Stand for Myself

by Yola

Overview

Building on the foundation of 2019's remarkable Walk Through Fire, singer/songwriter Yola again strikes gold with Stand for Myself, a record as inviting as it is powerful. A British artist whose effortless amalgam of American roots, pop, and soul traditions has earned her heaps of praise and several Grammy nominations, Yolanda Quartey is also a first-rate songwriter with an appealing sense of humanity. Partnered again with producer Dan Auerbach and his affectionately retro Easy Eye Sound label, her songs are dressed in lush layers of vintage organs, horns, and a punchy rhythm section that recall the intersection of late-'60s/early-'70s soul, pop, R&B, and country. But, despite this affection for classic tones, Yola is no mere throwback; Stand for Myself is a fully present and vital collection of timely emotions and timeless arrangements. Juxtaposed against big, enveloping melodies and a hearth-like warmth are themes of isolation, social awakening, and her own reckoning with the tokenism of being a Black English woman working in predominantly white Nashville. Standout single "Diamond Studded Shoes" is an infectious protest rocker that absolutely crackles with the energy of its unifying message. Likewise, the gritty title track stands as a bold anthem of harnessing one's personal strength that builds to a massive, growling crescendo as Yola sings "I used to be nothing like you, I used to feel nothing like you, now I'm alive." There are sweeter cuts too, like the disco-inflected breakup track "Dancing Away the Tears" and the funky love ballad "Now You're Here," both of which represent a sonic shift away from the country-soul of her first record into something more stylistically nebulous. What is striking about Yola's music, aside from her unmistakable voice, is her effortless ability to convey joy and comfort even while tapping into heavier moods. Stand for Myself is a stunner with plenty of emotional firepower, but it can also feel soft as a wool blanket. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/30/2021
Label:	Easy Eye Sound
UPC:	0888072240544

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Yola   Primary Artist,Vocals
Brandi Carlile   Vocals (Background)
Matt Combs   Strings
Mike Rojas   Juno,Organ,Piano,Clavinet,Clavichord,Vibraphone,Harpsichord,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Fender Rhodes
Ann McCrary   Vocals (Background)
Ray Jacildo   Juno,Organ,Piano,Mellotron,Vibraphone,Harpsichord,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel
Billy Sanford   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Gut String Guitar
Nick Movshon   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Tom Bukovac   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Dan Auerbach   Percussion,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Russ Pahl   Fuzz Bass,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Gut String Guitar
Regina McCrary   Vocals (Background)
Sam Bacco   Percussion
Dan Dugmore   Guitar (Steel)
Bobby Wood   Piano
Andy Gabbard   Vocals (Background)
Raymond Mason   Horn
Ashley Wilcoxson   Vocals (Background)
Alfreda McCrary   Vocals (Background)
Aaron Frazer   Drums

Technical Credits

Alan Silverman   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Ruby Amanfu   Composer
John Bettis   Composer
Ryan Smith   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Yola   Composer,Art Direction
Trey Keller   Engineer
Tyler Zwiep   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Ayla Favati   Mastering
Natalie Hemby   Composer
Pat McLaughlin   Composer
Dan Auerbach   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Liz Rose   Composer
Paul Overstreet   Composer
Bobby Wood   Composer
Patrick McLaughlin   Composer
Joseph Ross   Photography
Adam Henderson   Design
Perry Shall   Design
Aaron Lee Tasjan   Composer
M. Allen Parker   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Hannah Vasanth   Composer
Josh Ditty   Engineer
Caleb VanBuskirk   Engineer
Joy Oladokun   Composer
Hannah V   Composer
Yola Carter   Composer
George M. Murphy   Design
Mickey Smay   Assistant,Assistant Engineer