Tag: ep

WATCH: Tommy Emmanuel, “Flatt Did It” (with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley)

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Artist: Tommy Emmanuel with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Flatt Did It”
Album: Accomplice Series Volume 1 With Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley EP
Release Date: May 7, 2021
Label: CGP Sounds

In Their Words: “My feelings about the sessions are they were very spontaneous, and in fact, I suggested ‘Flatt Did It’ and ‘Copper Kettle’ as pieces on the day we recorded them. That’s how it came about. It was very spontaneous. ‘Flatt Did It’ is a tribute to Lester Flatt and some of his classic kind of licks. We had the film crew in there for the day and they just rolled the cameras. We actually just played and ignored them almost.” — Tommy Emmanuel

“Well, it’s always great to work with Tommy. He’s such a great artist, and such a great person. There are always a lot of sparks flying when we play together, and all three of us are into lots of different musical genres, so that’s always fun to explore different musical territories when we get together. This song comes from an album that Chet Atkins did with Doc Watson. I love to hear Tommy and Trey play together. There’s a great respect between the two of them. They are both so brilliant. It’s great to hear them feeding off each other. And this song is just the perfect vehicle for a Dobro, so I’m enjoying the whole thing!” — Rob Ickes

“Yeah, this one was Tommy’s idea, and it’s a tune from the Doc Watson and Chet Atkins duo record. Rob and I both have a bluegrass background, and this song was written with the great bluegrass icon Lester Flatt in mind. (Hence the title.) It really was a natural fit and recording it with Tommy was so much fun! Getting to pick with Tommy and Rob any time is always a blast! Working in the studio with Tommy was so much fun, which I think is evident throughout this EP. The great vibe in the studio that day is prominent in the recordings. It was really just the three of us hanging out and playing tunes…what could be more fun?” — Trey Hensley

Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

WATCH: Samantha Crain, “Bloomsday”

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Artist: Samantha Crain
Hometown: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Single: “Bloomsday”
Album: I Guess We Live Here Now EP
Release Date: April 9, 2021
Label: Real Kind/Communion

In Their Words: “‘Bloomsday’ is the kind of song I never thought I’d be able to write. There is a certain peacefulness and stillness that I’d never thought I’d be able to write about, let alone experience personally. That old traditional gospel song ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ it feels so childlike and so ancient and wise at the same time and it has such a calming effect on me. I wanted to incorporate that feeling of hope and lightness in with my lyrical explorations of mindfulness and fortitude in my own life. With the video, I wanted to expand on that idea and show how easily those good and kind characteristics are passed on to others if we practice them in our own lives.” — Samantha Crain

Photo credit: Dylan Johnson

WATCH: Aaron Espe, “Take You Home”

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Artist: Aaron Espe
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Take You Home”
Album: Rock & Roll Man EP
Release Date: February 12, 2021
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “I wish I could tell you this song is about rainbows and butterflies, but unfortunately it’s about a friend’s wife who died suddenly. Honestly, if you were to imagine any scene in Grey’s Anatomy where they’re rushing someone down the hallway on a stretcher, that’s the picture I had in my head while writing it. But thankfully songs can mean a lot of different things to different people. And those meanings are all valid. That’s why we all like songs. Between you and me, I kind of think songwriters sometimes ruin songs for people by telling us their thoughts on it. Just sometimes (and hopefully not this time).” — Aaron Espe

Photo courtesy of Nettwerk

LISTEN: Lizzie Weber, “Blue Wave Bloom”

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Artist: Lizzie Weber
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Song: “Blue Wave Bloom”
Album: How Does It Feel EP
Release Date: January 22, 2021

In Their Words: “‘Blue Wave Bloom’ was the last song on the EP that I wrote in isolation during the shutdown. The red tide had just occurred in California and I was in awe of the bright blue colors enveloping the black sea. I began writing the lyrics, positioning the red tide as a metaphor for toxicity in one’s own mind, something that for me, arose with that extreme isolation. It served as my anthem, along with the other two EP songs, for overcoming adversity, reminding myself of my own willpower and strength in the face of any challenge. My hope is that this song resonates with the listener in that very same way, reminding them of their own power and personal strength, and their ability to survive the hardest of times.” — Lizzie Weber

Photo credit: Stephen Gilbert

LISTEN: Kandle and Kendel Carson, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”

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Artist: Kandle and Kendel Carson
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Song: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
Album: Birds EP
Release Date: January 1, 2021

In Their Words: “As a ’90s kid surrounded by rock ‘n’ roll, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Neil Young. Many of his songs were the first I ever learned to play on guitar and his influence has always been a little bit present in my songwriting. Kendel Carson and I set out to do this project simply to bring a little joy into our lives and to those who choose to listen. These are dark times and often on a hard day, all I need to lift me up is a beautiful melody and a lyric I can relate to.” — Kandle

Photo credit: Jeff Mitchell

WATCH: Scott Mulvahill Shows His ‘Creative Potential’ in the Studio

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Some instruments tend to have a pretty specific role in the world of roots music. It takes a great deal of ingenuity and skill to challenge these roles, create something truly unique, and expand the capabilities of an instrument. That is exactly what singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill has done with his growing catalog of solo material. Not only is he a talented both singing and songwriting, but he is also a world-renowned bass player, previously fulfilling low-end duties for Ricky Skaggs’ legendary bluegrass band Kentucky Thunder.

