The Commercial Appeal - Go Memphis
Valerie June releases duet with Stax legend Carla Thomas
West Tennessee native Valerie June has announced the release of her first LP in nearly four years and released a new single featuring Stax Records legend Carla Thomas.
June — a longtime Memphis music scene mainstay who moved to New York a decade ago — confirmed the release of “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers,” due March 12 on Fantasy Recordings.
The 13-track disc was produced by Jack Splash, whose credits include Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys and John Legend. June recorded the project at Fresh Young Minds studio in L.A. and the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami.
The record follows June’s 2013 breakthrough, “Pushin’ Against A Stone” and 2017’s acclaimed “The Order of Time.” In November, June teased “The Moon and Stars” with a three-song suite "Stay" / "Stay Meditation" / "You And I.”
The first official track from “The Moon and Stars” has just been released. "Call Me A Fool" finds June crafting a throwback piece of emotive Bluff City soul, while being joined on vocals by Stax Records queen and Memphis Music Hall of Famer Carla Thomas. Thomas also introduces the track with the reading of an African proverb.
The accompanying video for the song — which debuted on CMT — was directed by Sam Cannon, with art direction coming from Memphis ex-pat and noted photographer Tommy Kha.
In the release announcing the project, June noted she enlisted producer Splash with an eye toward expanding her sonic palette.
“For this album I wanted to see how we could bring some modern elements into that band-in-the-room approach I’ve taken with my records in the past,” she said, citing an array of influences from Afrobeat star Fela Kuti to the string arrangements of David Bowie producer Tony Visconti.
Next month, June is set to appear as part of the 34th annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert. The virtual event, set for Feb. 17, will see June performing on a bill with Eddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers and Brittany Howard, among others.
June’s “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers” is available for pre-order at found.ee/vjthemoonand stars.