Tori Sparks - Music Career - Under This Yellow Sun

Under This Yellow Sun

In 2007 Tori started work on her third release, co-produced and recorded with indie rock veteran David Henry (R.E.M., Ben Folds, Josh Rouse, Cowboy Junkies) as co-producer. The album features guest musicians Steve Bowman (Counting Crows), Aaron Sands (Jars of Clay), Pat Buchanan (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dixie Chicks) John Deaderick (Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams), Daniel Dennis (Prime Cut Records), Matthew Burgess (Brandi Carlile, Third Eye Blind), Joe Rathbone (Prime Cut Records) and producer David Henry.,

During the production of the album, Tori continued to tour in the United States. Tori once again collaborated with Rivers + Roads director Wayne Hall to create the music video for “Cold War,” which was screened at the 2008 Florida Indie Film Jam.

Under This Yellow Sun is the first release on Tori’s own record label (Glass Mountain Records) and publishing company (Hand Over Foot Publishing). The album has been favorably reviewed by Relix, Harp, Maverick, Skope, The Nashville Scene, Popmatters, and many regional newspapers across the country. After breaking the Top 100 on the RIYL Weighted College Charts, the album was licensed by MTV, Lifetime, and the Oxygen Network for use in their 2008-2009 television seasons.

A subsequent feature by XM Radio Unsigned prompted Universal Music France to contact Sparks. Universal included the album’s first single “Cold War” on their double-disc compilation Country Vol 2., released internationally in March 2008. The compilation sold 30,000 copies in Europe.

Tori was featured on the April 2008 covers of City at Night Magazine and Triangle Live in conjunction with her participation in the Tin Pan South music festival and non-profit fund raiser in Nashville. “Cold War” was selected a Unisong International Songwriting Contest Finalist (2007), and was later included on the Paste Magazine New Music Sampler in June 2008 (Issue # 43). Other artists on the compilation included Elvis Costello, She and Him, and Nada Surf.

The song “Caged Bird” from Under This Yellow Sun was selected one of the Top 12 DIY Downloads by Performing Songwriter magazine (2008), and one of the Top 10 Tracks of 2007 by Cashville 411.