CREDIT: JULIE MOE
Linda Ortega's Faded Gloryville represents a state of mind, a place where you are downtrodden or broken-hearted; it is a country album that combines different genres of music into a unique sound.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. I haven’t made much of a secret of my fondness for subscription streaming music services over the last couple of years, and in that time the number of such on–demand platforms has increased as consumers embrace the streaming model. As a fan, I find that an exciting premise, and with the news recently that streaming services generate more income than traditional album sales, it looks as though that model is here to stay.

However there is no better indicator of the success of such a service than to see it being embraced by artists as a means to deliver their work, as outlaw–country crooner Lindi Ortega did this past summer to tease her latest record, Faded Gloryville.

The Nashville–based Canadian singer–songwriter released a special playlist on Rdio in July that featured snippets of interview commentary along with select album tracks to preview the record.

It’s this album she celebrate swhile on tour this month, which includes a stop in London on Oct. 20 where Ortega will be performing at Aeolian Hall with support of Sam Cash. Tickets for her performance are $26 at the door, but cost $20 for students.

Released by The Grand Tour Records on Aug. 7, Faded Gloryville represents a state of mind, a place where you’d find the downtrodden and the broken–hearted.

“It’s about anything that brings you down, whether it’s dreams not coming true or relationships not working out,” Ortega explained to Rolling Stone Country earlier this year. “And its message is this: you can go to a place where you’re feeling really down about things, but it’s what you do afterwards — do you decide to reside there forever or do you leave and make the situation better — that matters. You have to travel through Faded Gloryville to get to Paradise.”

The album harkens back to a pre “Achy Breaky Heart” era in country music, at times casting its instrumentation in ways more akin to Motown or vintage jazz than traditional country.

Largely recorded live in three sessions with different producers, Dave Cobb, Colin Linden and the duo of Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes and the Civil Wars’ John Paul White. Though Ortega’s integrity throughout makes it difficult to guess with accuracy which songs emerged from each.

The idea was to craft a record as broad as her tastes in music and by recording live Ortega not only impeccably captures her raw, smoky vocals, but also offers a glimpse into a promising concert performance.

Ortega previewed Faded Gloryville bit by bit as 2015 unfolded. The tracks “Tell It Like It Is” and her striking cover of The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” first appeared in the spring, while “Ashes” and “I Ain’t The Girl” debuted in July in advance of an in–depth interview on The Strombo Show for CBC Radio. Together, it painted a picture of an album that found its influences in ’70s country and classic soul records, informed by masterful production.

The rest of the album reveals more of the picture, songs that take inspiration from Elvis–era rhythm and blues, shimmering surf guitar tones and smooth, soulful harmonies throughout.

Running a mere 36 minutes, Faded Gloryville leaves fans wanting more and perhaps all the more inclined to repeat the album as it finishes.

For more on Lindi Ortega, her album Faded Gloryville or her current tour, visit lindiortega.ca or follow her on Twitter @lindiortega. She is currently en route back to Canada through gigs in the States, wrapping up October in Ontario and Quebec. If you can’t make her show in London, you have chances to see Ortega in Waterloo, Hamilton and Toronto before the week is out.

And for more of the latest music news, album streams and gigs coming to London, add @fsu_bobbyisms to your timeline. Stay tuned to fsu.ca for great events on campus, and don’t miss Rocktober this week in Forwell Hall — when are you going to see The Flatliners, Heart Attack Kids and Full Year ever again for free? Never. I’m out of words.