Tag: premiere

WATCH: Hannah Kaminer, “Heavy on the Vine”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Hannah Kaminer
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina (technically Black Mountain, North Carolina)
Song: “Heavy on the Vine”
Album: Heavy on the Vine
Release Date: November 17, 2023 (single); January 5, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “Over the last few years I started gardening and going to the community garden to learn whatever I could. One day in late summer I showed up and the gardener in charge told me we had to take out all the tomatoes and summer plants. I was stunned because all of those plants were still going strong, in full bloom. She gently let me know that it was time: If we did not take the summer plants out, there would be no fall planting and no fall harvest. Pulling the tomatoes out was a spiritual experience – letting go of one thing so another could grow – but it’s a lot harder when it’s not just tomatoes that you have to let go of. This song is about those moments when your vision narrows and you realize that only a few things in life are actually important, and you find yourself bargaining with the universe for the one thing you want but can’t have.” – Hannah Kaminer

Track Credits: Hannah Kaminer – vocals, guitar
Kevin Williams – keys
Ross Montsinger – drums
Melissa Hyman – bass, harmony vocals
Jackson Dulaney – pedal steel

Photo Credit: John Dupre
Video Credits: Produced by Old Home Place Recordings
Director – Aaron Stone
Audio Engineer – Mike Johnson
Photography – John Dupre
Executive Producers – Tim & Susan Griffin

WATCH: The Montvales, “Lou”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Montvales
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee, but currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio
Song: “Lou”
Album: Born Strangers
Release Date: February 2, 2024

In Their Words: “I spent a year teaching English in a small town in France. My baby niece came to visit during that time and I got to take her to the ocean for the first time. I showed her beaches, vineyards, and forests.

“Sometimes being far away makes troubling news of home feel more vivid. Threats to American public land felt especially heartbreaking as I watched my niece grow to love the land for the first time. I wrote this song imagining a future in which she gets to love all the mountains, beaches, and forests that I love. It felt like the only acceptable option was a world passed on to her intact.” – Sally Buice

Track Credits: Produced by Mike Eli LoPinto
Engineered by Sean Sullivan
Mixed by Jake Davis
Mastered by Kevin Butler

Photo Credit: Suzi Kern
Video Credit: Contrary Western

WATCH: High Fidelity, “Are You Lost in Sin?”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: High Fidelity
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Are You Lost in Sin?”
Album: Music In My Soul
Release Date: September 15, 2023
Label: Rebel Records

In Their Words: “‘Are You Lost in Sin?’ is one that Kurt Stephenson brought to the table. Collectively, we have a special affinity for the early Jim & Jesse Capitol recordings, and High Fidelity has recorded several selections from that era over the years. Here, Jeremy and Kurt even emulate Jesse’s mandolin breaks on the guitar and banjo respectively!

“Incorporating material and stylistic choices from Jim & Jesse has always been a core part of what we do in High Fidelity, and every time we have recorded one of their songs, Jeremy and I couldn’t wait to share it with Jesse McReynolds. Jesse was so supportive of us, and through the years that Jeremy and I were blessed to work with him in the Virginia Boys, he even featured us singing the Jim & Jesse songs we’d recorded on the Opry and beyond!

“This song holds extra special meaning to us as the last Jim & Jesse song we recorded while Jesse was still with us on Earth. We hope this video serves to bring to remembrance Jesse and his amazing legacy while bringing to focus the striking message behind this beautiful Jim & Jesse composition.” – Corrina Rose Logston Stephens

Track Credits: Written by Jim & Jesse McReynolds

Jeremy Stephens – Guitar and Lead Vocal
Corrina Rose Logston Stephens – Fiddle and Harmony Vocal
Kurt Stephenson – Banjo and Harmony Vocal
Daniel Amick – Mandolin
Vickie Vaughn – Bass

Photo Credit: Amy Richmond
Video Credit: Produced and filmed by Warren Swann

LISTEN: The FBR, “Empty Room”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The FBR
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Song: “Empty Room”
Album: Ghost
Release Date: January 19, 2024

In Their Words: “Tim and I had hardly spent any time apart at all for nearly two years during the pandemic. There are times, especially in the winter, that I seem to struggle spending time on my own. I don’t like being left alone with my thoughts too long. He was heading out of town for a long weekend in Colorado, and I found myself riddled with the same old apprehension and anxiety about being alone for four days.

“I usually get kind of moody/cold and distant, so a few days prior, as the feelings began to surface, I communicated that I was struggling. I asked him to work on some sad lyrics for me to write music to while he was gone, so it would give my unwanted energy an outlet. I came home from a day of running around to the words of a tune, at the time titled ‘An Empty Room,’ sitting on the piano.

