Browsing Tag

Country singer songwriter

Jace Aaron Parks Sentimentality in the Spotlight in His Country Rock Anthem, The Back of My Truck

Posted on 3 April 2025

Jace Aaron puts the pedal to the melodic metal in The Back of My Truck, but not to outrun anything—he drives straight into the core of what country music forgot how to say. Loyalty, integrity, and affection aren’t forced into hollow hooks here; they’re hardwired into every bar of this radio-ready, roof-down rocker that balances bite with sentiment.

The anthemic choruses don’t flirt with emotion—they tear through it, leaving your pulse at the mercy of the rhythm section. While the twang is unmistakable, it never interferes with the clarity of the track’s emotional anchor. This is country rock without compromise—rooted, but never stuck. With a vocal delivery that’s tooth-gapped, frictionless, and unapologetically earnest, Aaron finds meaning in quirks, not perfection.

The track may have a modern polish, but it steers clear of sterile production and self-aware detachment. Instead, it chases the kind of intimacy that lives in sideways glances and front-seat silences. It’s not about grand declarations or empty metaphors—it’s about recognising when someone makes your heart feel like home and revelling in the drive, not the destination.

The Back of My Truck doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel—it steers it, cranks the volume, and reminds listeners why the genre ever mattered.

The Back of My Truck is now available to stream on all major platforms. For the full experience, stream the official music video on YouTube. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cupid and the Cowboy’s ‘Beer on My Tramp Stamp’ Is a Shot of Whiskey Spiked with Sarcasm

Posted on 18 March 2025

Evading the clichés of every scene and leaving no room for pretence or posturing, Cupid and the Cowboy delivered a satirically subversive and seductively salacious tour de force of literally and figuratively down-and-dirty Americana with Beer on My Tramp Stamp. With folk and alt-country drippings in the soulfully delivered, foot-stomping hit, they find rugged intersections of euphony while the lyrics prove that they’re so beyond pastiche they’ve reserved a spot for other pioneers in the alt-country pantheon. There’s something delicious in the way they go down old country roads, finding new thematic intersections to explore while taking playful shots at the culture they’re dissecting through sound.

This misfit NYC duo thrive on contradiction. Bronx-born Cupid, a sultry wallflower with songs of unrequited love, collides with Maynard, a Reno Casino Cowboy who delivers his raw energy like an open bar tab on the line. Together, they trade vocals and have a proclivity for pulling in everything from country, Americana, dance-pop, R&B, alt-rock, and folk-punk to craft a sound as unfiltered as their songwriting.

With their first full-length album, Misfit Sessions, set to drop in 2025, they’re proving that country can be taken apart and put back together in a way that pays ode without feeling old.

Beer on My Tramp Stamp is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Michael Rendon – The Look: A Red, White and Blue Shadow of Love and Longing

Posted on 6 March 2025

Michael Rendon, a true red, white, and blue Americana singer-songwriter, carries a deep reverence for the roots of country in his unadulterated sound. More than a troubadour, Rendon is an evocateur in The Look, with his wistfully affecting crooning hitting all the rawest chords in his orchestrally laced classic country ballad. If you don’t find yourself on the brink of tears while this cinematically visceral, slick-with-longing love song is in session, you may find that your soul checked out a while ago.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Rendon has spent years earning his stripes across Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, and beyond. With performances alongside country icons like Martina McBride, Sammy Kershaw, and Doug Stone, he’s built a career on authenticity, letting his voice and songwriting do the heavy lifting. The Look is a testament to that—delicate yet devastating in its execution, steeped in the timeless ache of country storytelling.

While I generally agree with the theory that there’s no such thing as perfection in art, there’s something in the way The Look transcends sound to remind you of the true beauty of unconditional love and affection.

The Look is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tyler Rifley Oxygenated New Life into Country Pop with ‘Breathe’

Posted on 5 March 2025

Since the first notes of Breathe found oxygen on the airwaves, Tyler Rifley’s country pop rock anthem has been picking up momentum, and for good reason. With twang in all the right places and anthemics in all the rest, the hook-packed hit doesn’t just set the tone for summer—it serenades it into existence.

Written as an ode to his child and a reflection on how parenthood flips the world on its axis, Breathe radiates the kind of unfiltered, feel-good sincerity that most country artists spend their whole careers chasing. The uplifting message transcends into euphoria, with sun-bleached melodies guiding the way. Even the soaring electric guitar solo feels like an extension of that boundless, infectiously sweet energy.

Anchorage-based and self-produced, Rifley is the engineer of his own sound. As the co-owner of Midnight Sound Studio, he’s created a space where raw emotion meets refined musicianship. His path hasn’t been easy, shaped by years in foster care and the system that followed him into adulthood, but his music doesn’t dwell in the past—it pushes forward, powered by resilience and a newfound sense of purpose.

With Breathe, Rifley reaches the epitome of wholesome country pop panache, discover it yourself on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Elysrei’s ‘Is There Really Nothing You Miss?’ Cuts Deep with Cinematic Southern Gothic Resonance

Posted on 25 February 2025

Loss doesn’t simply take—it leaves behind a hollow, a mess of illusions, and a silence louder than the words that were never spoken. In ‘Is There Really Nothing You Miss?’, Elysrei crafts a dark Americana vignette steeped in the pain of devotion turned to dust.

With hauntingly husky vocals, she takes command of the roots-infused instrumentals that stretch between the Southern Gothic and the cinematic grit of a Tarantino western. The atmosphere is so thick it could blunt the sharpest knife, with growling basslines, rattling percussion, and twang-laced motifs that curl through the mix like spectral echoes of something long gone.

Hailing from Singapore, Elysrei has never been one for easy categorisation. Her music draws from pop, R&B, soul, and jazz, yet every note is tethered to a space where authenticity reigns, where emotional resonance trumps convention. ‘Is There Really Nothing You Miss?’ doesn’t play to expectation—it revels in raw sentiment, pulling listeners into a soundscape that aches with longing and bitter revelation.

The track’s Western noir aesthetic gives the heartbreak a cinematic weight, as if the dust has barely settled from the departure of someone who took everything and left nothing but questions in their wake. It’s a song for anyone who’s been left to wrestle with naivety, for those who know the sting of devotion repaid with indifference.

‘Is There Really Nothing You Miss?’ is out now on all major streaming platforms; find your preferred way to listen via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blake Jubenville – The Sunsets: Horizons in Indie Alt-Country Harmony

Posted on 16 November 2024

At just 14, Blake Jubenville already has a hit-packed discography and a mastery of melody under his belt. His latest single, ‘The Sunsets’ amalgamates the rugged charm of country with indie sensibility, carving a unique niche in the contemporary music scene, reminiscent of the nostalgia found in the works of the Violent Femmes and the rhythmic narratives of Kurt Vile.

Blake’s ability to craft melodies that resonate with a seasoned artist’s flair is evident throughout ‘The Sunsets’. The single flows with swathes of commercial appeal yet retains a heartfelt authenticity that strays far away from cliché. His mature-beyond-his-years voice carries a gravity that sweeps up the atmosphere, turning every note into a panoramic vignette that pulls the listener in.

The authenticity permeates every syllable, making it impossible not to warm to the fledgling singer-songwriter and see the potential in his future.

Stream Blake Jubenville’s seminal single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Locked and Loaded: The Country Icon, Chris Erasmus, Fires Off with ‘Shotgun

Posted on 18 September 2024

Chris Erasmus’ latest single, Shotgun, finds its mark with a fusion of deep, resonant vocals and a dynamic full-band sound that finds new country roads to rhythmically explore. Opening with a voice that carries the haunting depth of Nick Cave, Erasmus sets a reflective tone with acoustic strings that soon give way to the invigorating swell of gospel-like backing vocals. The augmented choruses, brimming with vibrant energy, draw listeners into a rhythmic trance, emblematic of the single’s narrative of liberation and emotional revival.

Crafted as a sonic journey through the highs and lows of personal growth, Shotgun artfully captures the essence of moving beyond a toxic dynamic with the instrumentals mirroring the ebb and flow of introspection and realisation. It’s a narrative of empowerment, underscored by the thematic and literal movement the title suggests—moving forward, unburdened and unchained.

With a diverse background that spans continents—from Zimbabwe to London—and a rich litany of musical experiences, from classical training to theatrical performances, Erasmus brings a unique, cultured perspective to his work. This eclectic background shines through in Shotgun, which marries Americana sensibilities with a palpable emotional depth and expert craftsmanship.

Shotgun first blasted onto the airwaves on September 6th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Behind the Music: An Interview with Rising Country Star Samantha Rae

Posted on 24 August 2024

In an exclusive interview with Samantha Rae, a name quickly becoming synonymous with contemporary country supremacy, we discuss her debut LP, The High Road, which has positioned her as an infectiously unreckonable force in the industry.

Samantha discusses her approach to maintaining emotional authenticity within her polished sound; we also gain insight into her collaborative dynamics with co-writer and manager Jay DellIsola, the creative challenges they navigate, and her vision for her burgeoning career.

Samantha Rae, it’s a pleasure to sit down with you after discovering your talent through your debut album, The High Road. The single, Gaslighter, was particularly infectious, how did you hone your superlative command over vocal hooks?

Thank y’all so much for your kind words and interest in The High Road! Gaslighter sits right in my vocal wheelhouse which helped us produce the way we originally envisioned it. We really wanted the chorus hook to pop so we set it up with a little rhythmic anticipation in the prechorus “I’d do anything for you”. This is a good example of how Jay and I construct our rhythmic textures. In the studio, we went through each lead vocal take again and again to find the one we loved the most. We really love this song and I am so happy with how it turned out!

