Silverado Records Signs Crossover Artist HISH

Country music record label Silverado Records is proud to announce the addition of country/EDM crossover artist HISH to their roster.

HISH joins recording artists Melissa Mickelson and Zack Dyer on Silverado’s steadily growing list of performers. 'HISH is a pioneer, a visionary taking risks on a genre that has fans embracing his unique take on Country. I am so stoked to have a groundbreaking artist like HISH on the Silverado team' says A&R Director Aaron Chesling, Silverado Records.

On signing, HISH says, 'What I'm doing with Country Music in the EDM realm is something that breaks down a lot of Nashville barriers. I'm so excited to work with the energizing team at Silverado Records to do just that. They understand and fully support my brand and my vision. Be ready for things to heat up in 2017'

About HISH

Originally from Pennsylvania, HISH moved to Nashville in 2011 and began writing songs and DJ’ing at some of the biggest private events in Music City. The songwriter-turned-artist/producer quickly began to make a name for himself with his electro-infused spin on Country Music. Having heard his remix of 'Bottoms Up', HISH was invited by Brantley Gilbert on his 'Let It Ride' Arena tour in 2014, further exposing his unique sound to thousands of fans. In Spring 2015, HISH toured as direct support to Chase Bryant on his 'Take It On Back' tour. In 2016 he has toured with Dustin Lynch on the 'Hell Of A Night' Tour. He also held several successful performance slots at country music’s biggest festivals, including Stagecoach and Country Thunder.

HISH signed with Silverado Records in 2016, and is currently in studio working on a groundbreaking EDM-meets-Country experience. His incredible take on the collision of Country and Dance music is unlike anything done before, and is sure to be a game-changer.

About Silverado Records

Launched earlier this year, Silverado Records hosts offices in Nashville and Las Vegas and has become a haven for established and rising country artists hoping to carve their own path in the music industry. Founder and CEO Scott Thomas, a serial entrepreneur and entertainment industry veteran, is also the CEO of Silverado’s parent company, Exegan Music Group, which owns or controls more than a dozen other record label catalogs. The first half of his career was rooted in the radio business, as a radio DJ, production manager, and program director before co-founding Zeo Radio Networks in Denver. Thomas moved to the record side in 2008 with the launch of Jake Records. Thomas is joined on the Silverado Records team by accomplished industry professionals with storied careers at landmark labels and organizations. A&R Director Aaron Chesling formerly served as Logistics Coordinator for Big Machine Records and Heather Cramsie serves as the Marketing Director after a successful run as the Director of Southeast Promotion at Sidewalk Records. Social Media Director Tim Stewart hails from Las Vegas where he did freelance social media seminars for tech startups in Silicon Valley, now working out of the Exegan Music headquarters.

For further information on Silverado Records, visit silveradorecords.com.

ALBUM REVIEW: 'My Universe' - The Shires

The first time I saw The Shires was on their Homegrown Tour with Ward Thomas. In the two years that would follow, these two duos would go on to make history. The Shires started first, becoming the first UK country act to enter the top ten with their debut album, Brave. Ward Thomas then did one better at the start of this month, hitting the top spot with their album Cartwheels. 

Now, set to release their second album, My Universe, one can't help but wonder what record Ben and Crissie will break with this release.

A word that keeps coming to mind when thinking about this album is growth. Eighteen months separate Brave and My Universe but in those eighteen months the duo have grown a lot both as songwriters and people.

Opening the album is the powerful title track, the duo's current single. Not only is this track part of the #ItCanWait safety campaign (an incredibly important campaign which highlights the danger of  using your phone whilst driving) but it was also inspired by key moments in Ben and Crissie's lives - the birth of Ben's son and the anniversary of Crissie's father passing. It's a song about making every moment count and is the first of a number of personal songs on the record.

Tracks 'Beats To Your Rhythm', 'Not Even Drunk Right Now' and 'A Thousand Hallelujahs' look set to be real crowdpleasers on their upcoming tour which starts in November, with all three being big, energetic anthems.

Crissie takes the lead on 'Daddy's Little Girl' which is a beautiful tribute to her late father before it's Ben's turn on the equally powerful 'Everything You Never Gave', as he vows not to follow in his father's footsteps and to be there for his own child. Positioned back-to-back in the middle of the album, these songs offer an insight into the duo's lives that I feel Brave lacked and I appreciate Ben and Crissie feeling that they're able to share such personal stories with us.

More vulnerability is shared on 'Naked', 'Save Me' and 'Desperate' and you can feel the heart in each song. Never once do you feel as if it's forced emotion or like the track has just been thrown in there to make up numbers. Each and every song belongs on this release and I truthfully can't even pick out a weak song, nevermind a bad song.

As for my favorite track from My Universe, I am torn. 'Drive', a track that was written with Kip Moore is absolutely excellent. It leaves you with a sense of adventure and a kick and a chorus that is hard to get out of your head. And then there's 'Other People's Things', a song that I've heard on an earlier tour and I'm so glad that it made the album. It's a beautiful piano led track about how the little things, such as a pair of shoes or a photograph, can bring back a multitude of memories both good and bad. It's a finely written song that, for so many people, will be heartbreakingly relatable. It will leave a lasting impression on even the most resistant heart.

Brave will always hold a special place in my heart as it was an album that I watched grow from a handful of songs performed in small venues to a full album performed in front of ever-growing crowds but, in terms of quality, My Universe surpasses it. The songwriting is better, Ben and Crissie have never sounded better and the connection with us has never felt stronger. I simply can't wait to hear this album being played out on their upcoming tour!

My Universe is out on Friday. For further information and a full list of tour dates, visit theshiresmusic.com.

Single of the Week: 'Rockabilly Saturday Night' - Josh Christina

You can't pigeonhole this week's Single of the Week. With 'Rockabilly Saturday Night', up and comer Josh Christina presents us with a wonderfully fun concoction of blues, jazz and rock n'roll with a little bit of Americana thrown in for good measure.

I was sent this release a little while ago and was so intrigued by Josh's unique sound that I did a little digging. Visiting his YouTube channel unearthed a treasure trove of covers, including covers of recent pop hits from Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor. This guy is immensely talented and, at the age of just 21, surely has a long and bright future ahead of him in the music industry.

'Rockabilly Saturday Night' is further proof of this. The piano led track is feel good and catchy with strong, confident vocals. You can definitely tell that Josh loves making and playing music and the joy is contagious. I'd recommend listening to this song at any time but if you're ever in need of a little pick me up, I'd especially recommend listening to this song.

For further information on Josh, visit joshchristinamusic.com.

Uncle Lucius Reveal Video For 'Age of Reason' - WATCH

Ahead of their UK & European tour, Austin band Uncle Lucius have revealed the official music video for their single 'Age of Reason'.

Check out their tour dates and new video below:

October 31st - Greystones, Sheffield
November 1st- Fat Lils, Witney
November 2nd - Maze, Nottingham
November 3rd - Academy 2, London
November 4th - Prince Albert, Brighton
November 6th - Hug and Pint, Glasgow
November 7th - Musician, Leicester

ALBUM REVIEW: 'AKA Nobody' - Mac McAnally

His peers have voted him 'Musician of the Year' for eight consecutive years at the CMA Awards - ten times in total. He's a member of the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame and he's worked with names such as Reba, George Strait and Dolly...it's easier to name who he hasn't worked with. Mac McAnally  has achieved a lot in his career and he's showing no signs of stopping any time soon.

AKA Nobody is McAnally's 13th studio album and, admittedly, the first that I have listened to...and it won't be the last.

What I gathered most from this release was that McAnally is musically very much in his own lane. There's fifteen tracks on this album and not one of them conforms to what is currently mainstream. Does this limit radio airplay? Absolutely but I think those CMA awards speak for themselves. This album provides a masterclass in storytelling.

There's a lot of variety on this offering. 'Mississippi on My Mind' and 'Zanzibar' are playful, bluegrassy tracks. 'Place Where You Belong' is piano heavy, a little reminiscent of Elton John, and 'Coast of Carolina' is a cute and charming track.

Yet, the stand-out track has to be 'With a Straight Face'. This ballad is an empathetic tale of two gay children whose parents just don't understand them. It's so incredibly refreshing to hear this sort of perspective in music and McAnally's presentation is as sensitive about an issue, as it is incredibly poignant. Truly powerful.

I could say more about this album but I'm going to leave it here. This is something you need to hear for yourself because this reviewer simply won't be able to do it justice.

AKA Nobody is out now and Mac plays The Borderline in London tomorrow (27th September). For more information, visit macmcanally.com.

Whiskey Myers Share Acoustic Video For 'Deep Down in the South' - WATCH

Following the release of their latest album Mud which entered the UK Americana Chart at #3, Whiskey Myers have shared a live acoustic video of the album track 'Deep Down in the South' which you can watch below.

The band will also be embarking on a UK headline tour this December. The dates are:
Dec 1st – London, The Dome
Dec 2nd – Birmingham, O2 Institute2
Dec 5th – Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Dec 6th – Glasgow, St Luke’s

For further information on Whiskey Myers, including details about their upcoming tour, visit whiskeymyers.com.

Jack Ingram Releases Video For New Single + Confirms Album Release

Jack Ingram has released the video for his latest single ‘I’m Drinking Through It’ and confirmed the UK/European physical release of his eighth album Midnight Motel on 14th October 2016.

Seven years on from his last record - the first since his 2009 smash Big Dreams & High Hopes - Midnight Motel features spare, stripped-down instrumental arrangements that highlight the intimacy and urgency of such new originals as ‘I'm Drinking Through It’, ‘Nothing to Fix’, ‘Can’t Get Any Better Than This’, and ‘All Over Again’. The album's organic late-night vibe is perfectly suited to the material, and brings out the emotional edge in Ingram's deeply felt vocals.

The single ‘I’m Drinking Through It’ was co-written with Lori McKenna and Liz Rose; the video is streaming now on Youtube and you can watch it below.

Midnight Motel will be released on CD in the UK & Europe on 14th October. Jack will be performing in London as part of the Texas Music Takeover, from Nov 28th - Dec 5th 2016.

For further information about Jack Ingram, the new album and his upcoming tour dates, visit jackingram.net.

Single of the Week: 'Only Human' - Dahlia

The UK country scene has never been hotter than it is right now. A little over a week ago, Ward Thomas made history by becoming the first ever UK country act to hit the top spot on the albums chart and are now set to embark on a tour that is quickly selling out. Similarly, The Shires are also set to kick off an extensive tour playing at venues such as Glasgow's O2 ABC and London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in support of new album My Universe which is set to be released next week and has already generated a huge buzz around it. And the best part about it all is there seems to be no stopping this influx of British country.

Now comes Dahlia with their fantastic first single, 'Only Human' which was written by a certain Mr Ben Earle of the aforementioned The Shires.

The trio is made up of Jess Roberts, Lisa Wright and Paris Georgia, three ladies who are already familiar to audiences over here and are talented artists in their own right. Combine their voices and you get something absolutely magical - the harmonies on this number will give you goosebumps. These harmonies shine also due to the simplicity of the song which features only an acoustic guitar as accompaniment and allows their voices to take centre stage.

Credit also must be directed to Ben Earle who, with each song he writes, proves that he is one of the country's finest songwriters and this particular track is no exception as it delves into a vulnerable, fragile side of a person with powerful results.

A few years ago, I saw Ward Thomas and The Shires playing tiny venues with only a handful of singles, between them, to their names and look at them now. I have a feeling that in a few years from now, I will be saying exactly the same about this trio.

Only Human is available now.

EP Review: 'Out of Towners' - Clara Bond

Country music purists often argue that there is no place for pop in the genre. Of course, this is merely opinion but there has been many an artist who has tried to mix the two genres, creating an end product that sounds incredibly gimmicky, almost validating these arguments. But there has also been many an artist who has successfully managed to play with these two genres. Take Kelsea Ballerini, Taylor Swift and, now, Clara Bond.

On her new EP, Out of Towners, Clara blends pop and country effortlessly. There's no gimmicks and there's not one single moment at which it seems as if she's trying to be something that she's not. Whilst she may be leaning closer to pop, there's definite country influences on this four track release, a release that she has stated is 'so close to [her] heart'.

The title track is bittersweet, a track about feeling out of place and like a fish out of water, and was written during Clara's solo trip to the States. The following song, 'Tambourine' is the sort of number that I would expect from the aforementioned country pop powerhouses Ballerini and Swift. It's so elegantly written and beautifully sung and if given the right exposure, could easily be a huge song.

'Love Can't Stay' is a catchy track about a love that just wasn't meant to be, another track written based on her trip to America, and closing number 'Flashbacks' is a stunning conclusion to the EP, a fantastic showcase of a powerful and faultless voice.

All in all, this release is very strong. Definitely an artist to watch out for and definitely worth a purchase.

For more information on Clara visit clarabond.com. Out of Towners is available now.

Single of the Week: 'Last First Love' - The Rising

For those unfamiliar with The Rising, they are a five piece country band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They are also a bunch of teases as they release their fantastic new single 'Last First Love' with no set release date for their upcoming sophomore album.

'Last First Love' certainly whets the appetite for the new record. The upbeat track is catchy and encapsulates the joyful feeling of falling in love. In a genre that is famed for its tales of heartbreak, it's always nice to hear a more optimistic outlook on love.

This immensely fun track is also one of the first, of hopefully very many to come, tracks with new lead singer Chantelle McAteer and her vocals shine on this single. It's an exciting time for the band and also an exciting time for the UK country scene. I have a feeling that their new album, whenever that will come, will win over a whole lot of new fans.

For more information on The Rising, visit therisingmusic.com.

LISTEN to Holloway Road's New Single 'Where We Are Tonight'!

One of Somethin' Country's favorite duos, Holloway Road, have made their new single, 'Where We Are Tonight' available to stream via Soundcloud prior to its release next month!

The single is now being played on country radio stations and shows across the UK and Ireland, and will be released on 23rd September 2016 via iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify and other digital outlets. The band will also be celebrating the launch of their single with a release party in London on the same night!

The duo will also be appearing at Nashville Nights in Newcastle this Saturday as guest DJs!

In the meantime, you can listen to 'Where We Are Tonight' below.



For further information on Holloway Road, visit hollowayroadmusic.com.

Shovels & Rope Announce UK Tour For Next Year

Critically acclaimed husband & wife duo Shovels & Rope will release their anticipated new album Little Seeds on their new label New West Records on 7th October. Known for their honest, raw and highly distinctive sound, Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent (aka Shovels & Rope) have made their most personal and powerful album yet.

As songwriters, Hearst and Trent have earned a reputation as gifted storytellers. The main distinction between their prior work and Little Seeds, is that the stories here are true and inspired by their own experiences and observations.

The duo have also announced a UK tour for February 2017 and the dates are as follows:

• Saturday 4th February - Drygate, Glasgow 
• Sunday 5th February - Ruby Lounge, Manchester        
• Monday 6th February - Islington Assembly Hall, London 

Little Seeds reflects a pivotal and tumultuous time in their lives, and in our society. With song titles such as 'Botched Execution', 'Mourning Song', 'The Last Hawk' and subject matters ranging from Alzheimer’s disease ('Invisible Man') to over-medicating children ('Johnny Come Outside') to racial unity (‘BWYR'), one might think Little Seeds is a hopeless and depressing work, which would be highly inaccurate. Shovels & Rope’s penchant for writing literate, Southern Gothic infused songs that exude a dark humour, deep sentiment and the celebration of the genuine, quirky and beautiful things in life has never shined brighter than it does on Little Seeds.

Watch the video for 'I Know' below.

For further information on Shovels & Rope and their UK, visit shovelsandrope.com.

EP REVIEW: 'I Remember' - Gary Quinn

Gary Quinn is perhaps one of the best known names on the UK country scene, touring tirelessly and popping up at festivals including C2C and Buckle and Boots. It's pretty impressive that he manages to find time to record. Yet he does and he did recently, producing the five track I Remember EP which was released at the start of the month.

The EP has been described by Gary as 'a very personal project' and as a 'reflective piece of work' about different points in his life. This knowledge makes a song like 'Each Night You Lie' especially heart-breaking as it tells the tale of a couple slowly losing their spark and drifting apart.  It also makes the track 'First Glance' even sweeter, knowing that the already charmingly cutesy number about the beginning of a relationship was written with a certain someone in mind.

'Shame', which was the first single to be released from the project, most definitely towers above the others when it comes to picking a favourite track from a very solid collection. It's catchy with a kicking drumbeat. This song has received many a positive review and rightfully so. It's a song about struggling to move on and you'll be struggling to move on from this song and not listen to it on repeat.

'Body Language' is a fun track and surely will be a feature single and EP closer 'Best Man Won' is the sort of track that fans have come to expect from Gary - one that is packed with heart at the core.

All in all, I Remember is a solid release and will solidify Gary as a very strong contender to win another Male Vocalist of the Year award at the BCMAs. 

For further information about Gary, visit garyjpquinn.co.uk.

ALBUM REVIEW: 'The Road That Drives Me' - Shantell Ogden

With some of her songs featuring on films and television shows such as Hart of Dixie, there's a chance that you may have heard Shantell Ogden before.

If not, you can start with her fifth studio album, The Road That Drives Me, which is out today.

Shantell is an award winning songwriter and it is evident throughout the record. Production on this album is very much minimal and that's perfectly fine. The tracks still feel incredibly raw, packed with emotion, conviction and, at times, vulnerability. The latter is especially true on second-to-last track, 'Love Again' as Ogden ponders if she will ever find someone who will fix her broken heart.

'Different Sides of the Mississippi' is a real stand out, a slow and heartbreaking number about the gradual drifting apart between two lovers. On the other hand, 'Feels Good to Get It Right' proves that the album is not all heartbreak as it is a lighter, happier tune about how great life can be when the stars do align.

One word to describe this album best would be honesty as Ogden pours her heart out and into this album. With eight tracks The Road That Drives Me is a little on the short side but definitely leaves you wanting more.

The Road That Drives Me is available now. For further information on Shantell visit shantellogden.com.

Clara Bond Releases Video For 'Out of Towners' - WATCH

Country/pop singer-songwriter Clara Bond has released the video for her latest single 'Out Of Towners' via Vevo.

The single is from her forthcoming EP of the same name, which is out 23rd September, and is available to pre-order now via iTunes.

Clara is a country-pop artist from the South-West of England. Although so far, Clara has described herself as a pop artist, her songwriting style and experimentation with the blending of elements from different genres produces something that stands outside of traditional pop, and over the last year this has taken her in the direction of some of her country influences. Having had the good fortune to work with chart topping writers, Clara has made waves as a songwriter since the release of her first EP The Chase, which has pushed her to new levels of media presence. A busy couple of years has included appearances for The Telegraph, one of her songs being featured in a film at the Cannes Film Festival, and being invited to play the iconic stage at Ronnie Scott’s.

Travelling to London from her native Devon for gigs, writing sessions and media appearances has become second nature for Clara, all the while continuing to grow her fan base on YouTube and social media with cover songs, attracting the interest and support of Ryan Seacrest who described her as having “one of the best covers on YouTube”. To coincide with the release of her new EP Out Of Towners, Clara was invited to record and film an exclusive full band live version of the EP for BBC Introducing.

The EP is extremely personal. "Every single person who had anything to do with this record is a close friend," Clara reveals. "This includes anyone who played on the record, anyone who filmed anything and all the campaign photos and website design. That’s why this project is so close to my heart; it’s a group effort from everyone that I love. We didn’t record this EP in a professional studio but in several locations, including a boathouse, a church, my own home and even a garden shed. Two of the songs on this record are my way of closing the book and getting closure on a relationship that I spent many years in, the other two songs are me moving on from that relationship. 'Out Of Towners' was written during my trip to the States; the first time I had travelled by myself and feeling like a fish out of water - exactly what I needed. 'Love Can’t Stay' is about the man I met whilst I was out there who made me feel a little more at home, but if you’ve heard the song, you know it was not meant to be!"

For further information about Clara, visit clarabond.com.

LISTEN to Shantell Ogden's New Single 'Devil Comes Knockin''

Award-winning country/Americana artist and songwriter Shantell Ogden will release her highly anticipated, 5th studio album The Road That Drives Me, on September 13th, and has released a single 'Devil Comes Knockin' to stream via Soundcloud.

The album is an eight-song collection that follows on the heels of Shantell’s successful Ghosts In The Field. The album is her debut as a producer, and has a live, open sound, with warm and authentic tones. “Already an award-winning artist, Shantell Ogden has just raised her own bar,” says Judy Rodman, writer/producer (LeAnn Rimes, Loretta Lynn). “Her vocals on her newest project have more subtlety and control than ever; the cool tracks perfectly carry her voice and her brilliantly crafted songs straight to the heart.”

In her own words: “I grew up on a farm in Utah and one of the lessons I learned is that the cows would always push on certain parts of the fence until it broke down. Even if we’d fix that part of the fence, they would continue to push on those parts of the fence until it was again broken. Devil Comes Knockin’ is a haunting story about how the devil pushes on us, our weaknesses and failures, hoping that we’ll break. It’s about being followed by your demons, and a voice of warning not to ‘open the door.’

A gritty song about the dark side in all of us. The message here is 'don't open the door when the devil comes knockin'. It has a deep rootsy feel, and I wrote it with Riley Anglen."

You can listen to 'Devil Comes Knockin'' vua Soundcloud below.



About Shantell Ogden

Shantell's songs have received airplay on more than 800 country and Americana radio stations and shows internationally, reaching Top 2 chart positions both in the U.S. and Europe. Her songs have also appeared on the CW's TV series Hart of Dixie and in several feature films. She's won honors for Songwriter of the Year and Americana Song of the Year for 'Ghosts in the Field' in the 2015 IMEA Awards, and Americana Album of the Year for 'Better At Goodbye' in the 2014 IMEA Awards.

This year Shantell has toured the UK & US and enjoyed extensive media appearances including Coffee, Country & Cody (WSM) and Good Day Utah (Fox).

For further information on Shantell Ogden, check out shantellogden.com.

Interview: Lucie Silvas

'It's so good to be back!' Lucie Silvas beamed this past Wednesday, in a packed out Oran Mor. The feeling was most definitely mutual.

Since relocating to Nashville nearly ten years ago, Lucie has kept busy over there writing new music and touring with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town. It's been a while since she last toured the UK but the songstress made sure that the wait was worthwhile with an hour and a half long set that left the crowd hanging on every note.

The set was mostly comprised of tracks from new album, Letters to Ghosts. It didn't seem to matter much that the album was only a few days old (in the UK, at least), the crowd still knew all the words just like they still knew all the words to tracks from her first two albums, which were dotted in between the new stuff. 

Fans demanded an encore and were treated to a final three songs, including the immensely popular 'Breathe In', before Lucie and her wonderful band took their final bow with the promise that they'll be back 'soon'. For everyone in the audience, 'soon' can't come soon enough.

Before the show, Lucie was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with us about the new album, living in Nashville and more.

* * * 

You had your first show last night, a sell out in Manchester. Could you have asked for a better start?

I could not. It was unbelievable. It’s the first time in however many years that I’ve been back and it was such a warm crowd and I was nervous. I knew that I would see familiar faces, I knew that I would have a good time but it was the first show back in the north of England for a while. And this [Scotland] is very special as it’s a little bit of home.

You said that you were a bit nervous. Were there also any nerves about releasing an album after so long?

I wasn’t nervous. You do get bouts of that when something is about to happen, like ‘okay it’s coming out today’. I get nervous in those moments but I don’t get nervous at the overall picture because I made an album that I love. The process was so on my own terms that doing that in itself made me so happy that nothing could possibly ruin that.

The album is quite personal. Were you nervous to release something that was so personal?

No, because they’ve always been that way. I think that The Same Side was very much that way. It’s funny with songwriting because I feel that people, songwriters, creative types or whatever, they know what’s inside their heads more than they realise. I’ll write things, like on the second album even, I’d realise later how apt and how true to life it was. With Letters to Ghosts it was the same way. You write it and then afterwards go ‘wow, I clearly needed to get that out’.

You moved to Nashville and obviously there’s a country sound to the album. Was that intentional or did it just happen naturally?

Just naturally. When I moved to Nashville, it wasn’t about country necessarily. It was just about being in a musical environment. But everyone was in close proximity. Everyone wanted to help each other. Everyone aspires to what each other is creating. I took in my surroundings, started to play the mandolin and then you write that way and it becomes more of that sound. My sound touches edges of pop and Americana and country so I never really thought about it. I just did something that I enjoyed listening to.

There’s so many great songwriters in Nashville. Who have you had the privilege of working with?

Some of my favourites are people like Barry Dean, who has co-written some amazing songs with Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood, and Busbee. There is an amazing guy who I got to write with, Allen Shamblin who co-wrote ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ for Bonnie Rait. She’s one of my heroes so it was lovely to get to work with him. Artist-wise, I got to write with Miranda Lambert recently which was an amazing experience because I’m such a fan of her and we seem to connect on lots of levels.

Did you listen to country before you moved to Nashville?

I did but there were lots of people who I didn’t know. I didn’t even know who Vince Gill was before I moved there and now this guy blows my mind and I couldn’t believe that I had missed out on years of listening to him. My mum would listen to Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. I knew Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and all that stuff. But more of the pop-country that exists these days, I didn’t know a lot of those artists because it wasn’t something that had crossed over to the UK.

Would it be fair to say that country music is expanding in the UK now?

I think it’s starting to. I’m not here all the time so it’s hard for me to know how it’s doing but I see C2C is building and I know the Nashville show is taking off. I think its such an amazing genre because I think its one of the truest forms of lyric writing and music there is. It’s very reflective of the lifestyle. I really hope that the rest of the world can embrace country as much as they’ve embraced pop, gospel, blues and RnB. I think it’s an amazing genre that is the most truthful of them all.

You recently played the Opry. What was that like?

