Song of the Day: Laura Gibson - The Cause

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “The Cause” by Laura Gibson from her 2016 album Empire Builder on Barsuk.

Laura Gibson – The Cause (MP3)Laura Gibson has been making beautiful, enchanting folk records for the past decade but since her last record La Grande, released in 2012, every circumstance imaginable has changed for her. Two years ago Gibson moved from her lifetime home of Oregon to New York to study fiction writing where she weathered through a broken foot that kept her away from the studio as well as a fire in her building that killed two people, along with all of Gibson's lyrics and music she'd been working on.But as they say, "that which doesn't kill you..." well you know the rest. And Gibson's latest release Empire Builder is proof that she's only become stronger. Lead single "The Cause" is also the first track on the album and it starts the release out strong. Anthemic in both sense and purpose, the track has a driving drum beat that keeps it moving and growing until climax when the song gives out. It has its collaborators Dave Depper (Death Cab for Cutie), Dan Hunt (Neko Case), and Peter Broderick written all over it. While the lyrics hint at love and the sacrifice that comes with giving yourself up fully for it, it's easy to see the track being utilized in a political manner. If there was ever a cause we could get behind, it's more music from Laura Gibson.

Laura Gibson will be in Seattle on October 8th at Abbey Arts @ St. Mark's Cathedral with Jeremy Enigk (of Sunny Day Real Estate) and Tomo Nakayama so get your tickets! Get excited for the show by watching Gibson's KEXP in-studio session from 2012 below and keep up with her on Facebook and on her website.