You notably have a profound ability to keep the emotions raw in your polished productions, what’s your secret? 

Many others have probably said it better than me but I truly think if you write your own songs or create something lyrically that you’ve been through, or deeply relate to, then the truthfulness comes out on its own.

Have you found a formula for writing your singles or is each new track a new beast to tame? 

Just keep writing and creating what you love! No formula or secret button, although having a co-write partner like Jay has been critical to staying creative and energized to make your ideas and music come alive! Our songs are usually a product of our combined influences that span classic rock, mainstream radio pop, rhythm & blues and classic country. There’s usually a deeper personal meaning behind a lyric but we love that people relate to the lyrics based on their own life experiences.

What was the most gratifying aspect of creating your debut album?

Honestly, for me, it was when all the songs finally dropped and they were born into the world for people to enjoy! We also really love developing as artists and songwriters. There’s always something we’ve learned that we can apply to our new material.

How did you come to work with your creative partner and manager Jay DellIsola?

Jay and I have been friends and worked together for a long time, we played in bands together up in Boston where he played drums and I was the lead singer. Before this journey together, Jay always had a vision and would get things done with his passionate drive. He has always supported my talent and when we decided to spin up “Samantha Rae” as a solo artist, we knew we could create something special together. When we combine our song parts and creative ideas we end up with something that works well for us.

Undoubtedly, your fans will be desperate to hear when the next release will drop, what else do you have in store for 2024?

We definitely are always working to create for the fans and I’m sure they’ll see some behind-the-scenes and the making of The High Road album in the future 😉

We’re already writing a brand new batch of songs and we also have about a dozen on the shelf we really love that haven’t been released yet.

Will your forthcoming material be a continuation or a departure from your debut album? 

I would say mostly a continuation but as an artist, there’s always room for growth and a little movement. My pop-rock country roots are grounded and we’ve created a ‘sound‘ that we’re proud of. So if the fans love it as much as we do then we feel like we definitely have a winning recipe!

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Stream Samantha Rae’s Highroad LP on Spotify now and keep track of her latest releases via Instagramand TikTok.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Christa Joy and the Honeybees – Omens: Irreverently Witty Alt-Country

Posted on 15 August 2024

Christa Joy and the Honeybee’s superlatively seminal Alt-Country single, Omens, from their eponymous fourth studio album, charts a profound journey mapped by emotive storytelling and artfully affecting sonic processions. If any contemporary country singer-songwriter can instil an infinity for Americana in the new generation of music fans, it’s Christa Joy with her irreverently witty lyricism.

The single initiates with Christa’s hauntingly reflective, pensively tinged vocals, adeptly drawing listeners into a world filled with imagery-evoking melancholy before the salving honkytonk instrumentals accompany and soothe Christa’s poetically outpoured pain as a parable for the sanctifyingly uplifting nature of the soundscape.

The tale of how endless time can feel in the wake of a breakup which leaves your world feeling cold has been told countless times before. Yet, by playing with light and shade, interplaying torment with gratitude and injecting some quintessential country humour through evolving lyricism centred around the dog that was left behind, the single unravels as a tenderly heartwarming revelation of how disorientating it can feel to step into the world, unsure of what paths to take to heal.

With the 4th LP from the Western Massachusetts singer-songwriter in the pipeline and due for release on August 24, there’s never been a better time to tune into the artist’s alchemic approach to conjuring emotion through artfully orchestrated alt-country. The album promises an exhibition of the band’s chemistry and Christa’s maturation as a songwriter, featuring tracks that range from classic honky-tonk to gospel-tinged country ballads

Omens was officially released on August 2nd; stream the single on Bandcamp and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spencer Graham built on his indie alt-country legacy with ‘Timing’

Posted on 12 August 2024

Emotions run deep in the veins of the breakthrough country artist Spencer Graham’s latest single, Timing. If there was a world record for how much emotion can be carried in vocal melodies, the singer-songwriter who is writing the next chapter for roots reverent music deserves to rhetorically hold it.

The bitter-sweet lovelorn serenade cuts deep into the wounds of romantic torment as the accordant indie alt-country instrumentals salve the scars through their caressive melodies which carry you through the vignette of how the latter part of the space-time continuum can lead to heartbreak.

While it is an indisputable fact that all talent needs to be nurtured and honed, there is no getting away from the sense that Spencer Graham is a natural-born singer-songwriter. His ability to wrap you up in his narratives and inject the emotions expressed into your senses is second to none.

After being born in Central Pennsylvania and achieving success with his 2020 debut single, Spencer Graham was torn away from his creativity after being enlisted in the US Navy. His latest release is hopefully the sign of more soul-rendered releases to come.

After debuting on August 3rd, Timing is now available to stream on Spotify along with Spencer Graham’s 3-track release, This Is Me.

Review by Amelia Vandergast