“He said the first thing that came to his mind when sitting down to write was quite literally an empty room, kind of symbolizing that loneliness. The first night he was gone I sat at the piano just reading the words over and over, and trying to find the right chord progression.

“It is really cool listening back to the earliest phone recordings I took that weekend, and slowly hearing the song come to life. It was a monumental moment for me, being able to be vulnerable enough to express my struggles and for both of us to be able to communicate it through a song.

“After he returned, we both felt the song needed a bridge, so we worked on the music and lyrics together to wrap it up. A few months later, while at rehearsal, the guys were upstairs taking a break, and I had asked Brandon (our keys player) to run through the song with me, as I had pictured it as a piano ballad up to that point.

“After the first verse, the guys were inspired, came quickly back downstairs and jumped in at the perfect time on the perfect beat, and we had what I call a ‘Holy Shit!’ moment. The intensity was so awesome that we all knew that is how it needed to be recorded!” – Malarie McConaha

Track Credits:

Lyrics by Tim Hunter
Music by Malarie McConaha
Produced by Tim Hunter, Malarie McConaha
Mixed by Jim Scott
Lead Recording Engineer – Kevin Willis
Assistant Mix Engineer – Martin Cooke
Vocals – Malarie McConaha
Background Vocals – Malarie McConaha, Zachary Goforth, Tim Hunter
Drums – Mike Malinin
Bass Guitar – Chopper Anderson
Rhythm Electric Guitar – Kevin Willis
Lead Electric Guitar – Evan Opitz
Acoustic Guitar – Tim Hunter
Keys – Brandon Mordecai

Photo Credit: The FBR

LISTEN: Amanda Cook, “New Star”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Amanda Cook
Hometown: Fancy Gap, Virginia
Song: “New Star”
Album: Restless Soul
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Label: Mountain Fever Records

In Their Words: “To me, ‘New Star’ perfectly describes the ups and downs of the life of a musician. The incredible highs of performing in contrast with insecurities and self-doubt, no matter the hardships, most musicians will never stop creating art and working towards their goals. As soon as I heard this Theo MacMillan-penned tune, I knew it would be the anthem for our new album. The third verse really stands out to me: ‘I could put down roots like a parachute that lets me land… but a restless soul is bound to go when the calling comes.’ I think Aaron [Ramsey] and the band did an incredible job bringing this song to life and I’m so happy to share it with everyone.” – Amanda Cook

Track Credits:

Amanda Cook – lead vocal
Carolyne Van Lierop – banjo and harmony vocal
Troy Boone – mandolin and harmony vocal
Brady Wallen – guitar
Josh Faul – bass
George Mason – fiddle

Engineered by Aaron Ramsey at Mountain Fever Studios, Willis, VA.
Vocals engineered by Aaron Ramsey at Black Crow Studios, Morganton, NC.
Produced by Aaron Ramsey and the Amanda Cook Band.
Mixed and mastered by Aaron Ramsey.
Executive Producer: Mark Hodges.

Photo Credit: CDC Artistry, Christina Stevens

WATCH: Youth in a Roman Field, “Might As Well Have Gone to the Movies”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Youth in a Roman Field
Hometown: Queens, New York City, New York
Song: “Might As Well Have Gone To The Movies”
Album: Get Caught Trying (Extended Edition)
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Label: Better Company Records

In Their Words: “This song – and the phrase – illustrate my takeaway after what felt like another let-down of a relationship; a ‘wise-mind,’ more poetic interpretation of ‘well, damn, that didn’t work out either.’ The lyrics center the conflict between fantasy and reality, confronting the parts of my romantic nature that lend themselves to delusion and magical thinking. ‘Going to the movies’ represents the alternative life and relationship I had envisioned for myself, and has come to represent the alternative world many of us find ourselves in, looking for answers or easier narratives than actually exist. I also meant it literally, as in: ‘I could’ve seen this coming, shoulda just gone to the movies and saved myself all this heartache.’ It ultimately accepts the disappointments of unrequited romantic love, which paves the way to accept ourselves despite mistakes we’ve made or cycles we’ve repeated.” – Claire Wellin, Youth in a Roman Field

Track Credits:

Performed by Youth in a Roman Field:
Claire Wellin – vocals
Tiffany Topol – vocals
Cassidy Stirtz – vocals
Scott Stangland – guitar
Jamie Mohamdein – upright bass

Photo Credit: Saw Photography
Video Credit: Directed by Claire Wellin, Tiffany Topol, Cassidy Stirtz, Scott Stangland, and Jamie Mohamdein. Edited by Scott Stangland and Tiffany Topol.

WATCH: Afton Wolfe, “Lost Prayers” (Feat. Courtney Santana)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Afton Wolfe
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Lost Prayers” featuring Courtney Santana
Album: The Harvest
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Label: Grandiflora Records

In Their Words: “Courtney’s vocals turned this one from a country waltz to a country waltz that explodes into a gospel hymn. And Anna’s violin part really tied it together beautifully. Hopefully someone hears the prayers, or at least the song.

