Ready for a 'Little Sun': Charlie Parr finds himself in a better place with new album
Musician Charlie Parr released 鈥淟ittle Sun鈥� and is touring in support of the album. He will make a stop at Fusion 708 on Sunday, April 21.
Charlie Parr left Minnesota a few weeks ago and the temperature was just above 30 degrees.
He鈥檚 been touring on the East Coast and having some mild weather, but that will change as he heads west.
His tour is slated to make a stop at Fusion 708 on Sunday, April 21.
鈥淚 need some warm weather,鈥� he quips. 鈥淭he tour has been great and I鈥檝e been able to perform in front of some great crowds. It鈥檚 definitely been worth it.鈥�
Ready for a 'Little Sun': Charlie Parr finds himself in a better place with new album
Parr is touring in support of his recent album, 鈥淟ittle Sun.鈥� He wrote the songs for about six months before heading to Portland, Oregon, to record.
鈥淯p until this very album, my recordings have always been done live, with few if any overdubs and nearly always the first take 鈥� leave all the mistakes, missed lyrics, extraneous noise and whatever else might happen there for the ages,鈥� he says. 鈥淢ost records have been recorded in roughly the time that it took to play the songs. And that鈥檚 been fine, actually. Here鈥檚 a new way for me, though: here鈥檚 an album that was recorded live but in collaboration with producer Tucker Martine, who鈥檚 become a friend and trusted musical ally.鈥�
Parr was born in Austin, Minnesota, and is based in Duluth, Minnesota.
He released his debut album in 2002.
In addition to his work as a musician, Parr also released his debut novel, 鈥淟ast of the Better Days Ahead,鈥� in the fall of 2022.
鈥淟ittle Sun鈥� marks his 18th album and features guitarist Marisa Anderson as well as background vocals from Anna Tivel along with Andrew Borger, Asher Fulero and Victor Krummenacher.
Parr says 鈥淟ittle Sun鈥� felt lighter than the last record, which was personal and heavy.
鈥淧ersonally, I was in a better place,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his album didn鈥檛 have that dark cloud over it. I still think the songs have a certain amount of gravity to them.鈥�
Performing for more than 20 years, Parr leaves his set list up to how he feels.
鈥淲hen it comes time for the show, I figure it out on the day of,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been doing a large amount of the new record. I鈥檓 still reaching back into my catalog to the songs that are still interesting to me. It feels like a nice, rounded set to me.鈥�
Over the course of his career, Parr has navigated the ups and downs 鈥� gaining confidence with each passing year.
鈥淚鈥檓 a naturally introverted person and probably have no business being on stage,鈥� he says. 鈥� Performing has always been my favorite part of what I do. It鈥檚 not easy for me because I have to shift over a lot of natural impulses. My natural impulses would be to stay home. 鈥�
Parr says the new songs on 鈥淟ittle Sun鈥� are at an exciting stage.
鈥淚t makes a difference to be able to have some excitement in life,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that I keep pushing myself forward within music. There are no blueprints .鈥�
