Tag: premiere

LISTEN: Martin Hayes and Brooklyn Rider, “Jenny’s Welcome Home to Charlie”

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Artist name: Martin Hayes and Brooklyn Rider
Hometown: Madrid, Spain (Martin Hayes); New York City and Boston (Brooklyn Rider)
Song: “Jenny’s Welcome Home to Charlie”
Album: The Butterfly
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Label: In a Circle Records

In Their Words: “I was about 14 when I first became familiar with the tune ‘Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie’ from a recording of a fiddler by the name Kathleen Collins. The tune is commonly known in the tradition and is a standard tune that is popular with fiddle players and is not associated with any one regional style. It is alleged that the tune title references Bonny Prince Charlie and his mistress Jenny. I’ve been playing this tune all my life and am very excited to be able to finally release a version that I believe is the first version of this tune to be arranged for fiddle and string quartet.” — Martin Hayes

Photo credit: Erin Baiano

LISTEN: Ashley Sofia, “Adirondack Dreams”

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Artist: Ashley Sofia
Hometown: Ticonderoga, New York
Song: “Adirondack Dreams”
Album: Shades of Blue
Release Date: September 6, 2019

In Their Words: “I grew up a quarter mile down the road from my grandparents’ apple orchard in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. I was built by that landscape — raised running wild — and like an old pastoral poem, I felt I needed to honor my home. My dad is a big conservationist and he taught me how to play guitar on our back porch. During those sessions, John Denver was a staple, especially his wilderness songs.

“Then when I came to Nashville, I got incredibly homesick. I was completely unprepared for the oppressive summer heat, I didn’t know a single fishing hole, and I certainly didn’t know what kind of snakes I needed to be worrying about. And most of all, I missed my family. I’d close my eyes all the time and daydream about those mountains.

“One night I was alone in my apartment, desperately missing home, and I was flooded with the imagery and feelings of what it would be like to get back there. I recorded everything I felt, and I knew by the end of it I was tipping my cap to John Denver, my dad, and the mountains that raised me. Playing it felt like going home.” — Ashley Sofia

Photo credit: Josh Doke

LISTEN: Humbird, “48 Hours”

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Artist: Humbird
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Song: “48 Hours”
Album: Pharmakon
Release Date: August 30, 2019

In Their Words: “’48 Hours’ was written after a double shift as a pizza waitress in south Minneapolis. It is a reflection on how we change depending on the circumstances we are in. I’m not sure if the song is a love letter to the craft of making music or an existential crisis — probably both. The lyrics incorporate the experience of modern technology addiction and performing in empty bars, of feeling trapped and then empowered — all within the same 48-hour period. I’ve recorded this song a handful of times over the last three years, but it never quite felt right. It was the first tune I showed Shane Leonard as we began working together on this upcoming album. We were finally able to communicate the song in the way that felt grounded and true. C.J. Camerieri’s horn parts were the final addition and make the arrangement soar.” — Siri Undlin, Humbird

Photo credit: Kendall Rock

WATCH: Carolina Blue, “I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me”

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Artist: Carolina Blue
Hometown: Brevard, North Carolina
Song: “I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me”
Album: I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me
Label: Pinecastle Records

In Their Words: “‘I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me’ was written by one of our mentors and a very special friend, Roy Chapman, so it’s automatically important to us. We changed the arrangement a bit to fit our style because we wanted to tip our hats to a couple more of our bluegrass heroes: Bill Monroe, the originator of this music, and the Osborne Brothers, whose cutting-edge vocals and arrangements helped keep bluegrass relevant when it was in a period of decline. It’s a fun tune to play and listen to. We sure hope everyone is enjoying hearing it as much as we are playing it!” — Bobby Powell & Timmy Jones

Photo Credit: Corey Johnson

LISTEN: Nels Andrews, “Table by the Kitchen”

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Artist: Nels Andrews
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
Song: “Table by the Kitchen”
Album: Pigeon & The Crow
Release Date: August 9, 2019

