Bones Longing

Background and development

In June 2012, Gemma Hayes started working on Bones+Longing where she worked on writing new material in Ireland.

Hayes had previously planned to move back to Los Angeles to work on the album, but later decided against this decision and continued to reside in Dublin.

By August 9, 2012, Hayes announced she had begun a side-project with long-term producer David Odlum and was continuing to work on her own material. Hayes also confirmed the future release of a live limited edition vinyl (previously billed for 2013 release).Night & Day's release was deferred until spring 2014 and was funded through her Pledge Music campaign. By October 2012, Hayes began a short tour of Ireland and the UK, Hayes would not return to the live music scene until 2013.

By April 22, 2013 Hayes announced a new batch of songs were written while in Ireland and demos where being finalized in a studio in France where the bones of the fifth studio album (later titled named as Bones+Longing) were recorded.

During July 2013, Hayes returned to Ireland to tour as part of A Woman's Heart. On August 16, 2013 Hayes launched her Pledge Music campaign where fans and pledgers could support the album's production and release

During the early stages of the album's production Hayes became pregnant and production finished in late December and recommenced again in mid-February due to the birth of her baby. On 10 April 2014, Hayes revealed the titles of three new songs 'To Be Your Honey' (a preview of which was made available on her website), 'Palomino' and 'Making My Way Back'. Hayes later confirmed mixing and mastering took place in France the next month

In April 2014, Hayes performed a number of UK gigs prior to the release of the fifth studio album. These gigs were part of her Pledge Music campaign. On June 16, 2014, Hayes confirmed the album was completed.

On June 24, 2014 her management hinted the album's title as Bones & Longing. Following this Hayes discussed the album's production and confirmed new tracks were recorded including 'The Shit I Own’ and ‘Caught My Hand’. A 21-second snippet of a new track ‘Making My Way Back’ was also revealed.

On July 9, 2014 the album's producer David Odlum confirmed the albums was mixed and mastered and ready for a late autumn release. On July 29, 2014 Hayes' management confirmed a photoshoot took place to promote the forthcoming album release.

On August 1, 2014 Hayes confirmed through her Pledge Music page her fifth studio album is titled Bones + Longing.

On September 22, 2014 Hayes announced the first single release from album 'Chasing' would precede the album's release due in November.

The album was released independently through her own label Chasing Dragons (similar to Hollow of Morning and Let It Break), it was initially anticipated for the album to be licensed to other labels for release in other territories.

On September 20, 2014 the album's artwork was revealed. On October 1, 2014 the album's full track listing was revealed along with 30 second snippets of each track.

The album was released in Ireland, North America and the UK in November 2014. It received a wider international release in February/March 2015.

Release

The album is released through Chasing Dragons. The album was released in CD format in Ireland on November 14, 2014. It was then released digitally in Ireland, the UK and North America on November 17, 2015

The album was made available internationally from November 17 exclusively through her Pledge Music campaign. It became available on CD and iTunes in February 2015 and March 2015 in various territories. The album was distributed by Kartel (UK, US), Katel Bertus (France, Belgium), Shock (Australia/New Zealand), Membrane (Switzerland, Austria and Germany) and Fontana North (Canada).

The vinyl release was delayed numerous times before being made available in early June 2015. The limited deluxe edition will be released in late September/early October 2015.

Theme

The album's theme has been described as providing sonambulent pop/shoegaze textures that mix the dreamy with the spooky.

Artwork

On September 20, 2014 the artwork for the album was revealed, where it was announced Humphrey Bangham produced the artwork.

Release formats

The album was in digital format on Irish iTunes on November 17, 2014 with a bonus track 'The Shit I Own'. The standard CD version includes only 11 tracks (excluding 'The Shit I Own') released in Ireland on November 14, 2014. The standard vinyl edition features the original 11 tracks, while a very limited deluxe vinyl edition (300 in total) is featured in a 12" case bound hardback cover, with a 32-page booklet with exclusive photos from the recording process and song lyrics. Each deluxe edition is hand numbered. due for release in June 2015. Additional tracks will feature on the limited edition deluxe vinyl.

Single releases

Prior to the album's release 'Palomino' was initially planned to be the first promo release but was delayed and replaced with 'Chasing'. On October 9, 2014 'Chasing' was given for free to those who registered and supported her Pledge Music campaign. The track also appeared in the iTunes store in Ireland, Canada, US and UK on Friday, October 10, 2014 as part of the Bones+Longing pre-order. The single instantly downloaded upon pre-ordering the album. The second single release in Ireland is 'Making My Way'. This track featured in Aldi Ireland's Christmas advertising campaign.The song appeared on Irish television on November 6, 2014. The track later appeared in the Irish iTunes Store on November 6, 2014.

'Palomino' was finally released as a single on April 18, 2015 on a limited edition 7" vinyl to mark Record Store Day. The single was also released as a digital download.

'Laughter' is expected to be the next single release from the album and it is due for an international release on August 7, 2015.

