Tag: Wesley Dean

You Gotta Hear This: New Music From AJ Lee & Blue Summit, New Dangerfield, and More

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Are you excited for new music Friday? With our slate of premieres this week, we certainly are! AJ Lee & Blue Summit bring us the first track from their just-announced album, City of Glass (coming in July), old-time, folk, and Americana supergroup New Dangerfield have released their very first music together, and banjoist Tray Wellington (also of New Dangerfield) is dropping a new instrumental today, as well!

Plus, don’t miss Australian-via-Nashville country artist Wesley Dean and his new video for “Mercy” and you’ll also find Jacob Jolliff Band’s new number, “Los Angeles County Breakdown,” which premiered on BGS yesterday.

It’s all right here and to be totally honest, You Gotta Hear This!

AJ Lee & Blue Summit, “Hillside”

Artist: AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
Song: “Hillside”
Album: City of Glass
Release Date: July 19, 2024
Label: Signature Sounds

In Their Words: “The song ‘Hillside’ is sung from the perspective of a hill that is being eroded by weather and chipped by the tools of man. Still, the hill aspires to become a mountain and refuses to give in to the bombardment of forces. The last line in the chorus is, ‘… A thousand years don’t mean a thing to the stone cold hill that you call me,’ which I wrote with the idea that I will have confidence in myself no matter who tries to tear me down. I feel like I am becoming an immovable mountain that has been birthed out of proving my resilience. This song represents women empowerment, resilience, and strength.” – AJ Lee 

Track Credits:

Written by AJ Lee
Produced by Lech Wierzynski
Mixed and engineered by Jacob LaCally
Mastered by Paul Blakemore

New Dangerfield, “Dangerfield Newby”

Artist: New Dangerfield (Jake Blount, Kaia Kater, Tray Wellington, and Nelson Williams)
Hometown: Providence, RI; New York City, NY; New Orleans, LA; Raleigh, NC
Song: “Dangerfield Newby”
Release Date: April 26, 2024
Label: Distributed by Free Dirt Records

In Their Words: “I learned the tune we call ‘Dangerfield Newby’ from Eddie Bond close to a decade ago. He called it by the name ‘Old Sport,’ but told us that it was alternatively named ‘Dangerfield’ after one of John Brown’s raiders. I performed on John Brown’s farm last summer and had the opportunity to visit the grave he shares with his sons and several of his raiders — including the Black ones. I learned that Dangerfield was Black from his gravestone. The string band tradition has been honoring a Black freedom fighter all this time – who knew? I brought the tune to the band, since these are the stories we want to tell.

“Inspired by Dangerfield’s dedication to his family and community and his drive for freedom, we decided to put his full name on the tune. Thus, ‘Dangerfield Newby’ was born! We chose our band name, New Dangerfield, as an homage just a few days later.” – Jake Blount

Tray Wellington, “Blue Collared Dog and His Green Eyed Friend”

Artist: Tray Wellington
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Song: “Blue Collared Dog and His Green Eyed Friend”
Release Date: April 26, 2024
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “One late night while doing some paintings, we ended the night with two different ones. One featured a dog with a blue collar, and one featured a cat with bright green eyes. I thought about how, if I was still a kid, I would’ve created a whole story within these paintings of how these two were friends and journeyed the world together. Shortly after this thought, I picked up my banjo and just did some improv which ended up being the start of the tune. I just kept going and finished the tune in that improv session, remembered what I could, and recorded it right away. I was amazed at how such a simple thought could help me create a piece of music I’m so proud of.” – Tray Wellington

Track Credits:
Tray Wellington – Banjo
Drew Matulich – Guitar
Katelynn Bohn – Bass
Josiah Nelson – Mandolin, fiddle

Wesley Dean, “Mercy”

Artist: Wesley Dean
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee (by way of Australia)
Song: “Mercy”
Album: Music From Crazy Hearts
Release Date: April 26, 2024

In Their Words: “While I was traveling around the country last summer on my Crazy Hearts Across America tour, we shot different music videos for the album in different cities. Where else is better than the neon psychedelic lights of Las Vegas for ‘Mercy?’ It suited the music and the vision. We shot up and down the strip outside the famous Flamingo casino one night and then built the rest of the video around that footage.

“Jacobie Gray, my director, wrote the treatment for the redemption story and then we filmed the rest of the video at a bar and old church in Nashville and a cemetery outside of town. I’ll never forget the night when we filmed with the gospel choir, it’s such a dream to sing with those guys, and it was one of the first visions I had before Crazy Hearts was born, ‘Mercy’ being the first song I wrote for the record. And being out in the cemetery in the middle of the night was another experience I’ll hold close from making this video. An Amish horse and cart rode past in the darkness while I was looking up at the stars smoking a cigar and it was so surreal. You wouldn’t experience that in Australia.