In Their Words: “This song is about a type of FOMO (fear of missing out), as we’re bombarded with the certainty that everyone else’s ‘perfectly curated’ life has all the things that our lives are missing. While there have always been observers in a crowd, this phenomenon has impacted most of us, feeding our insecurities and multiplying our impossible wishes. The song, while upbeat, showcases themes from the album, like how we juggle our relationship with youth (and with aging); it’s also about the impact of youth culture, as it is sweet-filtered onto our small screens, and it is considered a nod to the ever-youthful Peter Pan who misses out on other things by staying young. The song also has a Murphy Bed in it, which I’ve been wanting to get into one of my songs for years. I love the little piano riff Stelth Ulvang added from the funky upright he kept in the garage when he was living in Santa Cruz in between Lumineers tours.” — Nels Andrews

Photo credit: Bradley Cox

LISTEN: Mike and the Moonpies, “If You Want a Fool Around”

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Artist: Mike and the Moonpies
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Song: “If You Want a Fool Around”
Album: Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold
Release Date: August 2, 2019

In Their Words: “I first heard ‘If You Want a Fool Around’ on an album that Brian Black, Clint’s older brother, had released in the mid ’90s when he was living with us at my dad’s house. Even as a teenager, it was one of the most clever songs I’d ever heard. I knew that I would sing that song one day, but I didn’t have the right band or opportunity back then. I had forgotten about it until last summer when producer Adam Odor and I were discussing songs for the Abbey Road record. I played Brian’s version for him and we immediately knew it was perfect for the record and how great the chord changes would sound with the London Symphony Orchestra behind them. I had finally found the perfect time to sing that song.” — Mike Harmeier, Mike and the Moonpies

Photo credit: Benjamin Yanto Photography

LISTEN: Esther Rose, “Lower 9 Valentine”

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Artist: Esther Rose
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Song: “Lower 9 Valentine”
Album: You Made It This Far
Release Date: August 23, 2019
Label: Father/Daughter

In Their Words: “This is a sweet song about a love I had in the Lower 9th Ward. I thought of the title one day while I was driving and thought, ‘Has anybody written this song yet?’ so I pulled over immediately and started writing it out. I sent it to my boyfriend at the time and he said, ‘But you hate Valentine’s Day,’ which is actually true. So I added the line, ‘February 14th don’t mean a thing to me.'” — Esther Rose

Photo credit: Rush Jagoe

LISTEN: Audie Blaylock and Redline, “Love Is an Awful Thing”

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Artist: Audie Blaylock and Redline
Hometown: Auburn, Indiana
Song: “Love Is an Awful Thing”
Album: Originalist
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Label: The 615 Hideaway Records

In Their Words: “‘Love Is an Awful Thing,’ written by Redline bassist Reed Jones, I believe is a perfect bridge between tradition and the future. I think the lyrics and the musical interpretation — as well as vocal interpretation — show a fresh approach to bluegrass music and still pay homage to the roots and tradition that it came from.” — Audie Blaylock

Photo credit: Carter Vintage Guitars

WATCH: Jon LaDeau, “Call My Name” (Feat. Hayley Thompson-King)

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Artist: Jon LaDeau
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Song: “Call My Name” (feat. Hayley Thompson-King)
Album: Roads
Album release date: October 11, 2019

In Their Words: “‘Call My Name’ is the first single from my new album, Roads. It’s a duet with Hayley Thompson-King. I wanted to get the feeling across that a strong relationship with a close friend or family member or partner is such a special thing to have. You can always call on this person and they’ll be there. And they can call on you, no matter what.” — Jon LaDeau

Photo of Jon LaDeau by Brian Geltner
Album cover image credit: Jon LaDeau, Brian Geltner, Alyssa Kriner

LISTEN: Songs from the Road Band, “Any Highway”

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Artist: Songs from the Road Band
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Any Highway”
Album: Waiting on a Ride
Release Date: July 31, 2019
Label: Lucks Dumpy Toad Records

In Their Words: “‘Any Highway’ is a song about the one that got away! It’s set out west in a desert town. Its relevancy is timeless. It was written by Darren Nicholson of Balsam Range fame and Charles R Humphrey III. We made it the first track on our new album because it introduces the themes of change, transition, travel, and nostalgia. Those threads are woven throughout the album and seem to tie this batch of songs together as one cohesive project.” — Songs from the Road Band

Photo credit: Keith Wright