It’s the classic story: girl meets girl, girl falls in love with girl, life happens and girl changes, girl writes beautiful record about the relationship. This is the story behind Sacramento based Sea of Bees’ (aka Julie Ann Bee) new album Orangefarben out May 1 and streaming now on NPR. Bee sings every word with passion, nostalgic yearning and pain, and while it’s incredibly heartbreaking, it’s also incredible raw and hopeful.
On "Teeth," Bee sings about her ex’s white and crooked teeth, on “Girl”, she talks about the first time she met her ex and how she was “out of this world," on “Take”, she discusses how her ex needed to just “take take take what she wants." All of us have been through this type of tumultuous relationship, but few can turn something so awful into something so gorgeous.
Orangefarben (named for her nickname for her ex-lover) is a stunning piece about loss, first love and forever pledging your heart to someone. It’s the perfect heartbreak album, it’s the perfect falling in love album. In a word, it’s perfect.
Watch the video for "Broke" below, shot around the countryside surrounding Bee’s home in Sacramento, and catch her on tour with some great local artists including Sister Crayon, Andy Cabic of Vetiver and Little Wings. Tour dates below.
–Amanda Dissinger
05.12.12 – New Paltz, NY @ Market Market
05.15.12 – Manhattan, NY @ The Mercury Lounge w/ The Loom
05.17.12 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Rock Shop w/ Spinto Band
05.20.12 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe
06.02.12 – Sonoma, CA @ Huichica Music Festival
06.07.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Bows & Arrows w/ Little Wings
06.09.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s w/ Sister Crayon
06.10.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Fifth String w/ Andy Cabic of Vetiver
06.11.12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot
06.12.12 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Sister Crayon
06.13.12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland w/ Sister Crayon
06.16.12 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door w/ Sister Crayon
06.22.12 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill w/ Sister Crayon
Broke from New Canada on Vimeo.