“My main cinematographer, David Bradley, who also edited and colored the video, really delivered on that psychedelic vibe I was wanting.” – Wesley Dean

Jacob Jolliff, “Los Angeles County Breakdown”

Artist: The Jacob Jolliff Band
Hometown: New York City, New York
Song: “Los Angeles County Breakdown”
Album: Instrumentals, Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries
Release Date: May 24, 2024
Label: Adhyâropa Records

In Their Words: “‘Los Angeles County Breakdown’ is the first tune we started arranging for Mandolin Mysteries. I taught it to the group while we were in LA, on the last show of our last tour before the lockdown in 2020. So I had these demos of us playing the working version that I listened to and was excited about for a couple years before we finally got the chance to finish the arrangement and perform it live. It’s a sprightly little number with a lot of different influences — I like that it features a nice section for the fiddle and guitar to stretch out on. Hope you enjoy it!” – Jacob Jolliff

More here.

Photo Credit: AJ Lee & Blue Summit by Natia Cinco; New Dangerfield by Justin French.

BGS 5+5: Wesley Dean

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Wesley Dean
Latest Album: unknown
Hometown: I’m a drifter. Born in Adelaide. Lived in Sydney for 20 years and we left the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, to move to Nashville, Tennessee, in February 2021.
Personal Nicknames: Wes

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

John Lennon gave me the permission at 13 to create whatever I wanted to create through music. Mum bought me the Anthology box set for my 13th birthday, and I was obsessed by his raw home recordings. It gave me permission to write my own music and create my music, on my terms. Songs like ‘Working Class Hero’ and ‘I Found Out,’ the home recording versions really resonated with me. It was so familiar. Before that it was Michael Jackson. His presence on stage was like something other worldly. The way he danced and commanded the audience. I learnt about the power of stage presence through imitating him since I was 2 years old.

Nirvana was my favourite band growing up. When I stayed up late one night and watched the MTV Unplugged gig, the next day I strung my Mum’s old nylon string guitar that had been in the cupboard for 20 years, and my life changed forever. Kurt also gave me the permission to be honest and autobiographical. I resonated with the spirit of the music. It hit me at the right time. I was just becoming a teenager and he sang as if he knew how I felt. I wanted to be a light like that for somebody, and dreamed that one day my music could help someone through life also.

What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far?

“Major in the major” as opposed to “minoring in the minor.” In this business you can easily get bogged down in all the things that aren’t working, and fall into the trap of becoming a victim about things that don’t go your way. It’s a long road to build anything of worth, and I’ve been in this business for 20-plus years, writing songs and playing shows from small venues to stadiums. I’ve played in every venue I can think of in Australia over the span of 20-plus years, and to me, every gig, good and bad, have been the best blessings that have made me who I am today. I couldn’t think of doing anything else, even though sometimes the struggle is so intense. I could never give it up. My good friend once said, just keep majoring in the major and the blessings will follow. You have to stop yourself daily and ask yourself, “What’s most important? Where are you going? And who are you serving?” That’s what drives me, to be able to leave a legacy for my boys, and anyone who walks a similar path, to know that they will hopefully one day realise that I did everything I can to carve my own way in this life. When you major in the major, the small things don’t seem to matter.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

Songwriting is a sacred craft for me. It’s one of the only ways I can feel truly at peace with myself. Twelve notes and yet infinite possibilities. I’ve never had a problem with writer’s block; it’s only when I think about something too much, that’s when the barriers come up and I can’t seem to finish what I started. My friend and co-writer Fred said to me once, “Take a big idea and make it smaller.” I really like that approach. Sometimes the big ideas can seem torturous and can play on your mind for weeks, years. I always put a lot of expectations on myself. I strive to be the best at what I do, because I don’t like to settle at anything worth doing well.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I practice TM (transcendental meditation) frequently. My non-negotiable routines, in order to feel well and look after my mental health, are eating well, 20 minutes of meditation and a 20-minute HIIT workout daily. I have a history of anxiety and depression, and both practices in the morning are the best way to start my day. Over the years I have discovered that food also has a major impact on how I think and feel. Sugar being the worst for me, mainly. I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to sugar, so when I’m eating clean, I’m in a much better frame of mind. It’s the old “what you eat, you are” mantra. Of course it’s easier said than done sometimes, when you’re on the road. I make sure I know where I’m eating before heading out on the road, so I keep strong and fit to perform every night. Nothing worse than trashing yourself and then trying to perform every night. Which I’ve done a few times. It’s an insult to the people who pay good money to see you play live.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

So many favorite memories. I’ve sung with some Aussie icons in my time. Singing a song I wrote called “Lost” with Cold Chisel at the Sydney entertainment centre the night before it was demolished was one the best. Performing on the steps of the Opera House to a sold out crowd on a national TV show was a highlight. Playing inside the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was incredible. So many great moments with my best friends in my Aussie band. Playing with a band to me has to have a feeling of camaraderie. We are all on the journey together, telling a story, conveying a message. It has to feel like an experience not just a job that you clock in and get paid, but something that transcends the normal every day way of life. People that pay good money to see you play expect that you as the performer take them on a journey. They turn up to forget about the world for a while and just wanna be swept up in a moment and that’s the responsibility of an artist/performer.

Photo Credit: Anthony Scarlati