Hurray for the Riff Raff (AKA Alynda Segarra, they/them) released their Nonesuch debut, LIFE ON EARTH, to tremendous critical praise last year. To commemorate Earth Day, a digital expanded version of the album, with seven additional tracks, is out today, April 21. Three of the bonus tracks have not previously been released: an acoustic version of ‘POINTED AT THE SUN’ and two originals from the Life on Earth sessions: ‘RESISTANCE ROCKERS’ and ‘LET HER IN THE SKY’. A video for ‘Resistance Rockers’, directed by Kelly Gallagher.
Following a May 6 performance at their home city of New Orleans’ famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Segarra begins a solo acoustic tour across the southwest before joining their band in California for a west coast run with First Aid Kit. The band then performs headlining dates across the US in July, including their first performance at Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. A UK acoustic duo tour takes place in August, followed by two full band festival appearances in Norway.
“In contemplating Earth Day, I wanted to release an expanded version of LIFE ON EARTH. For many years, I've been thinking about human survival on a personal and collective level, and wondering how we exist in partnership with this Planet,” Segarra says. “‘Resistance Rockers’ is written for the kid in me who discovered live music at age fourteen and had my life saved by it. The video created by Kelly Gallagher features blink-and-you’ll-miss-it footage of little Alynda dancing in a mosh pit in Tompkins Square Park circa 2000. I wouldn’t have survived my teen years without that energy and inspiration. That’s a feeling shared by many, so I hope the song speaks to your same open-eyed younger self.
“We are all exhausted from constant attacks on our bodily autonomy and planet while youth are subjected to daily devastating violence. I try to remember that Revolutions are not one-time events. Rather, history reminds us that years of ongoing belief and effort from ordinary folks always brings to light the will of the people. Life On Earth is still long.”
Life on Earth was a departure for the New Orleans-based Segarra. Its eleven new “nature punk” tracks on the theme of survival are music for a world in flux – songs about thriving, not just surviving, while disaster is happening. For this eighth full-length album, Segarra drew inspiration from The Clash, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Bad Bunny, and the author of Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown. Recorded during the early months of the pandemic, Life on Earth was produced by Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Bon Iver, Kevin Morby). Among other accolades, the album was on many media outlets’ best of 2022 lists, including those of NPR, Mojo, Rolling Stone, Uncut, and Brooklyn Vegan.
LIFE ON EARTH Deluxe Edition
1. WOLVES
2. PIERCED ARROWS
3. POINTED AT THE SUN
4. RHODODENDRON
5. JUPITER’S DANCE
6. LIFE ON EARTH
7. nightqueen
8. PRECIOUS CARGO
9. ROSEMARY TEARS
10. SAGA
11. KiN
12. RESISTANCE ROCKERS
13. LET HER IN THE SKY
14. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
15. SAGA (acoustic)
16. POINTED AT THE SUN (acoustic)
17. PIERCED ARROWS (acoustic)
18. LIFE ON EARTH (with Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
Following a May 6 performance at their home city of New Orleans’ famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Segarra begins a solo acoustic tour across the southwest before joining their band in California for a west coast run with First Aid Kit. The band then performs headlining dates across the US in July, including their first performance at Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. A UK acoustic duo tour takes place in August, followed by two full band festival appearances in Norway.
“In contemplating Earth Day, I wanted to release an expanded version of LIFE ON EARTH. For many years, I've been thinking about human survival on a personal and collective level, and wondering how we exist in partnership with this Planet,” Segarra says. “‘Resistance Rockers’ is written for the kid in me who discovered live music at age fourteen and had my life saved by it. The video created by Kelly Gallagher features blink-and-you’ll-miss-it footage of little Alynda dancing in a mosh pit in Tompkins Square Park circa 2000. I wouldn’t have survived my teen years without that energy and inspiration. That’s a feeling shared by many, so I hope the song speaks to your same open-eyed younger self.
“We are all exhausted from constant attacks on our bodily autonomy and planet while youth are subjected to daily devastating violence. I try to remember that Revolutions are not one-time events. Rather, history reminds us that years of ongoing belief and effort from ordinary folks always brings to light the will of the people. Life On Earth is still long.”
Life on Earth was a departure for the New Orleans-based Segarra. Its eleven new “nature punk” tracks on the theme of survival are music for a world in flux – songs about thriving, not just surviving, while disaster is happening. For this eighth full-length album, Segarra drew inspiration from The Clash, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Bad Bunny, and the author of Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown. Recorded during the early months of the pandemic, Life on Earth was produced by Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Bon Iver, Kevin Morby). Among other accolades, the album was on many media outlets’ best of 2022 lists, including those of NPR, Mojo, Rolling Stone, Uncut, and Brooklyn Vegan.
LIFE ON EARTH Deluxe Edition
1. WOLVES
2. PIERCED ARROWS
3. POINTED AT THE SUN
4. RHODODENDRON
5. JUPITER’S DANCE
6. LIFE ON EARTH
7. nightqueen
8. PRECIOUS CARGO
9. ROSEMARY TEARS
10. SAGA
11. KiN
12. RESISTANCE ROCKERS
13. LET HER IN THE SKY
14. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
15. SAGA (acoustic)
16. POINTED AT THE SUN (acoustic)
17. PIERCED ARROWS (acoustic)
18. LIFE ON EARTH (with Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
