The Company Stores will issue The Family Album, their third LP, on September 23. Today, JamBase exclusively premieres the Robert Mercurio-produced record’s lead single, “Ways,” and its accompanying video before its official release on July 15.
The Charleston, West Virginia-based The Company Stores features lead vocalist Ileana Ille, guitarist and primary songwriter Matthew Marks, bassist Michael Micucci, violinist/trumpeter Joseph Cevallos, multi-instrumentalist Matthew Jackfert and drummer John Query. Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio produced the 11-track follow-up to 2017’s Little Lights. Instrumentation was recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording with vocal parts laid down in New Orleans at Galactic’s Number C Studios.
The Family Album was initially set to be recorded in 2020, when the pandemic hit leading to a delay. The Company Stores finally started recording the LP in mid-2021 after a period of turmoil for Matthew Marks, who withstood the end of an engagement, the loss of his grandfather and a move to his family’s farm.
“This album tells a story of everything being turned upside down; both personally and across the country,” said Marks. “Together we have been spending countless quarantine hours writing and the rehearsal room, growing as songwriters and musicians, and are getting excited to present what we think will be our greatest record to date.”
Mercurio enjoyed the process of working with The Company Stores. “As a producer, I feel like I saw this band grow immensely as songwriters though the process of making this album,” the Galactic co-founder explained. “Illy blossomed into the rock star she now is—crushing the vocals on every take. I’m very proud of the final product and had a blast working with all of them.”
The Company Stores are joined on “Ways” by vocalists Walter DeBarr and Jodi Hall. The song is dedicated to DeBarr, who died unexpectedly in February less than a month after contributing to the track. Watch the “Ways” video below:
