The Secret Sisters’ “Late Bloomer” premieres today

“How would you feel if you got the opportunity to make
your favorite band’s album?”—Brandi Carlile

Grammy-nominated The Secret Sisters‘ new song, “Late Bloomer,” is premiering today. Watch/share the official music video HERE.

Of the song, the duo reflects, “We’re excited to share another new song with you—one that is perhaps the most vulnerable, personal song we’ve ever written, inspired by the burden of schedules and self-imposed calendars and the perpetually needed reminder to let those time constraints go. This one was created during a season of infertility and the disappointment that comes with each childless month and the mental attacks that women tend to launch upon themselves when they fail to meet a deadline. The flower eventually blossomed, the birds arrived in all their glory and we are mamas now. We feel that we are in a full circle moment as we walk through the season of motherhood that we once felt would never come. This video is a special glimpse into our blooming process—a song being born in a Seattle studio, a song being shared with a new generation and the daily song that is our two babies. Right on time, perfectly planned. If you’ve ever felt you like you were behind, ahead, too slow, too fast, too impulsive, too cautious, too much, or too little…this song is for you.”

“Late Bloomer” is the latest track unveiled from the duo’s highly anticipated new album, Saturn Return, which will be released February 28 on New West Records. Produced by Brandi Carlile, Tim Hanseroth and Phil Hanseroth, the album is now available for pre-order, which includes an immediate download of the new song as well as album tracks “Hand Over My Heart,” “Hold You Dear” and “Cabin.” Already receiving widespread critical acclaim, Rolling Stone declares, “Saturn Return is built on those moments of quiet fury, intimacy, and confession—of finding their place, of learning how to find balance in a world that is anything but. They sing of struggle, of aging, of coming to terms with the realities of life both beautiful and cruel.”

Recorded at Carlile’s home studio in Washington state, the album includes ten songs written by Laura and Lydia Rogers and features the real-life sisters singing individually for the first time instead of relying solely on their trademark harmonies—something Carlile challenged them to do. Carlile comments, “It’s really uniquely unified and harmonious when they’re in tandem and very tumultuous and deep when they’re not in tandem and I think for a brief, beautiful moment on this album we caught The Secret Sisters not in tandem for the first time.” She continues, “To be a harbinger for their honesty in these songs and to watch them work together to see the tension was one of the greatest gifts of my career because those are two very powerful people in a very interesting point in their lives.”

Named after the astrological occurrence that takes place approximately every 29 ½ years, the album heralds the arrival of a new era for Laura and Lydia—both of whom experienced extreme change and transformation during the making of the record. Grappling with the grief of losing both grandmothers, while also both becoming first-time mothers, the sisters reflect on their world view, relationships and own mortality through the album’s ten songs.

Of the album, the sisters share,

“As we age, we face obstacles that are beyond our control. Some forces are internal: insecurity, anxiety, fear. Some are external: the loss of loved ones, an unjust system and the fragility of time. Yet the mark of maturity is how you respond when you realize you’re not in control. Where do you find your resilience?

This album is a reflection of us coming to terms with how to find our power in the face of an unfair world. These songs lead listeners past ‘where happy man searches, to a place only mad women know.’ We question our purpose, our relationships, our faith. Trading the fears of our youth for the dread that rages within us as mature women. 

With Saturn Return, our hope is that women can feel less alone in their journey through the modern world. We need each other more than we ever have; the less competition and the more inclusiveness and understanding, the better. We are southern women in the 21st century, convicted by our beliefs.”

In celebration of the new album, The Secret Sisters will embark on an extensive worldwide tour this spring including shows at Brooklyn’s Murmrr Theatre on March 25, Philadelphia’s City Winery on March 28, Los Angeles’ Lodge Room on April 28, Seattle’s Neptune Theatre on May 2 and Nashville’s Basement East on May 8 as well as dates across Europe. See below for complete tour details.

Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL, The Secret Sisters have released three acclaimed full-length albums since debuting in 2010 including their most recent, 2017’s You Don’t Own Me Anymore, which was produced by Carlile and the Hanseroth twins and received a nomination for Best Folk Album at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

THE SECRET SISTERS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

February 21—Seattle, WA—Benayora Hall*

February 22—Seattle, WA—Benaroya Hall*

February 23—Seattle, WA—Benaroya Hall*

March 25—Brooklyn, NY—Murmrr Theatre‡

March 27—Boston, MA—City Winery‡

March 28—Philadelphia, PA—City Winery‡

March 29—Alexandria, VA—The Birchmere‡

March 31—Newport, KY—Southgate House Revival‡

April 2—Chicago, IL—Old Town School of Folk‡

April 3—Wausau, WI—The Grand Theater‡

April 4—Eau Claire, WI—Pablo Center at the Confluence

April 5—Minneapolis, MN—Varsity Theater‡

April 6—Omaha, NE—Waiting Room‡

April 8—Des Moines, IA—Wooly’s‡

April 9—Kansas City, MO—Knuckleheads‡

April 10—Saint Louis, MO—Off Broadway‡

April 23—Phoenix, AZ—MIM Music Theatre

April 24—Palm Springs, CA—Alibi

April 25—San Diego, CA—Casbah^

April 28—Los Angeles, CA—Lodge Room^

April 29—Berkeley, CA—Freight & Salvage^

May 1—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall+

May 2—Seattle, WA—Neptune Theatre+

May 8—Nashville, TN—The Basement East

May 9—Florence, AL—Shoals Community Theatre

May 10—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West

June 10—Bury St. Edmunds, U.K.—The Apex

June 11—Bury, U.K.—The Met

June 13—Gateshead, U.K.—Sage Gateshead

June 14—Sheffield, U.K.—Firth Hall

June 16—Leeds U.K.—Brudenell Social Club

June 17—Milton Keynes, U.K.—The Stables

June 18—London, U.K.—Union Chapel

June 19—Bristol, U.K.—St. George’s

June 21—Tunbridge Wells, U.K.—Black Deer Festival

June 24—Paris, France—Les Etoiles

June 25—Lier, Belgium—L’Avenir Site

June 26—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Paradiso

June 27—Rotterdam, Netherlands—Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival

August 27—Tonder, Denmark—Tonder Festival

*supporting Brandi Carlile

‡with Logan Ledger

^with Leslie Stevens

+with Anna Tivel