New Music Friday - 6/25/21

It’s New Music Friday – Time for the Picks of the Week – a song and an album that have caught my attention and something I think you’ll want to listen to this weekend. So let’s get to it…

Today’s featured single is “Heroes” by Natalie Hemby

It’s been four years since the release of her incredible debut album Puxico, but country singer-songwriter Natalie Hemby hasn’t just been sitting around. Heard of The Highwomen?

She’s one of the main songwriters and one quarter of the supergroup. Her new single “Heroes” combines a country twang with “Beast of Burden” style Rolling Stones. The singer admits her latest Sheryl Crow-inspired record one "[she] never got the chance to make”. A song about deconstructing the power of superstardom. If it’s a preview of things to come from Hemby and her solo stuff – we’re all in for some great new music.

Today’s featured album is Home Video from Lucy Dacus

The indie-singer-songwriter from Richmond delivers a great collection of nostalgic tracks on her latest album continuing her string of great music (both solo and part of the super-trio Boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker).

We’re given a glimpse into the life between child and recording artist. What has led Dacus to where she is? Songs like “VBS” and “Cartwheel” are a peek. Her delicate but strong voice leads the way over music that can go from soft to fuzzy in a second. It explores a slice of 2000s Christian youth culture from the perspective of a girl who lived through it, and recently came out as bisexual in early adulthood, struggling to square her queerness with her faith. Check out my favorite track, “Brando”.