
"This
is the sort of sound you'd want to hear pouring out of roadhouses as
you drive up expecting to get drunk and maybe fall in love."
(Americana UK Magazine)
From
the centre of Canada, deep in the prairies, comes an unstoppable force
that is becoming a household name across the globe: Romi Mayes. Suitably
pronounced "Raw Me", Mayes is a straight shooter with heart
on your sleeve lyrics, edgy innuendo, and some serious bad ass guitar
playing. She writes about sex, drugs, love, and the road. She can be
soft and sweet or just down right dirty.
Her latest release "Achin In Yer Bones" is another
testament to exactly that. Taking home Album of The Year, and Songwriter
of The Year at The 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards, she unravels
herself from song to song throughout the album, with no filters and
no shame. But honesty is only part of the charm, not the main talent
here. Mayes also won 2007 WCMA Album of The Year and Songwriter Of The
Year awards, was nominated for Songwriter of The Year by The 2006 Canadian
Folk Music Awards, and also won the 2006 Whiskey Award for Album of
The Year - all for her previous album "Sweet Somethin Steady".
It is undeniable and one can really hear where her true gift rests when
you hear Romi Mayes or see her perform. On her latest album, Mayes'
effortless, matter-of-fact lyrical style weaves poetically around fantastic
production, credited to renowned producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams,
Mary Gauthier) who also worked with her on "Sweet Somethin Steady".
It
is no wonder a producer like Morlix would come up to Canada in the cold
of winter from his home base in Texas to work with Mayes again. "Romi's
writing on this new album is better than ever," says Morlix. "She's
got the flint and she's got the steel - everything she needs to take
her anywhere she wants to go."
Commonly referred to as the hardest working musician in Canada, Mayes
tours steadily and relentlessly across the globe from solo shows in
smaller venues to rowdy rockin bar shows to tightly arranged full band
sold out theatre shows. She has shared the stage with the likes of Ricky
Skaggs, Iris Dement, Guy Clark, Derek Trucks, Jim Cuddy, The Flatlanders,
Slaid Cleaves, Martha Wainwright, Hayes Carll, Fred Eaglesmith, Corb
Lund, Billy Joe Shaver, Sue Foley, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Dale
Watson and many many more. Romi Mayes is charming, passionate, comedic,
and with whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other can out-cuss
any sailor on a Saturday night.
"Achin In Yer Bones" is available March 10,
2009 in Canada, The United States, and Europe.