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americana, country, Country and Western, East Texas, Honky Tonk, Music Row, texas country, Texas music scene, Western Swing

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 8 Finale ~ Ep 10 ~ Jonathan Terrell

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This is the CloudwatcherUno S8 Finale ~ Episode 10 with Jonathan Terrell and it’s a fantastic way to end the current season. JT is the ultimate renaissance artist he’s a cosmic cowboy, singer songwriter, film director, photographer and DJ.

“I Know” by Jonathan Terrell

We talk about his upcoming EP, “A Couple 2, 3,” his singles “Better For You” and “I Know”. His signing with Range Records @range.records Sharing his experiences touring with Midland most recently in Europe. When Jonathan’s not doing a million and one creative things all at the same time he’s finding time to playing golf with @markaroo (lead singer of Midland) and the one and only Arkansas troubadour @dylanearl.music

Photo: Mike Dunn

The EP comes out on September 9th 2022 although the final mix was done in January of this year. JT is excited to get this music out to the world. It’s a big step forward musically from his previous albums “Trails & Stimulation” (2008), “Past The Lights Of Town” (2015) and “Westward” (2020). JT never wants to put out the same album twice and takes inspiration from some of his favourite bands who stayed ahead of the curve and make new sounds to engage the audience.

Photo: CloudwatcherUno

JT is always looking to constantly refresh his music continuously to inspire his music and art and keep it all fresh. JT says that music is his forte and it was only after speaking to another artist who said that he needed to have other artistic endeavours such as photography. So he practised for over 3 years with his camera in hand taking photographs on the road and at his DJ residency. JT’s passion allows his creativity to stretch himself as a artist and musician.

Photo: Neil Perry

We talk about what it means to be a musician in this day and age when singers become Tik Tok famous but it doesn’t translate to the real world of live gigs and touring that traditional artists have gone through as a right of passage into the world of music.

Photo: CloudwatcherUno

JT’s next single release from the EP is “Texas” co-written with Jess Carson from Midland Then JT will be on tour with William Clark Green in September 2022 and will be promoting the EP and the singles out on the road.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring JT. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Mississippi

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 9 ~ Forrest McCurren

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Forrest McCurren chats to CloudwatcherUno from the family farm in Missouri where they discuss his nick name ‘Dancing Legs’, shooting the video to his song ‘Little Rock’ the first track of his new album ‘Oh Me, Oh My’, Superman (specifically the 1978 version), how the title of the album came from a saying that his father uses, we also get to meet Forrest’s grandfather who is still working at a timber mill in his nineties.

“Little Rock” by Forrest McCurren

Forrest has a writers sensibility when it comes to his approach to song writing. Each lyric is treated as if it has come to life as the great American novel filled with poignant stories filled with characters whose shortcomings and triumphs make us laugh and nod at our own little quirks.

Photo: Brett Jackson

Music has always been a part of Forrest McCurren’s life. Forrest grew up listening to his grandmother play organ in church, his mother listening to Willie Nelson around the house and in the car, and his father singing ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Stand by Me’ as lullabies.

Forrest with his wife Margaret who sings, plays guitar and drums on the new album.

We talk about his older brother, Matthias, and how his travels across the globe inspired Forrest’s own adventures and how these inspired the songs that have influenced the new album. Matthias introduced Forrest to Springsteen and Townes Van Zandt and to the power of song writing. When Forrest left for college, Matthias gave his younger brother his old guitar and the rest is history as they say.

We talk about how Forrest has grown as a singer songwriter with the help of his wife Margaret who has been hugely influential in the sound of Forrest’s music which has been forged from countless performances at honky tonks, dance halls and clubs. On Friday 24th June 2022 Forrest releases the new single from the album which is also called ‘Oh Me, Oh My‘.

“Oh Me, Oh My” by Forrest McCurren

Forrest has great merch that he will have especially his inspired “Cuss Less, Kiss More” t-shirts designed by Margaret. Also in the summer around August 23rd 2022 the new album will be officially out, although Forrest already has the vinyl in his hand to sell to fans and new listeners alike. Forrest is looking to go back on the open road and play a couple of festivals, near and far across the great state of Missouri.

Forrest McCurren is a lyricist who captures the essence of the human experience. Photo: Byryan Strong

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Forrest McCurren. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, blues, country, Country and Western, UK Americana, UK Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 8 ~ Danni Nicholls

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Danni Nicholls speaks with CloudwatcherUno from her home about her “Hear Your Voice” tour ( delayed by two years because of the pandemic), her three albums “A little Redemption”, “Mockingbird Lane” and “The Melted Morning”. We also talk about the inspiration for the songs “Hear Your Voice”, “Lemonade”, “Wish I Were Alone” and her new single “Little Fictions”.

“Hear Your Voice” by Danni Nicholls

Danni tells how she struggled with not performing during the pandemic, how technology and her loyal fans supported her and kept her afloat during those strange times.

Born in Bedford, England but raised on country music all her life.

Danni met Chris Donoghue at an Emmi Lou Harris concert in London and that sparked a musical relationship which resulted in them connecting and Chris offering Danni his help in making a record whenever Danni was in Nashville. A few months later and Danni was in Nashville and lo and behold Chris produced two of Danni’s albums.

“First Cuckoo of Spring” by Danni Nicholls

Danni was also performing at young age and did a Drama degree and at one point she was thinking of going into the world of theatre (and still would if she got the opportunity!), Danni has been listening to country and American roots music (thanks to her Grandmother on her mum’s side) from a young age and Patsy Cline was the soundtrack to her youth, Danni even played the saxophone in growing up and loved the big band sound.

After two years Danni finally got to take her ‘Her Your Voice’ Tour out on the road.

“Little Fictions” was one of the first songs that Danni engineered the sound without the help of a producer and one that she is most proud of.

“Little Fictions” by Danni Nicholls

Danni went back to Nashville in September 2021 and wrote a whole bunch of songs for album number four and his coming close to selecting those that best reflect her as a musician. There’s more touring on the horizon for Danni in 2022 but once that is done Danni will concentrate on the new album and bringing it out in the open for her fans.

Say hello to one of the leading country and Americana artists from the UK, Danni Nicholls.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Danni Nicholls. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

alabama, americana, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Dee White, nashville

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 7 ~ Dee White

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Dee White talks with CloudwatcherUno in his first ever podcast so that we can hear his story thus far in the world of country music. We also have a live exclusive acoustic performance of his new song “Little Things” on his 000-28 Martin Guitar.

Dee White ~ A truly sensational, singer, lyricist and guitarist.

After touring with Paul Cauthen earlier on in the year Dee came back to Alabama to chat on the podcast. Our conversation starts right at the beginning when Dee’s father sold an antique to Harold Shedd who had recently moved out to central Alabama from Nashville. Dee (a senior at the time) helped his father deliver the antique and saw all the vinyl and gold records that Harold was unpacking and did what any curious youngster would and googled Harold and found out he was a music man. Little did Dee realise how much of an influence this southern gentleman would have on his life and his career.

“Ol ‘ Muddy River” by Dee White

Harold overheard that Dee played at church and had his guitars restrung and a seed of an idea gets planted in his head. After a few months an old buddy of Harold’s from the music industry visited to see his new place and asked Dee to play out of the blue and Dee travelled with his grandfather to Harold’s place. Once there Harold said to Dee to play any song he liked and Dee sang Hank William’s “Lost Highway“.

Dee White performed “Lost Highway” by Hank Williams for Harold Shedd and the rest as they say is history.

After this initial performance, Harold would continue to validate Dee as a singer and lyricist and encourage him to write as many songs as he could. Then on one snowy morning in Nashville, Harold drove Dee to meet David R. Ferguson at The Sutler Saloon David would later co-produce Dee’s first album Southern Gentleman . After lunch Dee went to Easy Eye Sound and met the legendary producer Dan Auerbach . All of this happened on the same day. Dan asked Dee to play a song which He did an original composition called “Voodoo“. After Dee finished singing all of these music men looked at each other and knew that Dee was the real deal. Not too long after that work began on the “Southern Gentleman” album.

“Wherever You Go” by Dee White

Since then Dee has made his debut on The Grand Ole Opry and collaborated with Ashley McBryde , Molly Tuttle , Alison Krauss and Brit Taylor . Dee has been on tour all over the world with Ashley McBryde, Molly Tuttle, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Alan Jackson and Marcus King Band

“Road That Goes Both Ways” by Dee White (feat Ashley McBryde)

Dee is now in the studio finishing his sophomore album which has been recorded live so as to capture the most authentic analogue experience. Dee is thrilled to bring new music to fans and is looking forward to touring across the United States and especially across Europe to promote the new album when it comes out.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Dee White. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, blues, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, nashville, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 6 ~ Kristina Murray

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Kristina Murray sits down with CloudwatcherUno in her Nashville home to talk about her albums “Southern Ambrosia” and “Unravelin” and the latest project of killer covers featuring Logan Ledger “That Just About Does It” (a Vern Gosdin classic) and “I’m Gonna Hurt Him On The Radio” (based on Keith Whitley‘s original).

“I’m Gonna Hurt Him On The Radio” by Kristina Murray

We talk about Kristina’s development as an artist between her first album and the new songs that she has released, how she has become a better songwriter, collaborator with other producers and musicians and working on her new songs for her new album.

Kristina Murray has grown and developed as an artist since moving to Nashville.

Kristina got a chance to sing at The Ryman recently and felt really good at how her voice sounded, and is looking forward to going on tour with Jamie Wyatt in 2022, a true champion of great country music on the west coast.

Kristina is a kick ass musician. Go do your ears a favour and listen to her music.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Kristina Murray. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

https://linktr.ee/CloudwatcherUno

americana, Arkansas, bluegrass, blues, Canada, country, Country and Western, Music Row, nashville, Red Dirt Country, texas country, Western Swing

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 5 ~ Stefanie Joyce

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Stefanie Joyce joins CloudwatcherUno from Nashville where she has carved out a career as a songwriter on Music Row. Stefanie’s 2021 single “Treasure” charted on Billboard @billboardcharts (co-written and performed by @maryheatherhickman ) debuted on country radio and was featured on the Bobby Bones show @bobbybonesshow

Stefanie Joyce – Ballerina, Wordsmith and Country Artist

Now it’s Stefanie’s turn to shine in the spotlight as a singer in her own right. Just listen to her latest single “Presidio” to see why Stefanie should be at the top of your listening playlist. Stefanie describes her music as the love child of red dirt country music meets music row. Stefanie describes how working on Music Row for so many years has resulted in her lyrics being born as linear songs but then using that to produce something more poetic and rough for listening audiences.

“Idle Hands” by Stefanie Joyce

Born in New York, raised in Canada and now living in Nashville, Tennessee, the young Stefanie was in love with storytelling, especially southern literature and used that passion to write songs. In the podcast we talk about how in the country music coming out of Nashville songs are written not by the band performing them but by other artists or in collaboration with other artists. It’s a tradition that is uniquely cultivated within this genre.

Singer Songwriter is a music nerd of the highest order.

Stefanie moved to Nashville initially to join the song writing industry that has grown in Nashville and provides the hits for the biggest names in country music today. Stefanie built up her network and her community and now feels it’s time to release her own songs. A new EP will be released in the summer featuring “Idle Hands” and “Love Thy Neighbor“.

Stefanie is 100 per cent Country through and through.

We talk about her interest in murder ballads and how she came to co-write “Ouachita River” with Mary Heather Hickman and how this subverts the usual tradition by having a male protagonist perish within the song. Murder Ballads originated within the United Kingdom and were brought over by Scottish/Irish immigrants who then used real places within their ballads. This song has been nominated for the Arkansas Country Music Awards 2022 for Best Song, Vocal Duo/ Group and Mary for best Female Vocalist. Nominees (arkansasmusic.org)

“Ouachita River” by Stefanie Joyce with Mary Heather Hickman

Stefanie explains that she wants to be able to play for bigger venues and audiences and when that opportunity comes she’s going to grab it with both hands. Stefanie has played both The Listening Room and Bluebird Cafe and will be doing more Nashville shows and a tour in The Fall of 2022.

Watch out for Stefanie touring in the Fall of 2022

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Stefanie Joyce. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, Red Dirt Country, texas country, Texas music scene, Western Swing

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 4 ~ Billy Hartman

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Reverend Billy Hartman blesses us with a fabulous chat on the CloudwatcherUno podcast from his hometown in Stephenville, Texas. We catch up on his plans for his follow up album to “Beans and Cornbread” his 2020 release. We delve into the why’s and how’s of bringing such modern classics as “Cheese and Taters“, “Forrest“, “Railroad Blues” and “Divine Town” to life and the enjoyment of the listening public.

“Divine Town” by Billy Hartman

On a particularly warm and humid day Billy talks about what it means to be an independent artist during the pandemic, living in Texas, becoming an ordained minister of The Universal Life Church, producing music with other musicians such as Zach Pack and by extension James Steinle who’ve now become friends and vice versa. Billy will be recording his new album at Melody Mountain Studios near the house which gives Billy more control around recording the album. Ben Hussey will record and produce the album.

The one and only Reverend Billy Hartman

After a period of self reflection and Billy uses his diary entries as his therapy and as the source for coming up with his lyrics and songs over the last couple of years. Billy’s musical heroes were pretty much the gold standard of country music from George Jones, Webb Pierce and Johnny Cash to name a few. Listening to these artists is what got Billy started on the musical path he’s been on rather than mainstream artists such as Garth Brooks. Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and Guy Clark‘s “Together at The Bluebird” truly inspired and made Billy strive to capture that level of quality in song writing and musicianship. John Prine also figures largely in Billy’s songcraft.

“Cheese and Taters” by Billy Hartman

What finally pushed Billy into writing was having problems with his high school girlfriend which got Billy started into writing songs and paying attention to alliteration in songs and wordplay. “Sunday Morning, Coming Down” by Kris Kristofferson from 1970 is a perfect example of what Billy is trying to achieve with his own songs.

There’s cool and then there’s Billy Hartman

Looking forward Billy and Zack Pack will be singing together for the Hico Steak Cookoff in Texas on Saturday 21st May 2022. There’s also local clubs that Billy will be playing live with Zack Pack.

Billy Hartman always recommends you smoke ’em if you’ve got them.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Billy Hartman. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 2 ~ Jade Brodie

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Jade Brodie is a Cowboy, Songwriter and Musician. Jade speaks to CloudwatcherUno after travelling from a gig at The Western Folk Life Centre in Elko, Nevada after playing eight or nine songs for a round robin set. We speak about her Magnolia Sessions album from Anti-Corp. We talk about the difference between Jade’s diary songs (more personal songs) rather than her attention grabbing songs. Jade has a big motivation to be up there surrounded by people dancing and bringing them a good time. Jade appreciates the shows where people pay attention to her songs whether they be based on the working man or explore issues of love.

We explore the genesis of “Split My Tooth ” it’s one of Jade’s oldest songs and marks a new development in Jades song writing style.

“Split My Tooth” by Jade Brodie

Free spirited and working hard personalities are fully explored in Jade’s ‘Making History’ video. There’s a fairy godmother character within in the video that is just delightful.

“Making History” by Jade Brodie

Jade has been living independently since a young age and working hard for the railroad. Jade was forced to make a difficult decision when the railroad wanted her to move back to California. Jade was wholly deducated 24/7 working 12 hour shifts for the railroad and songwriting was ushed abck for over three years until she was able to buy herself land to build her own house.

Jade was fortunate enough to get a job on a ranch which has allowed her to ride horses, keep dogs and deal with life on a ranch. Jade enjoys being at peace in Nevada and taking the time for self refection and puts things in perspective as to what matters. Jade has written a lot of new songs while living in Nevada. Jade wrote a new song about her horse, it’s the first song she’s written in a while. Jade grew up in New York and being on a ranch and working within this mountain landscape is a deam come true.

We explore Jade’s tattoos and how they are an expression of her personality and how they are atheistically pleasing. While they are not an indication of who Jade is and people do judge her based solely on these which is fine but Jade earns their respect because of the good job that she does.

We talk about “Travelling Man” the epic Western As Fuck video that she collaborated with. Riddy Arman recommended Jade Brodie for WesternAF and when they came through town they met up and musical history was made. Jade is proud of that song and loved recording this song with them and will also be on the new album. Jade should have finished her album last year but the timing has been pushed off for a year.

