Tag: premiere

WATCH: Jesse Lynn Madera, “Revel”

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Artist: Jesse Lynn Madera
Hometown: LA and Nashville
Song: “Revel”
Release Date: July 23, 2021

In Their Words: “Writing ‘Revel’ changed the way I approach songwriting. It made me understand more about the opportunity we have as artists to positively impact a person’s day. I’ve written a lot of sad, emotional songs, and I’ve seen that those can be therapeutic. Knowing someone is getting cheered up, cheered on, inspired, by listening to one of my songs is pretty mind-blowing. I try to be a source of light for the people close to me, and this is the first time I’ve really been able to tap into that with my songwriting. ‘Revel’ was written around the holidays in 2020, in a living room that was still vibrating with all the good times we’ve had. I needed ‘Revel.’ I needed a reminder of all the light that follows darkness. Being human is rollercoaster enough without a pandemic to further complicate the experience. We’ve all suffered through our share, and hopefully we’ve all experienced the sun coming up over the horizon of despair. This will be no exception. The glow shall return, and we’ll all be reveling in it.” — Jesse Lynn Madera

Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

LISTEN: Colin Hay, “Wichita Lineman”

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Artist: Colin Hay
Hometown: Topanga Canyon, California
Song: “Wichita Lineman”
Album: I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
Release Date: August 6, 2021
Label: Compass Records

In Their Words: “‘Wichita Lineman’ was the first song where I realized the importance of the written song, in and of itself. Before that, I had always put artists and songs together, like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, and many others, who all primarily wrote and performed their own songs. ‘Wichita Lineman’ spoke of things I could only wonder at. The geographical vastness of the land, the hopes and dreams of the man working the line, and indeed of all people who inhabit this country. And, a love story contained within achingly beautiful music and melody. I can’t think of a better song.” — Colin Hay

Photo credit: Paul Mobley

LISTEN: Tobacco City, “AA Blues”

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Artist: Tobacco City
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Song: “AA Blues”
Album: Tobacco City, USA
Release Date: July 30, 2021
Label: Scissor Tail Records

In Their Words: “‘AA Blues’ is one of those songs that writes itself. My ex was having to go to AA meetings because of a brush with the law. It was cutting into our plans and I wrote her this ditty to make her feel better. The character in the song is trapped between working in a brewery and staring at beers all day and trying to walk a sober line. I think regardless of your sobriety status we can all relate to those kind of blues.” — Chris Coleslaw, Tobacco City

Photo courtesy of Tobacco City

LISTEN: Leah Shaw, “Pretty Mama”

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Artist: Leah Shaw
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Song: “Pretty Mama”
Album: Play Beautifully
Release Date: July 30, 2021

In Their Words: “The guitar, harmonica and fiddle-based song ‘Pretty Mama’ closes the album. I think of ‘Pretty Mama’ as really a prayer to my mom. I wrote it just before she died, I played and sang it at her memorial service, and while she was still physically with us at the time, due to how her condition had worked so slowly over time, I had long been imagining that her spirit had been leaving this world in these sort of waves or pieces, and it made me happy to imagine that she was then constituting herself in a sort of beautiful afterlife place, bit by bit, and maybe waiting there in peace to become whole as the rest of her that was still grounded with us in this world, wrapped up and passed on.

“As I was thinking or praying in this way, I thought, well I am operating out of a very dark place right now, and she taught me better — so while I do hope her spirit is with me somehow, I also kinda hope she didn’t see these latest round of life choices! At this time, I was by myself a lot, without a partner, I didn’t live near my family, and I had just quit my job; I was feeling very alone. I drank too much, I didn’t treat myself with a lot of self-love. So in this song I thought and prayed: Mom, if you are there, and if there is any guidance and protection you can give, please show me that — ‘let me know,’ as the final verse says!

“Of all the album’s songs, ‘Pretty Mama’ was clearest in my mind in terms of arrangement. Along with the bass and acoustic guitar, it would have two instruments in conversation with one another: cello, an instrument my mom adored and I which think reflected her warm and grounded personality, and then violin — a miniature of the cello, beautiful also but less calm, a bit more frantic. In other words, me! And then there would be the very important harmonica solo, which sounds as lonely as I felt at the time writing the song. The beautiful minimal backing vocals bring a little warmth and hope at the end, and this along with the song’s placement at the end of the project is meant to give my listeners and myself a sigh of relief — after the journey, a deep, calming breath. And then we keep on.” — Leah Shaw

Photo credit: Rodgers Dameron

WATCH: Darin & Brooke Aldridge, “Once in a While”

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Artist: Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Hometown: Cherryville, North Carolina
Song: “Once in a While”
Album: This Life We’re Livin’
Release Date: August 6, 2021
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “Shane Nicholson’s writing has always showcased such meaning and depth, yet its simplicity always tells a story that we feel is so relatable to everyone. In every aspect of our music our hope is that it makes you smile… even more than ‘Once in a While.'” — Brooke Aldridge

Photo credit: Kim Brantley

LISTEN: Pi Jacobs, “Broken Cup” (Intro & Live)

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Artist: Pi Jacobs
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Song: “Broken Cup” (Intro & Live)
Album: Live From Memphis
Release Date: August 13, 2021
Label: Blackbird Record Label

