All by Melissa Payne
We’re thrilled to premiere “Slowdown Honey,” the latest single from Waterloo, Iowa-based band Katie and the Honky Tonks, ahead of their debut album Ain’t No Shame, set to release on June 27th. The slowest and most vulnerable track on the record, “Slowdown Honey” showcases the band’s ability to produce emotionally rich, timeless country music with a hint of their Midwestern roots.
Today we’re premiering ”At Midnight,” the newest single from Nellen Dryden’s upcoming album, Show Me The Way. “At Midnight,” is a testament to Dryden’s ability to channel raw emotion into art that resonates with listeners on multiple levels. A striking blend of Americana, roots-rock, and vintage soul; the song captures the feeling of searching for light in the midst of personal struggles. Dryden herself describes it as, "about looking deep into yourself and loss. I wrote it on guitar in a day. It came to me while I was going through a lot of bullshit and trying to see my way out... but as with songs, I sort of hope it takes on a meaning of its own for the listener." This openness gives the track a personal feel, inviting each person to find their own narrative within her words.
Juliet McConkey's latest single, “Horses Around” serves as a serene, yet powerful prelude to her much-anticipated sophomore album, Southern Front. The track beautifully captures her yearning for simplicity and authenticity in a world that often feels overwhelming and superficial.
From the very first chord "Horses Around" draws listeners into McConkey's peaceful vision of life. Her lyrics paint a picturesque scene: “Don’t need a boatload of paper money, just a warm bed and good fresh honey and a back porch to watch the sun go down and a few pretty horses around”. This imagery contrasts sharply with the hectic pace of modern culture, offering an alternative for those who find themselves weary of the stress that seems to follow us everywhere.
Belfast, MAINE – Songwriter Sara Trunzo releases ‘Taking My Power Back’ single and video today. The song’s lyrics were inspired by citizen testimony from the May 2021 LD 1708 hearings regarding whether Maine should pursue a consumer-owned utility. Question 3 on the November 7th ballot is an updated version of the proposed legislation.
Today we’re premiering music from Dallas-based artist, Jon Danforth. Danforth's latest single, "Repetitions," serves as not only the title track for his new album, but also a reflection on life's fleeting moments and a preview of the underlying theme of his upcoming second full-length album set for release on October 27th, 2023. Danforth's single is a touching glimpse into the human experience.
"The Only Good in Me" opens with the warm tones of a pedal steel guitar, immediately setting the stage for a traditional country sound that's both comforting and familiar.
Nathan Mongol Wells, Dallas-based musician and frontman of Ottoman Turks, isn’t just dipping his toe into the new world of solo artistry, he’s cannonballing right into the deep end. He just released his debut album, From a Dark Corner, an album best described as “eclectic,” but not in the sense that the album seems jumbled, only that Wells is a lover of many different genres and infuses them all within this album.
We’ve got an interview with Tulsa’s own Bobby Dean Orcutt and The Fighting Side’s Brad Jackson, both longtime veterans of the music scene, who have come together through Low Road Management. The Fighting Side is based out of St. Louis, Missouri and has just released two new singles within the last month, which you can find here. Bobby Dean has lived many lives and the latest is running his own merchandise and management companies.
If you haven’t heard the term Nordicana, make sure you get familiar with it, as there’s a whole offshoot of the Americana genre that’s represented by a host of talented, Scandinavian artists. Today we’re talking with one of those artists, Malin Pettersen, who wowed us with her last album, Wildhorse. Although in the past Pettersen’s music drew from her influences in bluegrass and country, Malin’s newest music is embracing the genres of jazz and R&B, while “redefining the boundaries of pop music.” Whatever direction Malin plans on going, the world would be smart to follow, as she’s a talented and ever evolving artist. Malin Pettersen is back with new music and she just released her new single, “Cry If I Want To”, a duet with Bergljot Bejella. Her video for the single debuted on June 14th and if you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, you can find it below.
Today we’re premiering “People Are Callin’,” the new video from Adam Klein. Klein just released his album, Holidays in United States, on April 7th. An album full of commentary on the current state of the United States, the track, “People Are Callin’,” doesn’t stray from that theme.
Written after the initial recording sessions for the album, Klein had this to say about writing the song, “I remember driving to work one morning and coming up with the melody for the verses, and then just chipping away at the rest of the song over a month or two. I heard a decidedly soul-like vibe, and knew I wanted to bring it to Bronson and Matt (Patton) at Dial Back Sound to record it. And I knew it needed to be on this album.” I see the song as a folk rock-rooted take on some of the classic protest songs of soul music. That may seem derivative, but for me every word is heartfelt and rings true. There’s a place for everything, in my opinion, and I think this song was timely and belongs right here on Holidays.
Red Dirt music legend, Mike McClure is set to release his new album, Looking Up, on Friday, September 25, 2020. The album was recorded and produced at his own Boohatch Studio in Ada, Oklahoma with partner Chrislyn Lawrence. The album is an incredible creation that represents self-renewal, almost a spiritual reawakening that has him sober and appreciative of living life in the moment. McClure and Lawrence have magnificently created a “page turner” of songs that are a representation of the past five years in the life of Mike McClure.