Mulvahill’s creativity and uniqueness shine in his 2020 release, Creative Potential, a project filled with songs that put a smile on your face. Love, happiness, and joy are each subjects of several of the tracks, making this EP a bright spot in a dull year. Smooth singing and skillful playing abound, but an extra treat in this release is the wonderfully thought-out arrangement and presentation of the music. If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to Scott Mulvahill yet, we highly recommend you get on the train and hear just what is so special about Creative Potential.

Photo credit: Lindsey Patkos

BGS Wraps: Liz Longley, “Feels Like Christmas”

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Artist: Liz Longley
Album: A Little Magic EP
Song: “Feels Like Christmas”
Release Date: December 4, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Feels Like Christmas’ is about embracing the beauty in the messiness of the holidays. Kids might be extra rowdy, the presents might not be wrapped, there may not be any sign of snow, but time with the ones you love is all that really matters. With a year like we’ve had, togetherness is what we’re all craving right now. When we can safely gather again, I believe it will be all the more special. Until then, I hope this song reminds people of the best parts of the holidays.” — Liz Longley

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BGS Wraps: Grant-Lee Phillips, “Winterglow”

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Artist: Grant-Lee Phillips
Song: “Winterglow”
Album: Yuletide EP
Release Date: November 13, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Winterglow’ might not have been written if it weren’t for the coaxing of my late father. He urged me to write it some years ago. It’s a song about this season of reflection, family and peace. I tend to turn inward when the nights get long, recalling the passing years — the good memories. That’s the spirit of ‘Winterglow.’ I wrote it around Christmas of 2008, months after our daughter was born, so it’s almost like a treasured ornament that we pull out of the attic each year. The song was recorded in Paul Bryan’s bedroom studio with Paul producing and playing bass. Jay Bellerose played drums and Patrick Warren added some keyboards to my vocal and guitars. A year or so later, I performed ‘Winterglow’ with Aimee Mann on her Christmas tour. The song was featured on the Gilmore Girls in 2016 when I performed it, in my role of the Town Troubadour, for the reunion special.” — Grant-Lee Phillips

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BGS Wraps: The Hello Darlins, “Do You Hear What I Hear”

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Artist: The Hello Darlins
Song: “Do You Hear What I Hear”
Album: Heart in the Snow EP
Release Date: November 6, 2020

In Their Words: “To us, Christmas is about our connection with loved ones. There’s also something peaceful, comforting and familiar during this time of year. It’s a time of looking back and wishing others well, but the true magic lay in memories of experiencing everything with a child-like spirit.” — Candace Lacina, The Hello Darlins

Enjoy more BGS Wraps here.

BGS 5+5: Madison Cunningham

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Artist: Madison Cunningham
Hometown: Orange County, Califoria
Album: Wednesday EP

“I challenged myself at the beginning of last year to learn and post a cover song every week as a way to stay inspired both in writing and performing. What started as a fun prompt cracked something open in me and stayed for good, freeing me up in the areas I tend to be too cautious in. After weeks and weeks of this, I decided to release four of these songs as an EP of interpretations, in hopes that they would bring comfort to people in the same way they for did me during this painful year.” — Madison Cunningham

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

It’s hard to give credit to only one as so many artists helped me along in different phases of my life. But if there’s one artist that encompasses all forms of my deepest interests, which is singing, playing, and writing, it has to be Joni Mitchell. She taught me how to sing and how to be a free thinker. Her music cracked me open as a young shy writer.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

I was in Aspen, Colorado, last year opening for Amos Lee. I’m not quite sure if it was the elevation or the drunk audience, but it holds the record for being one of the most comfortable and freeing shows that I’ve played to date. For me, if there’s one small accident or interruption during the tuning portion of a performance, it makes me feel right at home. The conversation is the fun of it and makes the music feel invincible. Without it, I feel like I opened the door to the wrong apartment.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

I think the only answer to this question is to eat some sort of red pasta with red wine, while sitting across from Joni Mitchell underneath a New York veranda. Ideally at sunset. But the truth is, I’d jump at any chance, at any hour, to have such a meal.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

Probably when writing “Something to Believe In.” It’s quite possibly my favorite song that I’ve written, but cost me most of my hair. I sat on the chorus, and verses one and two, for about six months. And on the day I decided to finish it, I was pounding my fist against the floor and standing on my head trying to come up with verse three. Even after I finished it, I wasn’t convinced this song was for me to sing. So I gave it to a friend and then ended up recording it myself later.

How often do you hide behind a character in a song or use “you” when it’s actually “me”?

I think every character is some three-dimensional form of myself. The only way you can write sincerely about someone is by relating to them, and you really only have your own experience to go by. Writing from a character’s perspective also gives you a kind of bravery to write about yourself, freeing you up to say things you’d normally feel was too forward. It’s an “I’m only the messenger” sort of a thing.

Photo credit: Claire Vogel