In Their Words: “In my late teens and early 20s I wasn’t a person with a much of self-esteem; in fact, I thought pretty damn poorly of myself, so I was habitually getting into relationships with people who would reaffirm my feelings of unworthiness, unlovability, or being damaged goods. I was lucky though — a couple of amazing mentors showed up in my life and wouldn’t let me scare them off. They helped me to start seeing myself in a new and better light, so, by the time I hit 25, I was ready to try some new kinds of relationships. The problem was, I had to learn ALL NEW stuff! I hadn’t operated in the land of ‘healthy’ relationships before, and it felt like I didn’t know how to do ANYTHING, even little things, like returning phone calls. I started to feel as scared and unequipped as Bambi in the middle of a six-lane freeway, but I had had enough of my old ways, so I started to try, and I got very lucky by meeting my now-husband.” — Pi Jacobs

Photo credit: Shots By Morrisson

WATCH: Luke LeBlanc, “Same Blues”

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Artist: Luke LeBlanc
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Song: “Same Blues”
Album: Only Human
Release Date: July 9, 2021

In Their Words: “It was October 2018 and I’d just moved to Nashville. I didn’t know I’d only live there six months, but as proud as I was to have been born and raised in North Minneapolis, I knew I had to explore the Nashville music scene: the songs, the stories, the mystique. It had been a long day, but I had to make my first move. So I called Roy August. I had met Roy about six years prior when I was 16 and visiting Nashville for the first time, playing an open mic near Music Row. Now in his 80s, Roy had co-written the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Fancy Free,” their first #1 on the Billboard country chart back in 1981. He happened to be in the audience and he loved my music. We kept in touch every so often through Facebook.

“Roy told me to meet him at the Hardee’s for brunch in Lebanon, Tennessee, just northeast of Nashville. We didn’t have a goal in mind, just to catch up and say hello. At the end of our conversation, he pulled out a folded piece of paper and told me it was something he’d been working on. ‘See what you can do; we’ll co-write it.’ I went home and wrote the rest of the lyrics, changed some, added others, and put music to it. With regards to the video, we tried to capture what the song is about: the tug between the status quo and what you’re currently doing versus that thing you really want to do. It portrays someone who has ‘fooled himself into working all day,’ knowing that deep down, the ‘fever won’t die young.’ Cody Hansen at Exist Media filmed and edited the video and John Cleve Richardson appears in the video playing piano.” — Luke LeBlanc

Photo credit: Exist Media

WATCH: Misty River, “Walk Me to the River”

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Artist: Misty River
Hometown: London, England
Song: “Walk Me to the River”
Album: Promises
Release Date: October 1, 2021
Label: The Workshop

In Their Words: “Sometimes I think the desire for fundamental change is very like a river; at times its hardly there at all, yet at other times when it’s in full flow it can take your breath away with its ferocity and speed, promising new adventures and transformation. I wrote this song at a time of great change in my personal life. I was questioning if I was to take a leap, who would come along and who would be left behind. I’m a great believer in the power and strength of community and how that helps us to be become more resilient, even during times of great adversity. I am so grateful for the amazing people and new friends I have made on this new musical journey.” — Carmen Phelan, Misty River

Photo credit: Arthur René Walwin
This video is presented by British Underground, filmed at Real World studios by Northern Cowboys Films

LISTEN: Jay Nash, “Shine”

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Artist: Jay Nash
Hometown: Vermont, USA
Song: “Shine”
Album: Night Songs EP
Release Date: August 20, 2021
Label: Bluff Island Music / Copperline Music

In Their Words: “The first two songs (‘Mack’s Lullaby’ and ‘Shine’) from this little project came into the world just moments after my first child, my daughter Mackenzie, arrived. After the cacophony of activity of doctors, midwives and nurses had resolved and my wife Rebecca had settled into a restorative, post-natal slumber, my newborn daughter and I sat quietly together in the dark. I held her, then the size of a tightly-swaddled football, in my arms and she lay there with eyes wide open yet serenely quiet, staring up at me. I told her then, ‘You and I are going to have some fun together.’ I swear, she seemed to truly hear me and understand me in that moment. She was so calm in that moment and her facial expression suggested profound wisdom.

“After some time, I’m not sure how much exactly, Mackenzie drifted off to sleep. I was still wide awake so I picked up the nylon string guitar that I had brought along to the hospital. In those first few blissful silent moments of being a father, the melodies, chords and themes of ‘Mack’s Lullaby’ and ‘Shine’ came to be. I recorded both raw song ideas into my iPhone before finally drifting off and joining my wife and new daughter in a deep slumber. It took me nearly ten years to return to those ideas, partly because, as all parents know, what followed those calm and quiet moments of parenthood was an all-out sprint…a crash course into the massive sea change of lifestyle that comes with becoming a parent.” – Jay Nash

Photo Credit: Laura Crosta

LISTEN: Elijah Ocean, “Honky Tonk Hole”

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Artist: Elijah Ocean
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Honky Tonk Hole”
Album: Born Blue
Release Date: July 23, 2021

In Their Words: “‘Honky Tonk Hole’ is about a guy who has seen better days and whose big dreams have all gone up in smoke. Now he spends all his time drinking and playing country music in bars. Not entirely sure why he’s complaining about it, though. Seems kinda fun and not a bad life. It’s a high-energy shuffle about falling into a rut but also kind of loving it.” — Elijah Ocean

Photo credit: Wolfe & Von