Tag: premiere

LISTEN: Nora Jane Struthers, “Life Of A Dream”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Nora Jane Struthers
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Life Of A Dream”
Album: Back To Cast Iron
Release Date: October 27, 2023

In Their Words: “Co-written with my husband Joe Overton, this song is an inquiry into our own dreams and how our season of life shapes and reshapes those dreams. I think the pandemic gave most people a new perspective on their dreams… in many cases redefining them. My dream of building a family has taken a front seat for the past few years and as I think about what this song means to me right now, I realize that I am standing on a precipice: We are planning our final embryo transfer and if it takes, that means 3.5 more years of living in baby-world. If it doesn’t, we’re only a few years away from having two kids in school and all of the ‘free’ time that comes along with that. What will I do if I am in fact leveling-up and out of the baby-mom season of my life? Pour all my day-light hour energy into writing? Can I refocus on touring on weekends and summers? What is the dream now?” – Nora Jane Struthers

Photo Credit: Bree Marie Fish

LISTEN: Carley Arrowood, “Moondancer”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Carley Arrowood
Hometown: Newton, North Carolina
Song: “Moondancer”
Release Date: October 27, 2023
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “‘Moondancer’ tells the story of a Cherokee girl who sneaks out at night and is obsessed with capturing a wild white horse. I started writing it one evening several years ago after looking for arrowheads in my Mamaw’s garden, ironically around this time of year. As that chilly breeze blew, the line, ‘Her longing echoes on the breeze, but it never finds relief,’ just took root in my mind, and the girl’s repetitious, hopeless calling is what shaped the chorus and the rest of the tune. Eventually she learns to just love the horse she names from afar, but the deep longing in her heart still lingers as she realizes Moondancer can never be hers. I’m so grateful to Daniel, Nick, Tabitha, Jeff, and Tony for lending their talents, and to Jim and Clay for producing and mixing what has become one of my favorite tunes on my upcoming record.” – Carley Arrowood

Track Credits:

Carley Arrowood – fiddle, vocal
Daniel Thrailkill – acoustic guitar
Jeff Partin – acoustic bass, Dobro
Nick Dumas – mandolin
Tony Creasman – drums
Tabitha Benedict – banjo

Photo Credit: Laci Mack Photography

WATCH: Jaime Wyatt, “Althea”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jaime Wyatt
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Althea”
Album: Feel Good
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Label: New West Records

In Their Words: “In ‘Althea,’ Robert Hunter suspects betrayal, but perhaps is untrue himself. He references Shakespeare and many suspect he was referring to Jerry [Garcia’s] addiction to heroin, but I personally think it was about his own journey in learning to love.

“Thank you to LA-based director, editor, and animator Tee Vaden for bringing such beautiful images to this song. We compiled tour videos and live performances and meaningful symbols for healing and rebirth, as well as fun Grateful Dead-esque eye candy. I chose to record the Grateful Dead’s ‘Althea,’ as the song is just as true and applicable today as it was at its release in 1980.” – Jaime Wyatt

Photo Credit: Jody Domingue
Video Credit: Tee Vaden

WATCH: Sully Bright, “Appalachia” (Live in Appalachia Video Series)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sully Bright
Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina; currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Appalachia”
Album: Darling, Wake Up
Release Date: October 13, 2023

(Editor’s Note: Over six weeks, singer-songwriter Sully Bright will premiere a series of four live performance videos shot in the mountains of North Carolina. Watch each installment every other week right here on BGS.)

In Their Words: “I got the idea for the song ‘Appalachia’ on my drive back home to North Carolina from Nashville. Driving the Blue Ridge Mountains is one of my favorite things to do, especially in the fall. The North Carolina mountains are my favorite place in the world; they are home to me. That’s what I wrote this song about: ‘Home is what you make of it, and darling you’re mine.’

“This is one of my favorite videos we captured in North Carolina. We recorded it on a river near Roan Mountain. There couldn’t be a better place to sing the song than in a cold mountain river in Appalachia. I hope you enjoy the video and check back for the next one in two weeks.” – Sully Bright

Photo & Video Credit: Seth and Jenna Herlich, Wonderfilmco

WATCH: Full Cord, “Reelin’ In The Years”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Full Cord
Hometown: Grand Haven, Michigan
Song: “Reelin’ In The Years”
Album: Cambium
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Label: Dark Shadow Recording

In Their Words: “‘Reelin’ In The Years’ is a song that grabbed our attention from the first note. We really connected with the way the song flows and moves. Our arrangement has some cool rhythmic and chordal variations that we feel really show off the band’s musicianship. Our hope is that the fans will connect with our version of this classic Steely Dan song.” – Full Cord

Track Credits: Written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker

Produced, recorded, and mixed by Stephen Mougin at Dark Shadow Recording, Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Mastered by David Glasser, AirShow Mastering, Boulder, Colorado.

Photo Credit: Scott Simontacchi
Video Credit: Stephen Mougin

LISTEN: Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski, “Too Old To Die Young”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski
Hometown: Hyden, Kentucky (Bobby Osborne); Grubville, Missouri (C.J. Lewandowski)
Song: “Too Old To Die Young”
Release Date: October 22, 2023
Label: Turnberry Records

In Their Words: “Bobby Osborne was a gift to music and [it was] truly a gift to have him as a friend. I can’t tell you how emotional finally bringing one of his last songs to the public has been. Our last conversation was about ‘Too Old To Die Young’ and it being his pick for the first single. Originally set to release June 31 of this year, I asked to halt everything the day of Bobby’s passing on June 27. Looking back, I almost feel like he knew something that day. As I left, I’d said ‘Stay tough, Chief.’ His reply was ‘No, you stay tough, my boy.’ Though it was hard to pick up again without him, we have that ‘stay tough’ mindset. To have such a giant as a close friend has been such an unthinkably incredible experience and I miss him every day. It does my heart so good to hear his voice again on this song. All I want to do is make my buddy proud and I hope that is happening. I love you, Bobby!” – C.J. Lewandowski

Photo Credit: Aynsley Porchak

LISTEN: Volume Five, “You Don’t Care For Me Enough to Cry”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Volume Five
Hometown: Booneville, Mississippi
Song: “You Don’t Care For Me Enough to Cry”
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Label: Mountain Fever Records

In Their Words: “When I first heard this song it was performed by the writer and artist John Moreland. He played the song with a finger picking style. I loved it so much that I learned to play it fingerstyle. I had planned to record it that way, but when we got to the studio and began arranging the song we actually liked it better as a full band sound. This is a very well written song. If you listen closely to the lyrics, I’m sure it will completely captivate you as it did me.” – Glen Harrell, fiddle

Photo Credit: Samantha Harrell

WATCH: Ynana Rose, “Strawberry Moon”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Ynana Rose
Hometown: I was born in Mendocino, California, and grew up in rural Northern California and Southern Oregon. I’ve lived in San Luis Obispo, California, for the last 20 years.
Song: “Strawberry Moon”
Album: Under a Cathedral Sky
Release Date: October 20, 2023 (song); November 3, 2023 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Strawberry Moon’ is an old–time song of forbidden love and every time I play it I give thanks for being born in the here and now – where I can choose how to be and who to love. This is the first song I wrote for my album and I play it at every show. It came together so easily in the studio: Co-producer Damon Castillo and I knew just how to bring it to life. Tammy Rogers (of The SteelDrivers) and Scotty Sanders add fiddle and Dobro to the already meaty mix of upright bass, drums, and electric guitar. The audio for the video is spare, just guitar and vocals – sound engineer/producer Graham Ginsberg and I were really aiming for a haunted, yearning kind of a vibe. It’s a story that feels true, so I sing it that way.” – Ynana Rose

(Editor’s Note: You may also stream the studio version of “Strawberry Rose” below.)

Photo Credit: Barry Goyette

LISTEN: Heather Anne Lomax, “Be the One”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Heather Anne Lomax
Hometown: Los Angeles, California (via Kansas City, Missouri)
Song: “Be the One”
Album: The Doman Tracks
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Label: Blackbird Record Label

In Their Words: “‘Be the One’ is just a hopeful song about spending the rest of your life with a soulmate. Sometimes that happens for the lucky ones and sometimes not, I suppose. It was written at a time when I had thought a previous relationship was blossoming again in my life. This person and I had dreamed about growing older and sitting on a porch swing together, reminiscing about days past as the sun was setting. Michael [Doman, producer] wanted to make sure this had real movement and buoyancy and added the pounding of the bass drum throughout the song – I believe Jason Hiller did this with a handheld mallet. The three of us, Michael Doman, Jeff Sebens and I, laid down the song’s foundation of jangly guitars that kept the track afloat down a river of momentary joy.” – Heather Anne Lomax

Track Credits: Written by Heather Anne Lomax

Vocals – Heather Lomax
Guitars – Heather Lomax, Michael Doman, Jeff Sebens
Bass/ Kick Drums – Jason Hiller
Backing vocals – Michael Doman

Produced by Michael Doman.
Recorded at Electrosound Studios.
Jason Hiller – Engineer, mixing
Mastered at Pen Station Studios by Peter Barker.

Photo Credit: Shots By Morrison

WATCH: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, “Can’t Live Without Love”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Can’t Live Without Love” (Featuring Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton, Jerry Douglas, and more)
Release Date: October 13, 2023 (single); October 17, 2023 (video)
Label: Sugar Petunia Records

In Their Words: “I’m so happy to share a behind the scenes studio video from the recording of my debut vocal single, ‘Can’t Live Without Love’ featuring Molly Tuttle and Sam Bush. This song is the first track I’ve released from my upcoming album, out in Spring 2024. We tracked it last fall in Nashville, at Brent Truitt’s studio, ‘The Cave,’ and it was actually the first song of the first day of recording the album, so it’s kind of fitting it should also be the first song to be released.

“I’m joined by some of my absolute favorite musicians: Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Dominick Leslie, Wesley Corbett and Jeff Picker. They all brought so much joy and magic to this track! And it was such an honor to get to sing with Molly Tuttle and Sam Bush, both of whom inspire me so much on a musical and personal level. This song by Jamie Hartford is a beautiful meditation on what we can and can’t live without in this life and how we can overcome challenges by focusing on what’s important.” – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Track Credits: Written by Jamie Hartford

Co-produced by Brent Truitt and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Recorded by Brent Truitt. The Cave, Nashville, TN
Mastered by Alex McCollough. True East Mastering, Nashville, TN

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – lead vocal, fiddle
Molly Tuttle – harmony vocal
Sam Bush – harmony vocal
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Bryan Sutton – guitar
Dominick Leslie – mandolin
Wesley Corbett – banjo
Jeff Picker – bass

Photo Credit: Alexa King Stone
Video Credits: Shot at The Cave in Nashville, TN; produced by Steve Voss of Solar Cabin.