Exclusive album premiere of ‘Glad to Be Alive’ by Townsend’s Solitaire, slated for release on June 28, 2024.

‘Glad To Be Alive,’ the upcoming debut album from Seattle chamber-folk group Townsend’s Solitaire, beautifully transforms grief into a soaring musical experience. Recorded live to tape, this album captures the enchanting synergy of classically trained musicians playing as one. Delicate, shimmering, and profoundly honest, it delves into the emotional essence of being human, offering listeners a glimpse of hope amidst sorrow. The lyrics resonate with the sentiment, “even if I’m not happy, I can still be glad to be alive,” providing a sense of solace and truth.

Bobby Odle’s passion for music began in his childhood. After his teenage years spent playing progressive metal, he shifted his focus to classical percussion and earned a Master’s Degree in music from Southern Oregon University in 2021. It was during this period in Ashland that Odle returned to the guitar, learned fingerpicking, and started writing folk songs.

Odle soon brought together a group of musicians to bring his vision to life. Today, Townsend’s Solitaire includes Elle Castelli on piano, Emma McGuire on flute, Kirill Polyanskiy on violin, Nathan Moore on cello, and Steven Higbee on clarinet, bass clarinet, and ocarina. All members have extensive classical music backgrounds, with most holding music degrees. The band has previously released two EPs: ‘When We Were Faraway’ in 2022 and ‘Knitting Needles’ in 2023.

‘Glad To Be Alive’ explores the often-taboo topics of grief and suicidal ideation through raw, honest narratives from Odle’s life. “Fans and friends at our live shows know my stories of heartache,” Odle shares, frequently speaking about his older brother Chris, who died of cancer when Odle was thirteen. In 2023, Odle faced more loss, including his uncle Agung and a close friend, Tanner James. These experiences deeply shaped his year, filled with grief, love, and growth.

Odle’s journey through profound loss and tentative new love is infused into ‘Glad To Be Alive.’ As a bipolar songwriter battling suicidal thoughts, his songs are born from the interplay of his guitar and vocals in his Seattle apartment. Once the main structure is set, he composes the ensemble parts.

The album was recorded on 2″ 16-track tape and mixed on 1/2″ 2-track tape at Sage Arts Studios by Jordan Cunningham. Unlike their previous multi-tracked releases, the band opted to record this album live, embracing the dynamic and organic nature of their music. “We never rehearse to a metronome and adapt tempo, dynamics, and energy to each other,” Odle explains. Thoroughly rehearsed before recording, ‘Glad To Be Alive’ captures the wonder of live performance and the joy of playing together.

Bobby Odle of Townsend’s Solitaire continues about the record, “Our debut crowd-funded chamber-folk LP ‘Glad To Be Alive’ means so much to me that it hurts. I wrote this as a direct result of walking through the grief of losing a childhood best friend and an uncle while being ghosted by a new love. All 3 of these things happened over the course of a few weeks in March 2023 while I was in Bali, Indonesia (where my mother was born) supporting her through my uncle/her older brother’s funeral. All of this seen through my lense as someone who struggles with suicidal ideation while in a family that lost their eldest son, my older brother Chris, to cancer in when I was 13 in 2009. Accompanied by some of my dearest friends on thoroughly composed, by me, chamber ensemble parts of cello, violin, flute, clarinet, and piano backing my guitar and voice. This record is an honest expression of grief and loss that I hope makes anyone who struggles with mental illness, mental health, grief, or suicidal ideation feel seen when they hear it and I hope it does even a small small fraction to help destigmatize these heavy topics.”

As Odle hopes, “setting these intense themes to primarily major keys and pairing them with cinematic, whimsical, and thoroughly composed arrangements, gives a sense of light, life, and hope to all who listen.”

Photo by Miguel Escobar

Townsend’s Solitaire Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube