Tag: Song Premiere

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

LISTEN: Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, “Step Out in the Sunshine”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Step Out in the Sunshine”
Album: Pages In Your Hand
Release Date: October 6, 2023
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “Ralph Stanley’s early 1970s Clinch Mountain Boys lineup of Roy Lee Centers, Jack Cooke, Curly Ray Cline, Keith Whitley, and Ricky Skaggs was a golden era for his band, in my opinion, and in my mid-teens their music was a major influence on me as I was just getting serious about playing music. The gospel album they did, Cry From the Cross, was and remains my favorite bluegrass gospel album of all time. It inspired my lead singing and guitar playing, and without consciously trying to do it, I learned to sing the baritone harmony part from Jack Cooke.

“I still have and cherish the original LP that I bought when I was around 15, though the jacket is a little battered and my name is written in brown magic marker on the back — because, you know, other kids in high school were likely to try to steal my Ralph Stanley records. I wanted to record a song from the album that I hadn’t heard anyone else do and that hadn’t become a Ralph Stanley standard, and so I was drawn to ‘Step Out in the Sunshine.’ We rearranged it slightly to fit our sound but it remains a tribute to the Stanley original.” – Chris Jones

Track Credits:
Chris Jones – acoustic guitar, lead vocal
Marshall Wilborn – bass
Mark Stoffel – mandolin, harmony vocal
Grace van’t Hof – banjo, harmony vocal

Photo Credit: Sandlin Gaither

LISTEN: Arielle Silver, “Soft On the Shoulder”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Arielle Silver
Hometown: Finding the answer to that question has been a lifelong quest. My childhood was spent in Florida, NYC, and New Jersey. Boston raised me from late teens through most of my twenties, but I did a few stints in PA, TN, and NC. Something brought me to Los Angeles a while back, and it’s now been my hometown longer than anywhere else. I’m rather attached – and detached – from a lot of places, but I think I love LA and Boston the most.
Song: “Soft On the Shoulder”
Album: Watershed
Release Date: October 6, 2023

In Their Words: “Inspired by the Laurel Canyon music of the ’70s and the cultural activism that came about after the murder of George Floyd, ‘Soft On the Shoulder’ is a song largely about self-culpability. I was reflecting on the place of music amid cultural change and its place in political activism and social engagement. I was also thinking about the ways that I – as a white-presenting woman – have unwittingly participated in systemic wrongs. While initially inspired by thoughts sparked by the BLM movement, this song applies to any personal or cultural circumstance where we are asked to examine our long-held beliefs and consider another person’s perspective.

“Having grown up listening to records, cassettes, and CDs, I am very album-oriented. I felt that ‘Soft On The Shoulder,’ which opens the Watershed album with the words, ‘It starts with a witness…’ and is threaded with the mantra ‘love more, fear less,’ captures the compassion and reflective nature of this entire collection of songs.” – Arielle Silver

Photo Credit: Anabel DFlux

LISTEN: Humbird, “North Country Girl”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Humbird
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Song: “North Country Girl”
Release Date: September 29, 2023
Label: Nettwerk Music Group

In Their Words: “This is a song written from the deep heart of winter in Minnesota. After singing Bob Dylan’s classic ‘Girl From the North Country’ for years, I started to wonder what she would say if given the chance. I realized by the end that she and I had a lot more in common than I’d thought – namely, a love of stark landscapes and fresh water. A lot of folk songs talk about leaving all the time. This one is the opposite. What happens when you choose to stay?” – Siri Undlin, Humbird

Photo Credit: Melissa Alderton

LISTEN: Charlotte Morris, “Wild Child”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Charlotte Morris
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; now Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Wild Child”
Album: Wild Child
Release Date: September 29, 2023

