Released June 6, 2025, via A Woody Hollow
“It took a little while for me to loosen up and allow my songs to breathe,” says acclaimed alternative artist Tracy Bonham, reflecting on the evolution of her sound. Her new album, SKY TOO WIDE—out now—embodies a refreshing sense of creative freedom that she says had previously escaped her. “This album is really about getting back up after some major personal challenges,” she shares. “I am more aware and awake than I have ever been.”
Blending the music that naturally flows through her—thanks to her classical training in piano, violin, and voice—SKY TOO WIDE builds on the indie rock roots that first brought Tracy Bonham into the spotlight. This time around, she weaves in touches of classical and jazz in a way that feels effortless, not over-the-top or too artsy. As iHeart Radio’s “Brutally Delicious” put it, the album “draws from the romanticism of classical composers, merging lush harmonies and emotive melodies with her signature quirky songwriting… The result is a captivating blend of genres that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly original, proving that Bonham’s music-old and new-remains as relevant and resonant as ever.” Rock And Roll Globe’s praise is that it “showcases Bonham’s maturity and newfound confidence.”
TRACY BONHAM
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
SKY TOO WIDE is a rich, vibrant album featuring upright bassist Rene Hart (David Amram, James Hunter), and drummer Alvester Garnett (Regina Carter, Abbey Lincoln), who lay down a dynamic backdrop for Bonham’s stunning vocals to soar, twist, and glide through the elevated indie rock sound she’s known for. By blending the free-flowing spirit of jazz with the complexity of classical music—and mixing it all into the raw energy of indie rock—Bonham creates space for her music to breathe, evolve, and truly come alive.
“It’s like going back to the spark I had as a very young musician, discovering the beauty of Ravel and DeBussy and reclaiming that spark and everything that has happened after that,” That’s how Bonham describes the blend of influences that shaped this album. But SKY TOO WIDE is far from being a highbrow or overly polished record—it’s still raw, emotional, and grounded, just with added layers and subtle detail. The beautiful, piano-driven ballad “Damn the Sky (for Being Too Wide)” captures her search for a sense of belonging after a difficult divorce. She says the song is about “isolation, loneliness, and a longing for community. My family is 3,000 miles away and, on one very tough day, I wanted to shrink the sky to bring them closer to me.”
Her latest single, “Jumping Bean,” is a reimagined take on a track from her 2000 album Down Here. While the original version was all fiery, rebellious energy, this new take feels more grounded and self-assured. It reflects where Bonham is now—strong, intentional, and fully owning her power. “It is now coming from a place of liberation rather than a feeling of helplessness,” she says.
However, the album isn’t entirely serious in tone. Bonham’s mischievous sense of humor reveals itself through moments of playful theatricality. “Dear God, Should I Hit Send?” which is “a direct rip from Chopin’s ‘Nocturne op. 9 no. 2‘,” she laughs, adding, “it’s about how people communicate in the 21st century and the negative impact a single text, tweet, X, or post can have on the world or in one’s personal relationships.”
Bonham made a powerful entrance with her debut album The Burdens of Being Upright (1996, Island Records), which featured the breakout single “Mother Mother”—a track that soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative chart. A classically trained violinist and pianist, and a two-time GRAMMY™ nominee, Bonham has spent the past 27 years growing and evolving as an artist through her albums and live shows. Her debut album launched her into the spotlight, earning MTV fame, major radio play, and lasting relevance — most recently with “Mother Mother” appearing in Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” (Season 1, Episode 2).
“Playing with incredible jazz musicians like Rene and Alvester has opened my mind and is now giving me the support I have always needed to spread my wings and fly,” she says, reflecting on her new music and the fuller, more developed sound she’s created. “I am really enjoying exploring the intersections and overlaps of where classical and jazz meet without excluding my alternative rock sensibilities. These dudes can rock, too. The three of us playing together is definitely my happy place.”
TOUR DATES:
* signifies shows with Jeffrey Gaines
| June 10 | New York, NY | Joe’s Pub (with Fred Armisen) |
| June 30 | Boston, MA | City Winery (album release show) * |
| August 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | Cit Winery * |
| August 26 | Seattle, WA | Triple Door |
MORE DATES COMING SOON!
SKY TOO WIDE
tracklisting
- Give Us Something To Feel (Sky Too Wide version)
- The Uncertain Sun
- Dear God, Should I Hit Send?
- Jumping Bean (Sky Too Wide version)
- Damn The Sky (For Being Too Wide)
- Don’t Dick Around With My Heart
- Naked (Sky Too Wide version)
- Whether You Fall (Sky Too Wide version)
- Safe With Me
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