Artist: Riley Pearce
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Song: “Nostalgia”
Album: The Water & The Rough
Release Date: June 10, 2022
Label: Nettwerk
In Their Words: “‘Nostalgia’ was born from a camping trip my brother and I took to Jurien Bay, a few hours north of Perth where we used to holiday as kids. We both hadn’t been for years, and it was a nice little nostalgia trip, reminiscing about the times and how things had changed with the town and with ourselves.” — Riley Pearce
Artist: Brandi Carlile
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Song: “You and Me On the Rock”
Album: In These Silent Days
Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra Records
In Their Words: “This song is for my wife, Catherine. When life changed during quarantine and everything that I identify myself by went away, I was left with a question of ‘is what I’ve built my life on really a solid foundation?’ I wrote this song and realized that even the most intensely self-identifying things can go away, but what my life is really built on, which is faith and my family, it’s a rock, and it’s solid.” — Brandi Carlile
Artist: Sierra Ferrell
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Song: “Years”
Album: Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson
Release Date: August 5, 2022
Label: Easy Eye Sound
In Their Words: “I grew up listening to John Anderson on country music radio, so I was honored…almost like a pinch yourself moment, when I was asked to contribute to this album. ‘Years’ is such a great song, and it spoke to me from the first time I heard it. The lyrics and John’s unmistakably haunting voice immediately flooded my brain with that universal truth…that life is so precious and so brief. I felt called to that song, and I’ve always thought that if you feel a song in your bones, you can bring it to life. From that point, everything becomes almost effortless.” — Sierra Ferrell
Editor’s Note: Read our BGS interview with John Anderson.
Artist: Circus No. 9
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “The Scaffold Song”
Album: Circus No. 9
Release Date: July 1, 2022
Label: Bonfire Music Group
In Their Words: “We were originally scheduled to record this album in spring 2020 — obviously, that didn’t happen. Time was on our side, however, as the postponing of the recording session allowed track vocalist/banjoist Matthew Davis to bring in this song during one of our Covid Zoom hangouts. We’re all big fans of Crooked Still, and wanted to give the song that treatment. We’re honored to be joined by our friend (and Crooked Still founder) Aoife O’Donovan on harmony vocals alongside John Mailander on fiddle. We thought this song would be the perfect ending to this new record — and we hope you all enjoy!” — Thomas Cassell, Circus No. 9
Artist: The Local Honeys
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Song: “Throw Me in the Thicket (When I Die)”
Album: The Local Honeys
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Label: La Honda Records
In Their Words: “This song is about giving back to the place that has provided nourishment to the belly, the heart, and the soul. The place that raised you and me. A wish to pass on without the tufts and frills that so often decorate a ceremonious death. This song is for those who wish to give themselves back to the earth, in the purest form, and to live eternally in the place you call home.”
Artist: Molly Tuttle
Hometown: Palo Alto, California
Song: “Grass Valley” (Live) feat. Jack Tuttle
Album: Crooked Tree
Release Date: April 1, 2022
Label: Nonesuch Records
In Their Words: “My dad took me to the Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, California, when I was 10 years old and it changed my life. It was my first time going to a music festival and the songs that I heard on stage and jammed in the campground stuck with me for years to come. When I was writing the songs for Crooked Tree I kept going back to those earliest musical memories. I decided to close my album with a song about Grass Valley to give context to the music that I make now. I hope you enjoy this special version of ‘Grass Valley’ that I filmed with my dad! Happy Father’s Day weekend!” — Molly Tuttle
Artist: Freedy Johnston
Hometown: Kinsley, Kansas
Song: “Madeline’s Eye”
Album: Back On the Road to You
Release Date: September 9, 2022
Label: 40 Below Records
In Their Words: “‘Madeline’s Eye’ was inspired by my hearing the B.W. Stevenson hit ‘My Maria’ on the overhead music somewhere. A smash hit. That’s where the musical feel is borrowed from. I’m just doing my part for the environment by recycling the groove. The lyric is your typical human/android love story. A love for the ages. The kind of love for which there really is an instruction manual and a tool kit. She’s starting to think, ‘Maybe I am a machine’ and ‘Why do I keep setting off metal detectors?’ I am sure Dr. Sigmund could analyze the heck out of the writer of this song.” — Freedy Johnston
Bruce Hornsby’s ‘Flicted is the final installment of a three-album suite that follows Absolute Zero in 2019 and Non-Secure Connection in 2020. One highlight of the new project is a unique, modern adaptation of a Chuck Berry classic. Set to a funky, hip hop-leaning drum loop and resting on a sassy piano groove, Hornsby’s take on “Too Much Monkey Business” feels at first like an easygoing, rhythmic tune, but faint familiarity grows quickly into an a-ha moment when the chorus rolls around. The quirky music video is fun and inventive, just like many of the songs from ‘Flicted. As Hornsby himself explains, “The album title ‘Flicted relates to this strange time in which we live, when the world is basically, well, ‘flicted.” Look for Hornsby on the road with his band, The Noisemakers, throughout the summer.
Artist: Steven Denmark
Hometown: Northern California
Song: “Only Home I Need”
Release Date: June 2, 2022
In Their Words: “‘Only Home I Need’ was a song that really just fell into my lap. I set out to write a simple love song, which may sound redundant, but it was territory I’ve never ventured into as a songwriter. I wanted to write something that people could emotionally connect with, lyrically and musically. I didn’t know where the song would go when I first wrote it. The writing process was quick, but everything really fell into place when we got into Tiny Tape Room to record it. The vibe of the studio and the musicians who played on the song had a huge part in crafting it into something special. My hope is that ‘Only Home I Need’ is a song that people will connect with and will continue to listen to for years to come. The slow pace and overall vibe has a presence about it that I feel can draw people in. Even if you’re not in a relationship, it’s a song that evokes a feeling of genuine human connection.” — Steven Denmark
Artists: Wynonna & Waxahatchee
Song: “Other Side”
Release Date: May 24, 2022
Label: ANTI- Records
In Their Words: “In the midst of everything that has happened, I said that I would continue to sing. So, here I am. I met Katie Crutchfield last year and we connected immediately. We recorded ‘Other Side’ in the studio here on the farm and it was one of my favorite recording experiences ever. I’m thankful for the opportunity to sing with the next generation of greatness.” — Wynonna
“Working with Wynonna and Cactus [Moser, Wynonna’s husband] on this song was one of the more creatively stimulating and exciting experiences I’ve had in my songwriting career. Wynonna is an icon and a fountain of wisdom. Sharing space with her to create something new was really nothing but a joy and an honor. Her spirit inspires me daily and her continued encouragement has meant the world. Together, with Cactus, we made an amazing team and I’m so excited to share this song.” — Katie Crutchfield, Waxahatchee
