New Slang

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 202, I'm joined by Montana singer-songwriter Sean Devine. Devine released the excellent Here For It All in early September after recording the album with Josh Thompson and Cody Jinks's backing back down at Sonic Ranch. During this conversation, we talk about recording the album, exchanging Dropbox folders with Thompson, writing storytellers like "Clay Blu...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 201, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Suzanne Santo, who last month (August 27) released the dark and mesmerizing album Yard Sale. During this episode, we talk about the emotional depth and weight within Yard Sale, touring with Hozier, writing on the road, mental health, and our favorite TV series of recent memory. This episode's presenting partner is Desert Do...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 200, I'm joined by Sam Anderson and David Matsler of Fort Worth rock band Quaker City Night Hawks. During this one, we talk about early roots, discovering music in the late '90s, collaborating with Mike and The Moonpies, and how the pandemic has had them reaccess their approach to songwriting, releasing albums, and tour schedules. This episode's presentin...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 199, I'm joined by Louisiana singer-songwriter Rod Gator, who is releasing his latest album, the radiant For Louisiana, this Friday, September 17. During this conversation, we talk about his Louisiana roots, writing about natural disasters & conflict, hear stories about near-death experiences, recording and collaborating with Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas and W...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 198, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Luke Dick. During this conversation, we talk about the intersection of art & commerce, releasing music in 2021, writing & collaborating with the likes of Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, & Natalie Hemby, navigating the Nashville songwriting world, and his latest single, the excellent "Some Things Change." This...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 197 is Part 2 of a two-parter recorded down in Marathon, Texas at the Marathon Songwriters Festival. This Part is conversations about West Texas and songs with Josh Grider and Kelley Mickwee. Part 1 was with Courtney Patton, Walt Wilkins, and Drew Kennedy. This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol , The Blue Light Live , and Charlie Stout Photograph...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 196 is Part 1 of a two-parter recorded down in Marathon, Texas at the Marathon Songwriters Festival. This Part is conversations about West Texas and songs with Courtney Patton, Walt Wilkins, and Drew Kennedy. Part 2 with Josh Grider, Kelley Mickwee, and Bobby Hamrick comes out later this week. This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol , The Blue Lig...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 195, I'm joined by Drew Nix and Andrew Bishop of The Red Clay Strays. During this one, we talk about the collaborative writing process, how they navigated a difficult year of staying afloat during 2020, what their record plans are going forward, and hear a few stories about the road, breaking down, and the interesting characters they meet along the way. This episod...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 194, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Mercy Bell, who released Golden Child, her latest EP, this past August 6. During this conversation, we talk about some of the characters, themes, & late night qualities within Golden Child, how short story fiction has influenced her writing, growing up in California and Massachusetts, her love for '90s country music, an...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 193, I'm joined by country artist Hannah Dasher. In early July, Dasher released her infectious and charming debut The Half Record.  We talk about her debut, navigating the songwriting world of Nashville, finding her voice as an artist, hear some stories behind the songs, and her hit TikTok cooking show Stand By Your Pan. This episode's presenting partner is De...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 192, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Garrett T. Capps, who at the week's end (Friday, August 20), is releasing the honky-tonk homage album,  I Love San Antone via Vinyl Ranch. During this one, we talk about recording the album during the pandemic at his San Antonio venue The Lonesome Rose, recording another album out at Sonic Ranch, writing about San Antonio,...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 191, I'm joined by country songwriter Elijah Ocean. Today--Friday, August 13--Ocean released his latest album, Born Blue, a collection of neo-traditional-inspired country songs that highlight the dim lights of late nights and early mornings. During this one, Ocean and I talk about writing the likes of "Thirty-Five" and "The Ice Machine," recordi...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 190, I'm joined by Mike Harmeier of Mike and The Moonpies and album producer Adam Odor. The Moonpies are releasing One To Grow On , their eighth studio effort, on August 10. During this episode, we talk about the central characters and themes of One To Grow On, how songwriting and storytelling have evolved and shifted over the years for Harmeier, the natural songwr...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 189, I'm joined by rising country songwriter Erik Shicotte. Shicotte released Miss'ry Pacific , his strong debut EP this past July.  During this episode, we talk about the songs and blue-collar nature of Miss'ry Pacific , traveling the US, writing in motel rooms, the emotional weight of Johnny Cash & Patsy Cline, and the peculiar process of remote rec...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 188, I'm joined by rising country songwriter Jesse Daniel, who at week's end (July 30), will release Beyond These Walls , his third full-length album. During this one, we talk about further developing as a storyteller with songs like "Clayton Was a Cowboy," expanding his sonic palette with the embrace of Mexican-influenced music, passing time as a fi...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 187, I'm joined by songwriters Jonathan Tyler and Joshua Ray Walker. The pair of Texas songwriters were playing a show at The Blue Light Live in Lubbock last week so we sat down for a conversation after soundcheck. During this one, we talk about upcoming projects, navigating the pandemic and quarantine, writing practices, and venturing into Nashville for collaborat...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 186, I'm joined by Texas songwriter Dallas Burrow, who at the end of the week (July 23), will be releasing his excellent sophomore album, Dallas Burrow . During this conversation, we talk about the songs and themes that make up the self-titled, working with Bruce Robison (who produced the effort), the influence and impact of his artist father, Texas songwriters, an...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 185, I'm joined by rising singer-songwriter Zoe Cummins. This Friday (July 16), she'll be releasing her soaring and soulful debut self-titled EP. During this one, we talk about growing up in rural Oklahoma, moving to Nashville, hustling and navigating songwriting circles, rounds,  and open mics, and hear some of the stories behind the songs. This episode'...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 184, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Butch Hancock of The Flatlanders. During this conversation, we talk about Hancock's West Texas Waltzes & Dust-Blown Tractor Tunes , driving tractors and working on cotton farms around Lubbock, discipline & dedication within songwriting, the diverse Flatlanders song catalog, the impact & evolution of the radio, a...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 183, I'm joined by Joe Ely, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and member of the legendary Lubbock band The Flatlanders. During this conversation, we talk about The Flatlanders' newest album, Treasure of Love (July 9), lost band names, other Ely supergroups, albums like Panhandle Rambler & Hi-Res, the collaboration musical Chippy , playing with Bobby Keys, an...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 182, I'm joined by acclaimed Lubbock singer-songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore of The Flatlanders. This Friday, July 09, The Panhandle trio is releasing their newest full-length album, Treasure of Love .  During this conversation, we talk about recording Treasure of Love, growing up in Lubbock, the importance of radio, hearing Terry Allen for the first time, collaborat...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 181, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Billy Law. Law--who also plays bass for Dallas garage country-punk outfit Ottoman Turks--releases his debut solo album Alone Somewhere on State Fair Records on August 20. In addition, his latest single "I Don't Care If She Ever Comes Home" is out this coming Friday, July 2. During this episode, we talk about the t...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 180, I'm joined by Jonathan Clay of Jamestown Revival. During this episode, we talk about their latest EP, Fireside With Louis L'Amour - A Collection of Songs Inspired by Tales From the American West , character development, story arcs, continually progressing as a band & songwriters, working with Josh Block & Robert Ellis, and what's next for the...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 179, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Ryan Culwell. During this conversation, we talk about the Perryton, Texas native's Panhandle roots, developing a sound, style, & feel for his albums Flatlands & The Last American ,  living in Nashville, recording the Nine Inch Nails song "Head Like a Hole" with Aubrie Sellers, and what's coming next f...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 178, I'm joined by rising singer-songwriter Braxton Keith. Last Fall, the West Texan released his debut EP Neon Dreams. During this one, we talk about that EP, his plans for 2021, writing with Charlie Stout, his West Texas epic "Cold Hard Steel and Sand," and launching a career in the midst of a pandemic. This episode's presenting partner is Desert D...