Canadian-born, New-York based banjo person Taylor Ashton’s second solo album, Stranger to the Feeling, was recorded on a coast-to-coast road trip in 2021. These were the two weeks post-vaccine where we thought everything was A-OK, so Ashton and producer Jacob Blumberg set out on a recording adventure that included collaborations with friends new and old.
Ashton, who’s since become a new parent with wife Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive), wanted to create an album that “meditates on the meaning of closeness and connection in an age of increasing isolation.” The energy of the new album is just that and it is palpable alongside its use of space and natural sound (gotta love those birds and room noise).
In our conversation, Taylor expands on the making of the album while addressing questions on the difficulty of reconnecting after the pandemic and how the music helped break that barrier of social isolation. We also go through a lot of the album’s songs and get to topics like crying while playing your own song, struggling with expressing feelings, and both being and not being cool. Taylor also graciously shares their thoughts on gender expression and walking the line of benefiting from the patriarchy and not feeling exactly like they embody the male gender all of the time. Being 6’2 and crying while listening to your own song maybe sums it all up? Or maybe you can’t summarize Taylor Ashton? I’m very grateful to welcome him back to Basic Folk!
Artist:Jon Danforth Hometown: Dallas, Texas Song: “Can’t Stay Here” Album:Repetitions Release Date: August 18, 2023 (single); October 27, 2023 (album)
In Their Words: “‘Can’t Stay Here’ is a bit of a rambling song, but it is also self-aware enough to know that rambling is typically not a solution to life’s problems. The song acknowledges the strong impulse and the feeling of needing to get away while admitting that, most of the time, that won’t solve anything. It’s a reminder that most of our problems need to be addressed by doing the work on ourselves. At the end of the day, as the saying goes, ‘wherever you go, there you are.'” – Jon Danforth
Artist:The Clements Brothers Hometown: Gloucester, Massachusetts Song: “As the Crow Flies” Album:Dandelion Breeze Release Date: August 25, 2023 Label: Plow Man Records
In Their Words: “’As the Crow Flies’ is a tune written by George and finished by Charles. George came up with the Celtic-inspired tune on the guitar and brought it to the band. Then we played and improvised around on it until we had something we thought was exciting and interesting. The metric modulation and build in the middle of the tune was something George had conceived-of from the initial demo, but it took some playing around and experimenting with until the current progression and bass solo with the fiddle weaving around it emerged. The great fiddler Jenna Moynihan lent her beautiful playing and creative energy to the fiddle part, which we think really tied the tune together in the end. In terms of the tune name, we thought the melody had a kind of soaring and darkly quirky quality to it, so the title “As the Crow Flies” seemed to fit the mood and spirit of the sonic journey. Our late father, who passed just before the album was coming into shape, always loved crows with their intelligent and family-oriented qualities, so it also serves as a little memory capsule to him.” – The Clements Brothers
Artist:Sandy Bailey Hometown: Northfield, Massachusetts Song: “Like You Loved Me” Album:Daughter Of Abraham Release Date: August 18, 2023 Label: Red Parlor Records
In Their Words: “I first wrote and recorded this song about 10 years ago and never released it. When we were tracking it, the drummer started crying and I realized I had written something that would resonate with people. Still, in typical artist fashion, I constantly second guess myself and try to perfect things and get in my own way. Because of this I have a whole catalog of songs that will probably never be heard. The only people who ever listened to what I recorded were my kids. They made me play this song for them all the time, it was one of their favorites. I decided I wanted to finally release it on this album, but I had to make a new recording, because my voice had changed 10 years later. Not only has my voice changed, but so has my son’s! I guess it turned out to be fortunate that I waited, because I was able to record his new man voice for the background vocals on one of his favorite songs.” – Sandy Bailey
Artist:John McCutcheon & Tom Paxton Hometown: Smoke Rise, Georgia; Alexandria, Virginia Song: “Life Before You” Album:Together Release Date: October 13, 2023 Label: Appalseed
In Their Words: “Tom Paxton and I started writing together early on during the pandemic and, with seemingly endless time on our hands, we tackled all manner of subjects and ideas. This one started out as a pretty standard love song. But, often, along the way, one of us will say, ‘Wait a minute, what if this turned left instead of right?,’ and we’ll bravely go down that blind alley. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Tom was particularly enamored of the way the ending comes out of left field to the listener, a real surprise. He breaks into a big grin every time the end of verse three rolls around. One of the great joys of songwriting teamwork is to see your partner so delighted with the final result. Doesn’t get any better…” – John McCutcheon
