Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Kelly Augustine, “Seeds of Hope”

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Artist: Kelly Augustine
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Song: “Seeds of Hope”
Album: Light in the Lowlands
Release Date: April 5, 2019

In Their Words: “I was under the gun! When I got to the studio, my producer, Wes Sharon, dropped one of the songs I thought we were going to put on the record. I was playing him a bunch of other stuff I’d been working on, and when I played this one for him — I had a verse and chorus — he stopped me and said, ‘I like it — go finish it.’ So, that’s what I did. I’d been struggling with the song for a while and wasn’t sure where it wanted to go. I was surprised at how much I liked it when it finally came together.

“Some people we meet change us. I met somebody like that. We walked the road together for a time, holding each other up. I am who I am today in large part because of him. As [it] happens, we went our separate ways. But that doesn’t lessen the beauty or strength of his impact on my life. He planted seeds in my life that have bloomed into flowers, and, for that, I am forever grateful.” — Kelly Augustine

Photo credit: Scott McCormick

LISTEN: Tyler Ramsey, “Evening Country”

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Artist: Tyler Ramsey
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Evening Country”
Album: For the Morning
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Label: Fantasy Records

In Their Words: “A couple of years ago my band and I started messing around with some of my older and more pared-down songs and trying to bring them into a band setting. ‘Evening Kitchen’ was a song that I had written for the Band of Horses record Infinite Arms and when we did that record it stood out because it was in contrast with the rest of the album and really bare bones. A lot of that album was lushly produced and I thought having the song recorded with a single acoustic guitar and vocals would help balance things. It worked well in the sequence of that album and led to a lot of the more intimate moments in our live shows and the direction we headed in for the live Ryman acoustic album.

“This version, called ‘Evening Country,’ was a way to reimagine the song and a chance to put it into a new frame with some truly amazing musicians. It was recorded in Louisville, Kentucky, with Seth Kauffman (Floating Action), Kevin Ratterman (Lalaland Studio, My Morning Jacket, Ray Lamontagne), and I doing the basic tracking. Seth had worked with pedal steel guitarist Russ Pahl before and we were able to get him to play on it (I still jump up and down when I hear his playing!). And the goosebump-inducing harmony vocals were sung by Molly Parden and Thad Cockrell and recorded at the Fleetwood Shack in Nashville by my old friend Bill Reynolds (former Band of Horses bassist). The opportunity to revisit this song in the way that we did has given it a new energy for me as well as new meaning.

“A wild memory of this song: years ago we were playing at Bonnaroo after Infinite Arms had been released. We finished our set and climbed down off the stage and our manager came up and told us to go back up and play a couple more songs because Bruce Springsteen had come onto our side stage to watch us play just as we were walking off. We ran back up and ended up playing ‘Evening Kitchen’ last, and all I could think about the whole time was that there was Bruce Springsteen standing fifteen feet away from me and watching us play this song I’d written — don’t f*ck it up! We made it through and headed back down off the stage and there he was with that Bruce Springsteen smile and handshakes all around. Our monitor man Jon Cronin told me afterwards that he heard Bruce say ‘That’s a good song!’ That’s enough for me!” — Tyler Ramsey

Photo credit: Jameykay and Arlie

LISTEN: The Get Ahead, “Faint Outline”

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Artist: The Get Ahead
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Song: “Faint Outline”
Album: Deepest Light
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Label: Jullian Records

In Their Words: “‘Faint Outline’ is straight from what I think of as some of my most vivid sensory childhood memories. Approaching the Rocky Mountains across Western Kansas in an old panel van, alley light coming through the bedroom window playing shadows on the ceiling above the top bunk. We think we have our memories, distinct and concrete, but how malleable and practiced do they become? The Echoplex guitar was inspired by the Hannah Montana Karaoke machine I was playing my Tele through while writing the song.” — Nathan Earle, The Get Ahead

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hearth PR

LISTEN: Paper Wings, “Woods and Fields”

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Artist: Paper Wings
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee/Berkeley, California
Song: “Woods and Fields”
Album: Clementine
Release Date: May 14th, 2019

In Their Words: “‘Woods and Fields’ is the first song on our upcoming album, Clementine, and is one of the first songs Emily and I wrote together. This track features our take on classic duet singing and draws from the roots and traditions of old-time music. As we slowly reveal new facets of our sound throughout the album, we preserve our essential interpretation of rural folk roots. Clementine is a collection of songs about love, longing, self-reflection, and finding sympathy in nature. ‘Woods and Fields’ represents this well, and is a snapshot of our collective voice.” — Wilhelmina Frankzerda of Paper Wings

Photo credit: Kallie Dawn Hagel

LISTEN: Kora Feder, “He Wants to Live Forever”

