New Music Video From Brandi Carlile - "Returning To Myself"

New Music Video From Elton John & Brandi Carlile - "Little Richard's Bible"

New Music Video From Elton John & Brandi Carlile - "Who Believes In Angels"

Elton John & Brandi Carlile To Release Collaborative Album Together In April

Elton John and Brandi Carlile announce details of their collaborative studio album Who Believes In Angels?, set for release on 4th April via Island EMI Records. Pre-order here. Also unveiled today is the new single from the album, the eponymous song ‘Who Believes In Angels?’. Listen BELOW.

The concept for Who Believes In Angels? was devised by close friends and regular collaborators Elton John, eleven-time GRAMMY winning US superstar Brandi Carlile and multiple GRAMMY Award winning producer and songwriter Andrew Watt. They set out to create a genuinely collaborative studio album between Elton and Brandi. The album would mix Elton-led songs and Brandi-led songs, with long term collaborator Bernie Taupin and Brandi both contributing lyrics, and producer and co-writer Andrew Watt acting as the producer, mediator and creative conduit. Entering Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Studios in October 2023 with a completely blank slate, they pushed each other out of their comfort zones to write and record an album completely from scratch in just 20 days. They would be backed by a world class band of musicians comprising of Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Pino Palladino (Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan and David Gilmour) and Josh Klinghoffer (Pearl Jam, Beck).

Watch a short film about the process of making Who Believes In Angels? here. This is the first time that Elton has allowed cameras to film his writing and recording sessions. Static cameras positioned around the studio captured thousands of hours of raw footage, and ultimately documented the entire creative process - breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and all. The candid footage offers fans an unprecedented, searingly honest insight into the emotionally turbulent creative process for Elton, Brandi and the rest of the team.

The results of this creative friction are stunning, and the kaleidoscopic scope of Who Believes In Angels? draws comparisons with some of Elton’s very finest works. Ballads co-exist with raw rock and roll, pop songs and country-hued Americana rub shoulders with synth-heavy psychedelia. It’s an album as unexpected as it is triumphant. Elton sounds utterly revitalized. Brandi sounds like a singer-songwriter at the absolute top of her game, her voice melding with Elton’s like a hand in a glove. The resulting songs somehow manage to be unequivocally the work of Elton John and Brandi Carlile, while sounding unlike any album either have made before.

Elton says: “This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future. I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career Mark 2.”

Brandi says: “I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it. I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family. The world is a wild place to live in right now. It’s hard to find peace and triumph. It’s a radical act to seek out joyful and euphoric happenings. And that is what this album represents to me.”

The eponymous single ‘Who Believes In Angels?’ is also unveiled today. In keeping with the album it gives its name to, it is a true collaboration; Brandi penned the lyrics and Elton the theme, before Andrew joined them to bring it all together. From the opening piano chords, it’s unmistakably a slice of classic Elton John, that at once manages to nod to past glories whilst sounding thoroughly modern and forward looking. Brandi’s soaring vocals meld exquisitely with Elton’s on a towering synth charged chorus, as hard hitting as many of his best-loved classics.

Who Believes In Angels? also features 2025 Oscar nominated song ‘Never Too Late’, created especially for the Disney+ documentary of the same name and unveiled last year to widespread critical acclaim. Listen here. A beautiful, reflective and ultimately uplifting story of finding happiness and redemption in love and family, ‘Never Too Late’ is the truly fitting finale to the documentary that plays out over the credits of the documentary of the same name. The documentary follows Elton as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in an emotionally charged, intimate and inspiring full-circle journey. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish the documentary is available to watch on Disney+ now.

Who Believes In Angels? track listing:

The Rose Of Laura Nyro

Little Richard’s Bible

Swing For The Fences

Never Too Late

You Without Me

Who Believes In Angels?

The River Man

A Little Light

Someone To Belong To

When This Old World Is Done With Me

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New Music Video From Brandi Carlile & Sheryl Crow - "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt Cover)

New Music Video From Brandi Carlile - "You and Me On The Rock"

New Music Video From Brandi Carlile - "Right On Time"

Bee Gees' Barry Gibb Collaborates With With Isbell, Carlile, Urban, Dolly, Miranda, Little Big Town & More On Upcoming Country Album

Artist: Barry Gibb (and Friends)

Album: Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1

Label: Capitol Records

Release date: January 8, 2021

The first really intriguing album announcement for 2021 just was released as Bee Gees member and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Barry Gibb is collaborating with a who's-who of country and roots music on a new project to be released just after the first of the year. A lifelong bluegrass and country music fan, Gibb has long dreamed of a project that would bring him together with some of the artists he admires the most. With the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, that dream has become a reality with Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1—out January 8 on Capitol Records. 

Across twelve of the Gibb Brothers songs reborn, the album features collaborations with Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, David Rawlings, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, Jason Isbell, Jay Buchanan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Olivia Newton-John, Sheryl Crow and Tommy Emmanuel. In advance of the release, “Words of a Fool,” featuring Grammy Award-winning Jason Isbell, is out today (listen HERE).

Of the experience, Barry Gibb shares, “From the first day we stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville (the very place where Elvis, Willie, Waylon, Roy, the Everly Brothers and so many other legends made their magic) the album took on a life of its own. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to work with Dave and all the artists who stopped by. They were all incredibly generous with their time and talent. They inspired me more than words can express. I feel deep down that Maurice and Robin would have loved this album for different reasons. I wish we could have all been together to do it…but I think we were.”

Dave Cobb comments, “It was truly an honor to work with one of my heroes. The Bee Gees’ first album has always been a staple for me and it was surreal to get to witness the genius of Barry Gibb in the studio—he’s one of the greatest of all time!”

Jason Isbell adds, “Barry Gibb is one of the greatest songwriters and singers in popular music history, and I’m happy to say he still has that beautiful voice and that magical sense of melody. Working with him on this project has been one of the great honors of my career. He’s a prince.”

With a career spanning more than five decades, Sir Barry Gibb stands as one of the most renowned and celebrated musicians of the modern era. As co-founder and creative leader of the Brothers Gibb—better known to the world as the Bee Gees—Barry with his brothers, Maurice and Robin, represent one of the most successful vocal groups in rock and roll history, having sold more than 200 million albums to date. With nine #1 singles as a performer, Barry is also amongst the most successful songwriters of all-time (with sixteen #1 singles) and is seventh on the list of most successful producers (with fourteen #1 singles). He is also tied with John Lennon and Paul McCartney for most #1 singles in a calendar year with seven. Among his many awards and honors are eight Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award and, most recently, the 2015 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also the recipient of the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, the BMI Icon Award, four BMI Songwriter of the Year Awards, four BMI Song of the Year Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2004, Barry received one of Britain’s highest honors when the Bee Gees were made Commanders of the British Empire and, in 2018, was Knighted “Sir Barry Gibb” by Prince Charles for his services to music and charity.

Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1

   1. “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You” with Keith Urban

   2. “Words of a Fool” with Jason Isbell

   3. “Run to Me” with Brandi Carlile

   4. “Too Much Heaven” with Alison Krauss

   5. “Lonely Days” with Little Big Town

   6. “Words” with Dolly Parton

   7. “Jive Talkin’” with Miranda Lambert, Jay Buchanan

   8. “How Deep Is Your Love” with Tommy Emanuel, Little Big Town

   9. “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” with Sheryl Crow

   10. “To Love Somebody” with Jay Buchanan

   11. “Rest Your Love On Me” with Olivia Newton-John

   12. “Butterfly” with Gillian Welch, David Rawlings\

Hear It Here - Brandy Clark & Brandi Carlile's New Single, "Same Devil"

Brandy Clark delivers again with this brilliant collaboration with her friend Brandi Carlile. 

Clark describes the new track, "'Same Devil' is about how we all have different paths, different problems, different addictions, different beliefs that all take us to the same exact places. I really was drawn to the dark and raw quality of the idea. What Brandi Carlile brought to the song production wise and then vocally made it take on an even darker and deeper tone. It feels explosive to me."

That Nashville Sound Sunday Newsbytes - Record Store Day & Steve Azar's New Radio Show

Everybody stay safe, hunker down at home if you can, say a little prayer for our front line of first responders and medical personnel and use this music we love as a diversion.

~ Roots & American Music Society (RAMS), a not-for-profit record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, has teamed with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to orchestrate and create a meaningful recording project titled Love Lives On. The combined creative endeavor aligned TAPS military families, who have endured the loss of a loved one, with some of the music industry’s most gifted and renowned songwriters to pen the family members’ intimate and personal stories in music and song. Featuring special guest vocal performances by award-winning recording artists Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich, Paul Overstreet, Andy Griggs, Pam Tillis, Lee Roy Parnell, Lonestar, Gatlin Brothers and more, complemented by A-list studio and touring musicians. The album will be out on May 22, 2020. You can listen to the title track by Lonestar, Vince Gill & friends HERE. 

~ Steve Azar's The I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday) Radio Show is coming to country radio coast to coast this July. During this 4-hour weekend show, Azar will be sharing the stories and talents of his peers in country music, their greatest hits, past and current, as well as hosting some candid conversations with them and other pals from TV, film and sports. Azar says, "As you know my song, "I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday)" has always been about escapism. Just getting away from the hustle and bustle of routines. I introduced and shared it with you through the power of radio 20 years ago and to this day it’s still rocking. I’m thankful for that!"  You watch/hear a preview of what to expect HERE.

~ We announced last week that Record Store Day was pushed back from April to June 20th this year. What we didn't announce was the list of country(ish) vinyl that will be available as special releases only for this unique day.  You can see the entire list HERE.

   An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band: First Set - The Allman Brothers Band
   A Rooster Says - Brandi Carlile
   Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series - Early Mixes (1987) - Johnny Cash
   Pearl Cadillac (Feat. Andra Day) - Gary Clark Jr
   "The Unraveling" b/w "Sarah's Flame" - Drive-By Truckers
   "Times Like These / It's About Blood" - Steve Earle
   Live at the Austin Outhouse - Blaze Foley
   The Man With No Shadow - John Wesley Harding
   Live at Nick’s Fat City, 1995. - Hootie And The Blowfish
   Shooter Live at Bonnaroo - Shooter Jennings
   Angel With A Lariat - K.D. Lang & The Reclines
   Drag - K.D. Lang
   Cover Your Tracks EP - Corb Lund
   Live From The Palomino - Midland
   The Atlantic Albums - John Prine
   The Kentucky Sessions - John Prine/Kelsey Waldon
   Live At The Orange Peel - Son Volt
   Hillbillies in Hell: Volume X - Various Artists
   March of Dimes - Hank Williams

~ And if you didn't see them, a couple of country artists did their favorite Kenny Rogers songs as tributes to the legend who passed away yesterday.

   Jake Owen - "She Believes In Me"
   Jason Eady - "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town)"

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: New Albums, New Record Deals, New Videos & More

With Country Radio Seminars in Nashville, news is coming out fast and furious about lots of your favorite artists.  Here's some headlines in bite-size form...

* Brandi Carlile has been named this year's Record Store Day Ambassador.  This years date of what will be a massive release of new releases on vinyl is April 18, 2020 and Carlile went on video to discuss what this means to her.

* Gary Allan has recently reassembled the band and producers behind his smash album Smoke Rings In The Dark, Tony Brown and Mark Wright, to record his first new music in years. Six 90's-country-inspired songs have already been tracked.

Several new music videos out including:

- Ashley McBryde - "First Thing I Reach For"
- RaeLynn - "Keep Up"
- Darrell Scott - "The Day After"
- Marc Broussard - "Baton Rouge"
- LeAnn Rimes - "Someone You Loved"

* Songwriter Gretchen Peters will pay homage to one of her songwriting heroes with the forthcoming album The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury out May 15th on Peters’ own Scarlet Letter Records. 

* Toby Keith, Chris Stapleton and more have contributed songs to Willie Nelson's next album. Nelson is releasing his 70th solo studio album, First Rose Of Spring, on Friday, April 24, which falls right before the legend’s 87th birthday on April 29. 

* Singer/songwriter Johnny Bulford (Lee Brice's "A Woman Like You" and Chris Young's "Flashlight") has released a fantastic new sentimental track dedicated to his grandfather called "Raised Me" that's definitely worth a listen. 

* On March 27th, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real will release Naked Garden, a companion album to 2019’s Turn Off the News (Build a Garden) featuring previously unreleased tracks and alternate versions of songs from the same sessions. 

* Lauren Alaina will release a six-track EP entitled Getting Good, which releases March 6.

* Reba McEntire has resigned with her original music label. Reba made an appearance during the UMG Nashville CRS luncheon to announce returning to her former label home.

