Colorado folk artist Emily Scott Robinson announced their new EP yesterday.

Built On Bones, which will be released on October 28 via Oh Boy Records, is based on the witches from Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth. For this release, Robinson will join forces with Violet Bell’s Alisa Amador and Lizzy Ross to portray the witches in a different light.

Robinson further explains this upcoming release:

“In the spring of 2021, I was asked by my friend and theatre director Colin Sullivan to compose music for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The Witches of MacBeth are traditionally cast as scary, ugly and evil creatures to which we attribute the darker magic of the show and Macbeth’s descent into madness. Our theory was this: What if the Witches were instead beautiful, tempting, sexy, powerful and playful? What if the Witches held the capacity, just like Macbeth, for both light and dark magic? After all, in the time of King James I and the witch trials in England, the ‘witches’ targeted by the Crown were not supernatural beings—they were folk healers, spiritualists and teachers. We envisioned a version of the show where we gave the Witches a powerful voice, and in doing so, belied the history of violence against women and their magic. In making this record, Lizzy, Alisa, Brandy and I held in our hearts the intention to heal the lineage of women who came before us and declare that our power and magic cannot be controlled or snuffed out by a violent patriarchy of fearful men.”

The six-track release will feature appearances from Ellen Angelico (electric guitar, baritone guitar), Josh Grange (pedal steel, piano, electric guitar), Aaron Haynes (drums), Vanessa McGowan (bass), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle), Teddy Morgan (bass), Kaitlyn Raitz (cello), and Kristin Weber (violin, string arrangements). The title track can be heard below. Pre-orders for Built On Bones can be made here.

This month, Robinson will have festival appearances at AmericanaFest and Sisters Folk Festival 2022. Tour dates can be seen below. Tickets are on sale to the general public here.

Built On Bones tracklisting

1. Built on Bones

2. Old Gods (Theatrical Version)

3. Double Double

4. Sleep No More

5. Old Gods (Minor Response)

6. Men and Moons

Emily Scott Robinson tour dates

September 16—Nashville, TN—AmericanaFest

September 30-October 2—Sisters, OR—Sisters Folk Festival 2022

October 22—Ridgeway, CO—Sherbino