Tag: cover songs

LISTEN: Amythyst Kiah, “Chained to the Rhythm” (Katy Perry Cover)

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Artist: Amythyst Kiah
Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee
Song: “Chained to the Rhythm”
Album: Pensive Pop EP
Label: Rounder Records
Release Date: August 12, 2022

In Their Words: “I remember watching the ‘Chained to the Rhythm’ music video and being blown away by a kind of infectious, self-medicated joy within an ever-colorful dystopia. It actually inspired the poem that would later become ‘Fancy Drones (Fracture Me).’ I’ve always been fascinated by songs that you can shut your brain off to and dance, while also pointing out that something is terribly wrong. Breaking free of the cycle of mindless consumerism and incessant comparison and creating a life of meaning and some sense of purpose is a difficult task. And while the irony of a famous pop star on a major label singing and performing a song that questions the very listener that is dancing is not lost on me, we do each have to ask ourselves, ‘When will we have enough?’

“The songs on Pensive Pop were chosen before the title, before any real concept came to light. Quite simply, I chose songs that I love and wanted to see if I could keep their integrity while also matching a sound that’s authentic to me. I enjoy games and this process was like a puzzle. The common themes throughout this record address the lamenting external factors that can impede us on our journey in life and the struggle to accept and work through those challenges. Fear is at the center of all of these songs: fear of rejection, fear of change, fear of sobriety, fear of living in the present. Pensive Pop is my reinterpretation of pop/rock songs in order to bring more attention to the stories being told.” — Amythyst Kiah

Photo Credit: Sandlin Gaither

WATCH: Tommy Emmanuel & Mike Dawes, “Fields of Gold”

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Artists: Tommy Emmanuel & Mike Dawes
Song: “Fields of Gold” (Sting cover)
Album: Accomplice Series Vol. 3 (EP)
Release Date: September 23, 2022
Label: CGP Sounds

In Their Words: “I always think like a singer when I play a Sting melody. Playing this masterpiece with Mike is always fun and emotional…a simple repetitive melody with a slowly building arrangement that becomes powerful.” — Tommy Emmanuel

“‘Fields’ was Tommy’s idea based on his own arrangement from the Can’t Get Enough record [Emmanuel’s 1996 album]. I wanted to hold down something of a strict rhythm and backbeat for this one. The result is a mid-tempo homage to the classic Sting song. This [EP version] was recorded in a single take by Marc DeSisto. I’m playing in DADGAD tuning whilst Tommy is in standard tuning. I particularly like the different tones on our guitars on this one. Tommy’s bright flatpicked Maton soars over my fingerpicked Indian Rose Cuntz guitar. This was very important in a tune with doubled melodies.” — Mike Dawes

WATCH: Nathan Jacques, “Big Iron” (Marty Robbins Cover)

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Artist: Nathan Jacques
Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts
Song: “Big Iron” (Marty Robbins cover)
Album: Live Out West EP
Release Date: September 30, 2022
Label: Hidden Mountain Records

In Their Words: “I’m simply a big fan of classic Western music. Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Bobby Bare, to name a few are huge influences on me, and I believe it shows in my own music. I crafted this cover of ‘Big Iron’ a long while ago and waited for the right time with the right full band sound to bring it together. The goal of this rendition is to honor the masterful songwriting of Marty Robbins by embellishing the impactful moments of its story. Stripping down the arrangement and building it up to an energetic gallop is my way of breathing new life into the song, which I believe should be the goal of any cover. It’s a song by an artist that everyone should know, and oh man is it a blast to play, so I’m here to happily spread it around.” — Nathan Jacques

Photo Credit: Sam Beasley

WATCH: William Fitzsimmons, “Annie’s Song” (feat. Abby Gunderson)

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Artist: William Fitzsimmons
Hometown: Jacksonville, Illinois
Song: “Annie’s Song” (feat. Abby Gunderson)
Album: Covers, Vol. 1
Release Date: November 4, 2022
Label: Nettwerk Records

In Their Words: “My mom had a double vinyl for one of John Denver’s live albums, and I remember her playing it over and over again. I often held the vinyl as a young kid, and I loved the feeling. To my recollection, ‘Annie’s Song’ is the first song I ever heard. For me, it’s instant nostalgia. I go right back to our living room and can feel our house. My mom and I sang John Denver songs together as I got older. What a cool tune to have as a first musical memory.