“Traveling Man” by Jade Brodie with WesternAF

Jade was half way through her tour in 2020 when the pandemic hit and had to go back home. Jade had to take risks on herself, her music and after 2 years later is getting back to where she wants to be in her career. Having a creative side gives Jade a purpose and loves that her songs can bring people joy and it’s fun to be on stage and enjoy her music for an hour or so. John Curtis is the producer who is helping Jade produce her next studio album. We cannot wait for this to come out next year.

Jade will be playing at a few music festivals out of town and especially excited about people reaching out and asking her to perform based solely on hearing her music.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Jade Brodie. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, Dirt Wave, folk

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 8 Ep 1 ~ Izaak Opatz

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Hello and welcome to Season 8 Episode 1 of the Cloudwatcheruno Podcast. We start this season with Izaak Opatz all the way from Missoula, Minnesota. We talk about the weather we are after all based in London. In conversation we discuss Izaak’s new album “Extra Medium” out on Friday 29th April 2022 and the wealth of songs he hasn’t released, his love of music from high school and college which has shaped his musical journey thus far.

“Extra Medium” by Izaak Opatz

Izaak has a love of music but coming late to the world of touring (in his thirties) he has tried to reach a balance between music, writing and living out of a van while touring. Music became a powerful tool for him when he discovered he could create a song and share with friends and family.

“Chinook Wind” by Izaak Opatz

Izaak has gone back to college (he’s studying journalism) and the transition has been tough but he wanted to find stability in his life and engage with new terrains for his brain and his love of wordplay. In his childhood he kept poems and wrote songs and discovered the country genre and enjoyed the ability to create precise storytelling and the metaphors he could employ to create emotion and a connection with the listener.

110 per cent organic Izaak Opatz. Listen to his new album “Extra Medium” out on 29th April 2022.

“Dirt Wave” is Isaak’s take on old country classics and all the fun stuff musically that you get with indie rock. Izaak talks about the beginnings of country music for him and how huge it is all over the world and it’s connection from the narrow cultural associations it has with poor rural white America.

Taking country to where no man has gone before is ‘Astronaut’ Izaak Opatz

Izaak explains that he loves expressing himself in music and has collaborated with friends from Los Angeles especially his friend Dylan Rodrigue and his ability to produce melodies and music out of the chaos that is Izaak’s songwriting. Izaak has been able to connect with audiences over three albums and still finds the passion to write about break up songs, the difference between the city and the country and likes how the structure of his songs have grown and matured to represent an honest mirror for his feelings musically.

So go listen to this beast of an album and also listen to the majesty of Izaak’s trombone playing. It’s a fun pre pandemic album that celebrates life and catch Izaak when he goes touring later in the summer of 22.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Izaak Opatz. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

american, americana, country, Country and Western, Red Dirt Country

Artist Showcase with Jaret Ray Riddick

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At C2C Festival in London 2022 CloudwatcherUno got an exclusive with Jaret Ray Riddick on his press tour to promote his new country album “Just Woke Up“. The frontman for the pop punk band “Bowling For Soup” Jaret was inspired during lockdown to explore his country roots after speaking with his friend Zac Maloy who also produced the album. The Texan is very familiar with the genre having listened to and grown up with the greats of country music such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones as a child.

Jaret Ray Riddick at C2C Festival, London. Photograph : CloudwatcherUno © 2022

Jaret was convinced that this is what he needed to produce so much so that he brought his band to play for the first time in Europe’s biggest country festival for the first time. For those who may have doubted whether this was a good idea , I for one can report that when Jaret went onto the Town Square Stage it was completely sold out.

“One Of The Good Ones” by Jaret Ray Riddick

We talk together in his hotel room in Greenwich, London and talk about album and how he wants to showcase red dirt country music, great lyrics and a story to grab fans hearts and minds. Jaret collaborated with artists such as Frank Turner who features on “Drunk As It Takes“. There’s also a cameo for Uncle Kracker on the album opener “Way More Country“, Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton features on Natalie, and Cody Canada of The Departed appears on “You And Beer“.

With Jaret Ray Riddick

We talk about the inspiration for his songs and in particular “Royal Family” which is based on his real life biological sisters tracking him down four years ago and Jaret connecting to a family he never knew he had. Going forward Jaret is looking to get established as a country singer as well as his more well established pop punk band.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Jaret Ray Riddick. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.