NEW MUSIC THURSDAY

New Music Thursday:

Starting this week (Thursday 4/8) I will be posting 3-5 songs each Thursday that I’m listening to, and a quick little explanation of why you should be too. Hope y'all enjoy!

This week’s songs are:

1. “November Air” by Zach Bryan.

Bryan is an up-and-coming country star, who got his start on YouTube while working in the US Navy. He’s an old school artist that seems to prefer music in its simplest form. His YouTube videos are nothing special, as they usually feature only himself and the guitar he is strumming. He’s a raw talent, and his music is presented in similar fashion.

Moreover, his wordplay is genius, and he is more than happy to lean on indie-influence when available, which is what he did in “November Air,” which plays nothing like the honky-tonky music you may be used to on country radio.

The song itself, aside from its beautifully melancholic tune, seems to be a heart-tearing “thank you” to a mother who gave everything to raise up her “worthless” boys, and give them opportunities to chase dreams and see the world. The whole song leaves you feeling both warm and yet cold inside all at once. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

2. “Highway Song” by Kat Hasty.

Kat Hasty is going to be a household name in the near future. I implore you to jump on the bandwagon sooner than later, because she isn’t getting any worse anytime soon.

With that said, the writing in this one is really strong, as Kat tells the story of a girl breaking men’s hearts years after a man did the same to her’s when she was only 18. The chorus highlights a “highway with no name,” and Kat’s being “born for leaving.” Her strong vocals pair perfectly with the simplicity of the acoustic guitar, and the whole song feels almost like a dream, leaving the listener wishing that they too were on that highway with no name, running from a love they don’t share, and enjoying a life spent on the road with friends that won’t leave.

To top the whole thing off, Kat’s twitter is good follow, as she is happy to poke fun at her love life as a single mother, all the while praising her apparent celebrity crush, Post Malone.

3. “That’s Alright With Me” by Kip Moore.

Kip has long been one of my favorite musicians. Originally growing in fame due to his radio hits “Beer Money” and “Somethin’ Bout Truck,” Kip’s newest albums “Slowheart” (2017) and “Wild World” (2021) were incredibly introspective works that seemed to play as some sort of “look in the rearview” by Kip on his life. The writing in each is real, and will most certainly draw emotion out of any person who listens to them, as everyone has experienced at least a bit of what Kip writes about.

Before those albums though, was Kip’s “Wild Ones” (2015) album. Throughout the album, again, Kip’s writing is engaging, and incredibly relatable. Within the album is the song “That’s Alright With Me,” which is a fun tune, with a catchy chorus and a great rhythm. Likewise, the scenes Kip lays out are descriptive, and leave the listener visualizing the exact campfire he is sat around, strumming along to a tune. Better yet, there is a powerful and well-incorporated theme slid into the 3 minute and 40 second anthem highlighting Kip’s disinterest in worrying over what people think of him.

The song is interesting upon each listen. It’s a work of art with many layers, and all the while, a heck of a lot of fun to tap a foot along with, or maybe even sing a verse or two with the windows down on a sunny spring day.