“Once the global pandemic arrived, I found myself at home with time and a basement studio. I needed something to work on, so I just started doing covers. I didn’t even make a list; it was just a way to keep from going crazy. It was self-therapy so that I wouldn’t lose my mind. However, it ended up one of my favorite periods of being a musician. … I just wanted to do songs that meant a lot to me for varying reasons. I share some of the songs with other people. Some of the songs remind me of my childhood. Some of the songs are low-key messages to individuals from my past—and they’re not necessarily positive. Some of the songs are just pure joy. Ultimately, they are all songs I love and respect from artists I think are incredible.” — William Fitzsimmons

Photo Credit: Erin Brown

WATCH: The Brother Brothers, “You Can Close Your Eyes” (Feat. Sarah Jarosz)

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Artist: The Brother Brothers
Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
Song: “You Can Close Your Eyes” (feat. Sarah Jarosz)
Album: Cover to Cover
Release Date: August 5, 2022
Label: Compass Records

In Their Words: “When we were first conceiving of this album, we knew that having our dear friend Sarah Jarosz sing harmonies with us would be an amazing treatment for one of the songs. We’ve done a number of opening runs with both Sarah and her illustrious trio, I’m With Her, and backstage we would often about talk about the music we love. In these conversations James Taylor would always remain as a favorite of ours and although none of us know him, we can all agree that his music is just as dear to us as any friend could become. In our humble opinion, the chorus to ‘You Can Close Your Eyes’ is one of the greatest ever written, and the song inspires a longing for the way we wish life could be as only we can feel when listening to a child of the ’60s sing about their romanticized experience of the ’70s. It was truly an honor and serious joy working out the harmony for this song with Sarah. We hope you can hear the love in the song that permeates through our friendship and our collective wish to see a world where we all can close our eyes safely sheltered by those who love us.” — Adam and David Moss, The Brother Brothers

Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Raitz

LISTEN: Corb Lund, “Highway 87” (Hayes Carll Cover)

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Artist: Corb Lund
Hometown: Rural Southern Alberta, Canada
Song: “Highway 87” (Hayes Carll cover)
Album: Songs My Friends Wrote
Release Date: April 29, 2022
Label: New West Records

In Their Words: “I’ve known Hayes forever. We met at a card game in Dauphin, Manitoba, many moons ago and we both lost all our money to my ex, Debbie. Hayes and I have toured together, written together, drank together and he’s one of my best friends in music. This song is one of his that’s older and not as widely known, but my guys and I have been playing it for years. I love it.

“Songs My Friends Wrote is an album I’ve been threatening to make for years. It’s a bunch of tracks that are my versions of a bunch of…songs my friends wrote. I’m fortunate to count a lot of world-class songwriters as good pals and I wanted to shine a little light on some of my favourite examples of their work. In most cases I’ve picked relatively obscure songs that have always spoken to me, even though many of them won’t be so familiar to people. There’s a pretty good chance of a Volume Two, Three and Four eventually, because there were a lot of friends and a lot of songs to choose from. The best part about recording all these tunes was that they reminded me of all the people who I haven’t been able to hang out with for the past two years because of the plague we’ve all been dealing with. All of these tunes bring a smile to my face and I hope they do the same for you.” — Corb Lund

Photo Credit: Noah Fallis

WATCH: Eli Paperboy Reed feat. Sabine McCalla, “Today I Started Loving You Again”

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Artists: Eli Paperboy Reed feat. Sabine McCalla
Song: “Today I Started Loving You Again” (written by Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens)
Album: Down Every Road
Release Date: April 29, 2022
Label: Yep Roc Records

