On The Eve Of Her Australian Tour, Allison Russell Shares Annie Lennox Duet
"Thank you, Annie Lennox, for singing with me, for inspiring me," Russell said of the emotional collaboration.
Allison Russell and Annie Lennox (Credit: Mason Poole)
Ahead of her forthcoming Australian tour dates—including an appearance at Bluesfest Byron Bay—Allison Russell has shared an emotional new track starring the iconic Eurythmics star, Annie Lennox.
The first recorded song to feature Lennox’s vocals in seven years, Superlover finds the duo pleading for peace. The pair teamed up for a song that shows empathy for all of the world’s children affected by conflict, whether they’re from Palestine, Israel, or Tennessee.
Superlover was produced by DimStar and features Russell’s Rainbow Coalition band members, Wendy & Lisa. Backed by Russell playing the banjo and Lisa on the piano, it’s a tender song for a world that needs healing. You can check out the Mason Poole-directed music video below.
As Variety notes, Russell has played the song live for years – primarily throughout 2023 when she opened for Hozier on tour. However, it’s seen some lyrical changes and reflects the devastation we see in headlines and social media.
Russell said of the song’s themes in a statement: “I don’t know how to pray, so I offered up this song. This song is a prayer. This song is a protection spell. This song is a plea. This song is a belief. This song is a question. Are you a Superlover? All children, our children. All children are our children. All of them. Everywhere. No exceptions. This song is a calling in. We are one human family. Equally.”
Of working with Lennox, she continued, “Thank you, Annie Lennox, for singing with me, for inspiring me. You are an artist of the ages. I love you so. I bless the day we met. Our circle is unbroken.
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“Thank you to all who choose communication, coalition, hope and harm reduction over violence, abuse, despair and destruction. We can be Superlovers… Are you a Superlover? Love is the revolution.”
Annie Lennox added, “I had the good fortune to meet Allison a couple of years ago onstage. We’d both been invited by Brandi Carlile to take part in an amazing concert with the legendary Joni Mitchell. Allison and I were sitting next to each other, and I knew right away that she was a very special person. She has such natural warmth and generosity of spirit... A beautiful person, both inside and out, as well as having an absolute heart of gold.
“We performed together several times since then and our bond of kinship was sealed. As it turns out, we have many things in common as we share a similar worldview in terms of perspectives on injustice and our passionate love for music. To meet an artist who is also a powerful human rights advocate can be a rare thing, so even with that factor alone, we feel truly connected.
“When she asked if I’d be interested in recording with her, I said ‘yes’ without hesitation. Superlover is one of the most soulful, compassionate songs you could ever hear at a point when there’s too much dissonance, polarization, aggressivity and hatred being openly bandied around the globe.
“It’s an appeal for kindness and empathy, as opposed to violence and cruelty… It is medicine for the times and balm for the soul. I hope this song reaches as many people as possible and gives them a sense of comfort in the trials and tribulations of these ‘most interesting’ times.”
Allison Russell will perform in Australia next month, locking in two shows in Melbourne and Sydney in addition to her appearances at Bluesfest Byron Bay.
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