Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell to release Young Man in America [Video]

Wilderland Records / Thirty Tigers Releases Acclaimed Artist Anaïs Mitchell's Young Man in America on February 28, 2012

"Best New Solo Artists of 2010" - Paste Magazine

"an Americana Princess" - Uncut

Wilderland Records / Thirty Tigers is set to release Young Man in America, the fourth album from Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell on February 28, 2012.

For her new album, Mitchell continues her work with producer / arranger Todd Sickafoose, who assembled some of NYC's most sought-after rock and experimental jazz players including guitarist Adam Levy, violinist Jenny Scheinman, and drummers Andrew Borger and Kenny Wollesen.

Chris Thile of Punch Brothers appears on mandolin as well as alongside Jefferson Hamer and Rachel Ries in a harmonic chorus.

Michael Chorney, who scored Mitchell's last release Hadestown and produced her previous albums (2007's The Brightness and 2004's Hymns of the Exiled), makes a guest appearance on guitar.

Young Man follows Mitchell's critically beloved 2010 folk opera Hadestown, a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth set in a Depression era America. The album, which features guest singers Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Ani Difranco, and Ben Knox-Miller (the Low Anthem), landed her on numerous "Best of 2010" lists including The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Observer.

Young Man is not an opera, but it is an epic tale with multiple protagonists. As a songwriter Mitchell takes on the voices of different characters, men as well as women.. The hero of the title track is "a restless character on a feverish hunt for pleasure and success. Alcohol, fame, money, sex-nothing satisfies him," says Mitchell. "He's desirous and very sad." This character, and the record as a whole, was inspired in part by the every-man-for-himself side of America that she glimpsed during our recent recession.

Mitchell will tour Young Man in early 2012 making an appearance at SXSW while she continues performances of Hadestown.

Photo credit: Alicia J Rose

"Our Lady of the Underground" from Hadestown video:

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