Tobacco & Rose
Songs having dual meanings are rare. But when put in the right hands of a talented singer-songwriter, those songs can sound effortless and incredibly easy on the ears. For Richard Moody, recording under the moniker Tobacco & Rose, he's crafted a stellar single, "Tara." It's a gentle, alluring tune which could be thought of as a traditional love song. Yet for Tobacco & Rose, the song -- the first single from the forthcoming album Tobacco & Rose -- has a deeper, spiritually tinged resonance.
"'Tara' is a repurposed love song," the musician says. "I wrote the first few lines for a crush that quickly dissipated and later completed it and dedicated it to the Buddhist deity Tara, the goddess of compassion and action. The song is reflective of my beginner's take on Buddhism, and a reminder to myself to think and act with courage, compassion, and equanimity. And if listeners hear it as a good old-fashioned love song, that's okay too."
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3w6xrWxJsQRjR65xyvUUVu?si=2cbe2325e0d14101&nd=1&dlsi=8784ec4dfb3244c0
Tobacco & Rose wrote, recorded, engineered, and produced "Tara" on Vancouver Island. The single has a gorgeous, hushed tone throughout while also creating a style that is equally cinematic and majestic. "Tara" is terribly attractive, drawing the listener in instantly with a simple but strong vocal, some almost hypnotic acoustic guitar, and a rich but sparse background. The sonic jewel brings to mind obvious touchstones like the immortal Nick Drake while also recalling James Yorkston, Richard Thompson, and other great contemporaries of classic British folk. Violins can be heard while bassist Joey Smith adds a delicate touch throughout.
"Tara" is the first single from the forthcoming nine-song self-titled debut album by Tobacco & Rose. Featuring musicians such as guitarist Luke Doucet and drummer Barry Mirochnick on the Celtic folk-leaning "Broken Angel," the album also includes bassists Smith and Scott White, Peter Dowse on electric bass, drummer and organist Joby Baker, and pedal steel player Tyler Lieb. Other musicians on the album include drummer Kelby MacNayr and pianist Adrian Dolan. Tobacco & Rose wrote all the songs, including the calming, tranquil "You and I" and the exquisite "Where My Lover Goes," the closing track that would find itself near Springsteen's "Secret Garden" and "If I Should Fall Behind" for its spine-tingling, heart-tugging effect.
Tobacco & Rose's backstory is a long and winding road. Richard Moody studied classical viola in France in his teens, but as the 1990s commenced, he would tour with Manitoba-based folk-rock group Acoustically Inclined. He performed with countless musicians including Stephen Fearing, The Wailin' Jennys, and The Bills, among others. However, the success wasn't fulfilling Moody, resulting in him becoming a yoga instructor for several years but never far from being a "musician-for-hire."
The musician, searching for deeper meaning, discovered ayahuasca, a plant-based medicine from the Amazon. Traveling to Peru seven years ago, and meeting Shipibo shamans, the experience -- which included participating in some traditional ceremonies -- left him writing a large batch of songs, some found on this forthcoming self-titled debut. "I felt like I was not the writer, but an open channel, and that the plant was speaking through me." The moniker also celebrates the use of the tobacco plant for prayer and meditation, not to "glorify cigarette smoking."
Now with Tobacco & Rose and the new single "Tara," fans of great, traditional folk music should seek out this song immediately. It's a brilliant new folk song that harkens back to the work of the late Drake, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan. "The music itself is a nod to the classic singer-songwriters, with what I hope is a sophisticated harmony, arrangement and orchestration that honour my own musical past and upbringing."
https://www.tobaccoandrose.com/
