POOR CLARE SISTERS OF ARUNDEL RETURN WITH SECOND ALBUM MY PEACE I GIVE YOU
BACK IN THE HABIT!
A DIFFERENT KIND OF ABBEY (ROAD) FOR CHART-TOPPING NUNS
A DIVINE ENCORE FOR PEACE, HARMONY AND NATURE’S GUARDIANSHIP
FIRST SINGLE "MY PEACE I GIVE YOU" OUT TODAY - LISTEN HERE
22 MARCH 2024 (TORONTO, ON) – Highest-charting nuns ever, the Poor Clares of Arundel are answering the prayers of eagerly waiting fans, by announcing today their return with a second album My Peace I Give You, out on May 24th on Decca Records/Universal Music Canada. Our favourite nuns captured the hearts of millions of listeners in 2020 with their uplifting debut album Light for the World, which soared to No.5 in the UK Official Album Chart, infusing Latin hymns and medieval texts with a unique 21st Century production. The sisters are now gearing up to bring music from the 13th Century back to the mainstream pop chart once again.
For some, it is so often a case of the "difficult second album", but the difficulty for the sisters was saying no to making one! Since the release and success of their first record, they have been inundated with "fanmail" asking for another. Recorded at the convent chapel in Arundel, West Sussex and mixed at Abbey Road Studios, this new album is a message of peace for a fractured world and the importance of caring for the planet. Never ones to do things by halves, the sisters are this time bringing you the album in Dolby Atmos!
As the nuns themselves say, there is no need to be religious to love their music. Sister Graça explains, "My longing is for our music to touch people's hearts, and that's been the response. A lot of people saying, 'I don't believe in God, but there is something about your music that takes me somewhere that I had never experienced before'. That's it."
The universal messages resonate with all who seek peace and harmony, especially in these challenging times. A call to embrace happiness, the album invites listeners on a journey of reflection and connection with the world around us, sharing their ethos of kindness, calm and meditation through music. A time to pause and find solace in moments of introspection, that aid our ever-evolving search for inner peace. "The Canticle of Creation", written by St Francis of Assisi, great friend to St Clare, is at the core of this album, and was divided across 7 songs. It is a thank you letter for all the beauty we can find on the planet: from the animals to the plants, and the sun to the water. Written in 1224, it is still relevant exactly 800 years later, where everything is at risk with global warming.
Helping others being central to the work of the nuns, the Poor Clares were delighted to donate their profits from sales of their first album to charity, and will continue to do so. The sisters have also continued their work in the community, from time spent at running their small guesthouse in Arundel, to helping the local community in Bungoma in Kenya, where the sisters have a foundation. This, along with the letters, has also provided inspiration for the new record. Paired with the teachings of St. Francis and St. Clare, the Poor Clare Sisters of Arundel here celebrate peace, forgiveness, healing, patience, and joy. Beginning with biblical texts and transitioning to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the planet, the album underscores the importance of living in harmony with nature and one another.
Spanning ages from 50 to 96 and representing 6 different nationalities, the Poor Clares of Arundel is a diverse and vibrant community, defying expectations with their distinct personalities, rich sense of humour, and strong opinions. Secluded but not disconnected, they love watching a film to relax occasionally or dancing to the tunes of Bob Marley. Gardening (the sisters are almost completely self-sufficient in fruits and vegetables), cooking, baking and heartfelt conversations populate their very orchestrated lives, all set to the rhythm of services, prayer, and reflection.
Chant plays a large role in the daily lives of the community of 23 nuns. Living, working, laughing and praying according to the form of life drawn up by St Clare of Assisi in 1253, they became the UK’s best-selling classical artist debut of 2020, more than 800 years after they were founded. The original Light for the World release remained at the top of the UK Specialist Classical Chart for nineteen weeks after its release in October, with 80,000 copies worldwide and 60 millions streams. A Christmas track followed, along with the "deluxe" edition released in January 2021.
“We are thrilled that the Poor Clare Sisters of Arundel are again inviting us into their quiet sanctuary with much needed messages of peace and hope, providing a place for focus and reflection in a busy world,” says Fiona Pope (A&R Manager & Creative Partnership at Decca Record).
First single ‘My Peace I Give You’ is also out today – link here.
My Peace I Give You is out on May 24th via Decca Records. Pre-order here.
“We unite with you in the tireless struggle to help and heal our world and our planet.
To you all we dedicate this album.” (Poor Clare Sisters of Arundel)
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