In Their Words: “I’ve never been a person who settles – I always find a reason to leave. I have big ambitions; I get anxious staying in one place for too long; I always feel the need to move onto the next job, the next relationship, the next city. Part of that is freeing – it allows me to see the world, try new things and challenge myself. But part of it is debilitating. Never staying in one situation for too long means never sitting with yourself or allowing yourself to grow in peace. I think that ‘Wild Child’ is a classic folk-country song that almost everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. Feeling drawn to one thing, but knowing that another option might be better for you; or perhaps, choosing between multiple amazing options, but knowing that ultimately you need to make a decision. It’s an experience that everyone has been through, and ‘Wild Child’ is an anthem for the folks with choice-paralysis and a fire in their feet.” – Charlotte Morris

Photo Credit: Cody Stallings

LISTEN: The HillBenders, “Take On The World (Give ‘Em Hell!)”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The HillBenders
Hometown: Springfield, Missouri
Song: “Take On The World (Give ‘Em Hell!)”
Release Date: September 29, 2023

In Their Words: “‘Take On The World (Give ‘Em Hell!)’ embodies the age-old tale of a directionless, troubled soul. We’ve all been there in one way or another. Maybe doing things you ought not be doing just for the excitement of doing it. But then comes along someone that shows you how much more there is to life. It’s almost like you’ve turned into a completely different person after falling in love with them. Like you’re under some sort of spell of theirs. And all of a sudden, all that trouble doesn’t seem as fun anymore. How long it lasts is maybe for another song.” – Mark Cassidy, banjo

“The tune was recorded at Red Rock Studios in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, while having a rare day off on tour. Primarily used to record jazz music, the studio had a beautifully organic design nestled in the quiet rural countryside. We asked Jeremey Garrett (of the Infamous Stringdusters) if he would lay some fiddle down on the song and he cut some buttery tracks at his studio, including a twin fiddle part that made the final mix. Jeremy is a great cat and his involvement really elevated the song as a whole. Since adding our new drummer, John Anderson, we have explored all sorts of new musical possibilities — but it was nice to return to our bluegrass roots on this number.” – Jim Rea, guitar

Photo Credit: Robert Crook

LISTEN: Jesse Smathers, “Sing Darling Sing”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jesse Smathers
Hometown: Floyd, Virginia
Song: “Sing Darling Sing”
Release Date: September 22, 2023

In Their Words: “I believe that simple melodies and simple stories relate across generations and all walks of life. That’s the true beauty of string music: its relatability. This song was composed with that aspiration.

“Being raised in piedmont North Carolina, family roots in Western Carolina, and now living in Southwest Virginia, string music always surrounded me and the tunes that always struck a chord were the fun melodic tunes, and happy songs. ‘Sing Darling Sing’ is just that, a happy tune with a loving story.

“I am so very proud of this recording, musically and personally, for it draws inspiration from my own marriage as well as relationship examples I see set by older generations. I hope the music and imagery takes the listener to a simpler and scenic time when life didn’t move as fast, and communication wasn’t at our fingertips. However, the young man in the tale is chomping at the bit to marry the girl of his dreams, the day can’t come quick enough and nothing’s gonna stop him!” – Jesse Smathers

Track Credits: 
Jesse Smathers – Guitar/ Lead Vocal
Nick Goad – Mandolin/ Harmony Vocal
Corbin Hayslett – Banjo
Hunter Berry – Fiddle
Joe Hannabach – Bass

Photo Credit: Laci Mack

LISTEN: Lillian Leadbetter, “Doesn’t Hurt”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Lillian Leadbetter
Hometown: Lincoln, Vermont
Song: “Doesn’t Hurt”
Album: State of Romance
Release Date: September 22, 2023 (single); October 13, 2023 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Doesn’t Hurt’ exists in a world of suspended disbelief. Snowed into my childhood home in early February with just myself and a teething puppy, I lay in bed, reminiscing. As my brain drifted from my cold bed in the hills of snowy Vermont, I recalled warmer days, warmer arms, love that had slipped through my fingers, love I knew wouldn’t last. Those vignettes kept me warm, moments and people who told white lies to preserve a state of romance. ‘Doesn’t Hurt’ is an internal song, sung to honor all the moments I bit my tongue instead of admitting the end, choosing instead to revel in the impermanence of love one last time.” – Lillian Leadbetter

Photo Credit: Katyayani Krishnan