Video: Shannon Lay, ‘Rare to Wake’

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Shannon Lay (Photo by Kai MacKnight)

We swear, time stands still when Shannon Lay sings. It was that way for the half hour running time of 2019’s “August,” her third album and first for Sub Pop Records. And it was that way every time we’ve seen her live, whether headlining or playing to unfamiliar crowds as an opener.

“Rare to Wake” is her first single since “August,” and it’s sublime, from the transcendent harmonies and questioning lyrics to the guitar phrases that encroach beautifully on the conversation.

“Change is a constant in every aspect of our experience yet sometimes it is difficult to accept,” Lay says of the song. “Without change we cannot become who we are meant to be and with change comes the upheaval and transformation of who we were. There is an inevitable discomfort that comes with challenging the environments, roles and identities we embody throughout our lives. Trust that part of yourself that knows you’re on the right track, even when it’s challenging. That trust and love helps to guide and reassure us as we explore new realms.

“Wherever you are in your adventures let this song be a reminder to never be afraid to receive and accept the changes that beckon you to grow and evolve. Allow yourself to awaken and embrace your many destinies. When your heart feels heavy ask yourself what needs to be cleared out. That new found space will be occupied by something better, something brighter, something that lifts you up; make way.”

Kai MacKnight directs the video, which co-stars Heidi Alexander.

||| Watch: The video for “Rare to Wake”

||| Previously: Live at Pico Union Project, “Nowhere,” “Recording 15,” “Coast,” “JHR”