Cruz Contreras sits down with CloudwatcherUno to talk about Cosmico, his new album. From beginning his music career at the ripe age of fifteen, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cruz Contreras has consistently found himself in bucket-list musical moments; from picking fiddle tunes at a house party with the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, to a stint as the keyboardist with Barnum & Bailey Circus, to late night TV with the CCstringband, to more than a decade of topping charts and festival lineups fronting his band, The Black Lillies. Until now, though, Contreras has never branded anything with just his name.

Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Cruz Contreras has roots in Tennessee and Michigan, but has impacted Americana music worldwide. The frontman, founder, and driving force behind The Black Lillies’ raw and rootsy sound also co-founded Robinella and the CCstringband, and has collaborated with musicians ranging from John Oates and Jim Lauderdale to Langhorne Slim and The Turnpike Troubadours.

Contreras shares a peek into Cosmico: the hypnotic groove and simple message of “Let Somebody Love You.” Speaking to Western adventure, broken dreams, moonshine-inspired journeys, and psychedelic realizations, “Let Somebody Love You” delivers a driving verse and grand chorus that encourages listeners to overcome their fears, whatever they may be. “The syncopated guitar riff creates a transcendental meditation that takes the listener to another plane where rock and roll and grooves make all things right,” says Contreras. A huge amalgamation of influences and personal styles from throughout Contreras’s career, “Let Somebody Love You” is the perfect track to ease fans into Cosmico. 

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Cruz Contreras. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.