New Release Rack: 2Late’s “10 Years 2Late”

It’s been a full decade since Vicki Gayle and Mike Short first teamed up as the singer-songwriter duo 2Late, so named because, “We were too late for a major recording contract,” according to Gayle. So it seemed only natural that they would title their new album – the twosome’s fourth – 10 Years 2Late.

The new album reflects a focus that could only come through years of hard work. “It took us a long time to find our sound,” explains Gayle. “We come from different backgrounds. I’m country girl at heart, where Mike’s southern roots are pretty much southern Wisconsin. But when his family got together, they played a lot of old-timey music, bluegrass and gospel tunes. So when he writes for 2Late, you hear the country sound influenced by traditional roots music.”

The new album features 14 of the duo’s original songs, and it’s their best album yet. “We’ve worked hard on our singing and gotten coaching to refine our sound, and it’s really helped,” says Gayle. “We’re better musicians, we practice better, we write better songs, and I think this album reflects that,” adds Short.

2Late will be celebrating the release of “10 Years 2Late” with a performance and party at 7pm tonight (Wednesday, February 26) at Café NOLA in Schenectady. Admission is $15, which also includes appetizers and a copy of the new CD.