Catch up on some new releases
by Preshias Harris
The weather is hot and there’s plenty of music to bring the heat – or to keep the cool! Here’s a quick roundup of new music from Kristian Bush, Lewis Brice (with brother Lee), Molly Tuttle, The Swon Brothers and teen phenom Mason Ramsey. The August edition of my monthly column, Inside Track on Music Row, will be here in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, scroll down and keep reading…
Kristian Bush says “Take me with you” on your summer soundtrack
Kristian Bush is back with new summertime music just in time to be the soundtrack of summer.
Kristian, beloved for hot weather bops including “Bar With A Pool In It” and “Flip Flops,” has released his newest sunshiny smash, “Little Umbrellas”. The song is the first from his forthcoming summer-themed seven-song EP, Drink Happy Thoughts, available July 14.
Pre-add and pre-save Drink Happy Thoughts here, listen to “Little Umbrellas” here and watch “Little Umbrellas” lyric video here.
Kristian wrote the song alone, starting it on the voice memo function on his phone during a drive between Nashville and Atlanta. When he arrived in Atlanta, he wrote and recorded “Little Umbrellas” in one hour.
“I recall being confused about which part was the chorus and which was the verse but decided not to pay too much attention because it felt so good,” he says. “I love the tightrope I imagine this guy walking, knowing that if he starts thinking of his old love, he will fall apart and that the little umbrellas he is collecting as he keeps drinking to forget her will never stop his tears or a storm if it rolls in.”
“I hope you put it on and listen all summer long, in a boat, by a pool, in the ocean, or by a beach,” he says. “Take me with you.”
More at Kristian’s website and Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@kristianbush). #KristianBush
Lewis Brice’s “Product Of” is a family affair
Country-rocker Lewis Brice “brings fans home to meet the family” (People.com) in his video for “Product Of” featuring brother Lee Brice.
Lewis enlists the inspiration behind the song, their parents, for the video that also features the brothers performing together. The sentimental video was filmed in Lewis’ hometown of Sumter, S.C. and perfectly captures the small town love he’s a “Product Of.” This is the first collaboration between the brothers and is the second release from Lewis’ first full-length album, Product Of, available July 28.
Watch the video for “Product Of” featuring Lee Brice here. Stream or download the song here and pre-save, pre-add the album here.
“Having my parents be a part of the video for ‘Product Of’ was so special!” Lewis shares with People.com on including his parents and filming in his hometown. “I felt it was the only way we’d really be able to hit home what and where my brother and I come from, what we’re a ‘product of.”
“My brother Lewis is one of the most talented people I know… he’s been putting his all into his songwriting skills and when I heard this one — ‘Product Of’…man, this one really moved me,” Lee shared with People.com. “It was so great before I ever put my little part on the song or the video. I’m just proud to be a part of something that cool and close to home.”
More about Lewis Brice at his website and on Facebook. Follow Lewis on Twitter and Instagram at (@lewisbrice). #LewisBrice
Molly Tuttle sets July 21 release date for album City of Gold
“San Joaquin,” the latest song from Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Molly Tuttle and her band, Golden Highway, debuted June 29. Listen to the song here and watch a live performance video, filmed at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, here.
Tuttle says of the song, “I’ve always loved singing songs about trains and this one takes place in my home state of California. Ketch Secor and I had the idea for writing ‘San Joaquin’ while looking at a map of different train lines that run through the state. Ketch loves writing geographical songs and I have many fond memories of road trips taken through the Central Valley when I was a kid, so we dreamed up this story of a wild ride down the San Joaquin railway.”
The track is the third unveiled from Tuttle’s new album, City of Gold, which will be released July 21 via Nonesuch Records (pre-order/pre-save here). Ahead of the release, new songs “Next Rodeo” and “El Dorado,” recently debuted, of which Billboard calls “a vibrant blend of bluegrass with flashes of Old West, anchored by Tuttle’s earthy-yet-angelic vocal and the entire group’s ace musicianship.”
Produced by Tuttle and Jerry Douglas and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, City of Gold was inspired by Tuttle’s constant touring with Golden Highway these past few years, during which they have grown together as musicians and performers, cohering as a band. These 13 tracks—mostly written by Tuttle and Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show)—capture the electric energy of band’s live shows by highlighting each members’ musical strengths.
In celebration of the new music, the band will tour through this summer including dates supporting Dave Matthews, Tommy Emmanuel, Greensky Bluegrass, Charley Crockett and Marcus King, as well as festival appearances at Under the Big Sky Music & Arts Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Rebels and Renegades Music Festival and more. Tour updates and ticket info at Molly Tuttle’s website. Follow Molly on Facebook and Instagram. #MollyTuttle
The Swon Brothers lift the Covers with upcoming album
In anticipation of their full length album, Covers Vol 1, The Swon Brothers have released their version of the breezy, summertime Jackson Browne hit, “Somebody’s Baby.” Stream here. Heavily influenced by the music of The Eagles and the sounds of that time, it’s no surprise that Zach and Colton chose a Jackson Browne song to include on their new full-length album of cover songs, which will release later this year.
“We could never do Jackson Browne justice, but we had a blast trying our best!” says Zach Swon. “I think my brother crushed this one.” “This just felt fun,” comments Colton Swon.
Known for their seamlessly smooth, tight-knit sibling harmonies, The Swon Brothers were thrilling audiences long before their appearance as finalists on NBC’s The Voice. Honored with the “Rising Star” award by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and inducted into the “Rhythm and Routes Oklahoma Music Trail,” the Muskogee, OK natives have been charming fans with their incredible talent and fun-loving personalities since childhood. Brothers Zach and Colton Swon are not only consummate performers who’ve built a loyal, devoted fan base and strong social media following, they are also top-notch songwriters and producers who have contributed to many projects in Country and beyond, including superstar Blake Shelton’s album Body Language. The duo co-wrote the title track and are also featured performers on the song.
More Swon Brothers info on their website and at Facebook. Follow on Twitter (@TheSwonBrothers) and Instagram (@theswonbrothers). #SwonBrothers
Mason Ramsey has “Reasons To Come Home” with single and video
16-year-old Country phenom, Mason Ramsey returns with “Reasons To Come Home,” out now via Atlantic Records. Download/stream “Reasons To Come Home” here. The song – which is the singer’s first new release since 2019 – arrives alongside an official music video directed by Kaiser Cunningham and Taylor Kelly. Watch the video here.
“Over the past couple of years, everything changed, and I’ve grown up. I’m allowing the fans to get to know me a little bit more and see what life has been like.”
Last year, Ramsey released an official music video for “Before I Knew It,” directed by Luke Harvey. “Before I Knew It,” went viral on TikTok amassing 550K creates and 3 billion views on the platform, over 2.7 million on the song’s visualizer, and over 30 million streams, to date. The song comes off Ramsey’s 2019 project, Twang EP. Ramsey then hit the road on his sold out How’s Ur Girl & How’s Ur Family Tour and took the stage with Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, and BTS at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards to perform their record breaking collab “Old Town Road.”
As the youngest major label Country artist signed in the genre in nearly two decades, Mason Ramsey continues his fast-track to stardom after being discovered singing in an aisle at his local Walmart. Ramsey’s music illustrates how far he’s come – the differences prove instantly apparent as his voice booms with the kind of confidence only gained through experience and his songwriting brims with unfiltered truth buoyed by intimate creativity. More at Mason on his Facebook page. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@masonramsey) and check out his YouTube channel.
- More news soon in the August edition of Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in America!
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available here. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com #PreshiasHarris