Since releasing her first solo album two years ago, self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell has redefined what art means in the 21st century. "Outside Child," her often harrowing, deeply moving, cathartic celebration of the joy of survival, has become one of the most acclaimed albums of the past 10 years (its many accolades include three GRAMMY Award nominations, the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, the Americana Music Association's 2022 Album of the Year Award, two International Folk Music Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards and four UK Americana Music Awards). In addition, Allison has consistently used her newfound platform to uplift, educate and inspire; curating the history-making Once And Future Sounds: Roots and Revolution for the 2021 Newport Folk Festival and organising this year's triumphant Love Rising all-star benefit concert in support of LGBTQIA+ in Nashville are just two of many examples where she has raised her voice with power and purpose. Now comes the second chapter of her story, "The Returner", a body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of black liberation, black love and black self-respect. "The Returner" was written and co-produced by Allison with Dim Star (her partner JT Nero and his brother Drew Lindsay) and recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles during the week of Solstice in December 2022: Allison Russell (lead vocals, harmony vocals, banjo, clarinet).