“This video was filmed in the brief time that [videographers] Anana [Kaye] and Irakli [Gabriel] were available at the same time as Courtney, during AmericanaFest. It represents the offeror of the prayer, Afton, separated from the angel receiving those prayers, Courtney. The tragic figure sending prayers in the wrong direction no matter which direction. We didn’t have much time to plan or conceptualize, but we decided to go outside and brought some chairs. As Anana and I were looking at the setup, the concept and feel of the shoot materialized like magic. Then Anana edited it beautifully. With Courtney’s beauty and presence, the whole thing just turned out better than a plan would have. I wore the same thing to my gig that afternoon.” – Afton Wolfe

Track Credits: Written by L.H. Halliburton.

Afton Wolfe – guitar, vocals
Doc Sarlo – keys
Anna Eyink – violin
Courtney Santana – vocals

Produced and engineered by Doc Sarlo.
Recorded at Portland Playhouse Studio, Portland, Tennessee
Mixed by Mark Robinson, Guidos South, Madison, Tennessee
Mastered by Oz Fritz.

Video filmed, directed, and produced by Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel.

Photo Credit: Jeff Fasano

LISTEN: The Resonant Rogues, “What Happened To That Feeling”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Resonant Rogues
Hometown: The Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina
Song: “What Happened To That Feeling”
Album: The Resonant Rogues
Release Date: November 10, 2023

In Their Words: “‘What Happened To That Feeling’ is a reminder that everything goes in cycles, and sometimes the disconnect we can feel in our relationships is really just exhaustion and overwhelm. Keith and I have been together for 10 years, married for 6, and we work our asses off. Two years ago, we moved onto raw land in our short bus and started building our own house. Even the best relationships feel strain sometimes, especially during periods of stress and overwork, and sometimes I just need a beautiful, soothing melody to help me remember that I am indeed on the right path, with the right person. This is that song.” – Sparrow

Track Credits:

Sparrow – vocals, accordion, banjo, songwriting
Keith Josiah Smith – vocals, guitars, songwriting
Kristen Harris – fiddle
Landon George – bass, drums
John James Tourville – pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, guzheng, butter knives, 12 string guitar, vibraphone

Produced, recorded, & mixed at Bomb Shelter Studio by Andrija Tokic.
Mastered by John Baldwin at Infrasonic Sound.

Photo Credit: Cory Marie Photography 

LISTEN: Jayme Stone, “Wreckage of the Fall”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jayme Stone
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Song: “Wreckage of the Fall”
Release Date: November 10, 2023

In Their Words: “‘Wreckage of the Fall’ is a fever dream about transformation, mystical experience and emotional healing. I wrote it during a weeklong retreat at the Banff Center of the Arts. It emerged alongside a lot of tears, wild dreams, old wounds and a brief experience of clairvoyance. For a few days, I could see voices coming out my phone. I could feel the exact distance between me and other people in faraway cities like some kind of telepathic Google Earth. The song is full of witchy magic — runes, talismans, pentacles, and crystals. They started appearing and I just followed them.

“‘Wreckage’ is the first in a song cycle I’m currently calling ‘Anima,’ one the archetypes in Carl Jung’s map of the collective unconscious. I spent three years producing it — the longest I’ve ever worked on a track. There are many layers of guitar, my trusty Juno 106 from the late ’80s, an OB-6 synth and a lot of backup vocals care of Daniela Gesundheit. I programmed the drums in Abelton and then had John Hadfield play a real kit, which I then blended with the programming. The song feels like an MRI of my emotional state at the time. It’s some kind of magic to have a sonic postcard I can share now.” – Jayme Stone

Track Credits: Written by Jayme Stone.

Recorded and produced by Jayme Stone.
Mixed and mastered by David Travers-Smith.

Jayme Stone – voice, guitar, synth, drum programming
Emanuel Alexander – guitar, bass
Daniela Gesundheit – voice
John Hadfield – drums
Greg Harris – synth

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

LISTEN: Matt Blake, “Ohio”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Matt Blake
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Song: “Ohio”
Album: Cheaper to Fly
Release Date: February 16, 2023
Label: JTM Music

In Their Words: “My friends and I always talked about escaping Warren, Ohio, the minute we graduated high school. The night sky glowed orange from the Youngstown steel mills, the Cuyahoga River caught fire in Cleveland. That’s probably why I thought living in Los Angeles was a dream. It was exotic everyday. I didn’t appreciate Ohio until years later. Ohio felt like home and that’s a feeling I never want to escape.” – Matt Blake

Photo Credit: TB Scott