Say Darling

In 2016, old friends Celia Woodsmith and Chris Hersch found themselves in unfamiliar territory: home. After years of relentless international touring, both artists had independently stepped away from demanding schedules, landing back in New England with something rare on their hands—time.

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Woodsmith, a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter known for her commanding voice and global work with the acclaimed bluegrass band Della Mae, had built a reputation on raw, emotionally charged performances across more than 30 countries. Hersch, a critically lauded guitarist and songwriter formerly of the alt-country rock band Girls Guns & Glory, had earned national recognition for his deeply expressive playing—rooted in jazz, blues, and Americana, and marked by both precision and fire.

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What began as a creative outlet quickly took shape as Say Darling.

Blending distinctive original material with carefully chosen classics, the band draws from a shared musical lineage—echoing the swampy groove of Little Feat, the soul-stirring vocal tradition of Bonnie Raitt, and the dynamic musicianship of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. At the center is the interplay between Woodsmith’s bold, unvarnished vocal presence and Hersch’s nuanced, often blistering guitar work—a balance of grit and control that defines the band’s sound.

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Hersch, named one of the top roots guitarists in the country by The Alternate Root, anchors the group with melodic clarity and explosive solos. Scott Coulter brings depth and dexterity on the Hammond B3, while Paul Chase (bass) and Jared Seabrook (drums) form a rhythm section that is both fluid and formidable. Together, they have been described as “a lethal combination of all-star musicians” (Manchester Ink) within the New England roots rock scene.

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Onstage, Say Darling moves effortlessly between extremes—slipping from near silence into a full-bodied roar within a single song—holding audiences in that tension throughout the night.

In the spring of 2020, as the world came to a halt, the band found themselves—once again—with time. With touring off the table, Hersch, Woodsmith, and Chase turned inward, teaching themselves the fundamentals of recording, editing, and mixing from their respective homes.

The result is Before & After, a nine-song EP shaped across two years, one studio, and five households. The collection bridges two distinct eras: five songs written in the ease of pre-pandemic life, and four born from the stillness and uncertainty that followed.

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“There was so much to process in those first few months,” Woodsmith reflects. “The loss of a career, the isolation—but also the urgency of the social justice movement sparked by the death of George Floyd. I wanted the record to feel like a time capsule—something that holds that moment honestly.”

Released March 5, Before & After was recognized by The Boston Globe as one of “Nine albums by local artists that have gotten the year off to an exciting start.”