Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Hallie Spoor, “Julia”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Hallie Spoor
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Song: “Julia”
Album: Heart Like Thunder
Release Date: August 22, 2023 (single); October 17, 2023 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Julia’ is the first song I wrote for what would eventually (three full years later) become a new record, Heart Like Thunder. I had just seen a Bonny Light Horseman show at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, and was very inspired by the performance. Their music has a grounded and natural energy, and that was how I approached writing the song that evolved into ‘Julia.’

“‘Julia’ is a strophic song – meaning it’s a very simple, three-verse format that is a tad unusual to the way I typically approach songwriting. (Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) But I think the simplicity of the form is what allows the story to shine. ‘Julia’ is about losing your lover to their best friend. In real life, we humans can be jealous bitter creatures, but in art we get to be wise and soulful. ‘Julia’ ultimately is about forgiveness – and I hope that feeling of peace is what the listener takes away.” – Hallie Spoor

Photo Credit: Sierra Voss

LISTEN: Jon Danforth, “Can’t Stay Here”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Jon Danforth
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Song: “Can’t Stay Here”
Album: Repetitions
Release Date: August 18, 2023 (single); October 27, 2023 (album)

In Their Words: “‘Can’t Stay Here’ is a bit of a rambling song, but it is also self-aware enough to know that rambling is typically not a solution to life’s problems. The song acknowledges the strong impulse and the feeling of needing to get away while admitting that, most of the time, that won’t solve anything. It’s a reminder that most of our problems need to be addressed by doing the work on ourselves. At the end of the day, as the saying goes, ‘wherever you go, there you are.'” – Jon Danforth

Photo Credit: Faith Alesia 

LISTEN: The Clements Brothers, “As the Crow Flies”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: The Clements Brothers
Hometown: Gloucester, Massachusetts
Song: “As the Crow Flies”
Album: Dandelion Breeze
Release Date: August 25, 2023
Label: Plow Man Records

In Their Words: “’As the Crow Flies’ is a tune written by George and finished by Charles. George came up with the Celtic-inspired tune on the guitar and brought it to the band. Then we played and improvised around on it until we had something we thought was exciting and interesting. The metric modulation and build in the middle of the tune was something George had conceived-of from the initial demo, but it took some playing around and experimenting with until the current progression and bass solo with the fiddle weaving around it emerged. The great fiddler Jenna Moynihan lent her beautiful playing and creative energy to the fiddle part, which we think really tied the tune together in the end. In terms of the tune name, we thought the melody had a kind of soaring and darkly quirky quality to it, so the title “As the Crow Flies” seemed to fit the mood and spirit of the sonic journey. Our late father, who passed just before the album was coming into shape, always loved crows with their intelligent and family-oriented qualities, so it also serves as a little memory capsule to him.” – The Clements Brothers

Photo Credit: Toan Trinh

LISTEN: Sandy Bailey, “Like You Loved Me”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sandy Bailey
Hometown: Northfield, Massachusetts
Song: “Like You Loved Me”
Album: Daughter Of Abraham
Release Date: August 18, 2023
Label: Red Parlor Records

In Their Words: “I first wrote and recorded this song about 10 years ago and never released it. When we were tracking it, the drummer started crying and I realized I had written something that would resonate with people. Still, in typical artist fashion, I constantly second guess myself and try to perfect things and get in my own way. Because of this I have a whole catalog of songs that will probably never be heard. The only people who ever listened to what I recorded were my kids. They made me play this song for them all the time, it was one of their favorites. I decided I wanted to finally release it on this album, but I had to make a new recording, because my voice had changed 10 years later. Not only has my voice changed, but so has my son’s! I guess it turned out to be fortunate that I waited, because I was able to record his new man voice for the background vocals on one of his favorite songs.” – Sandy Bailey

Photo Credit: Anja Schütz

LISTEN: John McCutcheon & Tom Paxton, “Life Before You”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: John McCutcheon & Tom Paxton
Hometown: Smoke Rise, Georgia; Alexandria, Virginia
Song: “Life Before You”
Album: Together
Release Date: October 13, 2023
Label: Appalseed

In Their Words: “Tom Paxton and I started writing together early on during the pandemic and, with seemingly endless time on our hands, we tackled all manner of subjects and ideas. This one started out as a pretty standard love song. But, often, along the way, one of us will say, ‘Wait a minute, what if this turned left instead of right?,’ and we’ll bravely go down that blind alley. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Tom was particularly enamored of the way the ending comes out of left field to the listener, a real surprise. He breaks into a big grin every time the end of verse three rolls around. One of the great joys of songwriting teamwork is to see your partner so delighted with the final result. Doesn’t get any better…” – John McCutcheon

