record per se. “We're really fortunate that the country genre has expanded to a place that envelopes what we do. We've always considered the kind of music we make as "Florida Music". Nothing contrived, just straight from the heart songs that the band feels good playing. We're thankful to be included in a genre that is churning out so many great bands and songs right now.” The record came together after writing, touring and playing new songs on the road, listening to which songs connected with their fans and “working through some kinks in songs we loved but that needed a little molding. In the end, we wanted to (just like we've always wanted to) make a record that people would put in and take the journey with us. We really work hard at making a complete body of work and finding songs that truly complement each other.”
In support of the new record, Sister Hazel is currently on a nationwide tour through the end of April. Fans can look forward to the band crafting set lists that keep the best of certain elements of the show that have proven tried and true, and that build on other parts of the sets. Part of what also keeps the show exciting is that the band rotates who makes the set list each night. “We try to make sure we have a good blend of new songs, radio songs and deeper cuts that fans have gravitated towards. There's always something for everyone!! We are constantly working on keeping things fresh so that we have fun on stage - and so the audiences feel like it was time and money well spent. Some songs like “Champagne High”, “Your Winter”, and “Mandolin Moon” have new arrangements and instrumentation on this run, while songs like “All For You”, “Change Your Mind” and “Happy” stay pretty true to the radio versions except for a few extended improv jams on them.” Copeland is looking forward to playing new songs from Lighter In The Dark, particularly “That Kind of Beautiful”: “It's something new for us in that Ken and I switch back and forth with the lead vocal and it gives a real lift to the set. I would have to say another song I really love playing is a song I wrote with Tom Douglas called “Something to Believe In.” This song was written from such an honest place and I love what the band did with it once they got it under their fingers. Cool dynamics and I love singing it.”
After being part of such a successful band, that he calls family, for 20 years, Copeland expressed “how thankful we are for the career [our fans have] given us. That's never been lost on us. Coming to our shows and buying our records is the best way our fans can let us know that they want us to keep doing what we're doing and it's incredibly humbling to walk out on stage every night, after having done this for over 20 years, and seeing a room full of people singing the words to our songs and pulling us through night after night.”
Be sure to pick up a copy of Lighter in the Dark and stay up to date with all of the latest from Sister Hazel at sisterhazel.com and @SisterHazelBand.
