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Circle of Days

The Nields, the folk-rock band from Massachusetts, are delighted to announce the release of their much-anticipated twenty-first album, Circle of Days. An homage to the calendar––and really, time itself––this collection of songs is a testament to the band’s enduring creativity and unwavering commitment to their craft.

During the pandemic, Nerissa and Katryna Nields, the band’s frontwomen, took a daily walk with their beloved dogs, Greta and Hudson. The destination was a nearby lake, where Katryna would take a daily photo. Inspired by the ever-shifting seasons, they came to realize that each of Nerissa’s new songs could be intimately connected to a particular time of year, forming a musical cycle.

Circle of Days resonates with those twinned states of mind––hope and fear––that come with living through quite a number of circles of days. From the anxious yet hopeful musings of the winter solstice in “Darkest Day of the Year” to the qualified optimism of summer’s bounty in “Angel on the Roof,” the album weaves together a vibrant tapestry of melodies and narratives that encapsulate the ebb and flow of life.

Among the album’s standout tracks are “Brigid,” an Imbolc song paying homage to the ancient celebration of the pagan goddess who gave her name to what became St. Brigid’s Day–-or what we in the US know as Groundhog’s Day. “When I Was a DJ” explores the losses we all experience in a career that becomes increasingly irrelevant as Big Business takes over, leaving so many of us voiceless. “Death & Resurrection” is about our current epidemic of so-called deaths of despair, while “That’s What We Do” serves as a stirring graduation anthem, celebrating the triumphs and aspirations of artists and activists.

With their unparalleled ability to blend pop craftsmanship, folk sensibility, and the influences of ’60s classic rock and ’90s alternative, The Nields have created a distinctive musical style that defies categorization. Their songs, imbued with intelligence and occasional humor, offer poignant observations on life’s unexpected twists and turns. Apple Music describes their sound as “equal parts The Beatles, the cranberries, and Joni Mitchell,” a testament to their unique fusion of melodic sensibilities

Circle of Days: The Nields Twenty-First Album, a Journey through the Seasons

The Nields, the folk-rock band from Massachusetts, are delighted to announce the release of their much-anticipated twenty-first album, Circle of Days. An homage to the calendar––and really, time itself––this collection of songs is a testament to the band’s enduring creativity and unwavering commitment to their craft.

During the pandemic, Nerissa and Katryna Nields, the band’s frontwomen, took a daily walk with their beloved dogs, Greta and Hudson. The destination was a nearby lake, where Katryna would take a daily photo. Inspired by the ever-shifting seasons, they came to realize that each of Nerissa’s new songs could be intimately connected to a particular time of year, forming a musical cycle.

Circle of Days resonates with those twinned states of mind––hope and fear––that come with living through quite a number of circles of days. From the anxious yet hopeful musings of the winter solstice in “Darkest Day of the Year” to the qualified optimism of summer’s bounty in “Angel on the Roof,” the album weaves together a vibrant tapestry of melodies and narratives that encapsulate the ebb and flow of life.

Among the album’s standout tracks are “Brigid,” an Imbolc song paying homage to the ancient celebration of the pagan goddess who gave her name to what became St. Brigid’s Day–-or what we in the US know as Groundhog’s Day. “When I Was a DJ” explores the losses we all experience in careers that becomes increasingly irrelevant as Big Business takes over, leaving so many of us voiceless. “Death & Resurrection” addresses our current epidemic of so-called deaths of despair, while “That’s What We Do” serves as a stirring graduation anthem, celebrating the triumphs and aspirations of artists and activists.

With their unparalleled ability to blend pop craftsmanship, folk sensibility, and the influences of ’60s classic rock and ’90s alternative, The Nields have created a distinctive musical style that defies categorization. Their songs, imbued with intelligence and occasional humor, offer poignant observations on life’s unexpected twists and turns. Apple Music describes their sound as “equal parts The Beatles, the cranberries, and Joni Mitchell,” a testament to their unique fusion of melodic sensibilities.

Having earned their stripes with 21 albums, major and independent record and publishing deals, and performances alongside luminaries such as 10,000 Maniacs, The Band, James Taylor, and the Indigo Girls, The Nields have unquestionably paid their dues, paving their own path, forging a remarkable musical legacy that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

 

Praise for the Nields

On first listen, some might glibly categorize this acoustic folk trio-turned-modern rock quintet as Alanis Fronts the Indigo Girls. But listen to [the Nields] twice and you’ll start to catch the twists in the tales, the quirks and ironies that make every song a short story. And then you’ll be hooked.
-SPIN Magazine

Imagine if Natalie Merchant had a sister with an equally good voice singing perfect harmony with her…intimate and electric.
-Sing Out! Magazine

If you don’t like the Nields, you need to get your ears checked.
-ESP, Winston-Salem

A masterful mix of modern folk with an alternative edge.
-Minneapolis Star Tribune

[The Nields] sounds like the Roches meets the Cranberries, but with better songwriting and better vocal harmonies.
-Cincinnati Enquirer

If there’s one constant here, it’s The Nields sisters’ beautifully sweet vocal harmonies that sound eerily like the Roches singing Lush in a really big room. It’s infectious stuff.
-Austin Chronicle

The marvelously expressive Katryna and Nerissa Nields provide vocals sounding at various times very much like the Bangles, the Roches and …Alanis Morrissette…a delightful discovery.
-Chicago Tribune

…a gentle explosion of high-strung harmonies and spare arrangements of songs that snap like cinnamon sticks. They ride their dynamics from literally whispered passages over tick-tocking sidestick or no drums at all, up to electric squalls that push Katryna and sister Nerissa Nields’ vocals without overwhelming them.
-Musician Magazine

As the work of the Everly Brothers or the McGarrigle Sisters has amply demonstrated, there are few sounds as sublime as close harmonies rendered by siblings. In the case of western Massachusetts folk rockers the Nields, the siblings are sisters Nerissa and Katryna Nields, and their inimitable vocal blend is a disarming mix of clean folk harmonies and clenched Generation-X angst.
-The Chicago Tribune

Guitarist Nerissa has written the clear-eyed, literary lyrics and sister Katryna has provided a gloriously eccentric vocal delivery …Lots of backward glances and relationship foibles punctuate this quiet collection, which is ideal for harmony addicts and dreamers alike.
-Billboard Magazine