Back in 2021, the LA-based musician Ben Schwab was a member of Drugdealer, and he started releasing his own lush and expansive '70s-style singer-songwriter records under the name Sylvie. After dropping his self-titled Sylvie debut, Schwab contributed to the 2023 Margo Guryan tribute album Like Someone I Know, and now he's getting ready to release a new Sylvie full-length called New Season.
Ben Schwab recorded most of New Season at his home studio, but then he went off to Abbey Road to finish it. Friends like Sierra Ferrell, Courtney Marie Andrews, and Kacy Lee Anderson make appearances. The soft, expansive lead single "Rina" has backup vocals from Texan singer-songwriter Alex Amen, and it's a version of a song that Schwab's father John originally wrote in the '70s, when he was the leader of the folk-rock band Mad Anthony. In a press release, Ben Schwab says:
"Rina" is an all-time favorite. It was tough to record because I wanted to honor the original my dad wrote while bringing something new to it. "Rina" reminds me of the beauty and strength found in people the world overlooks. Alex understood that and gave the song exactly the touch it needed.
Alex Amen says:
I've loved this song since the first time I heard it off the Mad Anthony tapes. As a song, the writing is about as good as it gets… the chords, the melody, the lyrics. It’s just perfect all around. It’s one of those rediscovered songs that makes you wonder how many other timeless things have been written and recorded and are just collecting dust in some warehouse or closet on some forgotten tape. I’m really excited to have been able to sing on this new version of "Rina" and hope the song finds a new life and can reach new ears.
Below, check out Sylvie's version of "Rina," the Mad Anthony original, and the New Season tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Are You Coming?"
02 "Not Looking Back Anymore"
03 "Rina" (feat. Alex Amen)
04 "New Season"
05 "You And Me"
06 "Wish I Could Tell You"
07 "Traveling"
08 "Guiding Star" (feat. Courtney Marie Andrews)
09 "California Hills" (feat. Sierra Ferrell)
10 "Ending"
New Season is out 11/6 on Ghostly International. Pre-order it here.
