White Denim w. Arc Iris
Chicago
I've always wanted to make work that's a reflection of my life experience, says singer-guitarist James Petralli, leader of venturous L.A.-based rockers White Denim. The just-below-the-surface significance to 13 as an album title is that I was born on the thirteenth of August. 13 in numerology can signify independence, creativity, and a solid foundation, but inversely is often considered to be unlucky and can signify chaos and misfortune. Like everyone, I can certainly see both sides in my life. 13 also happens to be the thirteenth album of White Denim's career.
An incandescent, groove-heavy alchemy of rock, funk, dub, soul and down-dirty blues and plenty more besides it's imbued with the same questing spirit that's been the band's trademark since first starting in Austin, Texas, some 20 years ago.
Petralli's wide-ranging musical appetites have become more voracious over time. The sounds and textures of 13 are informed by everyone from Scritti Politti to The Gap Band, Terry Reid to King Tubby, Caetano Veloso to John Cale, Stevie Wonder to 80s-era Steve Winwood. Such diversity is reflected in multi-faceted gems like (God Created) Lock And Key, Only A Fool and That's Rap.
Project Seed
The seed of the project is rooted in the irresistible Chew Nails. It's a straightforward glam-rock tune, says Petralli. My take on the New York Groove, which is itself a take on the Bo Diddley beat. It has a big ol guitar riff and a singalong chorus. It's familiar territory for me, yet the vocal is perhaps more forward than most things I've done for the band. It's the song that made me feel like I was definitely making a White Denim album.
Album Duality
The duality of 13 is immediately apparent. The pungent funk-blues of opener (God Created) Lock And Key begins with a piece of waggish self-mythology 'On the thirteenth day God created White Denim' but soon goes somewhere darker. This is a Beefheart / Sun Ra sort of thing, Petralli explains. I hope that it's a somewhat terrifying, startling, and visceral piece for everyone that hears it. Everything I say in that song is the truth. It's about power, generational cycles of abuse, shame, violence, and survival. The things that we all understand and know and see and push down to get through the day.