Artist:Arny Margret Hometown: Ísafjörður, Iceland Song: “waiting” Album:dinner alone EP Release Date: September 22, 2023 (EP) Label: One Little Independent Records
In Their Words: “Sometimes you feel like you’re waiting for someone, or for a moment to say something, but the person doesn’t really see or give you the time. This song is about a lot of things: feeling left out and alone, feeling unheard and unwanted. It’s a song that was scary for me to write. Like most of my newer songs, I feel like I’m starting to write in a bit of a different way, a more honest way. This song is all the things I would never say out loud to anyone, I’m not using any metaphors or trying to mask anything here. That’s a pretty scary thing to do to, at least for me.” – Arny Margret
Artist:Scott Sean White Hometown: Dallas, Texas/Nashville, Tennessee Song: “Hope You Never Do” (Featuring Radney Foster) Album:Even Better On the Bad Days Release Date: August 18, 2023 (single); January 19, 2024 (album)
In Their Words: “Eric Erdman and Radney Foster were writing at Radney’s house one day and the news or something came on the TV while they were having lunch. Whatever it was, it made one of Radney’s kids say, ‘Dad, I don’t even know what it’s like to ball up my fist to hit someone.’ And Radney teared up and said, ‘I hope you never do.’ Eric gave him a minute and then said, ‘We’re writing THAT!’ They got stuck on the idea for some reason and couldn’t get it where they wanted. It was a year-and-a-half later that I met Eric for the first time and for some reason, he thought I was the guy to help them and their other co-writer, Chad Wilson, get it unstuck. We got together over Zoom one day and left with this.” – Scott Sean White
Artist:Philip Bowen Hometown: Montgomery, West Virginia Song: “Anymore” Album:Old Kanawha Release Date: August 18, 2023
In Their Words: “We really wanted to do this song as an acoustic/bonus track on the record. I wrote it with the intention of it being more bare bones, and I love how it turned out. The acoustic guitar, fiddle, and piano are all that’s needed, and I think musically, it really hits differently when it’s scaled back like this.” – Philip Bowen
My sophomore album,A Cowgirl Rides On, set to be released October 20, 2023, is a true reflection of my heart and what keeps me going – bluegrass, gospel, western, Jesus, horses, love, and even a little bit of heartache. The songs written for the record were hugely inspired by the songs I included on this playlist. All of these artists and songs are ones I hold near and dear and have moved me in some big way.
I became strong in my faith as a Christian in my early 20s, which is around the same time I began performing and writing a ton. Being introduced to gospel and bluegrass had a big impact on me, and it continues to deeply connect me to my faith.
It’s been a long–time dream to release a record that feels a little bit bluegrass, a little bit gospel, and everything inbetween. Here are the songs that guided me there. I hope you find so much joy in them and that they become the soundtrack to your long drives, or to enjoy over your Sunday pancakes, or during the times you just need a little light. – Victoria Bailey
“Waiting At the Gate” – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
This song is one of my all–time favorites. This whole album, Soldier of the Cross, is pure gospel gold. I actually cover this song on my upcoming record, and it was one of the most fun songs for us to record in the studio. Ricky Skaggs is just simply the best.
“Wayfaring Stranger” – Emmylou Harris
This Emmylou Harris album is really the pinpoint of when I fell in love with country music. Many have covered this classic song, but Emmylou’s version of “Wayfaring Stranger“ is my favorite by far. Her voice and the tone of this song are so haunting and beautiful… nothing compares.
“The Seeker”– Dolly Parton
Oh, Dolly… what would a playlist be without her? Dolly is undeniably the best and has inspired me in so many ways, but especially her love for Jesus and how she ties in a little bit of the gospel to most of her records. This song really gets me moving and grooving around my house.
“I Just Want to Thank You Lord” – Marshall Family
These harmonies are so good, and they really inspired how I wanted the harmonies to sound on my own record. I also wanted it to feel just as timeless and simple as this song by the Marshall Family. This song ends up being on most of my roadtrip playlists.
“The Fields Have Turned Brown” – Ralph Stanley
Ralph Stanley is a huge inspiration to me and such an important figure in bluegrass music and in the banjo world. The banjo is one of my all–time favorite sounds, and I included a lot of it on my new record. It just takes you to a good place.
