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| Phil Vassar and Deana Carter, "Brand New Year" (Image courtesy of Adkins Publicity) |
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Disclaimer: This is an independently run Fan Blog complimenting Marie Crichton's Country Show (formerly BBC Radio Shropshire; Saturday 18:00-20:00 / Monday 20:00-22:00) currently broadcasting live on CMR Nashville (Sunday 20:00-22:00/ Repeat Monday 08:00-10:00). It is not the work of its lovely presenter. Marie is not the Editor, she provides the fantastic music and Country Routes News Blog provides additional information to enhance her hard work and assist her loyal listeners. Thank you
Sunday 25 December 2022
Phil Vassar Releases Original Holiday Tune "Brand New Year" With Deana Carter
Multi-Grammy Nominated Singer-Songwriter Jamie O'Neal Releases Debut Holiday Album
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| Album Artwork Photo Credit: Angela Talley |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Multi-GRAMMY nominated singer-songwriter Jamie O'Neal spread Spirit & Joy with the release of her debut Christmas album on Oct 21, 2022.
Available from JOG Inc. and BFD/AUDIUM Nashville, Spirit & Joy "may be a seasonal album, but it’s a deeply personal one all year round (American Songwriter)." Stream and download Spirit & Joy HERE or using the YouTube playlist below.
**** USE the Playlist play control 2nd left from top of the screen to see the playlisted tracks and select one to play from the drop down menu *** 👇
Like the holidays, the making of SPIRIT & JOY was truly a family affair.
O'Neal produced the album with her husband Rodney Good, a platinum-certified recording engineer (Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton), who joined her for their first-ever duet with "Please Come Home for Christmas." (released Oct 7, 2022)
O'Neal also collaborated with her father Jimmy
Murphy, sister Melissa Murphy and daughter Aliyah Good for Spirit & Joy's focus track, "Do You Hear What
I Hear?" Taste of Country exclusively premiered the first listen to the
"timely" classic, noting "the album is more than just another
holiday collection."
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| Publicity Photo Credit: Angela Talley |
Spirit & Joy opens with "Christmas," (first released on Sept 22, 2022) penned on the spot at the request of O’Neal by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jeffrey Steele, and wraps with "Silver Bells" featuring fellow ACM Award winner Collin Raye.
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"Christmas" Single Art Photo Credit: Angela Talley |
With cuts from Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Idina Menzel and more, O'Neal co-wrote three originals for the album, including the "jazz-infused (Wide Open Country)" "Christmas You."
Originally slated for release last year, Spirit & Joy was postponed due to O'Neal's
sister Sam's unexpected passing. O'Neal dedicated her rendition of "White Christmas" in loving memory of her sister and to her parents for
the great Christmas memories they all shared as a family. She hopes the
album will help listeners celebrate the cheerful nature of the season,
while honoring the sentimental side of the holidays.
O'Neal's latest album, Sometimes, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Shiver. The critically-acclaimed project proved that O'Neal
"hasn’t lost an iota of her powerhouse vocal talent (Rolling Stone Country)." Featuring collaborations with John Paul White,
Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, Sara Evans and O'Neal's daughter Aliyah Good, Sometimes received additional praise from People, Forbes, Parade, American Songwriter, The Boot, Wide Open Country, MusicRow and many more.
SPIRIT & JOY TRACK
LISTING
1. Christmas
Jeffrey Steele
2. Christmas You
Jamie O'Neal, Corey Lee Barker
3. Please Come Home for Christmas Feat. Rodney Good
Charles Brown, Gene Redd
4. White Christmas
Irving Berlin
5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
Kim Gannon, Walter Kent
6. Gulf of Mexico
Jamie O'Neal, Rodney Good, Jimmy Murphy
7. Do You Hear What I Hear? Feat. Jimmy Murphy, Melissa Murphy and
Aliyah Good
Noel Regne, Gloria Shayne
8. You Were Christmas to Me
Jamie O'Neal, Corey Lee Barker
9. River
Joni Mitchell
10. Silver Bells Feat. Collin Raye
Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
ABOUT JAMIE O'NEAL
Jamie O'Neal is a platinum-selling entertainer and hit songwriter that became a
household name with her back-to-back No. 1 singles, "There Is
No Arizona" and "When I Think About Angels."
With multiple hits that followed such
as "Shiver," "Trying To Find Atlantis"
and "Somebody's Hero," O'Neal caught fire and earned
numerous career accolades, including three GRAMMY nominations, an Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Female Vocalist and a Billboard Award for New Country Artist.
While she has penned most of her own songs,
O'Neal has also written hits for Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes,
CeCe Winans, Idina Menzel and others.
Her voice can be heard internationally in major studio films, including “All by Myself” for “Bridget Jones's Diary.”
CONNECT with Jamie O'Neal:
Country singer/songwriter, Jordana Bryant releases debut Christmas song "First Christmas In Love"
Debut Christmas song from
Country singer/songwriter, Jordana Bryant.
She shared: “I’ve always loved Christmas and I’m unashamedly that person who wants to get the decorations out way before Thanksgiving. Growing up, I remember watching all the Hallmark Christmas movies with my grandma and I always loved how they showed how magical it is to fall in love during Christmas time. So, last year when my team and I were talking about me putting out a Christmas song and I started thinking of what I wanted to write about, I instantly thought of all those classic movies, and I came up with the idea to write about the first time being in love during the Christmas season. I hope this song leaves people feeling that excitement and joy!”
Direct YouTube Link for the Lyrics.
On December 9th, Jordana released a 3-track Christmas EP featuring her original song "First Christmas In Love" (Starlight Music Productions) and covers of the hit songs "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "Last Christmas." Stream here: https://jordanabryant.komi.io
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| Facebook photo |
Country artist Jordana Bryant has always loved the holidays, so it is only fitting that this year she shared her own Christmas song, “First Christmas In Love,” in which she blends classic holiday music style with modern elements.
Penned entirely by Jordana, “First Christmas In Love” captures the added magic of sharing Christmas with someone you love for the first time.
Bryant illustrates the excitement of being in love during Christmas in the brand new music video for her original holiday single.
Premiered exclusively on YouTube on Tuesday, November 29, the festive, snow-filled visual finds Jordana with her special someone enjoying all the holidays have to offer. It will surely put you in the holiday spirit.
In what has been a whirlwind year, Bryant released her debut single, “Guilty,” (https://apple.co/3juSEXA ) with Riser House, garnering over 740,000 views on YouTube and 510,000 streams on Spotify alone.
She followed up with the release of fan-favorite “New Friends” (https://apple.co/3hO5900) due to an overwhelming response from her rapidly growing fanbase on Instagram and TikTok, which instantly connected with the track and flooded Jordana’s comment section with pleas for its release. In turn, the track received over 10,000 pre-saves and went on to garner over 1.3 million streams.
With additional singles “Had To Be There” (released 19 August 2022) and “Bad Relationships” (released 14 Oct 2022) and garnering over 20 million views globally, she’s solidified her spot as one of Nashville’s can’t miss rising stars.
i had so much fun at the @HardRock stage at @CountryMusic #CMAFest a couple weeks ago!! where should i play next??? 🥰 pic.twitter.com/1sgkxaUWyK
— Jordana Bryant (@JordanaBryant) June 30, 2022
This year she opened for country music trio Restless Road, made her CMA Fest debut and stepped into the celebrity guest role of Bailey Stone in the Brian Kelley backed musical, ‘May We All: A New Country Musical’ at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center following in the footsteps of Breland, Lainey Wilson, Michael Ray, Danielle Bradbery and many others.
