Local singer-songwriter Henry Flanders releases a full-length debut on Aug. 11

Press release:

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Henry Flanders will release his debut full-length album, Letter Writing on August 11, streaming through Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play and as a digital download on iTunes and CD Baby. This breakthrough will be celebrated by an intimate afternoon release event on August 13 at 3 p.m. at Black Bear Coffee Co. in Hendersonville, NC.

The guitar-driven songs on Letter Writing show Henry’s passion for pushing the boundaries of his instrument as well as his talent for blending the brilliant dimensions of his style influences: pop; folk; reggae; funk; jazz and the blues. The album is also enriched by a string arrangement and additional instrumentation including organ, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.

Co-produced by Tim Delaney and Jesse Corry, who also lent their talents as additional background vocalists and instrumentalists, the 11 songs of Letter Writing sparkle with Henry’s vivid, versatile voice and wit as a storyteller. Songs like “Vanity” and “Believe Me” offer up his unfiltered take on his experiences and the sometimes-bitter universal truths of life’s twisting journey, whereas ballads like “He Says” express the path to accepting one’s mind. Upbeat tunes like “Ephemeral” and “Reveal” put a hopeful spin on life’s real but fleeting troubles and the possibility of finding inner peace, even within missteps.

Henry Flanders connects strangers through his own vulnerability during live performances and his fine-tuned recordings that flow with sophisticated chord progressions and rollicking rhythms. Henry’s lyrics are sparked by his own memories; they convey the alchemy of language and the energy of eloquent emotions, shining a light on the shared human struggles surrounding hope, loss, love, longing, self-discovery and the unending quest for understanding.

Raised amidst a swirl of Motown, jazz, classic rock and dance music in Ohio, Henry started out singing out melodies and swaying along to beats. Though his rock star dreams were limited by a toy guitar as a toddler, he soon expanded his potential with trumpet. Henry was gifted an electric guitar at 11 and fell in instant love with it. He started to craft his own melodies and poems and learned the finer points of the instrument, inspired by rock, singer/songwriter folk and jazz as he used his own voice to unleash his thoughts and feelings. Invigorated by pop radio and song-driven bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day, rock legends and philosophers Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles, jazz/bebop greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane and the minimalist genius of guitarists John Frusciante and Eric Clapton, he was quick to memorize licks and lyrics and excited by the way melodies fit together and became memorable. Henry played in a number of bands throughout the Columbus, OH area, always eager to collaborate with other talented musicians in order to enrich his own artistry. After facing a series of significant personal challenges, he spent a year in treatment at CooperRiis Healing Farm in Mill Spring, NC. While there, he rediscovered the healing power of music and his own calling to communicate hope to others striving to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Now, Henry incorporates abstract layers into simple songs that honor his experiences and celebrate all the dramatic spaces in between. A prolific composer, writer and all-around artist deeply invested in his own evolution, he recently relocated to the thriving creative community of Asheville, NC and has fully ignited his solo career, endearing himself to audiences at open mics and local clubs. Henry’s lead single, “Ephemeral” was released in May 2017, followed by three additional singles, “Believe Me” and “Reveal” in June and “Dancing from a Distance” in late July.

For more information about Henry Flanders, Letter Writing and his upcoming releases and live performances, please visit him on Facebook and his artist website.