The musical project of guitarist and vocalist Zack Kardon, Southern Pine offers subtle yet intricate, and deeply personal, songs - layering multiple instruments and voices to create an ethereal soundscape that can support raucous guitar solos and delicate string arrangements alike. 

The newest single, "Way Back Home" was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude and written to illustrate the sweet melancholy of nostalgia. Reminiscent of Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Kardon’s voice is "dusty and intimate, like an attic full of forgotten treasures." Here, Kardon answers his Essential 8 and talks songwriting, traveling the country, his guilty pleasure song, and much more.
​
Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made up stories, something else or a combination?
Almost all of my songs are rooted in personal experience. I think my best writing is allegorical. More than telling a story, I try to write songs that paint the vignette of a feeling. My story is specific to me, but feelings are universal, and if you can tap into a feeling that seems very specific and maybe even a little isolating then I think that's where music can have a tremendous catharsis.

When/Where do you do your best writing?
There are a handful of factors that put me into a space that is conducive for writing. Probably the the biggest is travel. When I go to a new place I see the world with fresh eyes. Home life is comprised of routine, which has it's own beautiful reward, but when I'm out of my element I'm able to observe small details that otherwise live in my periphery. Another important factor is to make sure I'm ingesting steady diet of art. It's pretty simple, I'm able to produce satisfying work when I am prioritizing my intake. That means trying to always have a book I'm reading, searching for new music, journaling daily; If i'm growing and moving forward then songs are a natural by product of that.

Do you have any touring tips?
Southern Pine is a new project so I've yet to do any touring in that context, but I've been touring regularly since I was 19 years old. My touring experience has always been on a pretty serious budget, so things I've learned prioritize staying happy and healthy on the road and doing it all for cheap. Bringing a portable stove is a must in my opinion, especially if you're traveling with multiple people. Eating Sheets for a month straight (I admittedly love sheets) will take a pretty serious toll on ones energy level. If you bring a cook top you can make use of down time and be in control of what you're putting into your body. Another big thing is camping. For a fraction of the cost of a hotel room there are tones of beautiful campgrounds all over this country. Staying up sitting around a fire is good for the soul, and they often have nicer showers then many of the budget hotels I've stayed at.

Watch "We Made Out" HERE

Houston Bernard and his band bring vitality and grit to modern country with a fresh and hard-hitting approach that has earned them nominations for Country Act of the Year New England Music Awards in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Over the years, they have shared bills with Old Dominion, Miranda Lambert, Josh Turner, Clint Black, Cadillac Three, Dierks Bentley, Travis Tritt, and more. In July 2018, they released their third album and first single, "We Made Out" which is already being played all over North America, Europe, and Australia. Here, Bernard answers hie Essential 8+ and talks about the album, his professional bucket list, what he listens to on the road, and so much more!

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
Yes, Kaz Gamble, he started producing me when I was in highschool and he opened my ears to many styles of music that I was not currently listening. He also shot my very first music video that aired locally on television. Which is a big deal when you are 15 years old.

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? I kept listening to “We Made Out” wondering how I can make it better, we remixed it and added some new backing vocals which sold me on being ok to call it finished.

Is there a story behind your album’s title? “Lucky Man” is the title and a track on the album. I feel very fortunate to be able to play music, to have the people in my life #more than blessed.

Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did? I actually recorded 6 other songs that did not make the album. I felt they were very different and didn’t really fit, I think the songs on this album make sense together.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? My life, they are all true stories.

When/where do you do your best writing? In my man cave when no one is around.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? Yes, a bit of everything but generally my own experiences.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? Learn the business.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Learn the business and don’t ever be satisfied with you art form, keep working to improve it, that is where your energy should be.

Hailing from Texas, Jade Marie Patek comes from a rich musical lineage as the granddaughter of polka legend, Joe Patek, who delighted crowds at dancehalls for decades with his Orchestra. Using her polka roots as inspiration, Jade began writing her own music and performing live a few years back.

Her original music includes 2 radio singles, “Drive” and "Dead Flowers," which reached  the Top 30 and Top 20 on the Texas Regional Radio Chart, respectively. Now, Patek is prepping the release of her new EP, Fly Bird, a seven-song collection fueled by life experiences, life lessons, and a whole lot of heart and soul. Ahead of the release, Patek answered her Essential 8 where she spoke about the EP, her love of fishing, taking time to reflect while on the road, and more!

Is there a story behind the title “Fly Bird”?
Fly Bird is a journey of self-discovery, losing love, finding love and most of all – Self Love. For the past ten years I have been searching for answers to it all. I’ve made mistakes, fallen flat on my face, but I’ve also had amazing triumphs along the way. I’ve found what’s most important to me, and that’s loving myself and believing in my dreams of playing music.
 
These songs are placed in a particular order, it is the story of my life for the past decade or so. I have lost love and lost my way for a while, but I never stopped writing, singing and performing music. Fly Bird is more than just my first music release. It’s a release from self-guilt, self-judgment and self-sabotage. It’s freedom, the freedom to believe in one’s self, and the freedom to determine one’s own happiness.
 
Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I write mostly from personal experience, but every now and then I write from all of the above! It’s a lot of fun to branch out and write about something other than what I’ve been through.
 
Where/When do you do your best writing?
I usually do my best writing when I am at home by myself with no interruptions. I get inspiration from the outside world like a song, a memory, a current or past situation, and I try to write it down or do a voice recording. Then, I get home and get into an atmosphere where I can really focus on what song I am trying to create.