Based in Lisbon, Portugal, born in Los Angeles and growing up in Philadelphia, Hale a vocalist, bassist and multi-instrumentalist has spent over 30 years fronting various indie rock bands. After attending Berklee College of Music in the mid-80s with co-busker & dorm-mate Mary Lou Lord she relocated to Baltimore to form the riot grrrl band Womyn of Destruction in the early ‘90s. In 1995, she formed Gerty, an indie pop band, with her boyfriend and Liquor Bike frontman David Koslowski. After relocating to Chapel Hill / Durham, NC she formed the shoegaze noise rock band Free Electric State releasing two records before returning back to Baltimore. It was here that she proceeded to work, write and envision what would become her first solo album’ aptly titled’ The Silver Garden.
An ode to experiencing the passage of time, Shirlé has found a way to speak to those finding love or keeping it alive at an older age, feelings of lust and beauty in graying locks and wrinkles, finding regret in unrequited love and touching on loss, as well as existential thoughts about the here-after. This record touches on her own personal experiences both musically and personally.
Recorded & produced in Baltimore by Rob Girardi (Beach House, Future Islands, Celebration, Double Dagger) along with now husband David Koslowski & Shirlé Hale. The Silver Garden was mastered in New York by Heba Kandry (Bjork, Beach House, Slowdive, Cate Le Bon, Animal Collective).
The Silver Garden is a collection of 12 songs about the experience of aging as seen through the eyes of a lifelong musician, Shirlé was able to cultivate her own “silver garden” by pulling together the talents of various friends to help conceive the record. They came together from North Carolina, New York, and Baltimore to lend their musical brilliance to various songs. Producer / guitarist Rob Girardi, guitarist & co-producer David Koslowski (Free Electric State, Vivid Low Sky, Liquor Bike, Gerty), guitarist J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Government Issue), guitarist/synthist Nick Williams (Free Electric State), guitarist Dave Heumann (Arbouretum), drummers Laura King (Superchunk, R Ring, Kelly Deal, Bat Fangs), David Bergander (Celebration, Arbouretum), and Miyuki Furtado (Rogers Sisters, Divining Rod), and keyboardist Veronica Clay (RJVJ).
Over the decades, Shirlé has always drawn listeners in with her powerfully lush alto voice and thought provoking lyrics. Critics have compared her to Chrissie Hynde, PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux and Annie Lennox. Her songwriting has always been hook driven while flirting with experimental sounds.
In 2023, Shirlé and her husband / bandmate David moved to Lisbon, Portugal with their small rat terrier, Mr. Shivers. She hopes to write more songs, learn to sing fado and continue to explore writing and art.
The Silver Garden is released Oct 27th on Brooklyn label Declared Goods.
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