Barely a month after singing with Walter Trout on the title song of his Broken album, Beth Hart has just released a wrenchingly powerful new single “Little Heartbreak Girl” that expands on the theme of mental stress that helped make “Broken” a chart topper.
“With Beth you hear her heart and soul,” Walter explained. “There is nobody out there that sings like her. She’s an incredible songwriter, and she is one of the great artists of our time. Anyway, I could hear her in my head singing this, and I figured she could relate to the tune. So, I sent her the song and the next day she got in touch with me and said, ‘Yeah, I want to do this with you.’ So, she came in and sang.”
“Little Heartbreak Girl” is available now on all streaming platforms, alongside a lyric video featuring footage of Hart in the studio. Produced by Kevin Shirley and recorded in Nashville, this track stands as a beacon of Hart’s resilience and her boundless gratitude for the unwavering support from her fans during recent challenges. On Facebook, Beth explained, “I recorded in Nashville last year. It’s dedicated to everyone who stood by my side through it all, including all of you guys! Your love and understanding mean the world to me. Can’t wait to reconnect with you all soon.”
Earlier she wrote, “As many of you know, I’ve been struggling to stabilize my mental health treatment. It’s been a challenging journey, but I want you to know that I’m giving it my all to be able to tour without incident, and with the support of my new medical team, together we believe that I am on the right path, and I’m asking for your understanding and a bit more patience.”
Walter explained to me in January her critical role in recording “Broken”:
She came in the studio. She was there. I was there. The band was there. Eric, the producer, was there. She was a real pro, also. She didn’t want to stop. She kept going, ‘Let me sing it again.’ ‘No, we’ve got it. You’ve done an incredible job.’ She goes, ‘I’m just loving singing this song. Let me go again,’ you know? She called me the next day, and said, ‘Thank you so much for having me on that song, and I will always look back on that day as just one of the great times that I’ve had.’ She was there with her husband, and we had an awesome day. We had a lot of laughs and there was tears. There was laughter, and she put everything she had into that song.
I need to give her my gratitude and my love for coming in and doing that because she elevates that song to a whole new level. She probably sang it 20 times. We had it. She just wanted to keep singing. She loves singing. I’m telling you she’s one of the greatest. So anyway, we had laughs. We had tears. “I’ve listened to it 10,000 times. Because every time there’s that break and she comes in with that opening line, I get goose bumps. I almost start crying, you know, and I’ve actually played that song for a lot of people before even you journalists have heard it, I’ve played it for people at my house, and they’ve been reduced to tears. It’s a very potent piece of work, and both my wife and I are very proud of that piece of music.
I asked Walter how he’s going to do her part live on his upcoming tour. “I’ll have to do it without her, you know. If there’s a great female vocalist in whatever town – if they want to get up and sing it with me, that would be great.”
With a career marked by critical acclaim and countless accolades, Beth Hart has solidified her place as one of the most influential and heartfelt voices in music today. Her journey, marked by both triumphs and trials, reflects her relentless dedication to her craft and her fans. Hart’s music, infused with her raw, soulful energy, has captivated audiences worldwide, earning her top spots on the Billboard Blues charts and performances at iconic venues like Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Related: Recent ABS interview with Walter Trout
