LAWRENCE ROTHMAN

THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS

While residing in a historic house just outside Nashville, TN, once inhabited by Leonard Cohen during the late '60s, Lawrence Rothman faced a life-altering moment that became the catalyst for their deeply personal third album The Plow That Broke the Plains. A stint in the local ER for internal hemorrhaging served as a wake up call, forcing Rothman to confront a near-fatal eating disorder that had gripped them for two agonizing years. Facing a difficult truth after a few days in the Tennessee hospital, Rothman returned to their home in Los Angeles. During the return flight to Los Angeles, the song "LAX" took shape, laying bare the pain, loss, and denial woven into Rothman's battle with anorexia. Rothman reflects, "My world was falling apart, and it took my body physically breaking down for me to acknowledge I was slowly destroying myself." The track serves as a poignant meditation on the hidden struggles of self-destruction, both to oneself and those in proximity. With unwavering support from family and friends, Rothman embarked on a path to recovery, emerging from a transformative treatment with newfound clarity and courage. Rothman reconnected with their first instrument, the guitar, leading to a profound writing session with friend Jason Isbell and birthing the emotionally charged anthem, "Poster Child” addressing the urgent issue of gun violence. “Poster Child is about a 2005 attack that happened to me outside Dallas club. I was dressed in makeup and style of clothes that I guess some random audience members did not like. I was jumped and shot at after the gig. It had a profound effect on my identity and who and what I would take a bullet for. That point forward I found myself wanting to lift up others whom struggled with gender identity ” The Isbell session sparked an unyielding period of creative catharsis, with Rothman writing dozens of songs.

In March 2023, Rothman commenced recording their third album at Nashville's iconic Sound Emporium studios, giving birth to "The Plow That Broke The Plains.” The album is a testament to resilience, capturing the strength and lessons salvaged from personal wreckage. Recorded primarily live, with an emphasis on first takes, the 13 songs reflect a brutal honesty. Produced and mixed by Lawrence Rothman and Yves Rothman, with contributions from Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and S.G. Goodman, the album encapsulates the diverse new sounds of Nashville. Rooted in Rothman's upbringing surrounded by folk and country music in Missouri, The Plow That Broke the Plains is a snapshot of their most unfiltered self. Describing the recording process, Rothman notes, "The Plow that Broke the Plains" is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was. "

The confessionals, captured with minimal overdubs straight to analog tape, explores Rothman's decade-long struggle with body dysmorphia and a two-year battle with anorexia, addressing themes of addiction, gender identity, and societal pressures. The title track “The Plow That Broke the Plains,” along with “Doesn’t Work Like That” narrates a close friend's disrupted engagement due to family disapproval of a same-sex marriage. While "Never a Right Time" tackles the delicate subject of assisted suicide for a terminally ill relative. “R. Blood" featuring S.G. Goodman rages on violent hate crimes against the LGBTQ community in the South. The haunting "Drugstore Bummin'" detailing the personal hell of addiction and risky diet binging which saw Rothman dropping to a weight of 129 pounds. “When I look at some photos from the period, I am horrified but I was blind to it then. I keep them on my phone to remind myself of skeletal emptiness I was inhabiting. Social media and our current self image culture no matter how strong or together you think you are, truly has effect on self worth and they way we see ourselves. It’s hard to run from it when it’s coming at you from all directions. It might sound cliche but we are surrounded by ideals that are unrealistic and for some folks who don’t have the armor it can take you down”. Album opener “Yesterday Tomorrow”, Rothman reaches for what was great about their past while simultaneously wanting to move into the future. “Nostalgia is the great waster of time, I like to move forward while never looking back. There are lessons to bring with you - ideas to destroy and never repeat but a future forward mindset is a clearer way to navigate amongst the chaos of life”

The 13 tracks on The Plow That Broke the Plains are bared with unflinching vulnerability of ones introspective exploration through personal torment and redemption. It's an introspective and honest exploration of ones personal struggles, societal challenges, and the pain found when confronting grim truths. In Rothman's music, darkness and light coexist, interwoven within stories of harsh realities tempered by moments of optimism. A poignant reminder echoes: life may take a dark turn, but it's crucial to navigate through the ruins and emerge resilient.

For more information, please contact Asha Goodman 615.320.7753, or Carla Sacks 212.741.1000 at Sacks & Co.

THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS TRACK LIST
1. Yesterday Tomorrow
2. LAX (feat. Amanda Shires)
3. Poster Child
4. The Plow That Broke The Plains
5.Kerosene
6.Twin Flames
7.Dreams Die Hard
8. Never A Right Time
9. R. Blood (feat. SG Goodman)
10. Don’t Hang Up On Me
11. Drugstore Bummin
12. Doesn’t Work Like That
13. No Vacancy

www.lawrencerothman.com