There’s magic here. Donald Fagen magic.
“I had sort of written it acoustically and then we changed the vibe of it with that four on the floor beat and the bigger harmonies and stuff,” says Peter More. “It’s sort of about the pursuit of trying to find that constant through life, which isn’t so easy. When you’re little you think things are gonna be all hunky dory, and then you realize it’s actually wonderful and rare if you can find that shoulder (to lean on) through time that would bring you some peace of mind or have someone to go through things with — it could be a friend, it could be family. “
Over the years, Peter More and his bandmates have called many places home. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, More joined forces with Spanish flamenco guitarist José Juan Poyatos, Mexican bassist Diego Noyola, and French-American drummer Adrien Faunce in San Miguel de Allende, the colonial arts haven three hours north of Mexico City. There, the band began to record with prolific drummer Rick Shlosser (who played on many Van Morrison and James Taylor classics, among hundreds of other credits). A chance encounter with Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, who happened to be visiting San Miguel, led to Fagen producing More’s debut album, Beautiful Disrepair, and a follow-up EP entitled Shoulder.
A sense of wanderlust underscores More’s music, weaving many influences and intersections from the principal songwriter and lead singer’s unconventional journey. These layered stories naturally evolved with the band’s continual movement through recording sessions beyond San Miguel that took place in Fort Worth, New York City, and Woodstock. Three of the songs were held back from the LP release in August 2018 and now appear as an EP with the anthemic single “Shoulder” and two b-sides — “What We Used to Be” and “Marlene (Featuring Amy Helm).” At turns contemplative and rousing, the Shoulder EP is a precisely executed work with Fagen’s indelible sound stylings that More’s lyrics and vocals make feel uncomplicated and original, fusing together the many creative and geographic influences that define Peter More.
