Artist:Silver Lake 66 Hometown: Portland, Oregon Song: “Ragged Heart” Album:Ragged Heart Release Date: April 5, 2019
In Their Words: “‘Ragged Heart,’ the title track on our new album, was inspired by a documentary we watched about the tragic life of the late, deeply talented Townes Van Zandt. What resonated for me were the consequences brought on by the road taken in the pursuit of the dream. The narrator in ‘Ragged Heart’ yearns to reconnect with an estranged love, even though she realizes that the sacrifices made for the pursuit of a dream demand a heavy price. She’s been through hell and back with her partner, and her heart is worn and ‘ragged,’ although there is still a hint of hope in her words. Musically, the arrangements and instrumentation are stripped down and straight ahead to highlight the vocals. I think of this tune as having a modern California country vibe with a dash of the Bakersfield sound of the ‘60s thrown in for good measure.” — Maria Francis
Artist:Cascade Crescendo Hometown: Portland, Oregon Song: “Fly in the Window” Album:Chasing the Sun Release Date: February 15, 2019
In Their Words: “‘Fly in the Window’ paints a picture of what it feels like to slow down your thoughts and tune into your surroundings. Although the song was written with kite-flying in mind, at its core it is about meditation of any kind. The lyrics were meant for open interpretation by the listener but do hold true to anyone with a kite in hand. The feeling throughout the song changes from high-energy, thoughtful instrumentation to a place where the listener can feel a state of weightlessness, flying above life’s everyday stresses. This song gives a glimpse into the many different feelings a listener can expect when listening to the whole album, Chasing the Sun. “Fly in the Window” is one of several tracks on the album that feature Allie Kral (Yonder Mountain String Band) on fiddle. –Aden Beck, Cascade Crescendo
Artist:Five Letter Word Hometown: Portland, Oregon Song: “Silent Message” Album:Siren Release Date: January 11, 2019
In Their Words: “This song is from the point of view of someone who can tell her partner is losing interest in the relationship. She sees them pulling away through their actions, giving her a ‘silent message’ that she would rather hear in words. It is a situation we’ve all been in before, and it’s never fun, but this song takes a playful, upbeat tone, as a nod to the inevitability of change within love.” — Five Letter Word
Artist:Andrea von Kampen Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska Song: “Portland” Album:Old Country Release Date: February 8, 2019
In Their Words: “When my filmmaker friend Alexander Jeffery first heard my new song ‘Portland’ he insisted that we fly to Portland, go to the coast, and then drive all the way back home to Nebraska for this new music video. I thought he was crazy considering our low budget and time constraints, but Alexander was certain this was what the music video needed to be.
“So we met up in Portland with our friend Paul Petersen and shot the whole video in three days. We wanted the capture the beauty and realness in both places and show the contrast as well. ‘Portland’ is about yearning for something else and something different while still trying to find contentment and peace with what you already have.” — Andrea Von Kampen
Artist:Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters Hometown: Portland, Oregon Song: “The Sound Of Bells” Album:Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters Release Date: September 21, 2018 Label: Home Perm Records
In Their Words: “‘You’ll hear me in the sound of bells that ring…’ My dear friend was murdered nearly a decade ago. It caused great turmoil, and is still a painful mystery to behold. I dream of her often. In one dream I am driving a 1960 Yellow VW Van up to Gold Hill, Colorado, at the Continental Divide, and catch a glimpse of the Front Range. All those lights from ranches and little cities seemed to blend into the starry night sky. And then I sort of came to and was somewhat lucid and felt the presence of my friend hovering over me. I wanted to reach out to her. As she dissipated, I heard her say, ‘You’ll hear me in the sound of bells that ring.’ I could rest assured that we were still connected thought she is gone from our physical world.” — Ashleigh Flynn
Artist:Jacob Miller Hometown: Eden, Wisconsin (based in Portland, Oregon) Song: “Old, New”
In Their Words: “I wrote this song late one night in a NE Portland home after returning from a disco dance party. Very far from any realm that entertains the ideas of disco music–this soft, breezy tune is about love as an idea that can be both old and new. Whether you’ve been with someone for a week or as long as ten years, there is a beautiful comfort and nostalgia that is carried with the time spent together. I recorded this video in the backyard of the mentioned Portland home with Jonny Himsel, of ‘A Song Catcher’ video sessions. It was hot outside.”
Artist:Chuck Westmoreland Hometown: Portland, OR Album:Long Winter Rodeo Release Date: June 1, 2018 Label: Black and Gold Records
In Their Words: “A lot of the songs on the record are about someone being stuck in a place they don’t want to be or having to leave a place they love. There are a lot of moments on the record where someone is either one step away from total disaster or they’ve just crossed the line into that disaster, but can still see back over to the other side.
These are the first songs I’ve written since having a child, so there’s a lot more on the line for the characters in these stories. They have a lot more to lose now, but there’s also more joy. The backdrop for the record is the Tygh Ridge Rodeo Grounds that I drive by a lot, when I’m fishing. In the morning, it’s all covered up in fog and looks like the most desolate, lonely place imaginable, but when the fog burns off, it looks beautiful and you can see every mountain in Oregon.” — Chuck Westmoreland
If you could go back (or forward) to live in any decade, when would you choose?
Because of climate change, I’m actually terrified to go too far into the future, so let’s go back about 200,000 years. I’ve always been curious about Neanderthals.
Who would be your dream co-writer?
Old-school, non-sold-out REM — Michael Stipe.
If a song started playing every time you entered the room, what would you want it to be?
Artist:Nikole Potulsky Hometown: I was born just outside of Detroit, spent my summers on the Coosa River of Alabama, my early teens in Italy, high school in the Ohio River Valley, and college in the Ozarks. Twelve years ago, I made my home in Portland, Oregon, and given this is the longest I’ve lived anywhere, I call Portland my hometown. Latest Album:You Want to Know About Me Personal Nicknames: Most people call me Nik.
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Who is the most surprising artist in current rotation in your iTunes/Spotify?
Public Enemy.
If you were a candle, what scent would you be?
I’d be a cruelty-free, soy-based wax candle scented with the essential oil of certified organic, wild-crafted verbena harvested by hereditary witches under a supermoon … because Portland.
What literary character or story do you most relate to?
Punky Brewster, a hard luck kid who stood up to the establishment and insisted on radical self-expression. Yes, I know she’s not a literary character but, like my chosen protagonist, it’s challenging for me to follow the rules.
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What’s your favorite word?
Honestly, my favorite word is probably mama. Sappy, I know. I have two children and, while sometimes the list of requests that follow the word mama can get very long, it’s the sweetest name I’ve ever known.
What’s your best physical attribute?
My nana taught me how to give the evil eye. Does that count?
Which is your favorite Revival — Creedence Clearwater, Dustbowl, Elephant, Jamestown, New Grass, Tent, or -ists?
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Banjo, mando, or dobro?
A year ago, I would have said mandolin, but then Jamie Stillway played dobro on my album. Every time I hear her lead riff on “Ferris Wheel,” I go on some kind of time travel trance that makes my heart swell up with nostalgia for people I don’t know and places I’ve never been.
Are you more a thinking or feeling type?
Yes.
Urban or rural?
Yes. In Portland, we smash the patriarchy and defy the binary. In Southern Illinois, we organize unions and drink with our grandparents at the Moose Lodge. It’s impossible to choose.
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