Exile On Mainstream Records presents “Troubadour”, the intimate new studio album from nomadic German singer/songwriter Conny Ochs, confirming the album for release on October 25th, 2024, and introducing the cover art, track listing, and preorders.
Since 2010, Conny Ochs has been capturing the hearts and minds of curious music fans around the globe through his expressive and emotive songcraft. Through eight full-length releases – including two collaborative albums with Scott “Wino” Weinrich of Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, and more, and not to mention his work in Trialogos and other projects – Ochs has expanded his sound from stripped-down singer/songwriter anthems based almost entirely on guitar and vocals into more rock-infused creations with a more standard rock backline with drums and more.
Almost to the date one year after his “Wahn Und Sinn” LP, sung completely in German, Conny Ochs now unveils his new studio album “Troubadour”, which marks his return to the English language and the very roots of his music, in a very naked approach to the essence of his craft. Here, the soloist delivers an album that feels more akin to his 2010 debut album, “Raw Love Songs”, yet with a more refined and polished sound and approach, adopted naturally through the years of hard work since the first album.
With eleven heartfelt new songs, Conny Ochs delivers some of his most melancholic yet optimistic anthems yet on “Troubadour”, which sees the artist performing all vocals, guitars, piano, and more, the record’s sole guest appearance made by his Trialogos bandmate Sicker Man with whom Ochs co-wrote the string arrangement for the song “Edge of Love”, and who also performed the actual recording of the cello tracks. “Troubadour” was recorded with Ochs’ trusted studio cohort Thommy Krawallo at Kabumm Studio, who also handled mixing and mastering. The cover photo was taken by Klaus Nauber, and the inlay art was created by Conny himself.
Conny Ochs reveals about “Troubadour”’s inception and creation: “I had a strong desire to create an album with the same minimal approach as ‘Raw Love Songs’ and ‘Black Happy’, but with themes and vibes that reflect my current experiences. Since performing live has always been my main focus, I wanted to write songs that I could play in various settings, such as clubs, festivals, and while traveling, with minimal requirements. I aimed for a down-to-earth record that allows listeners to breathe, pay attention, and explore the details of the images it creates.
Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about new music, and he expressed that he finds it challenging to listen to many releases because they come across as overwhelming in terms of sound, composition, and arrangements. He mentioned that the sheer volume of releases can be overwhelming. I can relate to his feelings. This is why I wanted to create an album that contrasts with the current trend of overwhelming expression and aesthetics – almost like an anti-record. ‘Troubadour’ felt like a natural title for this still yet intense recording, which reflects my life over the past two years or so and the stories of people I have crossed paths with. It’s a quintessential songwriter’s record, paying homage to my musical influences such as Townes van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Elliot Smith, and Dax Riggs. And it’s especially the quiet songs that stayed with me the longest and still touch me as they did the first time I heard them. This album is also an ode to my role as a troubadour – someone who travels in search of songs and is deeply passionate about sharing music with others. It’s about maintaining an intimate connection with my art and returning to the essence of why I started making music in the first place: the pursuit of the ‘tower of song’.
There’s a special truth about a song that allows you to deeply connect with it when giving you a room to enter. A track becomes more than a mere escape; it becomes your own song. I worked again with Thommy (Krawallo) on this album, with the intention of recording all the tracks live and without click tracks, and with minimal overdubs. Some songs benefited from a few additional tracks, but overall, we kept the recording process simple. Our goal was to capture the authenticity of the moment. We didn’t go back to make changes to any of the songs later on. We wanted to preserve the rawness of the recording, as it is a snapshot of a moment in time.
I’m eagerly anticipating performing these songs live and witnessing people’s reactions to the new tracks. I hope that these songs can provide the same room to breathe and reach out that it has given to me”.
“Troubadour” will be released on Black Vinyl LP with a bundled CD and digitally on October 25th. Physical preorders are live at the Exile On Mainstream webshop here; watch for audio previews, videos, digital preorders, and more to post shortly.
Tracklist:
1. Holy Motors
2. Cool Black Stars
3. Trouble Me
4. Edge of Love
5. Crazy Horse
6. The Boxer
7. Wasp Trap
8. Inside the Man
9. Crow Honey
10. Run With the Devil
11. Way of the Future
Never one to remain idle, Conny Ochs is booking new live performances to support “Troubadour”, having already booked two release shows for the album as part of Haarlem Vinyl Festival September 20th and 21st where the album will be exclusively available before it’s official release. Watch for additional updates to post over the weeks ahead.
Live Shows 3034:
9/20/2024 Sounds Haarlem Record Store – Haarlem, NL
9/21/2024 St. Bavo Church – Haarlem, NL