* Not to be undone, Tim McGraw did the same thing, moving back to Big Machine Records. McGraw’s return to Big Machine follows his recent exit from Sony Music Nashville.

New Music Video From Hannah Blaylock and Cody Belew - Brandi Carlile's "The Joke"

New Music Video From Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile - "Beware Of Darkness"

Must-Watch: Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile Duet On "I Will Always Love You" (Live at Newport Folk Festival)

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes - Lots of New Album Announcements & New Music Videos

Plenty of new album announcements came out yesterday as well as a few new music videos to share- all the news that's fit to print is below:

- Marc Broussard released a new music video for "Lonely Night in Georgia" featuring the Elijah Gospel Choir.
- The Highwomen released a new music video for "Redesigning Women."
- Gwen Sebastian released a new music video for "Rock Stars."
- Midland released a new music video for "Put The Hurt On Me."
- The Mavericks released a new music video for "Come Unto Me."

- The before-mentioned The Highwomen—a new collaborative movement formed by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires—officially launches today with the release of the group’s debut single, “Redesigning Women.” The single is the first unveiled from collective’s highly anticipated self-titled debut album, produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, which will be released September 6 on Low Country Sound/Elektra Records.

“Anyone can be a Highwoman,” Carlile notes. “It’s about banding together, abandoning as much ego as humanly possible, holding one another up and amplifying other women every chance we get. Shoulder to shoulder. One push, one love.”

The Highwomen track listing:
1. Highwomen (written by Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Jimmy Webb)
2. Redesigning Women (written by Natalie Hemby, Rodney Clawson)
3. Loose Change (written by Maren Morris, Maggie Chapman, Daniel Layus)
4. Crowded Table (written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna)
5. My Name Can’t Be Mama (written by Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires)
6. If She Ever Leaves Me (written by Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell, Chris Thompkins)
7. Old Soul (written by Maren Morris, Luke Dick, Laura Veltz)
8. Don’t Call Me (written by Amanda Shires, Peter Levin)
9. My Only Child (written by Natalie Hemby, Amanda Shires, Miranda Lambert)
10. Heaven Is A Honky Tonk (written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Ray LaMontagne)
11. Cocktail And A Song (written by Amanda Shires)
12. Wheels Of Laredo (written by Brandi Carlile, Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth)

- Corb Lund has announced he's coming back into our lives with a new covers project, taking on tracks by the likes of AC/DC, Bob Dylan and Billy Joel. The EP release is called Cover Your Tracks, and it will arrive on September 13 via New West Records.

The record is made up of eight songs. In addition to taking on tracks by those aforementioned artists, Lund also covers works by Nancy Sinatra, Marty Robbins, the Eagles, and Willie Nelson & Ray Charles.

Says Lund on the project, "Earlier this year I recorded a bunch of cover songs by some of my favoritee artists and writers from various periods in my life, mostly for fun and to get them out of my system. Many of the songs we've been playing live for years. Being re-inspired by this stuff and getting back in the studio to cut it was a great warm up for making another record of my own songs, which I'm working hard on writing as we speak. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy listening to these old favorites as much as we enjoyed recording them."

- Grammy award -inning country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member Crystal Gayle announced the upcoming release of her first new album in nearly 16 years, You Don’t Know Me. Available everywhere September 6, with a pre-sale beginning August 9, the new album is being released by Southpaw Musical Productions, and distributed by BFD in partnership with The Orchard. Co-produced, recorded and mixed by Crystal's son Christos Gatzimos, You Don’t Know Me is a collection that finds the acclaimed stylist exploring the songs of such country legends as George Jones, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens and Eddy Arnold. The album might come as a surprise to those who associate Crystal with an uptown sound that made her a star on both country and adult-contemporary pop charts. But she has known this repertoire of hardcore country standards all her life.

“This wasn’t a stretch at all,” says Crystal. “This project is a labor of love that my son, Christos, and I produced together. It is filled with country classics that I grew up singing. They are very much a part of my history and I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I feel very lucky to have known and worked with many of the artists who had the original hits.”

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: Tanya Tucker, Kelly Willis, Chris Stapleton, Cody Jinks & More

- Country music royalty Tanya Tucker had herself a VERY big week this week- and all of it is richly deserved. First of all, it was announced that her first album in a decade will be titled While I'm Livin' and will be out on August 23. The project is produced by Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile.

