Mikaela Davis Gives ‘Graceland Way’ The Live Treatment On KEXP

Mikaela Davis recently toured the West Coast, where she used an off day to swing by the studios of Seattle’s KEXP independent radio station. The harpist/pianist and singer-songwriter laid down a session featuring live performances of five songs from Graceland Way, her latest studio album.

Davis co-produced the 10-track effort with bassist Dan Horne and guitarist John Lee Shannon. The pair also contributed to the album, as did guitarists Madison Cunningham, Tim Heidecker, Karly Hartzman of Wednesday and Clay Finch of Mapache, keyboardists Neal Francis and Frank LoCrasto, among others.

“This album was born in the hills of Glendale, California,” Davis explained of Graceland Way. “On a dead end street high above Chevy Chase Canyon, where the coyotes howl and Bubu the cat roams free.”

Davis and her band — John Lee Shannon, drummer Alex Cote, bassist Shane McCarthy and pedal steel guitarist Kurt G. Johnson — kicked off their set with “(Looking Through) Rose Colored Glasses,” the lead single off Graceland Way. The ensemble was rounded out by guest vocalist Julianna Riolino for a session that continued with the infectious “Junk Love,” tender “Wild Flower,” pop-flavored “Starlite Tonight” and country-tinged “(That’s Not) Who I Wanna Be.”

Watch Mikaela Davis’ Graceland Way-focused KEXP set below: