Browsing Tag

country

London’s Savannah Gardener obliterated the boundary between country and soul in ‘City of Cowboys’.

Posted on 11 May 2022
https://soundcloud.com/savannah-gardner-music/city-of-cowboys-2/s-ar9HC1kMc9r?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Her sound may scream Nashville, but Savannah Gardener’s roots are implanted in London’s landscape; she’s captivated audiences across the breadth of it, and she’s set to swoon plenty more with her latest single, City of Cowboys.

How many songwriters have perpetuated the myth that making one single entity your ENTIRE world is romantic? Millions? All it took was one soulfully demure single from Savannah Gardener to dispel it. Her emboldening approach to lyricism on the subjects of heartbreak, adversity and triumph carries an intuitive resonance that makes her soundscapes captivating from the first breath.

The twang of the bluegrassy resonator guitars, the accordance of the gentle chords and her anachronistically sweet vocals pull together to deliver the ultimate urban county redemption story that you’ll want to aurally turn the pages of time after time.

City of Cowboys is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Adopt the lyrical liberation in Dan Littlefield’s bluegrass to the bone single, Set You Free.

Posted on 4 May 2022

With his trusty Dobro resonator, narratively unshackling lyrics, bluegrass to the bone vocals and folky strings cutting across the accordance, Dan Littlefield’s latest single, Set You Free, will do exactly that for the 4-minute duration and far beyond if you decide to adopt the lyrical liberation.

In any other set of hands, Littlefield’s axe of choice would be in danger of resonating (pun slightly intended) as archaic; with the signature funky twang in his signature style, there was little chance of Set You Free falling into pedestrianism.

We may be living in a post-truth world in 2022, but Littlefield knows how to all too effacaciously entwine the nostalgia for simplicity with neo-blues alchemy for ultimate aural pleasure.

Set You Free is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Southport’s Tedward Brothers hopes that their lost lover is also looking too on ‘Reaching Out To You’

Posted on 27 April 2022

Released through their upcoming 5-track ‘Trust The Sun EP‘ that is due for a 1st May 2022 release, Tedward Brothers bring us a story about missing someone so much but wondering why they turned so frigid and cold with, ‘Reaching Out To You‘.

Tedward Brothers is a Southport, North Carolina-based indie country/rock trio who play with that honesty which makes them a group that you certain root for.

Display calm energy and singing with a likeable style that you can’t help but appreciate, Tedward Brothers leads us into a world that is filled with hope, but with so many bridges to climb. Feeling like your previous romantic partner has blocked you from ever making contact again, this is a true story that is so relatable in this seemingly brittle world.

‘Reaching Out To You‘ from Southport, North Carolina-based indie country/rock trio Tedward Brothers shows us how sometimes you can try your best, but ultimately the love is gone from one side and the odds of a fresh romance with this hidden soul, are extremely unlikely. Sung with a glorious unity and an unpretentious aura, this is a single that the whole family can certainly hold hands with.

Finding that true love again is hard, but ultimately worth it if you believe that there still is that 1% chance.

Keep an eye on Edward’s IG for all the release news and links on the 1st of May.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Americana goes pop in Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis

Posted on 29 March 2022

Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis, has shifted his alt-country sound to a poppier territory; it is a move we more than approve of. With the playful college rock radio vibes in the vein of R.E.M., mixed with the Memphis Americana instrumentals, you’ll get just as hooked in the narrative lyrics as you will the poppy country guitars that compliment Marcus Liuzzi’s viscerally upbeat vocal style.

It is impossible to listen to the roots deep record that comes with a twist of modernity without turning a smile. We can’t wait to hear what follows. If there’s anything the world needs more of now, it’s stellar songwriters that know how to bring the escapism.

I Met Her in Memphis is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Casey Freedom is right on time in his country folk single, On My Own Time

Posted on 25 March 2022

The country singer-songwriter Casey Freedom soothingly proved that pace is the trick with his latest single, On My Own Time, which kicks back the tempo and allows you to lull yourself into the breezy Americana cool and collected atmosphere.

After graduating as a music student from the University of Oregon, Casey returned to his hometown to replant his roots enamour crowds at open mic shows. Over lockdown, he started writing his own material, which is becoming increasingly defined by the evocative themes, narrative lyricism and glistening country charm.

His songwriting style already carries decades of maturity and nuance, even after such an inexplicably short span of time; this may seem hyperbolic, but the proof lies in the slice of Americana. Take a bite.

