In June of 2022, singer-songwriter Astra Kelly moved into a 32-foot Fleetwood Flair, named it Bessie, and embarked on an 8,000-mile trek around the U.S. to, as she put it, “rediscover her creative mojo after the pandemic, write a new record and allow space for processing the loss of her Mom.” The result, her publicist said, is “nine songs that reflect spiritual/emotional healing and transformation, and embrace the power within universal love, the open road, nature, and the mysticism of life. Astra gathered a band of San Diego superstars and the sound arrived in the heart of Americana with a swampy, nomadic spark.”
The album, “Soul Fires,” her 10th studio album, is scheduled for release this summer, but she’ll celebrate with the first single release and a solo/acoustic West Coast tour.
“When I threw myself into the fires of RV life and made plans to hit the road, I was terrified,” Kelly said. “I was intimidated by the fact I had chosen a Class A … basically a bus with a truck engine and a car in tow. I felt lost and alone, but excited for the journey and empowered to do the thing that a lot of people dream about. In the process, I discovered a whole nationwide community of women out there doing it on their own. Meeting solo women travelers on the road and others living that dream was inspiring and helped me to transition to a life on wheels. On the road, every moment felt sacred, even the most mundane. This album is a reflection of the journey of life that we all must take. It’s universal, it’s cathartic, it’s up and down, and it’s honest. These songs were written with the spirits of the road on my shoulder.”
Joining the tour as marketing manager is Robin Dvorak, fellow Fleetwood Flair owner and digital nomad at Blue Egg, Kelly’s pet dog and cat, and Dvorak’s dog, fish and two snails. The tour will hit a dozen-plus dates from Southern California to Bend, Oregon, and you can find the full schedule here.
