Singer/songwriter Luke Norton stopped by Live & Local last week, following the release of his debut album “Reservoir.”
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” Norton says of the album. “I’ve been a stage musician and a session musician for a long time, and I’ve put off putting out a solo record, but I’ve always written songs – so this was me finally going through with that, and reaching out to friends and putting it together.”
Originally from Alabama, Norton has been active in the Triangle’s music scene for years, playing with artists from H.C. McEntire to Sluice (whose own new album is due out later this month). Many of those musician also appear on this album, including Sluice’s Justin Morris along with Alex Bingham, Joe Westerlund, and more.
“There’s a lot of really great people, which was really nice,” he says. “I didn’t have to reach very far to find talented people.”
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The resulting nine tracks on “Reservoir” are stellar, with a fuzzy and naturalistic sound that vibes like a moonlit evening concert in a forest clearing – expertly produced by another acclaimed artist, Alli Rogers, whom Norton describes as “kind of like the Steve Albini of Orange County.”
Listen to the album and purchase it on Bandcamp.
“The release date felt really good,” Norton says. “The first single I put out (opening track “Cherry Pits,” an album highlight), I felt – I don’t know. It was pretty exposing. Like, ‘oh, people are actually going to listen to this. They’re actually gonna like, spend time and listen.’ But the actual (album) release day felt really good. I got a lot of good feedback from people I care about. It really was just a huge kind of relief…
“(And) I think the best reactions (have been from) people that I didn’t expect to listen or pay attention to it, who have written me and shown that they’ve actually spent some time with a song. That’s really nice to hear.”
Luke Norton stopped by Live & Local to discuss “Reservoir” and play three tracks: “Cherry Pits,” “Paradise,” and “Magnolia.” Listen:
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