Tag: singer songwriter

LISTEN: Frances Luke Accord, “All the Things”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Frances Luke Accord
Hometown: South Bend, Indiana (Brian Powers), Boston & Chicago (Nicholas Gunty)
Song: “All the Things”
Album: Safe in Sound
Release Date: February 9, 2023
Label: Two-Dale Records/Tone Tree Music

In Their Words: “A song that speaks to the heart of our indie/folk/bluegrass/pop sensibilities, ‘All the Things’ is a playful but heartfelt ode to boundless love and companionship. Made with help from Don Mitchell (banjo, percussion, harmonium, production) of Darlingside, this happy-go-lucky tune is a warm ray of sunshine on our sophomore LP, Safe in Sound. Written during the dark days of COVID lockdown, we crafted the lyrics in a way that (we hope!) begs the listener to stay unabashedly hopeful and CONNECTED; for at the end of the day, our perspective on suffering — coupled with our ability to discuss it in an honest and open way with others — will determine its grip on us. We hope you like it as much as we enjoyed writing it!” — Brian Powers & Nicholas Gunty, Frances Luke Accord

Photo Credit: Luke Jackson

LISTEN: Ken Yates, “Fairweather”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Ken Yates
Hometown: Creemore, Ontario
Song: “Fairweather”
Album: Cerulean (Bonus Tracks)
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Label: Soundly Music

In Their Words: “It was the first song I wrote for Cerulean, but at the very last minute I decided not to record it. I think I felt like thematically it didn’t fit with the other songs, and the slow pace of it might have gotten lost on a 12-track album. But I kept coming back to it, which is usually a sign that a song is worth revisiting as a release, so I sent a demo to producer Dan Ledwell. Hearing it with drums, piano, horns, and Jenn Grant’s lovely harmonies really breathed new life into the song for me, and now I’m really excited to share it with people. The song is about what happens to relationships when someone puts their dreams ahead of the people who love them. Ambition is what drives us to get up every day, but if we don’t nurture our relationships with friends, family, partners, etc., they may not be there for you in your darkest moments.” — Ken Yates

Photo Credit: Jen Squires

LISTEN: Lynne Hanson, “Light In Me”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Lynne Hanson
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Song: “Light in Me”
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Label: Panda Cave Records

In Their Words: “I was commissioned by a fan to write ‘Light In Me.’ She wanted to ‘gift’ the song to a friend who was struggling and who had isolated herself from friends and family. The idea was that an original song would bring joy to this individual and help her to shake off the darkness she was feeling. When I accepted the job, I thought it would be easy and pretty straightforward. But every time I sat down to work on the song, I felt this incredible pressure to make a difference. It took me three months just to get up the courage to attempt to write it. When I finally managed to get started, I ended up writing the song in just one afternoon. The song explores the theme of loneliness and despair, and rediscovering the light that shines bright in all of us, but that we sometimes lose sight of.” — Lynne Hanson

Photo Credit: Jen Squires

WATCH: Del Barber, “Still Got You”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Del Barber
Hometown: Inglis, Manitoba, Canada
Song: “Still Got You”
Album: Almanac
Release Date: Spring 2023
Label: Acronym Records

In Their Words: “This is the first song I wrote for Almanac. I walked outside to take a leak one night on my little farm in western Manitoba. The stars looked like they were crammed in the sky like sardines, the wolves were howling, cows were bawling… I had my dog Fischer next to me. I realized how lucky I was to have this life, the simplicity, the isolation, all of it. Meanwhile, in big cities all over North America, friends of mine were marching in Black Lives Matter protests. There was global unrest (Covid 19.) There seemed to be so much darkness in the world. Sometimes when I watched the news it felt like the ground was crumbling beneath me. That night, like so many here, I felt like I was on this island away from the shouting and chaos of it, away from bankrupt political conversations, all of it. My partner Haylan and I were building a life on the fringes of it all and I was in love with it and proud of what we had… however, with those feelings of love and thankfulness came guilt. I had privileges so many didn’t have and I wanted to do right by them. And I knew there’d be some consequences from looking away from the world as often as we liked. This song was written slowly over a few months. Whenever the idea for it came up I’d casually add to the piece. It was a simple effort, a calming process that I used to choose to celebrate doing the small things well, seeing the good in my life, leaning into it and finding peace in shutting out the world from time to time.” — Del Barber

Photo Credit: Will Bergmann

WATCH: Drayton Farley, “Norfolk Blues”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Drayton Farley
Hometown: Woodstock, Alabama
Song: “Norfolk Blues”
Album: Twenty on High (produced by Sadler Vaden)
Release Date: March 3, 2023
Label: Hargrove Records/Thirty Tigers

In Their Words: “My new album, Twenty on High, will serve as my breakout record and I believe these 10 new songs to be my absolute best work yet. This album will be my first-ever full band release. The goal was to keep the songs honest and true and their stories at the forefront. To have the music serve the song but still make a record that would stand the test of time. I believe that’s exactly what we’ve done here and I couldn’t be prouder.” — Drayton Farley

Photo Credit: Hayley Gjertsen

LISTEN: LULLANAS feat. Luke Sital-Singh, “Cheap Silver Lining”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: LULLANAS feat. Luke Sital-Singh
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Song: “Cheap Silver Lining”
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “One of the many thoughts that loop in the anxious mind is doubt. ‘Am I overanalyzing this?’ or ‘Are we hanging on by a thin thread of hope?’ ‘Cheap Silver Lining’ is a song for the over-thinkers…for the people who read in-between, above, below, and around the lines right in front of them. We were lucky enough to have our schedules align with one of our favorite artists, Luke Sital-Singh, while we were in Los Angeles. We’ve always been fans of his work… his writing, his voice, and we were lucky enough to experience his production work firsthand. As soon as Luke sent our demo back from our session together, within the first few seconds of hearing his rubber bridge guitar take on the feeling of the lyrics before the first word was even sung… we looked at each other and said, ‘We have to put this one out!’ It’s just the right amount of different from what we are used to. A song full of sad lyrics that doesn’t necessarily leave you feeling sad.” — Atisha and Nishita Lulla, LULLANAS

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nettwerk

WATCH: Zach & Maggie, “Robin”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Zach & Maggie
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Robin”
Album: The Elephant In the Room
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Label: Zaggie Records

In Their Words: “2020 provided some time to contemplate the lovely nature just outside our window. In addition to a deer that adopted our yard for the summer, a little robin also began growing its family. This song highlights the ordinary contentment of what that little life looked like, and the lovely artistic sensibilities of Elizabeth Foster beautifully captures that image. With each passing verse, Elizabeth creatively depicted a new scene, and the mixed media elements stretch the imagination as the robin is gradually painted in both movement and stillness. Notice how the wings begin in flight and are gradually painted to portray a rested nesting scene. Our new album, The Elephant In the Room, has a mix of both comical and sweet songs and this one is a favorite from the sweet side.” — Maggie White

Photo Credit: Kyle Carpenter

LISTEN: Dom Flemons, “Slow Dance With You”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Dom Flemons
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona; now Chicago
Song: “Slow Dance With You”
Album: Traveling Wildfire
Release Date: March 24, 2023
Label: Smithsonian Folkways

In Their Words: “Traveling Wildfire is not only a statement of my personal travel experiences but also a metaphor for rebirth in the wake of destruction. It reminded me that the album is in its own way a statement about emerging from the depths of uncertainty to find a new relevance during this unprecedented moment in modern history. At the same time, the image of the traveling wildfire reminded me of how music and stories can travel from generation to generation bringing important lessons from the past into the present and the future.” — Dom Flemons

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

LISTEN: Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion, “Working My Way Down”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion
Hometown: Mike: from Virginia, living in Houston; Johnny: Berkshire, Massachusetts
Song: “Working My Way Down””
Album: Working My Way Down
Release Date: March 24, 2023
Label: Blackwing Music

In Their Words: “When Mike and I joined forces again during the pandemic to start Working My Way Down, I had no idea what would become of it, I didn’t even know if we’d get through the sessions, but some albums will take on a life of their own if you allow it to happen. This album is a homage to David Briggs and of course Mr. Andy Jones, the spirit of rock and roll, and some unfinished business Mike and I had started in LA in the late nineties. All recorded in my home on The Studer Tape Machine I moved from Jackson Browne’s studio.” — Johnny Irion

Blackwing · Working My Way Down – Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion

Photo Credit: Brian Barnicle

LISTEN: Jackson Emmer, “What Good Is a Gentle Man?”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Jackson Emmer
Hometown: Carbondale, Colorado
Song: “What Good Is a Gentle Man?”
Album: 22 in ’22
Release Date: December 14, 2022
Label: Diamond Ranch Records

In Their Words: “I had originally planned to release 12 singles this year instead of an album, but my wonderful wife told me: ‘That’s not hard for you! Step it up. How about 22 in ’22?’ She is full of great ideas. This song in particular is one I was intimidated to write. I was even more scared to record and release it — but hey, that’s the whole deal.

“‘What Good Is a Gentle Man?’ is my minor league, anti-toxic masculinity manifesto. Sure, it’s a divisive phrase, but also accurate. Men who recoil in self-defense at this phrase are the same men who threaten their daughter’s boyfriends with shotguns and don’t see the irony. Men who recoil at this phrase are the same men who tap their friend’s nuts while watching ‘the big game’ and then wonder why they have no one to confide in. They excel at hurting the ones they love, weaponizing their egos, and playing the victim. They sh*t where they sleep. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve seen it. You’ve probably done it. Toxic masculinity is real, and we all need to work on it together. Thanks for listening.” — Jackson Emmer

Photo Credit: Jon Estes