Artist: Tinsley Ellis
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Song: “Step Up”
Album: Devil May Care
Release Date: January 21, 2022
Label: Alligator Records
In Their Words: “I was initially trying to write a retro-soul music song when I started writing ‘Step Up’ in mid-2020. The pandemic was just getting us all firmly in its grips right about that time. I wanted to write a song with a good beat and an uplifting message, along the lines of Sam & Dave or Wilson Pickett. ‘Step Up’ ended up being a cross between Stax Records and Jimi Hendrix. I used my 1959 Fender Stratocaster and a Marshall 50-watt half stack amp on it, and this worked well set against the B3 organ and full horn section. It’s definitely one of my favorite songs on the new album!” — Tinsley Ellis
Photo Credit: Suzanna Khorotian
