Your ears are gonna thank you!
June is bustin’ out all over with a bumper bundle of new singles. Lend an ear to these new tracks from Abby Anderson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dustin Lynch, Midland, Will Moseley, Chris Stapleton & Duo Lipa, Cyndi Thomson and Oliver Wood:
ABBY ANDERSON: Abby Anderson released her latest single, “If You Killed Somebody,” via Walk Off/ Virgin Records, following a packed week of performances including Bridgestone Arena and Stagecoach Festival. Listen to “If You Killed Somebody” here and watch the music video here. Fueled by clever lyrics and rich melodies, “If You Killed Somebody” showcases a unique side of Abby’s artistry. The song’s playful tone and hypotheticals inspires listeners to imagine the depth of love it creates as the fiery ballad of devotion builds. The track is a dedicated anthem about loyalty in even the most extreme of circumstances. Backed by effortless guitar plucking, Abby’s vocals are at the forefront as she declares to her lover, “If you killed somebody. I’d hide the body.” “If You Killed Somebody” continues what has already been a successful start to the year for Anderson. The single follows on the heels of her first release of 2024, the stormy “Bright Side of Blue.” Additionally, Abby is featured on global-renowned DJ Diplo’s new mixtape, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: The Mixtape – listen here. Find Abby Anderson’s upcoming tour and ticket info here. #AbbyAnderson
BILLY RAY CYRUS: Multi-hyphenate global entertainer Billy Ray Cyrus has released his newest single, “You Came Along,” available everywhere now. Reflecting his roots and diverse influences, the song is a heartfelt and honest expression of his life and soul, free from rules and limitations. Stream/download “You Came Along” here. Written and produced by Billy Ray Cyrus, Sean Kelly and Burleigh Clyde Johnson, “You Came Along” describes a true representation of Cyrus’ journey, inspired by a “no box” mindset, resonating with his commitment to authenticity and emotional openness in his music. “This song is everything I am as a singer / songwriter / producer / musician,” said Cyrus. “All my roots, all my influences encompassed in this song. Lyrically and musically, I’ve always worn my emotions wide open on my sleeve. No rules. No limits. No preconceived notions. Just music that I enjoy making that is true and honest to my life and my soul. That’s what ‘You Came Along’ is – a guy from Kentucky that loves all styles of music just being real. Like Carl Perkins said to me, and what I try to express to others in my field that ask for advice: ‘Don’t try and think inside the box. Don’t try and think outside the box. Think like there is no box.” More about Billy Ray at his website and on Instagram and X (@billyraycyrus).
DUSTIN LYNCH: Providing a timeless soundtrack for an underdog love story, multi-Platinum star Dustin Lynch has released the Mason Dixon-directed music video for current single “Chevrolet” (watch here). “It’s a storyline that everybody can relate to, especially us kids from small towns,” shares Lynch. “There always seems to be some kind of divide in friend groups as kids grow up, and there’s inevitably an underdog. I’d like to think everyone pulls for the underdog, and this video shows that.” Turning the ignition on a forever-young kind of freedom, the Jelly Roll collaboration – written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, and Mentor Williams – is nearing Top 15 at Country radio via Broken Bow Records. Delivered on Lynch’s statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, the nostalgic track co-produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips is proof of Country music’s unique ability to summon a picture, a mood, and especially a memory via the instantly recognizable throwback melody of the 1973 Dobie Gray hit “Drift Away.” Listen here. He’ll make another splash with the Dustin Lynch Pool Situation: Nashville 2024 during CMA Fest weekend. Diving headfirst into the rooftop pool of Margaritaville Hotel Nashville for the second year, the wildest of all Country music-themed pool parties returns on June 7. Music and show dates at Lynch’s website. #DustinLynch
MIDLAND: Grammy-nominated trio Midland has released “Old Fashioned Feeling,” a melancholic reflection of an intoxicating relationship, steeped in smoke and served with a dash of bitters. Stream/download here. The new single marks their first collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb and was recorded at the historic Georgia Mae Studios in Savannah, GA. The track arrives with an official video directed by Harper Smith that finds the band on a golden-hued film set surrounded by showbiz chaos and a cast of hurried flappers, mimes, managers and actors. Watch the official video for “Old Fashioned Feeling” here. “Sometimes it feels good to go for a swim in the Blues, have a sip of that fiery nostalgia and live in the memory of something that was once so sweet that’s now turned bitter. Lose yourself in this Classic Country cup of 80 proof soul with a back beat,” explains Midland. “It’s the sound of every dingy neon hazed bar room where you go to hide in plain sight.” In May, Midland and Orville Peck released their sweeping caution-to-the-wind Roy Orbison-evoking collaboration “The Hurtin’ Kind” that appeared on Peck’s new duets album. The song, which the artists debuted live aboard Midland’s The Last Resort was written by Orville Peck, Leland, Ryan Raines, Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy and Jess Carson. Music, tour dates and more at Midland’s website. #MidlandBand
WILL MOSELEY: American Idol season 22 finalist Will Moseley has released his original song “Good Book Bad” Listen here, via 19 Recordings / BMG Nashville. A spirited and heartfelt tale of redemption, the deeply-felt song with a decidedly classic country sound is concocted with the perfect recipe: honesty, forthrightness and supreme melody. Written by Jordan Walker, Lalo Guzman and Thomas Archer, “Good Book Bad” — a narrative-driven song of second chances amid life’s turbulent ride — instantly spoke to the husky voiced troubadour: as soon as Moseley heard the demo, he felt a deeply personal connection to the song’s resonant message. “‘Good Book Bad’ is a song that just instantly connects,” says Moseley. “From the first time I heard a demo of the song I knew the guys that wrote it had something very special, and I was honored to be a part of it. It’s a song that takes you through bad decisions, unexpected blessings, and the trials of life while always reminding you where the answers are found. I’ve had friends in these exact situations and have had my fair share of screw-ups and I think that’s what makes the song so special to me.” A former collegiate football player, Moseley first picked up the guitar while attending his alma mater, Georgia Southern University. #WillMoseley
CHRIS STAPLETON & DUA LIPA: Two of music’s most beloved and acclaimed artists, Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa, https://www.dualipa.com have collaborated to release “Think I’m In Love With You (with Dua Lipa) (Live from the 59th ACM Awards).” Listen here. Recorded live at the 2024 ACM Awards in Frisco, TX, the surprise duet features Stapleton and Dua Lipa alongside Stapleton’s band, The Honchos, as well as a 13-piece string section. Described as “stunning…That the performance was so damn good only made the subterfuge all the more worth it” by Rolling Stone and “the best performance of the night” by Vulture, Billboard hailed it as: “The sultry performance paired his grizzled vocal with her soaring, polished tones, making for what was surely one of the most talked about performances” while American Songwriterproclaimed it “electric and soulful.” Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is a 10x Grammy, 16x CMA and 19x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Stapleton recently won four awards at 59th ACM Awards as well as two more trophies at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards. These accomplishments celebrate Stapleton’s new album, Higher,produced by Dave Cobb, released this past fall to overwhelming critical acclaim. 3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa continues to be one of pop music’s leading forces with the release of her third album, Radical Optimism.
CYNDI THOMSON: Highly-lauded creator of chart-topping songs, Cyndi Thomson has released her fresh feeling co-penned track “Sipping Wine On The Water.” Available everywhere, the title track to the June 28th EP is available on all digital outlets. This also marks her foray back into the music landscape after a long pause to focus on family and several entrepreneurial endeavors, including her much sought-after jewelry line, “Haybelle Co.” Listen to “Sipping Wine On The Water” here. Cyndi Thomson shared her experience with writing, “Sipping Wine On The Water” by saying, “The day we wrote “Sipping Wine On The Water” was so much fun, but I have to be honest, I had gone in thinking I was gonna write a ballad, a love song of some sort, maybe even a heartbreak song which are my favorite songs to write. However, my co-writers told me that’s the last thing I needed, that those types of songs are what I write all the time. Davis Naish and Melissa Fuller, some of my favorite writers in Nashville, pushed me out of my comfort zone that day. Davis started playing this riff on his guitar and immediately we knew we had something special and that’s how “Sipping Wine On The Water” came to be. More about Cyndi here. #CyndiThomson
OLIVER WOOD: Oliver Wood releases “Yo I Surrender,” June 14, from his upcoming album, Fat Cat Silhouette, on Honey Jar Records / Indirecto Records. The track features special guest Steve Berlin of Los Lobos on baritone saxophone. Listen to “Yo I Surrender” and pre-save/pre-order Fat Cat Silhouette here. “This was a fun collaboration between myself, Jano Rix, Ted Pecchio and Steve Berlin. Both writing and recording the song was a very childlike process,” explains Oliver Wood. “The music came together live in the studio with all of us in a circle creating a playful and loose vibe. Quirky lyrics quickly followed. It was so fun to play with amazing musicians who listen to each other and allow you to just trust and surrender.” Fat Cat Silhouette was produced by Oliver Wood and his Wood Brothers’ bandmate Jano Rix. The nine-song collection features several collaborations, including songs co-written with Seth Walker, Sean McConnell and Ric Robertson and guest performances by acclaimed singer/songwriter Katie Pruitt, Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin and Marshall Tucker Band’s Marcus Henderson. “I wanted to get outside my box and embrace the uncertainty of what’s out there,” explained Wood. “I wanted weird guitar tones. I wanted more percussion and less drums. Once we began experimenting and doing whatever inspired us, the pressure melted away and I felt liberated.” More about Oliver Woods here. #OliverWoodMusic
Find much more music news in the June edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, in the Summer 2024 issue of Nashville Music Guide. You’ll find my column on pages 28 to 37, but check out the entire issue right here!
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 at www.collegeofsongology.com. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com. @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris