What seemed like a pretty uneventful week was saved by a unique release that exposed a broad new audience to some of the best that country music has to offer. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes soundtrack features original new music from Flatland Cavalry, Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and Charles Wesley Godwin. Although the majority of the tracks are sung by the star of the film, Rachel Zegler, it’s Dave Cobb who is credited with the majority of the creative direction. During the red carpet for the movie premier, Flatland Cavalry frontman Cleto Cordero talked about how he had never been allowed to write a song in this context.
After a string of wildly successful singles, Wyatt Flores’s debut album Life Lessons is finally available. A little odd to consider this an LP, the seven-track project is packed with all the rich instrumentation and storytelling that fans have come to gush over Flores for. Flores worked with Tyler Woodward and Austin Yankunas on the production side for the album. The three flesh out a unique sound and help Flores stand out in a field of young singers that is rapidly growing.
The Wilder Blue was joined by Luke Combs this week on their new song “Seven Bridges Road.” One of the most underrated bands in the whole music scene right now, The Wilder Blue is gearing up for their next album Super Natural will be out November 21st. The album was recorded at the Sonic Ranch studios which has laid home to numerous successful albums and Brent Cobb is taking the reins as producer. The Wilder Blue will be going out on tour this summer with Luke Combs for his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” stadium tour.
Having also recorded an album at the Sonic Ranch studios in the past, Midland released their rendition of the classic song by Glen Campbell, “Wichita Lineman.” This is Midland’s first release since their album The Last Resort: Greetings From. In the announcement on Instagram, they said how the song has been a part of their live shows for a while now and are excited to officially release a mastered version.
A pairing that no one saw coming, Ernest joins DJ and producer Steve Aoki for a song on his HiROQUEST concept album. Ernest and Aoki may have been joined by country writers, Jacob Durrett and Rhett Atkins, it certainly sounds like Aoki’s production. Far from the neo-traditional country that Ernest is known for, the song is in a completely different market and hopefully will bring some new fans to the genre.
Continuing to make their mark on the scene, Low Gap put out a very heartfelt song looking back at a relationship that was doomed from the start. From the perspective of the other man, the narrator does a lot of self-reflecting and soul-searching on “Other End of a Heartbreak.”