On Friday, December 2, Jordana performed “First Christmas In Love” as she opens for multi-GRAMMY Award nominee Christian artist, Matthew West, at the City of Franklin’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square. The historic downtown Franklin, TN welcomes local families of all ages to celebrate the magic of the holiday season with live music performances and the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
CONNECT with Jordan Bryant:
Wednesday 4 May 2022
Marie’s CMR Country Show (Sunday 10th April 2022)
2022-04-10
Marie’s CMR
Country Show (Sunday 10th April 2022)
Brand new music
from Reba McEntire, Hailey Whitters, Thomas Rhett, Dolly Parton, The Shires and
Ned LeDoux
Find out all the different ways to listen to the show HERE
Hour 1
(Artist/ Song (album/ label)
Hour 2
Joe and Martina
Badass Married
Country Duo, met on Myspace. Singer/Songwriters Musician Nashville, TN. Billboard's
One's to Watch in 2018.
Johnny and June. George and
Tammy. Waylon and Jessi. Garth and Trisha.
Like the Country music royalty before them, Joe & Martina possess a mutual respect for their craft and the love held for each other is evident whether on or off the stage. Their music unfolds as communicative storytelling through complementary harmonies; It’s a sonic love story unveiled with Bakersfield edge, a touch of modern influence, and the elusive guitar solo.
As independent artists, Joe & Martina continuously flex their creative muscles while remaining faithful to their roots and releasing undeniably “Country” material.
Songs such as “Hometown Summer Nights,” “Middle of Nowhere, USA,” and
“I’ve Been Around” have garnered the married duo numerous accolades including a
spotlight by Billboard as
an ”Artist to Watch”, an official stage performance at CMA Fest, and allowed
the couple to grace the cover of Horse & Agriculture Magazine.
As Terra Bella, Joe and
Martina were introduced to esteemed producer/guitarist, Johnny Garcia, who
began to coach and produce their material in between tour legs with Garth
Brooks. In 2016, the debut EP Road To Forever came to fruition and scored the
duo's first Billboard Indicator (#51) and Music Row (#42) charting song with
the single "You've Got That Somethin'."
Joe, who was the
original bass player for the now multi-platinum artist Luke Combs, quickly
elevated his lyrical credibility as a songwriter having co-written “Don’t Tempt
Me” off of Comb’s This One’s For You and has since been recognized as a
producer for not only Joe & Martina material, but rising singer-songwriters
such as Allie Colleen, Dustin Huff, and social media sensation Taylor Ray
Holbrook.
They released singles
"I've Been Around" (Nov 22, 2019), "Give Me Back the 90's"
(feat. John Berry) (22 Feb 2020), “Brighter Than Neon” (2 April 2021), "Good
In a Small Town" (8 April 2022) and 4 track EP Easy to Love on July 2,
2021.
Sarah McCulloch
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful, what a talent, I think she’s got a great voice ” – Marie Crichton CMR Nashville
Sarah McCulloch is a Country/Americana Singer-Songwriter
based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Born in Miami, Sarah was raised in the Big Cypress Swamp in a house her family built with hand milled cypress from her Father's sawmill. Sarah was homeschooled for most of her formative years and drew songwriting inspiration from her colorful childhood, surrounded by Seminole Indians and Florida pioneers. “My father was a force of nature, he was a pioneer who was always growing spiritually,” says McCulloch. “He taught me the meaning of hard work and perseverance.” The title track of the album pays homage to that sentiment as well as McCulloch’s unique upbringing and country roots.
McCulloch
introduced herself to the world on her debut album, Strawberry Moon, which was
released in 2018, and garnered sparkling reviews far and wide. The album was
nominated for Country Album of the Year at
the Independent Music Awards, making McCulloch the only woman nominated in that
category.
As a dedicated
songwriter, musician, and mother, her creativity and drive knows no bounds, and
“Honey to a Bear” (released Feb 4, 2022 | Lyric Video YouTube) along with the upcoming
album Sawmiller’s Daughter is a testament to this. - Music Mecca.org (Interview)
Sarah McCulloch is a Country/Americana Singer-Songwriter whose sweet, yet sultry, voice pierces right through the lush traditional country production on her new album, SAWMILLER’S DAUGHTER. The songwriter’s emotive and nostalgic lyrics showcase her knack for timeless storytelling that transports the listener right into the center of the narrative.
Produced
by Jim Bickerstaff (Widespread Panic, Loretta Lynn, Chuck Leavell, Gladys
Knight) and written entirely by McCulloch except for, “I’m Just an Old Chunk of
Coal'' written by legendary outlaw songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, Sawmiller’s
Daughter is an evocative collection of stories rooted in strength, spirit and
family. The album was recorded at East Avalon Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
and features widely acclaimed musicians including Pat Severs (pedal steel),
Kelvin Holly (electric guitar), Clayton Ivey (Hammond B3, pianos, Wurlitzer),
John Willis (acoustic / electric guitar, banjo, mandolin), Bob Wray (bass), Terry
Feller (drums), Stan Geberer (harmonica) and Donny Carpenter (fiddle).
Sarah McCulloch Sawmiller’s Daughter Self Release
(Lonesome Highway Review)
2 cuts have made it to the semi-finals in the ISC. “Honey to a Bear” and “Sun and the Moon.”
McCulloch’s 14-track debut album, STRAWBERRY MOON (released 11 April 2018 | YouTube Playlist), received radio airplay in the U.S. and internationally, as well as amassed glowing reviews from many notable publications including No Depression Magazine and Gashouse Radio. In 2018, Strawberry Moon also gained top recognition as a nominee at the Independent Music Awards in NYC in the Country category, in which McCulloch was the only female artist to be nominated.
Her latest self-released single “Half Crazy” dropped March 25, 2022
Rhyan Sinclair
Lexington,
Kentucky. Cosmic Americana from Lexington, KY.
Kentucky’s
Rhyan Sinclair is one of those rare songwriters who can simultaneously pay
tribute to artists who inspire her and create something entirely new, within
one song.
In 2018, she released her first solo full-length, Barnstormer, which spurred Saving Country Music to call Sinclair “a chute of new country music life rising from the soil.” Later in 2018, she released the holiday EP, Marshmallow World (Nov 2, 2018), which was featured on the Americana Music Association’s Holiday Playlist.
In the spring of 2022, this impressive new voice in country returned with LETTERS TO ALIENS (released March 4, 2022), which continues the theme of a woman on a journey, but this time the vibe is cosmic, seventies-esque folk rock with whispers of traditional country.
“All of my roots show through in this music,” said Sinclair. “Sonically, it draws inspiration from all of my greatest influences. Lyrically, the songs address my lineage and pieces of my story that I haven’t really shared before. I feel like the narrative of this album is particularly empowered, even in the most vulnerable moments.”
Top 50 on Americana Music Association Radio Chart - Weeks of 3/15, 3/22 and 4/5. ‘Letters to Aliens', reentered the Americana Music Association's Top 50 Albums Chart this week, at #49 (dated April 5, 2022 Graphic).
“The recording process of this album felt like arriving at home,” says Sinclair. “It was the recording process I’d always dreamed of. It was a one hundred percent chill, respectful, safe space. We got to really tune out the world’s noise and tune into the energy of the songs.
The band and I were super in sync. An idea would pop into my head and before I could say it, somebody would suggest the same thing I had in mind.” . “This album is a documentation of my human experience,” she saysr. “My time capsule, my letter on a balloon, my story thus far.
With any luck, these songs will reach others who feel a bit like outsiders, misfits…aliens. I hope that people listen to this record and feel like at least a few of the songs understand them. That’s always my goal. I hope it takes them on a journey, and maybe even inspires them to get a little closer to their inner child. I’ve found so much confidence and freedom in facing the traumas from my past and moving through them, instead of running from them like I did for a while. I can only hope that one of my songs could possibly inspire someone else to do the same, even in the smallest way.”
Rhyan Sinclair - Dragon Spirit (Official Music Video) published Dec 31, 2021:
CMA International Broadcaster of the Year Baylen Leonard named Rhyan one of this week's Spotlight Artists on Absolute Radio Country. The song was on rotation throughout the week.
"An inspirational woman's journey from the darkness of self-doubt and being trapped by the ghosts of the past and her own mind to finding herself and the strength to face the world, this is a strong early contender for the year best of lists." - Mike Davies, Fatea Magazine (UK)
CONNECT with Rhyan Sinclair:
