Susanna Hoffs pays homage to some of the greatest musicians of her life with covers of songs by Prince, Syd Barrett, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake and more. Sparkling light (Baroque Folk Records), released November 12.

“These were songs that I admired and loved and listened to on repeat for fun, but strangely, I had never sung,” says Hoffs. “Approaching the mic to sing them for the first time with our amazing band was really exhilarating if a little terrifying

Produced by Paul Bryan, Sparkling light is a collection of songs that shaped a young Hoffs and her friend, the late David Roback of Mazzy Star, when they were teenagers. of the prince Purple rain The track “Take Me With U” is the only track released after the first era of their musical discovery.

Sparkling light also moves through songs by The Monkees, Richard Thompson, The Merry-Go Round, Chris Bell and Paul Revere & The Raiders, with Aimee Mann (‘Til Tuesday) joining Hoffs on Badfinger’s 1971 track “Name of the Game “.

“The artists of Sparkling light approached songwriting from a deeply emotional place and with a deep sensitivity to the world around them, ”Hoffs said. “Unfortunately, many of them died too young. I didn’t really see the big picture until I looked at the whole tracklist. It was unconscious. Yet I have always been drawn to intensely moving songs.

Hoffs adds, “The best analogy for singing a cover song is, ‘Does the dress fit you? »Can I wear it well? Can I do him justice and give him something new?

Sparkling light List of tracks

Time will show the wisest (the merry-go-round)
One of those things first (Nick Drake)
You and your sister (Chris Bell)
Name of the game, with Aimee Mann (Badfinger)
I wanna see the bright lights tonight (Richard and Linda Thompson)
You might just be the other (The Monkees)
Him or me – What’s it gonna be? (Paul Revere & The Raiders)
Femme Fatale (Le Velvet Underground)
Take me with you (Prince)
Not good to try (Syd Barrett)