Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Nathan Evans Fox, “Cigarettes and Moon Pies”

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Artist: Nathan Evans Fox
Hometown: Glen Alpine, North Carolina
Song: “Cigarettes and Moon Pies”
Album: Kindness
Release Date: February 20, 2020

In Their Words: “I wanted to write a love song that’s equal parts cultural idiosyncrasy, self-reflection, and just kinda manic. Some of my favorite places in the world are small, local gas stations in the Carolinas. They’re such an interesting cultural intersection; there’s goods from local growers alongside industrially manufactured, shrink-wrapped foods, and old relics of legendary NASCAR racers next to brand new vinyl banners promoting strange, cheap beer spin-offs. You’re left with a big cultural mish-mash that’s really complex and rich, and I think there’s something really romantic about these small drive-by spots. They’re a true reflection of all the strangeness and complexity of growing up in a place like North Carolina. They just seem like a good place to fall in love.” — Nathan Evans Fox

Photo credit: Zach Wolfe

LISTEN: The Barefoot Movement, “At the End of the Day”

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Artist: The Barefoot Movement
Hometown: Based in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “At the End of the Day”
Album: Rise & Fly
Release Date: February 7, 2020
Label: Bonfire Music Group

In Their Words: “’At the End of the Day’ is one of those songs I needed to write for myself. Growing up I was taught a lot about ‘turning the other cheek,’ which I think is a beautiful ideology and I still try to embrace it, but the lesson I think I missed was how to stand up for myself, to express frustrations, and to do it in a loving way. It’s one I’m still learning. I tend to avoid conflict. But as the song says, ‘the truth is all we have’ and I’ve realized that one of the most kind things you can do is to be honest. Even when your honesty might sting a bit.” — Noah Wall, The Barefoot Movement

Photo credit: The Barefoot Movement

LISTEN: Sasha K.A, “Tall Grass”

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Artist: Sasha K.A
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Song: “Tall Grass”
Album: Family
Release Date: February 21

In Their Words: “‘Tall Grass’ is about a musician friend of mine who got on the wrong path with drugs and alcohol. The ‘tall grass’ is a metaphor for hanging with the wrong crowd and making the wrong decisions. This guy is so naturally talented and so rich in spirit, but was snagged by the vices that haunt the music industry. Really fun experience bringing this song to life with Eric Harrison and Michael Ingber at Studio 601. Eric played bass, Michael played drums, we all produced the song. Incredibly collaborative and creative process.” — Sasha K.A.

Photo credit: Kush Mody

LISTEN: Rachel Baiman and Mike Wheeler, “Turn It Off”

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Artist: Rachel Baiman and Mike Wheeler
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee (Rachel), nomadic (Mike)
Song: “Turn It Off”
Album: Countin on You Sessions
Release Date: February 7, 2020
Label: Tone Tree Music

In Their Words: “I (Rachel) started this song in a moment of frustration, wishing I could just escape from the news of the world. I was lucky enough to be a part of a writing residency in Jacksonville, Florida and the place I was staying had all of these turtles hanging out in the back yard. I think I started five songs about turtles that week, the shell idea was just feeling very appealing.

“Anyway, this is one of those songs which I couldn’t seem to finish. I’ve been a big fan of Mike’s writing and singing for years and one afternoon back in Nashville I asked him to come by and help me finish this one (he was my neighbor at the time). We worked through it and really enjoyed singing and writing together. This song ended up launching this EP collaboration.

“When he told me he was planning to head out to Colorado for the winter (Mike is decidedly nomadic), we both thought it would be fun to record some of what we had been playing together in a really live style, to reflect the inspiration we had gotten from our neighbor jams while he was in town and the magic of Nashville nights spent trading songs with good friends.” — Rachel Baiman

Artwork by Taylor Ashton

LISTEN: Hannah Connolly, “Meet You There”

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Artist: Hannah Connolly
Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Song: “Meet You There”
Album: From Where You Are
Release Date: January 31, 2019

In Their Words: “In writing this album about grief I knew I also wanted to share the beauty of moments when I still feel my brother’s presence. For me those moments often happen in nature, so spending time in wild places became an important source of comfort and healing. That’s what ‘Meet You There’ is about. This was one of the last songs on the record to be finished, because deep down I didn’t feel ready to write something hopeful. In a way, this song helped guide me toward a feeling I had been searching for. Writing it was a reminder of the joy my brother brought into the world, as well as the magic in moments when I know he is still with me.” — Hannah Connolly

Photo credit: Joanna Rentz

LISTEN: Union Duke, “Left Behind”

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Artist: Union Duke
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Song: “Left Behind”
Release Date: January 28, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Left Behind’ is exactly what you think it is: a song about leaving things behind. We were trying to capture the feeling of loneliness and isolation one can feel when they’re far from the one(s) they love — both lyrically and musically. It’s about the distance often forced between us and the longing to be together again.

“The last of our four newest songs produced by Jeff Hazin, ‘Left Behind’ is the only soft-ish song of the music we’ve released over the last year and once we got in the studio with it we had the opportunity to explore some really cool ideas that are pretty new for us. It was a lot of fun building this tune and taking it from mellow and simmering to a driving banjo-driven sing-along. Plus: lap steel! (Played by our guitarist Rob McLaren.)” — Matt Warry-Smith, Union Duke

Photo credit: Alex Nunes

LISTEN: The Mastersons, “Eyes Open Wide”

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Artist: The Mastersons
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Song: “Eyes Open Wide”
Album: No Time for Love Songs
Release Date: March 6, 2020
Label: Red House Records

In Their Words: “‘Eyes Open Wide’ was one of the first tunes we wrote for the record. It took on a Byrds/Gene Clark feel the moment the Rickenbacker 12 string came out, which seemed apropos for a record cut in LA at Sunset Sound. Once Shooter Jennings had Bonnie Whitmore and Mark Stepro add their harmonies it added a Fleetwood Mac vibe and turned into a pretty fun track. It also feels like a song for the times as we can’t bury our heads in the sand with so much going on in the world. It’s tempting to check out with so much bad news every day, but it’s time for all hands on deck.” — The Mastersons

Photo credit: Curtis Wayne Millard

LISTEN: Possessed by Paul James, “When It Breaks”

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Artist: Possessed By Paul James
Hometown: Kendall County, Texas
Song: “When It Breaks”
Album: As We Go Wandering
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Label: PPJRECORDS

In Their Words: “When the world comes crashing down around us what will we do? I ask this question when thinking of my children. How will I react when tragedy strikes? I think of this as a teacher, when the systems in place simply are not adequate in meeting the level of need on a day to day basis. Will I quit and move on from the classroom or persevere? The blending of harmonies and the soulful fiddle song take my mind to a place of wonder.

“It’s fitting that this track happens to share the same name of the documentary produced by Milk Products Media of Chicago. In 2015 we took a journey for a full year advocating for the rights of students and families receiving special education services. I was personally at a loss when trying to understand why we simply weren’t doing more regarding resources and supports within the classroom.

“Thus, we loaded up the RV, the two kids, the dog, spouse, supplies, instruments and hit the road for a full year touring and advocating for special ed reform. The children were ‘roam’ schooled, the meetings were plentiful, the message was heard, and the songs were song. Ultimately we chose to return to the classroom at the end of the year while still balancing music performance, yet the ongoing question continues, ‘What are you going to do when it breaks?'” — Konrad Wert, Possessed by Paul James

Photo credit: George Blosser

LISTEN: Eric Brace & Last Train Home, “Dear Lorraine”

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Artist: Eric Brace & Last Train Home
Hometown: Washington D.C./ Nashville
Song: “Dear Lorraine”
Album: Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Label: Red Beet Records

In Their Words: “This was a fragment from the early days of the band, one that needed another verse. I’d been nominally inspired by the song ‘Sweet Lorraine’ so I recently went back to it and gently lifted a slew of lyrics. Please don’t tell Mitchell Parish. (Longtime LTH listeners will recognize my brother Alan’s harmonica playing and harmonies right away, and Jen Gunderman’s elegant, defining piano.)” — Eric Brace

Photo credit: Bill Thompson

LISTEN: Nick Pagliari, “When I Leave”

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Artist: Nick Pagliari
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Song: “When I Leave”
Album: Midway
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Label: Ride the River Records

In Their Words: “Written a couple months after the death of Tom Petty, my musical hero, ‘When I Leave’ takes the perspective of how he might have wanted others to remember him and his beautiful legacy. He was a brilliant songwriter and extremely hard worker. Tom was so into his craft that at times he would sacrifice his own well being for the sake of his music and for his fans. ‘When I Leave’ honors the man’s life that had such a huge impact on not only myself, but so many people in this world. Thank you Tom.” — Nick Pagliari

Photo credit: Barbara FG