In 2012 the roots outfit Birds of Chicago took shape when Chicago-based JT Nero of JT & the Clouds joined forces with Vancouver’s Allison Russell of Po’ Girl. Although each continued to steer separate projects, the pair judged their partnership strong enough to warrant committing to a first recording. While Russell already commanded respect as a songwriter, much of the group’s early character stemmed from original material Nero had crafted expressly for her voice, and the interplay of their two vocals drew listeners to the self-titled Birds of Chicago LP. Weaving folk, mountain gospel, soul, and rock together, the co-leaders plus a shifting roster of supporting players matured into a seasoned touring unit that issued the live album Live from Space in 2013. For the follow-up studio set they secured the services of Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry, tracking Real Midnight across 2015 before its release early the next year.
