Yola on Friday released a deluxe version of her Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed album Walk Through Fire featuring two new bonus tracks, including a Dan Auerbach-produced studio recording of Elton John’s classic “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” which was personally premiered by Elton John on his social media. Elton John has previously praised Yola in a special edition of his Rocket Hour radio show on Beats, featuring fellow Highwoman, Brandi Carlile. Elton exclaimed, “If you haven’t heard of Yola… go and see her… you’ll be delighted at what you hear.” Watch “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” visualizer video here: https://youtu.be/dWePiTJcBEw
The deluxe album also includes the song “I Don’t Wanna Lie,” which was co-written by Yola, Auerbach, and legendary keys player Bobby Wood. Musicians who performed on the track included bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash) as well as Wood and drummer Gene Chrisman, who played on hits by Dusty Springfield and Elvis Presley. Listen to “I Don’t Wanna Lie” here: https://youtu.be/o1VZReYPmZA
“Can’t believe it has only been a year since we announced Walk Through Fire, working with Dan Auerbach and the team has been an absolute dream and so proud of everything we have achieved. So many great songs from that session didn’t make the final cut, including “I Don’t Wanna Lie.” I’m a HUGE Elton fan and we’ve been playing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” on the tour and wanted to cut a version for this release which Dan also produced! And then for Elton to personally premiere it, well that is the icing on the cake!
Queen of country-soul Yola recently received four nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards including Best New Artist and three nominations in the Roots category including Best American Roots Song, Best American Roots Performance (for “Faraway Look”) and Best Americana Album for her debut Dan Auerbach-produced album, Walk Through Fire. Auerbach also received a nomination for for Producer of the Year for his work on albums including Walk Through Fire. The 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, 2020, at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
The album, which was released in February 2019 to tremendous critical acclaim, received support from tastemakers from the New York Times to NPR, which stated the record was “the work of an artist sure to stun audiences for years to come.” KCRW made “Faraway Look” their number 1 song of the year. Variety called the album “one of 2019’s best musical breakouts,” while Rolling Stone, included Walk Through Fire in their top 50 albums of 2019 and called Yola “an artist you need to know” and “the voice of 2019.”
Yola toured the US extensively in 2019, from the Hollywood Bowl to Newport Folk Festival, SXSW, and Farm Aid. She recently performed at Nashville’s Bridgestone arena, opening for Kacey Musgraves alongside Maggie Rogers, with a special appearance from Harry Styles. Additionally, Yola has performed with The Highwomen and Dolly Parton. She will close the year with a handful of performances, including a sold-out show in London, Holiday Cheer for FUV with Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff and Mumford And Sons in NYC on December 10, and two New Year’s performances with Old Crow Medicine Show at the Ryman in Nashville.
Yola’s Walk Through Fire continuing world tour includes shows across the US, Canada, and Europe. Next year’s dates include Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, Indianapolis’s Hi-Fi, Austin’s Scoot Inn, San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, and two nights at the Troubadour in LA; additional shows will be announced shortly. All dates are on sale now. Amythyst Kiah is confirmed to support on various dates of the US run. (Full details available at iamyola.com and below.)
In addition to her Walk Through Fire tour, Yola will perform at Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend and will open for Chris Stapleton on his An Outlaw State of Kind Benefit alongside Willy Nelson and Sheryl Crow. Yola will also perform with Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson on March 14 at Globe Life Field.
