Last week, ambient musician Corntuth released their record The Desert Is Paper Thin, a concept record soundtracking a long desert drive throughout the course of an entire day, from sunrise to late evening. Corntuth recorded it during the pandemic as a means of escapism, and summoned industry veteran Pete Finney to add lush pedal steel to the emotive and organic-sounding record. The video was filmed in Landers, Calif. The idea was to make an ambient film, with the hope that people would put it on their computer screens and play it while they worked so they might feel like they…

Nico Hedley announces a new album, Painterly, out September 3rd via Whatever’s Clever. The first single “Waking Dreams” proves that you can make country record in New York City. With lush instrumentation and Nico’s introspective lyrics, it’s a fresh-sounding spin on classical countrypolitan. Personnel includes Ryan El-Solh on guitar, Carmen Rothwell on double bass, Jeff Widner on drums, and Adam Robinson on horns. Drew Citron adds backing vocals on this particular track. The songs on Painterly were sparked by unsparing self-reflection. Sometimes they took the initial form of a sticky melody, a punchy one-liner, or an uncomfortable memory Hedley couldn’t push aside.…

The amazing Yola announced a new record, out 7/30, and today releases this anthem to sex positivity and liberation. Eschewing conservative social norms, “Starlight” celebrates love, romance, and ultimately the route to self-love through those normative relationships that may not be tied to tradition. Softly lit, Yola’s powerful, towering voice creates a soundtrack to this beautiful piece of film. I wanted to put something into the world that showed people what my dating life is like now. I’m currently single, yes, but I’m not neglected or some soulless sex robot. The volume of media dedicated to showing dark skinned Black…

Nashville label Devil’s Tower Records and Portland’s Groove Family Records have announced a limited vinyl release of Kiss My Ass Goodbye, an official Record Store Day release (7/17) featuring legendary and emerging artists from Nashville, Las Vegas, Athens, Seattle, Chicago and beyond paying tribute to everyone’s favorite songwriter. Proceeds benefit the Nashville Rescue Mission. On Friday, the first single from the compilation was released, Jeff Mix and the Songhearts’ “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.” “I tried to imagine, ‘What if The Killers were to do a John Prine song?’ The track listing includes Nashville A-listers who have worked with…