Photo Credit: Michael G. Stewart

LISTEN: Scott Sean White, “Hope You Never Do” (Feat. Radney Foster)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Scott Sean White
Hometown: Dallas, Texas/Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Hope You Never Do” (Featuring Radney Foster)
Album: Even Better On the Bad Days
Release Date: August 18, 2023 (single); January 19, 2024 (album)

In Their Words: “Eric Erdman and Radney Foster were writing at Radney’s house one day and the news or something came on the TV while they were having lunch. Whatever it was, it made one of Radney’s kids say, ‘Dad, I don’t even know what it’s like to ball up my fist to hit someone.’ And Radney teared up and said, ‘I hope you never do.’ Eric gave him a minute and then said, ‘We’re writing THAT!’ They got stuck on the idea for some reason and couldn’t get it where they wanted. It was a year-and-a-half later that I met Eric for the first time and for some reason, he thought I was the guy to help them and their other co-writer, Chad Wilson, get it unstuck. We got together over Zoom one day and left with this.” – Scott Sean White

Photo Credit: Ted Parker Jr.

LISTEN: Philip Bowen, “Anymore”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Philip Bowen
Hometown: Montgomery, West Virginia
Song: “Anymore”
Album: Old Kanawha
Release Date: August 18, 2023

In Their Words: “We really wanted to do this song as an acoustic/bonus track on the record. I wrote it with the intention of it being more bare bones, and I love how it turned out. The acoustic guitar, fiddle, and piano are all that’s needed, and I think musically, it really hits differently when it’s scaled back like this.” – Philip Bowen

Photo Credit: Jordan Becker

LISTEN: Kim Moberg, “The Eighth Fire – Wings of the Winds”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Kim Moberg
Hometown: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the traditional territory of the Indigenous Nauset and Wampanoag Nations
Song: “The Eighth Fire – Wings of the Winds”
Album: The Seven Fires Prophecy
Release Date: August 11, 2023

In Their Words: “The Seven Fires Prophecy teaches us that the Native Elders go to sleep because the people turn their backs on their ancient wisdom and teachings. It also tells us that if we learn to live with one another and our environment in peace and respect, the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth Fire which is the fire of brother and sisterhood.

“It is my never-ending hope that, with a lot of work, we can and will accomplish this.

“I wrote ‘The Eighth Prophecy – Wings of the Winds’ as my vision of hope after hearing a comment by National Indigenous Archbishop Mark McDonald who said, ‘When it is time for Indigenous People to return to the land, it will be the artists who will call them back.’ I believe the time has come for artists — songwriters, musicians, painters, dancers — to awaken the Elders by being open, listening, understanding, and learning from their wisdom and sharing what we learn through our art.

“The song title honors all directions of the winds – north, south, east, west, up and down – winds that carry the ancient wisdom of the Elders to us. That wisdom tells us that we already hold the power to rise up and take action for peaceful and positive change. All we have to do is listen.” – Kim Moberg

Photo Credit: Barry Schneier

LISTEN: Delaney Ramsdell, “Travelin’ Light”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Delaney Ramsdell
Hometown: Roosevelt, Texas (population 18)
Song: “Travelin’ Light”
Album: Rambler
Release Date: August 10, 2023 (single); October 13, 2023 (album)
Label: North Llano Records

In Their Words: “This song is one of my absolute favorites. My dad actually gave me the idea, and growing up in rural West Texas we did so much driving that this topic felt natural. There’s nothing better than feeling free, seeing the beauty of the world, and rambling through life, and that’s exactly what I wanted to represent here. I wrote the song in 2019 with Mia Mantia and Autumn Buysse here in Nashville, and it’s acted as a foundation for me creatively ever since. We tried to include locations that I’d actually been to before, so every time I sing it I have the memories of those places flooding my mind. It’s a special feeling, and I hope the listener hears the heart and the wild spirit we put into the track.” – Delaney Ramsdell

Photo Credit: Seth Hays

LISTEN: Claire Hawkins, “The Name”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Claire Hawkins
Hometown: New York, New York
Song: “The Name”
Album: The Name
Release Date: August 4, 2023

In Their Words: “My music has taken me to some incredible places over the years. From a DIY European tour performing in youth hostels and shooting music videos in Ireland, to recording demos in Thailand and writing songs as an artist-in-residence in France, I’m certainly no stranger to being on the move. I wrote this song in my hometown of New York City during a period of transition following two years living in Dublin, Ireland. ‘The Name’ came from a place of yearning and addressing the challenges that come from following your personal North Star, even when it leads you away from the pack. Coming home after a long time away is always an interesting moment for reflection, and one of the perks of being a songwriter is getting to reflect on these moments again and again.” – Claire Hawkins

Photo Credit: Geraldine Smyth