Back in December, Caley Conway gave listeners the gift of Boleslaus The Cruel. The five-song EP was her second holiday release in as many years, following 2017’s Heart Be Light. Unbeknownst to us, during the time between those EPs (not to mention a span of time in which she played with Cairns, contributed to OQ’s debut, and earned a spot in Field Report’s live ensemble), the prolific Milwaukee singer-songwriter had recorded another EP’s worth of new, decidedly-not-yuletide material.
Conway intends to release said EP on April 18 when she (with her backing band in tow) will headline a show at Anodyne’s Walker’s Point Roastery. In advance of that milestone show, Conway wanted to get people warmed up for what’s to come by releasing the forthcoming EP’s first single. Joined by John Larkin on bass, Luke Rivard on drums, and with D’Amato and Treccy Marquardt-Thomas providing background vocals, Conway’s incomparable voice and smooth guitar work expertly preside over “Cold Hymn.”
The bandleader says the single is “a mad and sad song about losing love because the world needs one more.” Even though she says it’s tragic and upsetting, it sounds pretty nice to us! Before Conway plays a show at Root Note (La Crosse) tomorrow, performs at Pabst Brewery & Taproom this Saturday, plays solo at Kindred On KK on March 19, and headlines the April 18 release show at Anodyne, you can listen to “Cold Hymn” below.