Grand Prize Winners of the American Songwriter 30th Anniversary Songwriting Contest in 2016 with their single, "Devil," Illinois trio The Deep Hollow are gearing up for the release of their new full-length, Weary Traveler, on November 9th. With assist from producer Gary Gordon, The Deep Hollow expand further sonically with additions of cello, violin, and a muddier guitar, while remaining deeply rooted in thoughtful storytelling around themes of love, heartache, desolation, and persistence.

“I wasn’t totally sold on having a fuller sound. I was a little nervous going in,” member Micah Walk admits. “I was prepared to do it the way we did the last one. I’m really happy with the way it turned out, but it is a little different than our debut.”

Today, TDC is pleased to premiere the video for “Real Life," a mid-tempo folk tune led by acoustic guitar and flawless vocal harmonies that details the struggles of growing up in small-town America and waiting impatiently for “real life" to begin...until you realize life has been in front of you the entire time waiting for you to take it by the horns and forge a unique path. The video for the track beautifully complements the song's message as we find the trio in a field near a vintage pickup truck, with the vastness of the countryside paralleling the breadth of "Real Life's" possibilities.

Watch, and share, the video below then read on as the trio provide insight into the song and video.

Micah Walk: This was our first experience recording a video. Well, we’ve done some live acoustic ones, but never a video like this. It was a lot of fun, even though I was honestly a little out of my comfort zone at times! The videographer – Chris Withers – really gave us some great direction and made everyone feel comfortable, though. I think it turned out great.
 
Liz Eckert: Making this video was a dream come true! The setting was perfect for the vibe. A highlight for me was watching Dave jump out of the truck! But in all seriousness, as a little girl, I always dreamed of making a music video, and this one turned out perfect.
 
Micah Walk: I’ll let you in on a little secret: it would take a serious guitar geek to notice, but I’m not even playing a regular guitar in the video. The guitar in the video is actually high-strung (Nashville tuning), which is not even in the recording. That’s one perk about making a music video like this – you don’t even have to play the right instrument! 
 
Micah Walk: Musically, I think some of our favorite current artists – Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Shovels & Rope - might have influenced this song, at least in terms of harmonies and the production. It’s really more about life experience in terms of subject matter, though. This song is simply about not being ashamed to be who you are, and not waiting around for someone else’s version of “real life.”  
 
Liz Eckert: This was an instant Deep Hollow song. Sometimes songs will be thrown out that we don’t have an instant connection with but this one was different. The harmonies fell out immediately. 

Website/Facebook/Twitter/IG

Poet, politician, and provocateur, Nashville-based troubadour Matt Campbell is prepping for the release of his latest offering, The Man With Everything, on November 9th. Recorded and produced with Joseph Lekkas (Flour Sack Cape Records), The Man With Everything is an unflinching portrait of a songwriter striving to understand his place in the world with songs drawn straight out of American culture.

Today, TDC is thrilled to premiere one of the album's cuts, "It's Ours." Led by fiddle, mandolin, and brushed percussion, "It's Ours" shines as Campbell's unique vocals weave an American story that is hopeful, authentic, and relatable.

"The pipes are turning to rust
The floor is falling in and the roof is a must
Counting every coin in the jars
It ain't much but it's ours"

Campbell provides insight into the story behind the song,
"It was 5am on I-40 west of Knoxville and the song just landed on me. Heading home after touring, I was exhausted, drinking lukewarm coffee and singing the words to myself, half-smiling, half crying. It's about throwing one's lot in with another's, and the moments when all the patchwork comes together. It's very American to buy a house, and even more so to make it the embodiment of your hopes and dreams. I was going through the process myself, overwhelmed by the gravity of it in that moment, and the song turned out to be a love letter. The musicians we recorded with really made it flourish."  

Enjoy, and share, the song above.
For more information visit:
Website/Facebook

​Early next year, Eight 30 Records will release the digital collection, Sideman's Dream (And Other Stories) on Spotify, CD Baby, Apple, Amazon, and other streaming services. The new album features twelve songs including Verlon Thompson's moving title track (a tribute to Thompson's longtime musical partner Guy Clark), as well as tunes performed by Matt Harlan, Chris Fullerton, BettySoo, and more. “We're so excited to release Sideman's Dream (And Other Stories) through our friends at CD Baby,” says Jenni Finlay, who co-produced the dozen tracks with label co-owner Brian T. Atkinson. “This album shines a spotlight on some of our very favorite singer songwriters from the Lone Star state and beyond.”

​Sideman's Dream also includes first single, the reflective "Dreams Like This." Performed by Walt Wilkins, the previously unreleased song by Greg Trooper is the first since he passed two years ago and today, TDC has the true pleasure of premiering the song.

Led by Wilkins' singular, emotive vocals alongside a reserved acoustic guitar (and featuring a vocal cameo from the divine Jamie Lin Wilson), "Dreams Like This", with its uncomplicated, thoughtful lyricism and gentle melody, conveys an enormity of wistful romanticism that can simply be described as sadly beautiful.

"Shelter from a Monday rain
Standing under an elevated train
A knowing smile, a tender kiss
I still have dreams like this
I still have dreams like this

"I hope you're doing fine
As fine as you can be
Am I ever on your mind?
You have no idea what that would mean to me"

Wilkins reflects on his friend Trooper,
"I consider Trooper a true “Fellow Traveler.”   We played a lot of the same circuits, and met in Nashville when we were trying to get other folks to record our songs.  But it was clear he was a lot bigger than that game - a beautiful writer about real life, a natural & accessible performer, and a romantic with a huge, expressive soul.  He was one of the best storytellers ever.  And: I just liked the hell out of him, personally.  I wished we’d seen each other more.  Singing his songs keeps part of him with me."

Watch/Listen HERE

​NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Despite his two Grammys and a slew of writing credits on chart-topping songs recorded by some of the world’s biggest artists, Gary Nicholson doesn’t regard himself as famous. In fact, he’s so humble, he apologizes sheepishly about putting a caller on hold to take another instead of letting it go to voicemail. But who wouldn’t pick up for Ringo Starr? Or Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt or Buddy Guy? 
 
Even if he’s not a household name, Nicholson is one of Nashville’s most esteemed songwriters, producers and performers, with a credits list few others can match. His name appears on 600-some recorded songs spanning multiple genres, including the title track of Starr’s latest album, Give More Love; the title track of Guy’s new one, The Blues Is Alive and Well; the Merle Haggard tribute, “He Won’t Ever Be Gone,” on Nelson’s God’s Problem Child; and the first track of Keb’ Mo’s and Taj Mahal’s TajMo, 2018’s Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy winner. Nicholson’s Grammys represent two of the five Delbert McClinton albums he produced and co-wrote. With the late Stephen Bruton, he also co-wrote “Fallin’ and Flyin’,” the song Jeff Bridges sings in the Oscar-winning film Crazy Heart.But Nicholson occasionally tackles his own projects; his latest, a song and video titled “God Help America,”due October 12, 2018 on Blue Corn Music, is particularly close to his heart. 

Nicholson says he was inspired to write “God Help America” because he believes that God has blessed America, but we still have much to work to do as a nation, and he wanted to address our current schisms in a way that might help bridge the chasms.

(Nashville, Tenn.) Nashville recording artist Richard Schroder has announced the release of his new single, “Almost an Angel,” to country radio on October 15. Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Matt McClure (Lee Brice, Kellie Pickler), “Almost an Angel” is the lead single from his upcoming six-song Amplifier Records EP, Skyline, coming in early 2019.

Punctuated by a chunky riff, drum-tight construction and dueling guitar solos, “Almost an Angel” represents a new creative level for the Bostonbased artist, both sonically and creatively. “When Matt first sent me this song I just loved it, and I felt I had to take a shot at it myself,” said Schroder. “Recording it was one of the best experiences of my musical life.”

The new release follows Schroder’s two successful previous singles, “Drivin’” and “Wildest Dreams,” both of which charted on the Music Row CountryBreakout Chart and received airplay on scores of country stations nationally. His Drive album has reached 300,000 Spotify streams and landed on more than 1,100 individual playlists, heady accomplishments for a debut independent release.

In preparing to record the Skyline EP, Richard Schroder partnered with with acclaimed writer Steve Seskin, a seven-time #1 hit songwriter for Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and others. Together they both co-wrote and discovered the outside songs that became the new set. The goals and desires of the recording were simple from the start. “I wanna make music that somebody will really like, music that speaks to people. Personally, I’m having a blast and I want others to like what I’ve been so fortunate to enjoy. Writing songs, working with Steve, playing my music with these players, and being a part of the Nashville community.” He pauses. “I feel like I've climbed to the top of a mountain. Now I'm seeing the view and I realize, ‘Wow, there's a lot more room for me to climb.’”

NASHVILLE, TN – Country supertrio PISTOL ANNIES have released “Stop Drop and Roll One” off their anxiously-awaited third album INTERSTATE GOSPEL, releasing Nov. 2 on RCA Records Nashville. Stream it now via Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and all other streaming servies. Album pre-order is available HERE.
 
Penned by the group’s Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley, “Stop Drop and Roll One” came after a particularly fruitful night of songwriting. “We’d just finished a song out at the farm, and Miranda said, ‘Girls, we’re on fire I think...,” and then she said, ‘So stop, drop and roll one!’” explained Monroe.

Debuting earlier this year, the movie BUCKSHOT tells the story of a struggling, young pop country singer who is tasked with driving an aging, outlaw country legend (Buckshot Thomas) cross-country to what could be the last concert of his life. The movie garnered awards at the Culver City, Marina Del Ray, and Rockport Film Festivals and here, in his own words, the film's creator, Josh Smith tells the story of how the movie came to fruition and why it is special to him.

​Guest post by Joshua J. Smith

Having grown up in a small farming town in Kansas, country music made up the soundtrack of our community, and many people still believed in the teachings of Willie Nelson, “My heroes have always been cowboys and they still are it seems.” I remember my father’s excitement when in 1984 he had scored tickets to the Kansas State Fair closing concert of none other than the Redheaded Stranger himself, Willie Nelson.  This was at the pinnacle of his career, and I could not wait to hear, ‘On the Road Again’ live and in person! We arrived to our seats on the fairgrounds and the golden tickets my father had got such a “good deal” on; put us right behind a giant pole. That night I wasn’t able to see Willie but… I heard him. It was a night I will never forget and it forever embedded that outlaw country sound into my soul.
 
As the years progressed I stayed true to the Outlaw experience – moving to Austin, Texas where cosmic cowboys roam and my musical appetite was served a huge helping of Texas honky tonking. In my early days of film work in Austin I was lucky enough to cross paths with some of my heroes; Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett and even ended up talking football with the legend, Willie Nelson on his famed bus. The highlight of my early directing career was when I cast Freddy Fender, lead singer of The Texas Tornadoes in my second short film, Under the South Texas Skies. He played the lead character performing a heartfelt a capella song in the climatic ending. Freddy even talked Augie Myers into coming out to the filming to be an extra in the film. We miraculously landed the amazing accordion player Flaco Jimenez to play on the soundtrack and it was the first time that my love of film and outlaw country music crossed paths and the results left me wanting more.  For my feature film directorial debut I wanted a story that could blend those two worlds together again. The movie would be the story of Buckshot Thomas, a down and out Outlaw Country legend touring the back roads of America looking to slay old demons that haunt his waking life.
 
While researching Nashville’s music scene of today I was inundated with discourse from outlaw country fans over the pop country takeover of the billboard charts. This new wave was given a nickname “Bro-Country” by Jody Rosen of New York Magazine who wrote, “music by and of the tatted, gym-toned, party-hearty young American white dude.” This phrase wasn’t intended to start a revolution but as almost any country music fan can tell you, that’s exactly what happened.

Singer. Songwriter. Actor. Author. Now, Korby Lenker ventures to explore further creative territory, helming a brand new web series entitled Morse Code. Having made its debut on August 3rd, Morse Code follows Lenker as he portrays Simon Pinkerton, a single dad and a "smart-but-dumb folksinger trying to make good in the modern music business without alienating everyone around him."

Having earned praise for the first two charming and heartfelt episodes, Lenker has plans for an additional eight installments of the dramedy, each accompanied by a new song. For the first episode, he and Liz Longley wrote and performed the folk-pop tune "If You Love Somebody."​

Episode 2, which premiered in September at AmericanaFest, found Lenker teaming with Holly Mathis to pen the sober and sincere "I Feel What I Feel." And today, TDC is thrilled and honored to debut the Cody Duncam directed video for the track which captures Simon as a man who is lonely, pensive, and seemingly resigned to sadness and dwelling on the negative. Via Lenker's emotional delivery, sincere lyrics, and a despondent yet somehow comforting piano-led melody, "I Feel What I Feel" acknowledges emotions are neither right or wrong, they just are, and sometimes we have to work through them at our own pace....even if it means staying in that dark place for a short while.

"Here we are it's me against me
Hello to the adversary
Don't move slow, keep your hands up
I punch low, can you handle it?
Where'd it go all that hope sparkling f
For now I see through glass darkly
We make it up as we go along that brought us right or wrong
here, here, here"

Lenker offers insight into the song and video,
"Part of the challenge of "Morse Code" is that I need write songs about the characters in the show, instead of drawing them directly from my life. It’s a small distance but it's created a kind of vulnerable way of writing I didn’t expect. “I Feel What I Feel” (out on Soundly Music October 12) is an example of that.

When I wrote the script for episode two, I knew the main charter, Simon, was going to be in a dark place at the end of it — having just suffered a public humiliation and then been abandoned by one of his closest friends. 

But at this moment in the story, Simon is stuck in a sort of willful loneliness — wanting to be left alone more than he wants to be saved. It’s a feeling I’ve known personally at points in my life, so the theme of “I Feel What I Feel" came easily. 

I came up with something I liked on piano, but was having a hard time making the verse really sing so I reached out to my friend Holly Mathis. Holly is weirdly gifted with what seems like endless clever ideas, so we spent about a month while I was on tour and she was at home texting back and forth and singing into our phones until we finally came up with something that felt right.

I recorded it on my little home piano (pictured in the video) and brought it in to the studio to finish. Tim Lauer, who created the score for Morse Code (and who just came from his last job as executive music producer on the “Nashville” TV show), produced the song.

For the video, I was lucky to include the talents of "Morse Code" co-star Maggie Schneider. She is so good in the show and here she was in the video wearing that same compelling tension between innocence and an early-onset wisdom. 

This is a music video that kind of blurs the lines between the script and the music, something I hope to continue to explore in future episodes."

"I Feel What I Feel" will be available everywhere October 12th.

Enjoy and share the video above. For more information on Lenker visit:
Official website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
​
Watch Morse Code Episode 1 HERE and Episode 2 HERE 
Other cast members include Maggie Schneider, Olivia Evans and Sara Antonio