“Brandi is truly out of this world. She’s talented, smart, funny, never ever slows down and has a heart of gold,” says Tucker of the collaboration. “I just love her. She was like my shadow when we were in the studio. Every time I turned around, she was there. And Shooter, I’ve known him since he was a baby. He’s the one who brought us all together. So I’m ready to get this music out there because it’s different than anything I’ve ever done.”

While I’m Livin’ is largely comprised of songs written by Carlile, the twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth and Tucker. “It’s a musical biography of sorts,” said Carlile, “about Tanya’s real life and the places she’s seen, and it’s narrated by the greatest country and western singer this side of Johnny Cash.”

Tucker followed up the album announcement by stealing the show at this week's CMT Awards with a collaboration on her 1972 classic “Delta Dawn.” Bringing out Carlile, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina, Deana Carter, RaeLynn, Carly Pearce and Martina McBride for backing vocals was more than enough to guarantee that.

- Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis released a new music video for "Astrodome," off their new record Beautiful Lie, out June 21, 2019. 

- Carrie Underwood released a new music video for her latest single, "Southbound."

- 80's pop and country superstar Juice Newton is rerecording some of her biggest hits for an EP called Fresh Takes out July 19.

- Chris Stapleton has new music out- he sings a new track called "The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" on the upcoming Disney/Pixar film, Toy Story 4.

- Last, but certainly not least, Cody Jinks has announced that he will independently release a new album titled After the Fire on October 4 of this year. The project is being recorded at Sonic Ranch where he has recorded his previous three project. 

Tanya Tucker Announces Upcoming Shooter Jennings/Brandi Carlile-Produced Album

Artist: Tanya Tucker
Album: While I'm Livin'
Label: Fantasy Records
Release date: Late Summer

Fantasy Records just announced the signing of country music outlaw Tanya Tucker, who is set to release her brand-new album, While I'm Livin' in late summer 2019. Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, While I'm Livin' will mark Tucker's first release of all new material since 2002's Tanya.

"Tanya Tucker is an original outlaw who bucked the country music establishment and became a living legend in the process - which makes Fantasy her perfect home," said Fantasy Records president, Margi Cheske. "We're thrilled to work with Tanya, Brandi and Shooter and help bring this stunning new album to the world."

Born in Seminole, TX, Tanya Tucker had her first country hit in 1972, the classic "Delta Dawn" when she was just 13 years old. Since that auspicious beginning she has become one of the most admired and influential artists in country music history amassing 23 Top 40 country albums and a stellar string of 56 Top 40 country singles, 10 of which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard country charts. Her indelible songs include some of country music's biggest hits such as the aforementioned, "Delta Dawn," "Soon," "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane," "It's a Little Too Late," "Trouble," "Texas (When I Die)," "If It Don't Come Easy," and "Strong Enough To Bend" just to name a few. Tucker is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two CMAs, two ACMs, three CMT awards to go along with 10 GRAMMY nominations.

In August 2016, the Academy of Country Music honored Tucker with the Cliffie Stone Icon Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honor. In all, Tucker has sold more than 25 million records worldwide throughout her illustrious career.

Dave Cobb Produces Upcoming 5/31 Release For Robert Randolph & The Family Band

Artist: Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Album: Brighter Days

Label: Provogue/Mascot Label Group

Release date: May 31, 2019

Robert Randolph and the Family Band announced today that they will release their new studio album, Brighter Days, on May 31st, 2019. A preorder for the album and a lyric video for the first single, “Second Hand Man”, are live as of today as well. Randolph chose to work with producer Dave Cobb on Brighter Days who is best known for his work with new country stars like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, and Jason Isbell.

The first three songs of Brighter Days are a full dive back to Randolph’s gospel roots, starting with lead track “Baptise Me”, a joyous romp of a song that makes a direct connection between religious and musical ecstasy and salvation. “We wrote ‘Baptize Me’ the first day in the studio. It’s really a love story, about an all-round love: for each other, for our audience, for our church background, for the music we love and for our fans. All of these songs kind of harken back to how we started, to being known as this musical family band that comes from the church and appeals to rock, blues, gospel and soul music audiences. We wanted that good gospel, blues, R&B feel, because that’s where we started and it’s good to not only remind people of that but to actively remember it ourselves.”

“Dave Cobb is just a guy who likes to record good music and good songs,” says Randolph. “He wanted to do something that was fun but it also gives you a gospel feeling. He knows the history of our band, coming from church and giving that fun church feeling to people.

“The Family Band” Is not just a name meant to evoke connections of togetherness. They are an actual family; the group that supports Randolph is anchored by his cousins, bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph and his sister, vocalist Lenesha Randolph. Given his goals for the album, it’s fitting that the lone cover song Robert selected for the collection comes from Pops Staples and the Staples Singers, one of gospel’s greatest musical families, who seamlessly crossed over to secular R&B success with inspirational songs like “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.” Their “Simple Man” is a deep, contemplative blues, its pensive nature amplified by Randolph’s signature weeping pedal steel guitar lines.

“When you think about Stax music and a lot of music from the 70s, especially like the Staples Singers, it was inspirational and you danced you had a good time. That’s what we really wanted to hone in on here: let’s sound good and have a natural good time that will bring listeners along. All of the music that we played in the beginning was what we would play in church. We just turned it into long jams.

Producer Cobb is renowned for his vocal work and has often said that the voice comes first for him so it’s no surprise that he helped coax out some of Randolph’s best, deepest, most nuanced singing on the nine songs where he takes the lead. It is a little surprising, however just how simple Cobb’s “secret” really was: just be yourself.

“Over the years I’ve learned how to write these songs that make you feel kind of spiritual and have the gospel roots, just like the great music of people like the Four Tops, Temptations and Ray Charles. It all comes from the same place. We don’t want to sound like them – or like anybody – but that’s the feeling we want to evoke.”

Dierks Bentley's Upcoming June 8 Release The Mountain Features Collaborations with Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile and Jerry Douglas

Artist: Dierks Bentley
Album: The Mountain
Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Release date: June 8, 2018

Singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has built a reputation as both a forever-young drifter and a dedicated family man, put in millions of miles on headlining tours and taken the fearless stylistic detours of a truly authentic artist. He continues that journey with his highly anticipated ninth studio album, The Mountain (Capitol Records Nashville), set for release June 8th. Reaching a new creative high, Bentley co-wrote 10 of the 13 new tracks that are unified by themes of presence and positivity, and range in style from textured rock to acoustic folk, feeling both rooted and expansive at the same time.

The Mountain's story begins in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Telluride, Colorado, which every summer plays host to a celebrated bluegrass festival. Owing to his well-documented love of the genre, Bentley has attended the festival multiple times over the years, always making a point to slow down and tune back in to the world around him. But after performing on the festival’s main stage in 2017, the idyllic surroundings became more than a much-needed getaway.

“I found myself there, constantly reaching for my guitar,” Bentley said. “It was like a gravitational pull. That town and those people just make you want to be creative, I couldn’t describe it. I was like ‘How do I tell everyone in Nashville this is what I want to write about?’ I realized I couldn’t bring it back, so I had to take everyone out there.”

Returning that August with six of his most trusted songwriting collaborators, Bentley and his fellow ‘Telluwriters’ all bunked up in a small house, explored the area and dug deep into the peaceful, reflective vibes he was feeling. They had five days to work with and were hoping to write eight songs…but ended up with nearly twice that number, forming the core of the record. Bentley returned to Telluride with his production team Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart and Arturo Buenahora Jr to a tucked-away hideout called Studio in the Clouds last November to record. Perched high on a mesa, its tracking room overlooking the endless Rocky Mountain landscape, The Mountain rose up in earnest.

“For me it’s the best of both worlds, and it feels like something new. It’s powerful but also happy, with acoustic sensibility mixed in with the big sounds I like to have for the road,” Bentley added. “They are the songs I’d play for somebody to say, ‘This is who I am right now.’"

The Mountain Track Listing:

1. Burning Man (Feat. Brothers Osborne)
2. The Mountain
3. Living
4. Woman, Amen
5. You Can’t Bring Me Down
6. Nothing On But The Stars
7. Goodbye In Telluride
8. My Religion
9. One Way
10. Son Of The Sun
11. Stranger To Myself
12. Travelin’ Light (Feat. Brandi Carlile)
13. How I’m Going Out

New Music Video From Brandi Carlile - "The Joke" (Live from Studio A)