Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Hownd, “Somethin'”

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Artist: Hownd
Hometown: Byfield, Massachusetts
Song: “Somethin'”
Album: Just to Feel
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: Lazare Music Inc.

In Their Words: “‘Somethin” is a reflection of faith and trust in a greater good, whatever darkness may be chasing after you. I wrote this song years ago in Boston, beginning to truly explore the acoustic guitar while also wrestling with philosophies of life, purpose, and religion. Written during a time of transition and unknown, I came to find real comfort in not knowing what’s out there. Regardless of the struggle to find ‘truth,’ the faith of knowing something bigger is out there watching over me is clear as crystal, watching over everyone, I believe.” — Hownd

Photo credit: Julia Cannon

LISTEN: Fireside Collective, “Bring It on Home”

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Artist: Fireside Collective
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Bring It On Home”
Album: Elements
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “We love all genres, especially funk. Getting to show that side of our band is always fun and a nice break from bluegrass, which we also love. Carson and Jesse worked a lot on getting the bass line as groovy as possible and I think they succeeded in making this one extra funky!” — Tommy Maher, dobro

“‘Bring It On Home’ is a great example of what can be done with bluegrass instruments outside of the bluegrass groove. The song begins with a unison riff before branching out into a funky groove with tight harmonies and tasty fills and solos to match. While it doesn’t land in the bluegrass groove, this song is a great example of where the genre is heading.” — Alex Genova, banjo

Photo credit: Heather Hambor

LISTEN: Carolina Blue, “Grown Cold”

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Artist: Carolina Blue
Hometown: Brevard, North Carolina
Song: “Grown Cold”
Album: Take Me Back
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “‘Grown Cold’ is the lead single from our forthcoming album, Take Me Back, on Billy Blue Records. I wrote the song specifically for Tim Jones to sing, and boy, does he deliver! What makes this song ideal, in my opinion, is that it’s different from anything that’s out there today, and that was intentional on my part as the songwriter. It really fits our motto of ‘Original yet Traditional.’ As a band, we want the listeners to be able to identify our music the moment that it comes on the radio, and I think we will be successful, not only with ‘Grown Cold,’ but with every track on the album. Hope you all enjoy it!” — Bobby Powell, Carolina Blue

Photo credit: Corey Johnson Studios

LISTEN: Carla Olson, “A Child’s Claim to Fame” (Feat. Timothy B. Schmit and Rusty Young)

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Artist: Carla Olson
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Song: “A Child’s Claim to Fame”
Album: Have Harmony, Will Travel 2
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Label: Sunset Blvd. Records

In Their Words: “Buffalo Springfield was as clever, inventive and multi talented as the Beatles. They had three songwriters, three voices, and a palette as varied as any band American or British. ‘A Child’s Claim to Fame’ is one of many examples of their unique genius and it’s a song I have always loved. It’s sophisticated as well as catchy, out of left field for a rock band, but a hit-in-waiting. When I decided to record it, Timothy B. Schmit’s voice almost called out to me, it seemed like such a natural harmony or duet choice. And when he said ‘yes’ — even better. If that wasn’t enough, creatively and historically, when Rusty Young agreed to play banjo, dobro, and guitar I knew we had a gem in the making if I do say so myself. Could I have imagined as a teen, when I saw the Springfield in concert, later recording Richie Furay’s Buffalo Springfield song with members of Poco and the Eagles? Uh, no. My thanks to both of them.” — Carla Olson

Photo credit: Markus Cuff

LISTEN: Chris Moyse, “Pueblo Dust”

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Artist: Chris Moyse
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Pueblo Dust”
Album: Bitter Ballads & Cynical Prayers
Release Date: March 20, 2020

In Their Words: “It’s a road trip song and a kind of love letter to a friend. And the first song in history about a pretty girl in a vintage car, right? It’s also a jinx — the 1980 El Camino died a few months later. But, I still got the memory and this song.” — Chris Moyse

Photo credit: J.R. Wyatt

LISTEN: Chris Castino, “Duluth”

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Artist: Chris Castino
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Song: “Duluth”
Album: Brazil
Release Date: March 13, 2020

In Their Words: “When you come out of a fog of drugs or bad love or any addiction, everything seems raw for a while. I guess the truth is raw sometimes. This song is that time where you beg God not to feel this way again, but this time something feels different. Like a new morning; blurry yet full of hope.” — Chris Castino

Photo credit: Storied Life Pictures

LISTEN: Darrell Scott, “Fool About You”

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Artist: Darrell Scott
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Fool About You”
Album: Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams
Release Dates: March 13, 2020 (single); April 24, 2020 (album)
Label: Full Light Records / Soundly Music

In Their Words: “I remember this song from early childhood — it was one my dad sang at home. Hank did not write it, but it was fun, it grooves, and it talks about flop-eared mules and hogs rooting under a fence… what more do you want out of a song?” — Darrell Scott

Photo credit: Gabriel Scott

LISTEN: Dietrich Strause, “Last Man Standing on the Sun”

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Artist: Dietrich Strause
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Last Man Standing on the Sun”
Album: Last Man Standing on the Sun
Release Date: March 13, 2020

In Their Words: “I once asked my 92-year-old grandfather what he knows now that he wishes he had known when he was my age. He said, ‘I wish I had known that everything is in constant motion and that the fundamental shape of the universe is a wave.’ With that as an impression, I wrote ‘Last Man Standing on the Sun’ looking up at the stars and sky from an island in the middle of a lake, in the middle of the mountains in New Hampshire, thinking about the constant decay and renewal of love, purpose, and nature. I wanted to record this song in particular for this album because it seemed fitting for the constant motion and physical limitations of working on a reel-to-reel tape machine.” — Dietrich Strause

Photo credit: Rose Cousins

LISTEN: Jack Grelle, “Mess of Love”

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Artist: Jack Grelle
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Song: “Mess of Love”
Album: If Not Forever
Release Date: April 17, 2020
Label: Jack Grelle Music

In Their Words: “This is a breakup song without any finger-pointing… where two people are both coming to grips with a change in life and trying to adjust to new chapters. I was listening to a lot of Elvis Costello’s early records when I wrote this tune. I wanted to blend classic honky-tonk with power pop elements. Devin Frank, who played bass on the album, came up with the harmony guitar parts on the chorus along with the lead guitar player, Josh Cochran. It added an overall feel that brought all those elements together and really made the song.” — Jack Grelle

Photo credit: Nate Burrell