Susanna Hoffs

It was 26 years ago when most of the world caught their first ear full — and eye full — of Susanna Hoffs as the doe-eyed singer from the Bangles. For some, “Manic Monday” had them hooked; for others, it would be “If She Knew What She Wants,” “Walk Like an Egyptian,” or, later on, “Eternal Flame” and "In Your Room" that would do the trick. Regardless, most all fans and critics agreed then, as now, that Hoffs has an utterly unique voice among so many in the pop music milieu. In the years since the Bangles reigned supreme on the Billboard charts, Susanna has spent her time working on a multitude of creative and collaborative projects — from appearing alongside Mike Myers as a member of his character’s Ming Tea band in the Austin Powers film franchise to dueting with Matthew Sweet as Sid ‘n Susie on their Under the Covers album series. And, yes, she has also released a couple of solo records. The first, When You’re a Boy, came on the heels of the Bangles’ original run in 1991; the second, Susanna Hoffs, dropped five years later. On July 17, her long-awaited third solo set, Someday, takes flight. It is an intensely personal song cycle that doubles as a musical love letter to the music of the 1960s. Produced and orchestrated by Mitchell Froom, the album is heartfelt and immediate, oozing refinement but without a trace of pretense. Elvis Costello’s Imposters rhythm section — drummer Pete Thomas and bassist Davey Faragher — played on the initial sessions in June of 2011, with Val McCallum and Andrew Brassell playing guitar. A few of the songs were tracked with Michael Urbano on drums and Bob Glaub on bass. Froom played keyboards. “The album was inspired by my yearning to sing songs that were as melodic and emotional as my favorite music of the 1960s,” Hoffs says. “We recorded 10 original songs, eight of which I wrote with Andrew Brassell, a musician from Nashville."