“Wild and Blue” – Alan Jackson
I turn to this album quite often. What a combo! Alan Jackson and bluegrass/gospel. It’s just so good.
“Snake Trails” – Victoria Bailey
This is by far my favorite song on the record. It is a gospel song I wrote while riding my horse, Weasley, through the canyon one day. It brings me back to that place every time I sing it. It was one of the first written for the project and really sets a tone for the rest of the record. It was inspired by my horse and finding peace and connection to my faith being out on the trails.
“I Must See Jesus” – Snooks Eaglin
This song always gives me the same feeling as when you just finished a really good movie. My whole heart swells, and it brings me to a really special, peaceful place. His voice is incredible, and you can hear all the passion and honesty and faith in his delivery.
“End of the Line” – Moonsville Collective
These guys are like family to me and have inspired me endlessly over the years, watching them play and the way they are beautifully representing bluegrass/Americana music. This song, written by Corey Adams, is one that has always hit home hard for me at many times in my life. It is truly one of my favorite songs ever written, and it was an honor that I actually got to cover this song on my upcoming record.
“I’ll Fly Away” – Gillian Welch, Allison Krauss
When my producer, Brian Whelan, and I sat down to talk about making this record, we referenced the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack often. Not only is this movie legendary, so are all of the musical performers on the soundtrack. We loved the style of the recordings. Live, all in one room together, where you can hear all the cracks and the love, and it‘s exactly what we tried to emulate for my own record. Recording live was such a special part of making A Cowgirl Rides On.
“Where the Soul of Man Never Dies” – Ricky Skaggs & Tony Rice
Doesn’t get much better than this duet. This is often a Sunday soundtrack for me.
“Long Journey Home” – Billy Strings & Terry Barber
Billy Strings is such an amazing representation of modern bluegrass. His sound is timeless, and his guitar playing and songwriting match up to some of my bluegrass heroes. I’ve always loved this song, and he covers it so well.
“Angel Band” – The Stanley Brothers
This song just always pops in my head any time I hear the word bluegrass. It is so classic and pure, and the harmonies pull on all the heartstrings.
“Just Like Leaving” – Bella White
I have been a longtime Bella White fan, and she is such an important female artist in keeping the bluegrass sound alive. The rest of the record is incredible as well.
“Green Green Grass of Home” – Merle Haggard
You can’t have a playlist without Merle. This song always brings me to tears and really is a beautiful representation of Merle’s songwriting and voice.
Artist:High Fidelity Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Song: “The Mighty Name of Jesus” Album:Music In My Soul Release Date: September 15, 2023 Label: Rebel Records
In Their Words: “‘The Mighty Name of Jesus’ is an incredibly special song to me. It came to me at a time in my life when I was struggling with mysterious health issues, and all I had to get me through was my faith in the Lord. Early one morning, I woke up with it playing in my head like a recording. I knew I could easily fall right back asleep, and I actually started to, but I thought, ‘I better just grab my phone to record this.’ I was so sleepy that I actually forgot that it existed for a few days! When I finally remembered something about it and listened to the voice memo, I was a bit in shock. It was like listening to a song for the first time, only it was me singing it! I had gotten three verses and two distinct choruses that morning. As I wrote out the words, the fourth verse came to me, so I wrote it out, too. I could talk on and on about the amazing things with this song. I hope it is an incredible blessing to everyone who hears it!
“Much like the making of this song, there are so many special things I could talk about in the making of this video! Location after location fell through right up until the morning of the video shoot when the weather threatened to rain on our only day available for shooting. Love Circle was a location that came to me while desperately praying for ideas and direction, and it turned out to be absolutely amazing. The unique weather that day combined with our videographer Warren Swann’s artistic touch created an indescribable texture quality to this video that almost feels like Technicolor. It’s hard to believe that this is the first video High Fidelity has shot in our hometown of Nashville proper. The city has changed so much through the years, but we still love and care deeply for it. To be able to perform this song of healing and deliverance right there in our hometown with our beautiful city skyline behind us was beyond special. As the ‘songwriter,’ I feel so incredibly blessed to have received a song like this and to get to perform it with High Fidelity — I hope it can be a blessing and encouragement!” ̶ Corrina Rose Logston Stephens
Photo Credit: Amy Richmond
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