In anticipation of her forthcoming album, The Fire I Saw, Jenny Parrott has released the opening song, “Knockin’ Back Some Cokes.” Said to be inspired by Parrott’s favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer character, Spike, and Sam Cooke, “Knockin’ Back Some Cokes” showcases a blend of humor and nihilism. The full album is set to release Nov. 12.
Houston Jazz artist Kristine Mills is releasing her newest album, Looking Back. Moving Forward., Nov. 12. Set to drop before her forthcoming relocation to London, the album is a reflection on Mills’ several-decades-long career and will be celebrated with three pre-release shows in the Houston area.
Austin folksinger Natalie Jane Hill will release her new album, Solely, Oct. 29 via Dear Life Records. The first single of the 10-track album, “Orb Weaver,” has already been released, along with an accompanying music video via GoldFlakePaint. The record is a celebration of knowing ourselves well enough to be able to accept the darkest of introspections and features instrumentals and inspiration from musicians such as Mat Davidson, Bob Hoffnar and Nick Drake.
Austin-based blues singer Sue Foley is gearing up for the release of her new album, Pinky’s Blues, Oct. 22 on Stony Plain Records. Following on the success of her 2018 album, The Ice Queen, Pinky’s Blues is a romp through the backroads of Texas blues.
Omnivore Recordings has announced the release of an album by Kinky Friedman and the late Billy Joe Shaver, Live Down Under, which will be available Oct. 17 via CD and digital streaming services. The album, produced by Phil Cody, was recorded live in Sydney, Australia, during the duo’s Live Down Under tour, and has been remixed, remastered and newly edited.
Austin songwriter Ben Balmer aims to bind folksy Americana with contemporary twists in his new album, Honky-Tonk Macbeth, set to release on Oct. 15. Produced by Balmer and Justin Douglas, the album explores the trials and themes of love from all ages in history. Originally from Michigan, Balmer is influenced by a range of musicians, including Tom Waits, Fiona Apple, Taj Mahal and Paul Butterfield.
Cody Johnson will release “Til You Can’t” to country radio Oct. 18. The debut single is from his upcoming release, Human: The Double Album, available Oct. 8. To date, Johnson has released nine of the album’s 18 songs in advance of the release. Says Johnson: “I chose to record ‘Til You Can’t’ because of the positivity in the message. In our world today, we could use more positivity.” In addition, Johnson’s feature-length documentary, Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, can now be rented or purchased exclusively via the Apple TV app through Oct. 8.
In anticipation of his new EP, From the Jordan, Thomas Csorba has released the single “For You.” Produced by Beau Bedford, “For You” tells the story of Csorba’s grandparents, who were refugees from Hungary. The EP is set to release Oct. 8.
Noel McKay, one half of the McKay Brothers, has released a single, “The 50 Loneliest Places in the Nation,” via streaming services. The first single off his new 12-track album, Blue, Blue, Blue, centers around a dream McKay had. Set to release Oct. 8, the album is the result of a decade’s worth of work.
Austin musician and frontman of the string band Wood & Wire, Tony Kamel (pictured in top photo) is set to release his debut solo album, Back Down Home, Sept. 24. The album, produced by Bruce Robison and released via his label The Next Waltz, is a country-infused ode to growing up on the Gulf Coast.
Guitarist and songwriter Hayden Pedigo will release of his newest album, Letting Go, Sept. 24 via Mexican Summer — his first collaboration with the label. Pedigo shared the title single to the 7-track album earlier this month, alongside a music video directed by Rocco and Gilles and featuring a background story that corresponds to the character on the album’s cover.
After several decades and a dozen albums under their collective belt, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps have released their latest studio album, Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1, via Blue Heart Records. The album, which dropped Sept. 17, features Texas guitarists such as Yates McKendree, Anson Funderburgh, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell and Snuffy Walden.
Randy Lewis Brown released his single “Falling Man” Sept. 10, the eve of the 20th anniversary of one of the country’s most devastating events. Written as a tribute to those who suffered during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, “Falling Man” was inspired by Richard Drew’s famous photo of the same name, which Brown says has haunted him since he first saw it.
Country-rock icons Reckless Kelly have announced the release of their newest album, The 9/11 Demos — an album recorded in its entirety on Sept. 11, 2001, at Arlyn Studios in Austin. The album was released Sept. 10 and includes 16 original tracks that have been revised and digitized for release.
Austin alternative pop band Me Nd Adam released their newest single, “Get the Money,” Sept. 8. The duo, consisting of musicians Vince Winik and Adam Walker, fuses classic rock, alternative, trap and electro-pop to create its sound, and draws inspiration from artists such as Willie Nelson, Don Henley, Metro Boomin, Oasis and Blink-182. The song is an upbeat tune that focuses on the incessant challenge of American work-life balance.
Jon Wolfe released his seventh studio album, Dos Corazones, Sept. 1. The album comes to fruition exactly one year after Wolfe, producer Dave Brainard, songwriter Tony Ramey, videographer Mason Dixon and photographer Jeremy Thomas joined together in the Chihuahuan desert to write the majority of the project. The resulting 17-track album covers themes of love, loss and American values.
Texas spoken-word artist and poet Ethan Jewell released his new single, “something to live for,” Aug. 20 in anticipation of his forthcoming third album. This single follows on the heels of other pieces such as “drive thru poem” and “i feel better when nobody remembers i exist,” which were released via Tik Tok prior to their digital release.
Corpus Christi songwriter Doc Carter released his debut album, High Tide for Low Times, Aug. 13 via CD and streaming platforms. Encompassing genres such as folk, country, rock and pop, High Tide for Low Times showcases themes of love, travel, self-realization and social observations.
Austin pop group the Belle Sounds has released their newest EP, All About Love, along with a music video for the title track. The title track’s video stars popular roller skating star Sarah Haywood and features an appearance from musician Nile Rodgers. The EP features an ’80s synth-pop sound with a nod to Stevie Nicks.
Alexander Beggins, one half of the duo Wild Child, wears a new persona, Coco Zandi, on his debut album, As Simple as a Dream. The album is inspired by the unique sounds of 1950s Hawaiian and exotica records and explores themes of love and loss. As Simple As a Dream features Zandi’s signature baritone ukulele as well as his trio of backup singers, the Coquettes.