I’ve been in Nashville more or less on and off since 2007 and when I played the Opry, not only were my parents there and, because I’ve been living in different countries for ages, it was the first time that they’d seen me perform on stage since 2008. So they had come in from New Zealand and were in the audience. I had done so many things in Nashville, worked with lots of people, performed at the Ryman, opened for Chris Stapleton, I had done loads of different things but when I performed on the Opry stage, I got this feeling that I must have made it in Nashville. That’s when, after all those years of watching other people and my heroes play the Opry, I thought I cannot believe that I was on that stage. I felt embraced by Nashville.

So definitely a career highlight?

Absolutely.

So the album only recently came out here in the UK. Was there a reason why there was a year between the US and UK releases?

It was just because that I didn’t plan any of it. I was doing it independently. I made the album without any backing, which was hard but it was fun because I got to do everything. I didn’t have an A&R person, I didn’t have a manager when I was making the album. I didn’t want to wait for the music industry, I didn’t want to wait for a record label. I had music that I wanted to release. I didn’t have a promo team, I didn’t have radio play so it’s amazing to see what the album was able to do by itself and gain support. Then Decca suddenly came along and said that they wanted to put this album out commercially and that they wanted to hear me on the radio. It’s very hard to cut through on your own, as an indie artist and I felt like I was definitely starting to but this was an opportunity to reach wider.

You talked about being an indie artist. Do you prefer the sort of freedom that being an independent artist offers? 

Because of the point that I signed my deal at, I feel like I’m in a certain mind-set that I can’t change now which is a good thing because I’m like ‘this is how I’m doing it’ and they seem to understand how I operate, that I want to make music and live a happy, balanced life. I’m not after the pop scene of fame, I just want to make music and tour. I still feel that I have a lot of freedom.

Have you started work on the next album?

I have. I’ve started writing it and in the new year we’ll start recording. But I want to give Letters to Ghosts a really fair shot first.

You’ve played the Opry, released your new album…what’s next?

Next is, after these dates which have been a long time coming so I’m going to make the most of this week and enjoy myself, I’m going on tour with Brothers Osborne in November and December. Before then I’m playing all these festivals across America. It’ll be all touring and then we’ll see in the new year, hopefully I’ll be back in the UK again.

And finally. What advice would you give to upcoming artists, especially country artists in the UK?

Do what’s authentic to you. You’ll have people tell you ‘this won’t fit here’ or ‘this won’t fit there’. If you really love what you’re doing and you really love the music you’re making, you need to stick to your guns. Keep your head down and work hard because there’s plenty of talented people in the world. Your work ethic and how humble you remain as a person are two of the most important things in this business.

* * *

Lucie plays Birmingham tonight, London on Saturday (as part of the C2C Social) and Bristol on Monday. Her brand new album, Letters to Ghosts, is available in the UK now.

'Nashville Nights' Reveals National Dates

The organisers of Nashville Nights, who run club nights designed for fans of country music, have announced that they will be taking their unique brand of party across the UK throughout the rest of 2016.

Inspired by trips to Music City itself, the popularity of the events so far is testament to both the fact that the country scene in the UK is growing, and that the team behind Nashville Nights are doing something right. To date over 1,500 country fans have come together to enjoy the nights, most of which have been at Under The Bridge in London, with DJ Baylen Leonard (BBC Radio 2, Amazing Radio) providing the soundtrack. Many of the artists on the playlist will be familiar to those who attended London’s Country to Country (C2C) festival in March - now one of the largest country festival outside of the US - such as Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, and Kacey Musgraves. Fans are also encouraged to request their favourite songs via social media, using the hashtag #NashNightsUK.

In the words of co-founder and Events Director Janine Lambert: “We love dancing to country music, singing along to country music, having a drink and socialising to country music and there was nowhere we could go to do this, no bar or nightclub anywhere that just played the best in NEW Country music from the USA Country music charts, the music we wanted to hear.... We'd been to Nashville, we enjoyed the honky-tonks, the atmosphere, the country music blasting out from every bar and club on Broadway… we wanted to bring the spirit of Nashville back to the UK.”

Nashville Nights hits the road later this month, with further dates confirmed for October, November and December:

NEWCASTLE - The Cluny - September 17th 2016*
BRISTOL - The Tunnels - October 14th 2016*
GLASGOW - Classic Grand - October 28th 2016
LONDON - Under The Bridge - November 19th 2016
BIRMINGHAM - The Asylum - November 25th 2016
BRIGHTON - Latest Music Bar - December 10th 2016

(* - Holloway Road guest DJs at these events)

Rising country stars Pauper Kings, who are about to join Dan + Shay for their UK tour, are due to perform at the next London night on November 19th.

Tickets for all Nashville Nights events can be purchased in advance from CountryTickets.co.uk and NashvilleNights.uk

Holloway Road To Release New Single 'Where We Are Tonight'

Holloway Road appeared on the King Says Country Show (Keep it Country/Sky TV) last night to announce that their brand new single ‘Where We Are Tonight’ will be released via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Bandcamp and other digital outlets on 23rd September 2016. The band will celebrate the launch of their single with a release party at Cargo, Hoxton on the same date.

You can get tickets for the show and pre-order the new single exclusively through BandCamp.

ABOUT HOLLOWAY ROAD

The first thing you notice about UK duo Holloway Road’s live performance is that it doesn’t look like country music; they’re more baseball caps and trainers than Stetsons and boots. But the sound they make sits somewhere between the country-pop chart and the Nashville songwriting they both grew up listening to. The second thing you notice is the crowd’s response; Holloway Road have spent the last two years playing throughout the UK & Europe, honing their live show, and as a result they understand the importance of being both a standout name on any lineup and a high energy crowd-pleaser.

They haven’t been afraid to gain momentum while learning their craft - having played the Martin stage at CMA Fest 2015, performed for the Country to Country (C2C) crowds on two consecutive years, written with Jacob Bryant (John & Jacob), partied with Kacey Musgraves, and landed both their EPs in the iTunes country top ten thanks to radio play across the UK for their single ‘Little Harder’ - success in a growing international country scene is increasingly becoming part of the Holloway Road story.

'Where We Are Tonight' marks a turning point for the band, who wanted the song to capture the feel of a live set while retaining the pop sensibilities of their previous studio offering Roots. In their own words: “We're excited to get this single out there - we want to give people a taste of what we have up our sleeves for what's next to come…”

ALBUM REVIEW: Letters To Ghosts - Lucie Silvas

It was 2008 when I first fell in love with country music thanks to the wonders of YouTube. This was a revelation for twelve year old me as I now had almost unlimited access to this new genre of music, a genre that the UK was still very reluctant to embrace.

Before this exciting discovery, I spent a good chunk of my childhood indoors incessantly watching the two music channels we had - TMF and The Hits (now 4Music). One of the many songs that I discovered, and soon learned all the words to, from these channels was a song called 'Breathe In'. Ten years later, I still know all the words, still absolutely adore that song and am now sitting here writing this review of Lucie Silvas' debut country album, Letters To Ghosts...for me, it feels almost full circle.

But enough about me.

Letters To Ghosts is an album years in the making with first traces of the release appearing online as early as 2011. It may be Nashville tempered but it does not at all feel like a departure from her earlier discography. The same soul that distinguished Lucie from other artists in the mid noughties remains, anchored at the heart of every song - only this time it comes mixed with the new and different influences that Lucie has encountered since relocating to Music City. As radical as a switch to a different continent sounds, the resulting change in musical direction feels completely natural. 

Lucie only very recently made her Opry bow and Letters To Ghosts will almost certainly cement her position as a regular on that famous stage. This tremendous album is packed with honesty and emotion. The opening title track is a story of strength and loss, powered by an infectious stomp. The powerful 'Smoke' follows with a chorus that packs one hell of a punch and a captivating vocal. The word 'captivating' perhaps best describes the album as a whole with later songs such as 'Roots', 'Unbreakable Us' and 'Villain' leaving you hanging on each individual note.

It's not all intense. 'Find a Way', 'How To Lose It All' and 'Happy' are more upbeat numbers, a nice change of pace and a chance to take a breather between the heavier numbers. They lean more to the pop side of the spectrum, a little throwback to Lucie's earlier hits. This album will appeal to both new and old fans alike and I suspect that it will appeal to a whole host of new listeners.

In short, there is not a single bad track on this album. The time that has been taken for this album to come together has clearly been very well spent. Lyrically, it's clever and musically, it's an exciting new sound for Lucie, who has never sounded better.

I can't recommend this album enough and if you're lucky enough to be able to go to one of her upcoming UK shows, go so that you'll be able to say 'I was there' when she becomes one of Nashville's biggest stars.

Letters To Ghosts is officially released in the United Kingdom tomorrow (September 2nd) and Lucie will be embarking on a set of UK dates next week. For more information on both, visit luciesilvas.com.