October 2020

Broken Witt Rebels have shared their new single Take It, which was written specifically for the upcoming video game ‘DIRT 5’ that is set for release on November 6. You can listen to the song here. The song was produced and mixed by Adrian Hall and has been released on the same day as the soundtrack album for the game, which also features high profile artists such as The Killers, Stormzy and The Prodigy. Speaking about the song, Broken Witt Rebels frontman Danny Core said that it has been an entirely new environment in relation to the song, but something they have really enjoyed doing. “This whole thing has been a new experience for us,” Core said. “But we’ve really relished the challenge – providing brand new music for the soundtrack and the game and then shooting a video, too. Our aim was to give Take It the same bursts of energy as the game!” Take It isn’t the only song from the Americana group to feature on a video game this year, with Rich Get Richer also featuring on the EA game NHL 21. That song is part of the Birmingham group’s most recent album ‘OK Hotel’, which they released back in March.

Bristol based duo Foreign Affairs have released a new track titled The Hope Comes Again, which premiered on Bob Harris’ BBC Radio 2 country show on October 29. You can listen to the song here. The pair – made up of brothers Lawrence and Adam Purnell – wrote, recorded and produced the single, which is a very honest affair and very much documents the uncertain times that we currently find ourselves in. Speaking about the song, the duo elaborated on the entire songwriting process and also explained the unique way in which the song takes its meaning from. “The song was written about me, from someone who can feel sadness but who is lucky enough to be able to see the positive in a person or situation, I can always see the hope,” Lawrence said. “The whole process of writing, producing and recording the song was very organic, carried out at home in Bristol,” Adam added. “It felt comfortable and the best environment for this song.” Foreign Affairs continue to rise in profile and win admirers, with the pair’s heavier take on Americana music really standing out. Last year, they signed a publishing deal with Peer Music, which will allow them to release their music all over the world.

Jamie Freeman has unveiled a quirky video for his latest release King of the Village Hall , which has been produced by Neilson Hubbard. You can watch the video below. [wpdevart_youtube]Ysi1M-quXPw[/wpdevart_youtube] The song was written with Doug Williams from Wild Ponies and came about during the ‘Dreams About Falling’ writing sessions in Nashville, while Will Kimbrough added his guitar talents for the track. Speaking about the video – which Freeman shot, edited and animated by himself during lockdown – Freeman said that he wanted to try and find a way of bringing the character to life, while he also had a lot of fun making the video happen. “I shot the video during lockdown, so the decision to animate the ‘King’ character was partly practical as I didn’t want the video to be just me sitting in front of a camera – I wanted to bring him to life,” Freeman said. “But as I started working on it, I started to really like the character, he was cute and mischievous, not like the person the song is based on. “So although he does have one moment of narcissistic rage in the video it’s very short lived and we spend most of the song just mucking about and doing stupid dance moves – I never thought I’d put a video out that featured me dancing in my kitchen! But a pandemic will do strange things I suppose.” Freeman also opened up on the song’s meaning and the sound structure of the track, which has been directly fuelled by the negative experience of a friend in the music industry. “The song’s lyric calls out that ‘big fish in a small pond’ of the music industry who never wants to take a risk or try anything new; they’re happy being lord of their own little world,” Freeman said. “It was inspired by an event where a close friend of mine fell foul of a particular ‘big fish’s’ inflated sense of self importance: this track is everything I wish I could have said to the person who hurt my friend, hence the venom in the delivery, but details have been changed to protect the guilty! “I’ve gone for a pretty different sound on this track. It’s like ‘70s glam rock, punk and rootsy Americana all mixed together. It was so much fun playing it in the studio and hearing those awesome Nashville musicians bring it to life.”

Ferris & Sylvester have released a live video for Good Man, which sees them continue their recent trend of unveiling live videos for the songs they’ve recently shared. You can see the video below. [wpdevart_youtube]PXSxDM5lu6M[/wpdevart_youtube] The song features on their latest EP ‘I Should Be On A Train’ and the track itself was produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Strokes, Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers) at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle. Speaking about the song, the pair – made up of Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester – said that they had a lot of fun making the video and went back to basics for it, while also expanding on the meaning behind the song. “This song has rage and hunger at its centre, highlighting the hypocrisy of what it means to be a man,” the duo said. “The live version needed to be bold and unapologetic, just like the record. We had a lot of fun making this. “With no sitar player around during lockdown, we went back to basics with our blues trio setup. We’re so happy this song found its feet in this project and cannot wait to take it on tour next year.” Ferris & Sylvester will be looking to release their debut album next year, while you can listen to their latest EP here.

Michael Ray has shared a music video for his most recent release Whiskey and Rain, which the Florida born artist unveiled to the world in September. You can watch the video below and listen to the song here. [wpdevart_youtube]rTxXInO54Z8[/wpdevart_youtube] The song is a big indicator of what is coming next for Ray in a music sense, which very much suggests that he will be opting for a more traditional, honkytonk sound moving forwards. Speaking about the song, Ray said that he wanted to bring a feel of familiarity to people watching it and hopes that it can inspire people to be more open about their feelings and talk to people when they are struggling. “I wanted the video to feel familiar to anyone who watches it and I think we accomplished that with a throwback to a honkytonk,” Ray said. “But more importantly, I wanted to show how heartbreak can open you up to genuine connections with other people. “If you’re already feeling vulnerable, maybe you’re more likely to be a listening ear for someone else, or maybe it makes it more important to champion other folks who are doing well. Opening yourself up to that can help ease your own heartbreak a little faster.” Michael Ray is one of Nashville’s shining lights and his career continues to go from strength to strength, with the artist already racking up three Number One hit singles.

Maddie & Tae have gotten into the festive spirit and have shared their new Christmas EP release, which is titled ‘We Need Christmas’. You can listen to the EP here. The duo, which is made up of Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr, have covered four Christmas classics for the EP in addition to including two original songs, titled Merry Married Christmas and the title track. Speaking about the EP, Font wanted to get this out there as she believes that Christmas is needed more than ever this year given the joy that comes with it, while she is also very much looking forward to the festive time and to be able to play her own songs. “I think more than ever, as we say in ‘We Need Christmas’, we really need all the joy and hope and love that the holiday season brings,” Font said. “There’s just something about Christmas that kind of silences all the chaos for a couple of days where you just get to quiet down with your loved ones. “We’re so excited to celebrate Christmas this year and really cherish that quality time that we didn’t get as much of this year with quarantining and everything. And we get to blast our own Christmas songs for our families!” The tracklisting for ‘We Need Christmas’ by Maddie & Tae is: 1. This Christmas 2. Holly Jolly Christmas 3. O Come All Ye Faithful 4. Merry Married Christmas 5. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 6. We Need Christmas

Carrie Underwood took home the top prize at the 2020 CMT Awards, with her video for Drinking Alone winning Video of the Year. It is the fifth time that Underwood has taken the award home, with Cry Pretty (2019), Something in the Water (2015), See You Again (2014) and Blown Away (2013) all winning previously. In addition to winning Video of the Year, Drinking Alone also won Female Video of the Year on what proved to be a very successful night for Underwood, albeit from a remote location given the pandemic. Speaking about the award via video, Underwood dedicated the gong to her fans and also expressed her gratitude for the award, adding that she felt very wanted indeed. “This one is all about you guys especially, because we again haven’t been together,” Underwood said. “But, I feel so loved tonight.” Carrie Underwood has had a lot of affection over the years from the CMT Awards, winning 14 awards in total (including the two from 2020) and also being nominated for a further seven. Last year, Underwood ventured over to the UK for a brief arena tour, which also coincided with her performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2019, which enabled Underwood to follow in the footsteps of Dolly Parton, who played the same stage in 2014.

Rob Mayes has released another new song in the shape of Lonesome For Home, which he penned with iconic songwriter Wood Newton. You can listen to the song here. Mayes has been on a releasing spree as of late and that hasn’t slowed down now, but what makes this track different is the fact that Mayes has worked with Newton – who is responsible for hits like Bobbie Sue by Oak Ridge Boys and What I Didn’t Do by Steve Warnier – for the single. Speaking about the song, Mayes explained that the track is essentially a homage to home life and the goodness that comes with that, while also stating that his homesickness was a crucial factor in the song’s development. “There’s no feeling like going back to where I grew up and the beauty of that feeling of just being lonesome for home,” Mayes said. “There’s a specialness and tenderness associated with it.” Rob Mayes has had an extremely busy 2020, with his EP ‘Songs From the Sofa – A Quarantine Project’ wowing plenty, while he is also now featured in iHeart’s new podcast series ‘Make It Up As We Go’, which also features the likes of Miranda Lambert, Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid.

Rising UK artist Lucy Blu has released a new single titled Bonnie & Clyde, which also marks the start of a new six-song project for the artist. You can listen to the song here. 2019 was a very strong year for Blu, who really accelerated her rise in profile thanks to a number of outstanding gigs and single releases, with this next step being much anticipated by her fans. Speaking about the song, Blu said that the track is ultimately a love song, but one that has a fun twist to it and also explained some of the deeper meaning behind the track and some of the reference points within the lyrics. “Bonnie & Clyde is – at it’s heart – a love song, injected with a gutsy, fun and cheeky spirit,” Blu said. “The result is a rootsy, passionate song, referencing some of the world’s most iconic couples and celebrating the intensity and fire that comes with being in love.” The single was produced by Alex Maile, while the song also features Ollie Harding on drums, Joe Smith on pedal steel and Ellie Consta on fiddle. The next step now for Lucy Blu is what is essentially a six-track EP, which will be released accordingly over the coming months.

Miranda Lambert has shared a music video for her latest release Settling Down, which features – and is about – her husband. You can see the video below. [wpdevart_youtube]EQfm-Qqy-wU[/wpdevart_youtube] The single, which has been taken from Lambert’s most recent album ‘Wildcard’, sees Lambert ponder whether she’s “settling up or settling down”, while the video features her husband Brendan McLoughlin and paints a love story between the two. Speaking to Kelly Ford from New York’s Country 94.7, Lambert said that this represents the first time she’s ever included a partner in a music video, but she felt it was a lot of fun and highlights a lot of things close to her. “I’ve never had a video in 18 years in the business with a love interest and so it’s kinda funny that my husband’s my first one,” Lambert said. “I’m like, ‘You’re cute, you’re here and you’re free.’ It was fun; he did such a great job… and our little dog is in it and our ponies. It’s at my magical-happy place an hour away from Nashville.” Ahead of award season, Miranda Lambert seems certain to take home at least one trophy, with the Texas born artist being nominated for no less than seven CMA Awards. Lambert has been nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (Bluebird), Album of the Year (‘Wildcard’), Song of the Year (Bluebird), Musical Event of the Year (Fooled Around and Fell In Love) and Music Video of the Year (Bluebird).