Airplay

Irish radio picked up a number of the tracks from the album upon its release. "Chasing" did not receive the same amount of airplay as other tracks from the album. "Laughter" and "Making My Way Back" were added to the RTÉ 2XM playlist from early November. "Making My Way Back" had more commercial success than "Chasing". Both "Making My Way Back" and "Bones+Longing" received airplay on RTÉ Radio 1. 'Chasing' received airplay on BBC 6 Music. Following the album's release, both "Joy" and "I Dreamt You Were Fine" were picked up by Today FM.

Radio stations across the UK, Australia, France and Germany among others picked up "Palomino" for radio play, which proved popular on German and Australian radio.

Charts

Following the album's debut in the Irish Albums Chart it reached #38. It reached #4 in the Irish Indie Chart and #10 in the Irish iTunes Album Chart. This is her worst performing album from her portfolio despite the positive reviews. Its low position in the Irish Albums Chart is due to a number of factors such as; the download version of the album was released three days later than normal. On Monday, November 17 the CD version was released, three days later than normal for the Irish marketplace . Also those albums downloaded or purchased through her Pledge Music campaign were ineligible to chart in Ireland.

The album failed to chart in other territories.

Promotion

Hayes began to promote the album in the Republic of Ireland between October 2014 to February 2015 making regular appearances on both national and local radio stations such as Today FM, TXFM and Newstalk performing tracks such as Making My Way Back and To Be Your Honey live in studio.

On December 5, 2014 Hayes was interviewed by arts and cultural show The Works on RTÉ One's where she performed 'To Be Your Honey'.

On December 9, 2014 she made an appearance on Newstalk where she performed two tracks performed 'Making My Way Back' and 'To Be Your Honey'.

As part of the promotion for the new album Hayes the Irish edition of The Sunday Times ran a feature on the artist on December 14, 2014. She would later appear on the cover of Cara Magazine Aer Lingus' in-flight magazine.

Hayes began to promote the album outside Ireland in early 2015 with interviews on BBC Radio in the UK, by March she travelled to France and Germany to do a number of performances. On March 2 the album received an international release with a press release in Paris at Centre Culturel Irlandais where she performed at the venue and did a number of promos for local and national radio in France. On March 6, Hayes travelled to Germany for promotional purposes where she completed a number of interviews for both German radio and television. She later performed at Berlin's Bar Bobu.

On March 24, 2015 Hayes confirmed live dates across Ireland and the UK. On March 24, 2015 she shared the promo video for 'To Be Your Honey'. On the same day she completed an interview with RTÉ 2fm where she discussed motherhood, her Pledge music campaign and additional gigs in Ireland.

On March 26, 2015 a special promo video was released for To Be Your Honey recorded in Paris.

Track listing

All tracks written by Gemma Hayes.

Standard CD / download / vinyl version

Deluxe edition

The release of the limited deluxe edition of Bones+Longing was delayed numerous times. It was eventually released to fans from mid-September 2015. The deluxe edition features the original track listing from the standard vinyl release it also features two additional CD's. CD 1 features the standard album version and CD features Bonus material including previously unreleased tracks 'Palomino (Will Pharaoh remix)', 'Slowdive' and 'Swimming In The Flood'. Only 300 have been produced as part of her Pledge Music campaign. The 12" 180gm vinyl pressing comes cream in colour presented in a 12” case bound, hardback format which includes a 32-page booklet featuring exclusive photographs shot during the album sessions as well as song-lyrics. Each copy is hand numbered, personalized and signed by Gemma.

Tour

A short tour began on October 4, 2014 which took place until November with tour dates in the UK. In December 2014, Gemma Hayes toured with Bell X1's Paul Noonan as part of the Printer Clips the tour dates were in the Republic of Ireland. In February 2015, Hayes continued with further UK tour dates where she supported with Scott Mattew. Hayes is expected to confirm further dates for Ireland, France and Germany in mid-2015. Hayes began her promo tour in the UK in October 2014 before touring Ireland with Paul Noonan's Printer Clips in December. By early 2015, Hayes completed a short UK tour as a support for Scott Mattews. By March 2015, Gemma performed in Paris and Berlin and will commence with an extensive tour of both Ireland and the UK this spring/summer. Hayes is expected to confirm further dates for Ireland, France and Germany for later this year.

Promo dates

Tour with Printer Clips

Promo Dates & Scott Mattews tour

Promo Dates & Bones+Longing tour

Proposed songs

Critical reception

Upon release Bones+Longing received positive reviews from critics.

The UK's MOJO gave the album 4/5. and London's Evening Standard described the album as 'still drifting beautifully onwards...' RTÉ 2XM featured the LP in their Albums of The Week describing the album as "...her strongest album...that will enchant even the most cynical musical soul". Drowned In Sound gave the album 8/10 saying it is full of 'depth and texture'. The Arts Desk defined the album as "bound to form an intimate bond with its audience". Q Magazine defined the album as 'Spellbinding'.

Personnel