Press release –
Folk duo Basset, comprised of Yasmine Shelton and Sam Clark, celebrate Loving Day with the release of a new single, “Out of the Weeds.”
“We are releasing the song on this day because it is the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling Loving v. Virginia, which struck down America’s last laws against interracial marriages,” shares the band. “We want to honour all the people who struggled to create a world where a marriage like ours is embraced.”
Inspired by a multitude of emotions, “Out of the Weeds” reflects both the kindness of strangers the duo have encountered during years of touring and travel, and the kind of love that makes you want to drop everything, take someone’s hand, and chase adventures together around the world. At its heart, the song is a celebration of connection, community, and the spirit of Loving Day.
That sense of connection also extends to how the duo see the world around them. These divided times have been a real challenge to the band’s faith in humanity. “When we’re sitting at home, it’s easy to feel like the world is a harsh, dark place,” shares Basset. “But when we tour, people come out of the woodwork. They offer us a hot meal, a ride, a place to stay the night, or simply a moment of warm conversation. It reminds us of the people, and entire communities, doing beautiful work all across the world. It keeps us going.”
That generosity was also reflected in the response to their Kickstarter campaign. Fans rallied behind the project, helping Basset raise more than $27,000 to fund their forthcoming album and support the many costs that come with being an independent artist today.
Yasmine and Sam are also thrilled to be joining their dear friend Mia Kelly as special guests on her Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling Fall Tour later this year.
When it came time to record “Out of the Weeds,” the pair leaned on a trusted circle of friends and collaborators. The brushy guitar parts were created by longtime collaborator Joseph Martel. Three separate guitar tracks were layered together, creating the dry, easygoing rhythm the song needed, while Joshua Van Tassel’s drum performance filled out the arrangement beautifully, and Peter Klaassen adds the bass. The track features moments where the instrumentation swells into a gorgeous release, alongside subtle passages where the duo’s voices blend so seamlessly they are nearly indistinguishable.
The accompanying video for “Out of the Weeds” is a compilation tour vlog documenting three months the duo spent touring through Europe, Australia, the UK, and Canada.
“We hopped on planes, trains, buses and boats; we saw birds, kangaroos, and koalas; and we met good people and kind strangers all over the world,” they share.
What’s The Story about Basset?
Toronto-based folk duo, Basset, are full of timeless heart, with deeply human lyrics and harmonies reminiscent of the early folk revival. CBC Q’s Tom Power says “if you’re a lover of great close harmonies, like Simon and Garfunkel, or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, I think you’re going to love this”.
Their sweeping debut album In the Clay was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for vocal group of the year, and received radio play and reviews on CBC, NPR, No Depression, and Americana UK.
Basset tours regularly across Canada, the UK, and Europe with a live show that is both sincere and disarmingly funny. They have performed at the Mariposa Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Celtic Connections (Scotland). Their sophomore album Human Nature will be released in the fall of 2026.
WRITTEN BY: Sam Clark, Yasmine Shelton, Joseph Martel, Peter Klaassen
PRODUCED BY: Basset
MIXED BY: Michael Darolfi
MASTERED BY: Kristian Montano
MUSICIANS
Yasmine Shelton: Vocals
Sam Clark: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ
Joseph Martel: Acoustic Guitar
Peter Klaassen: Bass
Joshua Van Tassel: Drums
