Song Premiere: Rhyan Sinclair "Skeleton Sam"

Courtesy: Rhyan Sinclair

“From the moment I was able to comprehend the fact that the words in songs carried meaning, it was something I was super fascinated by. I’ve always loved writing stories and plays and singing, so I guess all of that being said, writing songs was a natural progression." - Rhyan Sinclair
 
​When she was 11 years old, Rhyan Sinclair decided to put together a band called All the Little Pieces that would combine elements of roots country, jazz, and blues. Over the course of five years, the group transformed into an award-winning rock band that performed frequently in Lexington, Kentucky, and beyond. After their last tour, Sinclair decided to organize a tribute to the classic 1987 album, Trio [Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt]. By rehearsing the album and researching the catalogs of its three principals, new songs began pouring out and paved the way for Sinclair's first solo release, Barnstormer, due June 22nd.

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Today, TDC is incredibly proud to premiere one of the album's tracks, "Skeleton Sam."  With standout performances by Eliza Mary Doyle on banjo and Sherri McGee on the spoons, as well as BoDiddley breakdowns and jovial group vocals, "Skeleton Sam" is a a bluegrass-gospelesque barn burner where Sinclair's classic and commanding vocals project a tone that merges the playful with the cautious...just like Halloween itself. 

Sinclair, who always finds herself enthralled by the Halloween season, shares the story behind the song, "Halloween is always really inspiring for me. Skeleton Sam is definitely one that was inspired by that time of year. I was on the way back home from playing a show late one night, riding along dark twisty roads, and the idea came to me kind of all at once."

Enjoy, and share, "Skeleton Sam" above. Then read on to learn more about Barnstormer.

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​In addition to writing and playing, Sinclair co-produced Barnstormer, acknowledging that her collaborators Sean Giovanni and Jason Groves were respectful of her opinion and vision. “Being young and female, I know that isn’t always the case and I was so fortunate to work with great people,” she says. She worked with Giovanni in Nashville on the title track as well as “Kentucky Night Sky.” The remaining selections were cut in Lexington with Jason Groves at Sneak Attack Recording Co.
 
Barnstormer opens with “From Here,” a lament that is thick with pedal steel and regret. In contrast, the track “Barnstormer” calls to mind the feisty sides of Miranda Lambert and Dixie Chicks, whom Sinclair cites as influences. She also notes that Barnstormer has hints of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, as well as stylists like Smokey Robinson, Band of Horses, Chris Isaak, Norah Jones, Beck, and Lone Justice’s Maria McKee.

“Most of the time, melodies are something that hit me all at once and I just go with it. I feel like if I overthink them, they lose their natural momentum. I can sit down and write lyrics anytime, whether they’re decent or whether I have to trash them, but melodies are very inspiration-based for me,” she says.
 
One of the most uplifting tracks on the album is ironically titled “The Sad Song.” She explains, “I think there is such an underrated joy that can be found in sad songs because someone out there can relate to that sadness and it can make them feel less alone. There is so much beauty in that.”
 
Listen closely to the lyrics of Barnstormer and a portrait of a young traveler emerges. “Old Lost Town” explores what might happen if she could ever get out of her hometown, while “What Time Is It in California?” finds her contemplating a pivotal visit to the West Coast. That wandering spirit is key to Sinclair’s musical perspective.
 
“I want to travel to as many different places as humanly possible,” she says. “I definitely feel an overwhelming sense of home when I’m on the road. There’s such a sense of freedom in it and I think it’s where I feel most inspired. I’ve written most of my lyrics riding in the car, I think. For me, it’s not just about the destination but the journey there. All the little in-betweens and places you pass through. I’ve left pieces of my heart in all of the places I’ve gone. It just so happens that traveling is part of being a musician and that is very fortunate for me.”
 
Sinclair concludes Barnstormer with “Free at Last,” featuring vocals from Lillie Mae, Eliza Mary Doyle of The Dead South, and Sinclair’s mother.
 
“I hope people know that I can be counted on to share raw emotions, whether it’s heartbreak or joy,” she says. “I just want it to feel as real and intimate to someone listening to the album as it felt to me when I wrote it. My hope is that these songs will speak to people on a soul level. I think it is such a liberating thing when you hear a song that understands you and what you’re going through. That’s always my goal.”

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