In Their Words: “Back in 1969, Capitol Records commissioned a duet version of this song from Buck Owens, who was their biggest country star, and Bettye Swann, who was their most successful soul singer. The label ultimately shelved it out of fears that an interracial collaboration would damage Buck’s career, but a few of the acetates eventually leaked out, and I happen to own one of them. It’s probably the most straight ahead interpretation on the album, and that’s the way I wanted it. The arrangement was good enough to be released back in 1969, but it never had a chance to get the respect it deserved. To finally officially put that song out as a duet with a woman of color after all these years feels consequential to me.” — Eli Paperboy Reed

“When Eli told me the origin story behind Merle’s famous song I knew I had to sing it. I’m so grateful that since Loving vs. Virginia interracial couples have become so widely acceptable. It’s high time the history of black musicians as creators and cultural bearers of country and soul is honored, and I hope I do justice by Bettye Swann.” — Sabine McCalla

WATCH: Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”

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Artist: Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert
Hometown: East Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”
Album: The Flowers That Bloom in Spring
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Label: Dead Reckoning Records

In Their Words: “Our mellow take on this classic country song (written by Don Robertson & Hal Blair, and probably best known from Hank Locklin) evolved gradually, as it’s one we kept returning to over and over again in recent years. This song — like the rest of the album — was recorded live, sitting across from each other in a bunkhouse in the Adirondacks. It has become our favorite room to record in. But since there’s no soundproofing, capturing something as quiet as this track means waiting for the moment after all the noises of daytime have died down, but before the nighttime insects get too cranky. The quiet intimacy of the setting and the song are echoed by Lucas Kane’s thoughtful video treatment.” — Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert

Photo credit: Kay Francis

LISTEN: Gov’t Mule, “Make It Rain” (Tom Waits Cover)

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Artist: Gov’t Mule
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina.
Song: “Make It Rain” (Tom Waits cover)
Album: Heavy Load Blues
Release Date: November 12, 2021
Label: Fantasy Records

In Their Words: “When recording the album, I had brought in this old Fender spring reverb unit that I wanted to use on my guitar sound. They can be pretty finicky. If the stage isn’t solid, or somebody’s jumping up and down, it reacts by making this crazy reverb vibration that comes through the amp. I had intentionally set it up on the studio floor to make it kind of shockproof, but what we didn’t allow for was some radio frequencies that randomly interfered and set it off. So, it started making these weird sounds that sounded like thunder. We were in the middle of what turned out to be the best take of ‘Make It Rain’ and it began doing that throughout the whole thing. As it turned out, it happened in these key spots in the song. When we were finished and listened to it with engineer and co-producer John Paterno, we decided to use it. It actually sounded like we planned it that way!” — Warren Haynes, Gov’t Mule

Photo Credit: Jay Sansone

With “Every Breath You Take,” Ashley Monroe and Tyler Cain Cover a Classic

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Ashley Monroe’s new project could put a smile on anyone’s face. Together with producer and collaborator Tyler Cain, she’s released The Covers, an EP of five reimagined classics including “Love Hurts,” “More Than Words,” and The Police song performed in this video, “Every Breath You Take.” It’s a celebration of songs that Monroe and Cain both love, with nothing to detract from excellent songwriting. With minimal arrangements and production frills, these two artists captured a pure and innocent expression of admiration in this record.

About the project’s origins, Cain says, “This project began out of a shared love for these songs. There’s just something magical about taking classic songs that we’ve listened to for most of our lives and stripping them down to just vocals and a guitar.” Monroe adds, “Tyler and I were just hanging at his studio and talking about our favorite songs and I said we should just film ourselves recording some of our favorite songs on Earth. The ones that make us feel better. Maybe it will help other people too.”

The EP not only features a five-pack of classic songs, but Cain and Monroe also pulled in friends and artists Ruston Kelly and Brittney Spencer on two of the tunes. Altogether, the EP is refreshing. Listening to working artists perform for no other reason than pure enjoyment is a breath of fresh air in an artistic environment where creativity is often sacrificed for correctness or commerciality. Watch Tyler Cain and Ashley Monroe perform “Every Breath You Take.”

Photo of Ashley Monroe: Alexa King. Photo of Tyler Cain: Jonathan Dale