Browsing Tag

Nashville Country

Ross Flora – Santa Ana Wind: A Whiskey-Soaked Country Blues Rock Ode to a Femme Fatale

If you’re looking for a track that anchors itself in the quintessence of bluesy country rock, look no further than Ross Flora’s latest single, ‘Santa Ana Wind’, which speaks rhythmic volumes of the singer-songwriter’s seasoned artistry as a fret veteran.

With the sublimity of the single manifesting through the gravelly timbre of whiskey-soaked vocal lines that caustically cut across the winding, sustained guitar notes, it is destined to become a sonic sanctuary for anyone who feels at home in the Nashville sound.

Ross Flora, with a guitar in hand, Flora becomes a conduit of hypnotism, weaving an alchemic spell that prompts you to ponder just when his visage will grace the halls of rock n’ roll fame. His cultivated ability to wrap an aura of seductive soul around his virtuosity is a testament to his rightful place in the annals of music legends.

Raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Ross’s origin story was written early after exposure to a tapestry of R&B and Bluegrass influences. From harmonising in church pews under his father’s tutelage to shredding Van Halen tracks in his youth, his path has always been marked by intrepid sonic exploration, which continued when he put down roots in Nashville and amassed a legion of fans with his unique ability to paint panoramic portraits through sound and soul.

With ‘Santa Ana Wind’, Ross Flora ensnares the listener in a narrative wrought from his rural roots and life’s meanderings, underscored by his literary acumen and deep respect for his musical forebears like Gregg Allman and Chris Cornell.  It’s impossible to reach the last note without finding equal amounts of room in your heart and on your music radar for Ross Flora.

Santa Ana Wind was officially released on September 6th; stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

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