On My Own Time is now available to stream via Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Buddy Greenbloom revives the Western ballad in ‘I Remember Those Times’

Posted on 25 March 2022

(Better Off) I Remember Those Times is the latest single from the nostalgically inclined singer-songwriter Buddy Greenbloom. His vocal timbre resounds with the same magnetic pull as the likes of Dylan and Cohen, but there’s plenty of extra twang from the notorious singing cowboy who made a name for himself in 2003 with his alt country covers of infamous punk rock tracks.

With reminiscing on how it felt to smoke in bars, drink in cars and be carefree in hedonism, it is so easy to find yourself at the centre of this western Americana trip into the past before mediocrity and polarised arguments surrounded us.

With his debut studio LP currently in the works, the Houston-born, LA-based artist is definitively worth a spot on your radar.

I Remember Those Times is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Dreamy Modernism entwines with country roots in Kimberly Atwood’s latest single, ABY (Anything But You)

Posted on 23 March 2022
Kimberly Atwood

Kimberly Atwood brought a touch of dreamy modernism to her country roots in the effortlessly arrestive single, ABY (Anything But You), which explores our innate human inability to forget the people that became the centre of our gravity before leaving us listless and directionless.

There’s no void quite like it, and that’s exactly what Kimberly Atwood poignantly articulates in ABY through the lyrics, “I’ve never had a problem forgetting anything but you”.  Atwood’s fearlessness when it comes to vulnerability and humility is simply stunning to witness. Notably, Nashville has a new icon in the making in its midst. If you pride yourself on keeping your finger on the alt-country pulse, make room on your radar.

Check out Kimberly Atwood via her official website, on Bandcamp or Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

cowboy cody arms kept his tribute to Smoky Martin anachronistically classic in “Waltz of the Bride”

Posted on 3 March 2022
https://soundcloud.com/user-967304589/waltz-of-the-bride-smoky-martin-cover

The Canadian country singer-songwriter, cowboy cody arms, paid tribute to Smoky Martin’s timelessly haunting style in his recently released single, Waltz of the Bride.

The crops of country music may have been sullied by the likes of the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons. But the Southern Ontario, Canada-hailing artist keeps it anachronistically classic in the stripped-back production that features yodelled and evocatively mournful vibrato country vocals atop of the rugged twang of the acoustic guitar.

It may not be everyone in the 21st century’s cup of tea, but there’s definitely a time and a quintessential place for such roots-deep talent. Not all artists make a positive contribution to the world with their music, but cowboy cody arms discernibly does. Never let it be said again that artists don’t make hits like they used to.

Waltz of the Bride is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The West Australian Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter, Siobhan Cotchin, Takes us to Tucson in Her Latest Ethereally Luminous Release

Posted on 27 February 2022

After garnering over 100k streams on Spotify with her 2020 single Do You Know What I Mean? Siobhan Cotchin has returned to the airwaves with her ethereally bluesy Americana single, Tucson. It will undoubtedly be a hit with fans of Big Thief, Angel Olsen and Bonny Light Horsemen.

The West Australian alt-country/rock singer-songwriter’s career has already taken off in Australia. Based on the luminous accordance of Tucson, paired with Cotchin’s determination to weave immersive introspective narratives, she has everything it takes to become an international country-rock icon. In a similar style to Kurt Vile, the award-winning artist caresses the roots of Americana while securing its place in the 21st-century. Her minimalist angular melodies fall into the cavernous production just as succinctly as the lyrics that allude to the subjective desolateness of Tucson.

Tuscon is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

North Carolina’s Jennifer Alvarado knows that they shouldn’t be together but feels so ‘Curious’

Posted on 24 February 2022

With her much-awaited second album ‘Songbird‘ on the way later on in 2022, Jennifer Alvarado knows that their friendship is at stake but those sweet kisses just feel so right on her romantic new single, ‘Curious‘.

Jennifer Alvarado is a Vale, North Carolina-based indie Country/Pop singer-songwriter who lets her heartfelt faith guide her into a better place with true love.

”She has been recognized locally for her songwriting and was named ”One to Watch” by Nashville Songwriters Association in Spring 2021.” ~ Jennifer Alvarado

Dispatching our minds into a lovelorn spin with an elegant display that has so much substance and care encased inside, Jennifer Alvarado sings with an affectionate ambience that has you in a reflective mood thinking about somebody you love so deeply.

With her enchanting vocals and honest lyrics on offer for us to bathe into, this is a story all about wondering if you should take the plunge or rather stay as friends while you safeguard what you have already.

‘Curious‘ from Vale, North Carolina-based indie Country/Pop artist Jennifer Alvarado, is a relatable story about letting your good friend know that you have such strong feelings that don’t seem to be able to pass. The love is strong but you are both worried that if something goes wrong, everything might shatter into tiny pieces and be lost forever.

Sometimes the risk is worth it if you both sense that you belong together.

Check out this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen