Baby Robot Media

Interview & Premiere with Signe Marie Rustad at PopMatters

Signe Marie Rustad by Marthe Amanda Vannebo

Signe Marie Rustad’s latest album, When Words Flew Freely arrives 1 November from Die with Your Boots on Records. Reminiscent of classic singer-songwriters of the 1970s (Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill), Rustad has a voice and musical vision that’s decidedly of this time and, also, timeless. Listening to her latest single, “A Thousand Lights”, one hears her sense of optimism come through in the wordless, ethereal choruses and in the tune’s sweeping, lush arrangement. If ever there were a song that captured rediscovering hope after a long walk with hopelessness, “A Thousand Lights” is it.

by Baby Robot Media

Caitlin Anne Webster’s “Powhatan River Blues” premiered on Adobe and Teardrops

If we have to do a reprise of the late 60s and early 70s — complete with presidential impeachments, we might as well get the soundtrack, too. Caitlin Anne Webster’s got the kind of rich, clear singing voice that would have made every beatnik drop their espresso and every hippie drop their doobie — and make you drop your vape pen. “Powhatan River Blues” luxuriates in time, space, and musicality. It’s a simple finger-picking pattern that showcases Webster’s poise and insightful lyrics. Clocking in at five minutes, it’s a reminder that we deserve to spread out and take things slow as much as possible.

by Baby Robot Media

Glide Magazine premieres New Song from Karen and the Sorrows

Karen & the Sorrows. Photo by Leah James

For the last eight years, queer country trailblazers Karen & the Sorrows have also been at the heart of a growing queer country community, running the Gay Ole Opry Festival and the Queer Country Quarterly, and creating space for people who love country music even if country music doesn’t always love them back.

With the Sorrows’ third album, Guaranteed Broken Heart, singer-songwriter Karen Pittelman has struck off in new directions. While many of the songs still center around the dark, country-rock twang that Pittelman loves, she also dove more deeply into both ‘90s country and string-band inspired sounds.

by Baby Robot Media

Americana Highways Premieres Hollis Brown’s “Go For It” Video

Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of Hollis Brown’s “Go For It” from their recent album Ozone Park. The album was produced by Adam Landry at Unity Gain Recording Studio in Fort Myers, FL. The band is Mike Montali on vocals and bass, with Adam Bock on keys and backing vocals, Jonathan Bonilla on guitar, and Andrew Zehnal on drums and other percussion.

by Baby Robot Media

Angela Perley drops emotive, late-night Americana on “4:30”

Having previously combined the worlds of country, folk and indie rock as part of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons, the Ohio self-taught musician has stepped out on her own dropping “4:30”, the title track from her first solo album due later this summer.

“4:30” creates a dreamy night-owl atmosphere, with arpeggiated guitars that underpin Angela Perley’s exploration of reflection and seeking self-acceptance. Taking her cues from timeless songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Patti Smith, she combines her delicate and dreamy vocals with a knack for emotional storytelling.

“’4:30′ is the record’s anthem and mantra in many ways,” says Perley. “It’s about overcoming obstacles, moving forward, and facing adversity head-on. I wrote it during a time in my life where I had started to feel unbalanced for a variety of reasons. There were several life changes I knew I needed to make which were difficult and I kept finding myself in situations where I felt like I had no control. Writing the song was my way of beginning to move forward and regain stability.”

The track’s title and theme, “4:30”, is a significant time of night for Perley: “4:30 is when my body’s natural sleep cycle begins,” she explains, “so if I’m not on a schedule I tend to stay up until then. I often find myself awake at 4:30 a.m. if I’m not on a schedule of some kind and feel very creative at night. I started writing this one at 4:30 a.m., which is usually later than I start writing songs, but that energy gave it an almost lucid dream-like vibe.

“I also remember listening to Lucinda Williams’ ‘Joy’ on repeat around the same time I wrote ‘4:30’ so I think the spirit of that song subconsciously sparked the creative process. I was also revisiting some old Dylan records that I hadn’t listened to in a really long time, which inspired the ‘Tangled Up in Blue’ shoutout in verse three.”

Perley co-produced “4:30”, as well as the entire album, with longtime collaborator Chris Connor, who she took the track to and created arrangements and a subsequent demo with. After tracking the whole album live in Ohio and adding more instrumentation and vocal overdubs at their home studio, Dave Collins (D’Angelo, Bruce Springsteen) mastered the record.

“4:30” is out tomorrow and the album of the same name is released 2 August. Find Angela Perley on Facebook.

Wide Open Country Premieres Erisy Watt’s “Redwoods” Video

Portland, Oregon-based folk singer-songwriter Erisy Watt transforms fear into wonderment on the stunning “Redwoods,” the latest release from her forthcoming album Paints in the Sky (out on July 26).