Marcus King today announced the release of his genre-bending debut solo record, ‘El Dorado’ – produced by Grammy Award winner Dan Auerbach; this 12-track release will be available from January 17th, 2020 via Snakefarm Records in the UK.
Already a 23-year-old guitar phenomenon, El Dorado is set to further establish Marcus as an innovative songwriter and one of the most soulful voices of his generation. Following numerous sold-out headline shows and triumphant festival performances with The Marcus King Band, Marcus recently announced a 32-date US winter tour in support of the new outing.
El Dorado is a contemporary sonic exploration of classic rock, blues, southern R&B and country-soul, where subtle acoustics and pedal steel shine bright alongside raucous electric guitars and blistering solos. Following their previous collaboration on the song ‘How Long’, from the current Carolina Confessions album (2018), King and Auerbach co-wrote the 12 songs for El Dorado in only three days in the latter’s Easy Eye Sound studio.
On working with Marcus, Dan stated: “Marcus is known by so many as a phenom guitar player, and rightfully so. He’s regularly the best player in the room, hands down. I was equally blown away by the way he can sing – so effortless, so soulful, straight from the heart. He’s a naturally gifted writer too, which was clear straight away. Everything for him is so innate – that’s why he can always go right to the heart of a song and connect in a deeper way. He’s really one of a kind and I’m proud I got to work alongside him on this record.”
Debut single, ‘The Well’, a fuzzy, electric-blues composition which rumbles down the highway like Marcus’ jet black El Dorado, premiered today with Rolling Stone who stated: “The result is an album that expands on King’s established Southern jam-rock sound. On ‘The Well,’ the first song released from ‘El Dorado,’ King embraces the blues, firing off ferocious solos and singing about the fantasy of ‘easy street’. In short, it doesn’t exist, but that doesn’t stop King from pining for better times.”
The song’s lyrics reflect on hard work and hard times.
“When you have a $70 check go bad, you know times are tough,” Marcus recalls, adding, “‘The Well’ for me symbolizes the source of all my influences. It is everything that has happened to me to make me the man I am today.”
Playing professionally since he was 11 years old, Marcus King is a fourth-generation musician who followed in his family’s footsteps. His grandfather was a country guitarist and his father continues to perform live. Marcus’ pursuit of music often made him feel like an outsider, but equally provided comfort, especially when he was 13 and lost a friend during a tragic car crash.
Reflects Marcus: “She was the first girl I had feelings for, that was a really heavy moment, and writing songs was my expression. I also had undiagnosed bipolar disorder and my appearance and interests were not embraced by my educators and their pupils. They were good folks, but it kind of felt like being in prison and all I really needed to learn was music.”
At the age of 23, Marcus King has already been performing live for 15 years, establishing himself as an enthralling world-class live music talent. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, made his debut at The Grand Ole Opry and performed with Chris Stapleton on a recent US arena tour; he has also played at the Crossroads Guitar Festival (founded by Eric Clapton) and at sold-out headline shows including his namesake event – The Marcus King Band Family Reunion. Previous Marcus King releases have received critical acclaim from the likes of VICE Noisey and Rolling Stone, who described him as an artist you need to know plus an “electrifying rock performer”.
El Dorado was written and recorded at Auerbach’s Nashville studio, Easy Eye Sound, with legendary writers including Paul Overstreet, Ronnie Bowman and Pat McLaughlin.
Auerbach also enlisted revered studio musicians including drummer Gene Chrisman and keyboard player Bobby Wood. Their renowned work as members of the American Sound Studio band includes Dusty Springfield’s ‘Son of a Preacher Man’, Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ and hits by Bobby Womack, Joe Tex & many others.
Track-listing:
YOUNG MAN’S DREAM
THE WELL
WILDFLOWERS & WINE
ONE DAY SHE’S HERE
SWEET MARIONA
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
BREAK
SAY YOU WILL
TURN IT UP
TOO MUCH WHISKEY
LOVE SONG
NO PAIN
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