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Artist: Kora Feder
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Song: “He Wants to Live Forever”
Album: In Sevens
Release Date: April 2nd (album) / March 26 (single)

In Their Words: “My grandfather is 92 and still cooking amazing meals, going on hikes, reading book after article after book, and enjoying as many sunsets as he possibly can. He’s always been one of the most curious, philosophical, and hilarious people in my life. I wrote this after a conversation with him where, in an usually serious moment, he expressed his sadness that he would never read his grandkids’ biographies. I hope it speaks to anyone who’s ever lost someone, or has someone they never want to lose.” — Kora Feder

Photo credit: Grace Finlayson

WATCH: Korby Lenker, “I’m Tryin'” (feat. Eliot Bronson)

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Artist: Korby Lenker
Hometown: East Nashville
Song: “I’m Tryin” (feat. Eliot Bronson)
Album: Morse Code Soundtrack
Release Date: March 29, 2019
Label: Soundly Music

In Their Words: “Morse Code is the name of my dramedy web series, about a smart-but-dumb folksinger trying to make good in music without alienating everyone around him. Each episode features a new original song, and today marks the release of Episode 3 and its accompanying song, ‘I’m Tryin’.’ I wrote this one with Eliot Bronson, who joins me here for a live take. It’s a song written from the perspective of the main character, Simon, to his 10-year-old daughter. Life on the road has all but undone Simon’s family life, and at this point in the story, he’s realized he wants to change; he just doesn’t know how.” — Korby Lenker

The first season of Morse Code will run for 10 episodes.
Watch Episode 3: Turd Free
Watch all three episodes of Morse Code

Photo credit: Cody Duncum

LISTEN: The Shootouts, “Cleaning House”

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Artist: The Shootouts
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Song: “Cleaning House”
Album: Quick Draw
Release Date: May 10, 2019
Label: MRI Entertainment/MegaForce Records

In Their Words: “‘Cleaning House’ is one of my favorite songs to sing from Quick Draw. It was written by Shootouts sideman Al Moss, who has performed with us since shortly after the band started in late 2015. Al wrote the song many, many years ago. When we were looking to add some new songs to the catalog, I asked Al if he had any songs that might fit the band. He humbly and quietly offered to see what he had lying around. A week or two later he offered up ‘Cleaning House’ and I was blown away. I was immediately hooked. It’s such a fun tune, and I love the play on words. It seemed like a natural song to open up the album.” –Ryan Humbert, The Shootouts

Photo Credit: Aimee Lambes

LISTEN: Andy Hughes & the Mighty Few, “Friday Nights”

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Artist: Andy Hughes & the Mighty Few
Hometown: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Song: “Friday Nights”
Album: Songs for Sunday
Release Date: March 24, 2019
Label: Move Along Music

In Their Words: “‘Friday Nights’ is classic-sounding country. I knew I wanted to write a song like that as I was listening to a lot of George Jones and Johnny Cash at the time. It’s a personal song but also takes some liberties within the verses to make the story relatable and have some mystique to it. As a musician on the road I’ve certainly felt that line, ‘Singing my way home to you…’ and I know my wife has, too. I believe a lot of us have probably been in a bar like that, too. The Mighty Few really throw down on this track!” — Andy Hughes

Photo credit: Dylan Overhouse

LISTEN: Smith Allen, “Waitin’ For My Wheels”

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Artist: Smith Allen
Hometown: Los Angeles, California (by way of Ohio)
Song: “Waitin’ For My Wheels”
Album: Smith Allen
Release Date: April 26, 2019

In Their Words: “‘Waitin’ For My Wheels’ was written during a moment of uncertainty and self-reflection. It’s a reminder to keep aiming for the life you desire, even when it may seem far out of reach. It’s sort of a pep talk to my old self, using some of my fears to drive the point home and gain much needed motivation. Producer Jason Soda brought some cookin’ guitars to the mix, adding a tasteful touch of color and twang. ‘Time moves slower on the West Coast,’ when the sun’s always shining and the nights are long. The wheels are finally turning and I’m thrilled to premiere this track through BGS!” — Smith Allen

Photo credit: Samantha Stenson

LISTEN: Ky Burt, “Small Town Dream”

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Artist: Ky Burt
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Song: “Small Town Dream”
Album: The Sky in Between
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Label: Woodstove Records

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Small Town Dream’ in honor of the small towns I’ve lived in and traveled through across America. This song is my observation of the oldest towns that are still barely hanging on, where the roots run deep but the pockets lay thin. It is a testament of the enduring spirit and struggles of a country that is modernizing quicker than its antiquated towns can keep up with. And for myself and others, the enduring small town represents a slower way of life, a struggle to preserve community, and a place where old stories still live on the front porch steps.” — Ky Burt

Photo credit: Chelsea Donoho