Tag Archives: Country and Western music

americana, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Kansas, Kentucky, nashville, Natalie Prauser, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S10 Ep 4 ~ Natalie Prauser

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Natalie Prauser is a coffee aficionado, songstress and all round fabulous artist. We laugh, gasp and sit back in wonder on how this Kansas native is bringing her honky tonk music to life. Natalie’s album “Til The Sun Comes Up” is a veritable modern classic with all credit to her partner Marty Bush for mixing, producing and mastering the album. Let’s not forget also designing the look of the masterpiece as well.

“Til The Sun Comes Up” by Natalie Prauser

Natalie and Marty first met during Pre Covid times while Natalie was sleeping at a bar that Marty frequented. Plying him copious amounts of whiskey Natalie was determined to connect with Marty and that’s exactly what happened. The result is a relationship that has grown personally and professionally as musicians. There’s a to and fro of ideas and it’s a resource that Natalie draws upon Marty’s musical experience to decide which songs are EPIC and which are so so.

Natalie’s approach to songs varies but there was a time when she wrote “Cocaine” all on her phone while being a bouncer at Westport Saloon in Kansas City. Just imagine a 100 pound Natalie as a bouncer. Natalie’s mom recollects that as a child she was always writing songs and then at 13 she started playing at bars. For Natalie this was one of many paths that she could take, having dropped out of school, when Natalie was 16 she drove everywhere and slept in her car and be on the road as much as her finances would allow.

Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush

Natalie was living the vagabond existence and felt you don’t have to be Charley Crockett to live the life of a musician. Natalie’s musical heroes have been Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine and Blaze Foley.

For the future Natalie will be on tour with Marty and will be enjoying the writing process and produce another Cabin Session album. There will be another video to showcase her music and will continue to be touring across the States for the next year.

Click below to join in with the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Natalie Prauser. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Jack Browning, nashville, UK Country

CloudwatcherUno S10 Ep 3 ~ Jack Browning

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CloudwatcherUno catches up with Jack Browning at his headline gig at the honkiest tonkiest bar in London @thedukesofhighgate Speaking with Jack just after his epic show (which features songs from his new album) we get to hear about the progress on recording the album, mixing and final overdubs on his songs. Jack has always played in other bands but when Covid came around he started focusing on his own personal songs.

Jack had struggled to write his own songs and then gave himself a deadline to write an EP’s worth of songs but ended up writing 10 songs. He then recorded them with a live band in Kent. Then Pat Lyons who plays with Colter Wall and other artists have added their magic to bring these songs to life. Jack is trying to bring that full band experience onto a live stage. The plan is to send the album around to see if there is any interest.

Jack has released singles/music before such as “Walkin’ Man” which Jack had recorded in his art studio. It was a strange feeling to be a leading man rather than a session player. Jack has always been into music and has leaned more into country music as he gets older. The album is a milestone for Jack as an artist as he reflects on his life.

“Walkin’ Man” by Jack Browning

Jack is a fan of country first and foremost and wants to capture the energy of this music and channel it into the album. Johnny Cash and The Highwayman, Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Charley Crockett and Colter Wall have all influenced Jack and his music.

Jack will be playing live on 23rd July 2023 in Peterborough at thewillowfestival.co.uk Make sure you catch him live on stage.

To listen into the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Jack click the link below. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts

21st Century Folk, americana, Angela Autumn, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Dance Hall, nashville

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season Ten – Ep 1 ~ Angela Autumn

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After getting her iced coffee from Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea, LLC in East Nashville, Angela Autumn sat down with CloudwatcherUno for this first episode of Season 10. We talk about the last time that Angela had recorded which was with a full band sound. There is a yearning to leave the bluegrass sound of her “Frontiers Woman” album and channel more of an indie sound some of which can be heard on “My Blank Pages” but is being explored more in 2023. Angela is waiting for the right place to record her new album in this musical direction.

In our opinion one of the best songs that Angela has recorded is “Rascal”, which began life as an entry into the NPR Tiny Desk Competition in 2018 while she was 22 with her friends. Angela is really grateful for the support from Andy of Gems On VHS fame and Western AF and the way that they support indie artists.

“Rascal” Angela’s NPR Tiny Desk Entry.

“Your Heart’s Like An Arrow Pointed Straight At Me“

For Angela the pandemic showed her that there were many things under the surface, Living north of Nashville. In Old Hickory her neighbours were all of the older generation and so there was a sense of isolation and produced music through these times such as “Dancer”. Angela was someone who lived through the Dark night of the soul camp. Sharon Van Etten’s music is something that gives Angela joy and when live music came back, Angela was there to experience the thrill of her music.

Photo: Anna Warner

Angela talks us through her collection of guitars from a Martins to a Collings E28 Bluegrass guitar and has written over 50 songs on this beauty. Angela’s album “Blank Pages” is currently a Bandcamp exclusive but there may be a possibility of giving it a second life on Spotify. Angela put in a significant amount of funds in Fall 2022 to release this record, thankfully fans stepped up and covered the costs of producing this album. It’s definitely Adventure Time for 2023 as Angela looks forward to touring and producing music with her partner who plays the cello! Now that’s going to be an amazing collaboration on the next album.

“Dancer” by Angela Autumn

To listen into the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Angela click the link below. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

american, americana, bluegrass, Country and Western, Dance Hall, Honky Tonk, Montana, Music Row, nashville, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S9 Ep 7 ~ Sterling Drake

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Season 9 Episode 7 features returning guest Sterling Drake an ambassador for new independent music who navigates being an artist in these modern musical times. Sterling released ‘Roll The Dice’ his first EP to much critical acclaim and wanted to try a different direction for his next EP “Highway 200”. Sterling is a three-time Billboard charting songwriter with work released via publishing powerhouse Extreme Music (Sony ATV) and has written with several Grammy award winning writers.

‘Roll The Dice’ by Sterling Drake

We also talk about working on a ranch in Montana, becoming a small part of the TV series @yellowstone and his fellow musical brethren @sierraelizabethferrell and @hannahjuanita_thehardliner

‘Highway 200’ by Sterling Drake

Then we also chat about what is the perfect length for a record, does that depend on the genre? Also Sterling’s plans for touring across the States and producing new music and deciding which direction that will take him. The future is not written and a path needs to be dug out by Sterling as to how his career will go forward. To that end Sterling will release EPs and singles in different styles so as to get a body of work together. Only when this is done will Sterling consider releasing an album in order to solidify his approach to this genre.

‘Highway 200’ by Sterling Drake

Sterling Drake plays timeless country music following in the footsteps of Bob Wills, Merle Haggard and George Strait. Sterling doesn’t put a label on his music, for him it’s just music that has a cultural heritage. Sterling’s peers such Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers are breaking from the perceived notion of what country music should sound like and Sterling is also breaking the mould when it comes to this style of country music.

‘In The Pines’ by Sterling Drake

Click below to join in with the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Sterling Drake. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

country, Country and Western, nashville, Songbird

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S9 Ep 3 ~ Alyssa Bonagura

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Alyssa Bonagura chats with CloudwatcherUno about her life as a travelling gypsy touring from a very young age, being an in demand session singer and opening for international music legends Ringo Starr, Marty Stuart and Rod Stewart. Alyssa recently played to a sold out show at The Slaughtered Lamb in London.

We catch up with Alyssa while working on her music for her new album in London and performing at shows across Europe. We talk about her life growing up in Tennessee raised by parents who had hits on the Billboard charts as leaders of the country band Baillie & the Boys. Alyssa was grew up on the road travelling with her parents on tour across America.

The travelling gypsy Alyssa Bonagura

Alyssa has been in love with music from such a young age that it was written in the stars that she would become a musician. Alyssa’s love of music found her relocating to England to study sound technology at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. When she graduated in 2009, she received her diploma from the school’s co-founder, Sir Paul McCartney.

“I Make My Own Sunshine” by Alyssa Bonagura

Alyssa’s voice and skill as a multi instrumentalist having learnt to play piano, guitar, mandolin, bass and drums are showcased in her albums “The English Diaries”, “Love Hard” and “Road Less Traveled”. Alyssa’s time in Liverpool, England has greatly influenced her as an artist, singer and songwriter. Alyssa’s songs have been covered by artists such as Steven Tyler, has co-written many other hits and landing singles with Jana Kramer, Sarah Jarosz , and Jo Dee Messina.

Alyssa also spent time as one half of The Sisterhood Band, a major-label country duo whose whirlwind career included two EPs, critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, and a run of UK stadium shows as Rod Stewart’s opening act. Alyssa’s talent is in no doubt and now she is concentrating on her own solo career. With four singles released between 2021 and 2022 Alyssa’s latest single “Other Side Of The World” showcases her exceptional qualities as an artist.

Alyssa will be recording a special performance for Nashville Meets London live at Pizza Express, Holborn on Monday 7th November 2022. Enjoy our conversation on the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Humbird. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, Appalachia, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Kentucky

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 9 ~ Ep 1 ~ The Local Honeys

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CloudwatcherUno S9 ~ Episode 1 starts with The Local Honeys who are Linda Jean Stokely and Montana Hobbs. They hail from the misty blue mountains of Kentucky and their music is at once modern but cloaked in the great Appalachian music traditions.

“The Ballad of Frank & Billy Buck” by The Local Honeys

We talk about their last trip to Europe in 2020 just before the world shut down and how it helped them to focus on getting the right sound for their self titled 2022 album ‘The Local Honeys’.  their first release on La Honda Records. The Local Honeys captures the essence of rural Kentucky, conjuring old school melodies with deep grooves and haunting instrumentals.

Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokely

Their previous albums “The Gospel” (2019) and “Little Girls Actin’ Like Men (2017) are modern day classics.

“Dead Horses” by The Local Honeys

Enjoy our conversation on the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring The Local Honeys. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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.