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Artist Showcase with Victoria Bailey

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“Jesus, Red Wine and Patsy Cline, Victoria Bailey’s new album is getting 5 star reviews absolutely everywhere. There’s just not a bad song on it.” Bob Harris, Radio 2 – The Country Show with Bob Harris.

Victoria Bailey’s album ‘Jesus, Red Wine & Patsy Cline’ combines the three things that she feels most defines her right now in the middle of a pandemic. Her love for her faith, a good glass of wine and classic country music from her heroes Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. The album was produced by Jeremy Long (released in 2020 via Rock Ridge Music). It’s a timeless classic honky tonk album that announces Victoria as the newest generation of artists to carry on the legacy of those legends.

Victoria Bailey Photo: Stefanie Vinsel Johnson

In this podcast CloudwatcherUno sits down with With Victoria Bailey and we talk about putting out new music, releasing a full album in the pandemic and concentrating on live performances. Two new songs will be released in the coming months, one is an original ‘Queen of the Rodeo’ (there’s also a video that was filmed for the song as well as meetingfilming the real life Rodeo Queen of California Morgan Laughlin) and another is a Randy Newman cover ‘Rider in The Rain‘.

‘Spent My Dime On White Wine’ by Victoria Bailey

LA is not known for country music but it was the birthplace of the Bakersfield Sound that included such artists as Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakum, Buck Owens and Victoria Bailey has captured that sound in her music and her album. Although Victoria Bailey didn’t grow up with country music, her father’s influence came with rock ‘n’ roll and her mother played folk records but fell in love with country music when she visited Nashville for the first time.

Victoria Bailey: Photo: Stefanie Vinsel Johnson

We talk about inspiration for the ‘Ramblin’ Man‘, ‘Skid Row‘, why outlaws are so charming, why Springsteen is really the boss and whether teenage Victoria Bailey thinks adult Victoria Bailey is really cool or not? Why her voice is her first instrument followed closely by her guitar, looking at touring in England and playing live music.

‘Honky Tonk Woman’ performed by Victoria Bailey
Victoria Bailey on the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Season Finale Ep10 ~ Ottoman Turks

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Ottoman Turks are (L-R) Nathan, Will, Josh and Paul

CloudwatcherUno exclusively got to sit down with the whole band to talk about their songs, the new album and music influences. One of the first to hear the full album outside of the label ‘Ottoman Turks II’ is that rare beast where the sequel is even better than the original. Think Empire Strikes Back meets the Godfather 2 as a guide to how awesome this album is. In 2019 the first album was released there were so many unrecorded and unreleased songs that a part 2 was always on the cards. Ottoman Turks new album ‘Ottoman Turks II’ is released in April 2021 from State Fair Records.

‘Wound Up’ from the upcoming album Ottoman Turks II

Many many moons ago Paul and Nathan met each other in the seventh grade and then Nathan met Will at the same high school while Will and Josh have know each other since first grade. Paul, Will and Nathan came together to play music after being in a few bands where they were influenced by americana music and jazz music. Josh wasn’t a part of the band initially but was writing guitar parts for the band but the band didn’t truly start until Josh became part of the band in September 2012.

The goth country band that are Ottoman Turks!

Tracks that stand out on the album are ‘Travelin’ Blues’, ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’, ‘Zootstack Lightnin’, ’35 to Life’ and the goth country classic ‘Militant Preacher’. Most of the album was recorded in February 2020 before the lockdown.  The band tried to be a straight country act but the band and much more fun breaking down musical genres and mixing it up and making it a sweet Ottoman Turks sound. Its good to be different but its also difficult to be different it makes for interesting mix when playing under a country banner even though they not be your middle of the road country band.

Ottoman Turks are always looking to make new headways with their music.

Ottoman Turks videos are something that the band take immense pleasure and  joy in. A fantastic example is 35 To Life video is based on JFK coming back to life and taking revenge on Dallas the city where he was killed.

’35 to Life’ from Ottoman Turks

Glass Bottles was one of the first videos that band did where they thought the visual media could fully express their joy. They are a unique band that will continue to put in as much effort into their videos which act as a calling card to their fans in these pandemic times. Within the band there are various musical adventures that all support each other and the band with their live shows. What the band excel at is their live shows and pretty much given the opportunity will blow any other act out of the water.

Having laughs with the band on the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

Nathan may write pretty much all the lyrics for the band but musically the songs would not sound as they do without the full Ottoman Turks treatment. Joshua might add guitar, Will may change the arrangement while Paul will add drums into the mix. Zootstack Lightnin’ is the first example where Nathan, Josh and Will all get to sing on one song. ‘Militant  Preacher’ is a very old song written by Nathan inspired by old spiritual and blues music such as Robert Johnson. It’s a spiritual battle to prepare for whatever the day begins. The music that inspired Ottoman Turks ranges from Tom Waits to Jack White. In this podcast we get to hear ‘Wound Up’, ‘Vaquero’ and ’35 to Life’ which are totally sublime and will make you wish you were back to a time where it was safe to spend time with complete strangers at a mosh pit.

Make way for new music from Ottoman Turks coming at you in April 2021

It’s been a struggle to try and reproduce the same live energy and songs that fans that follow the Turks will be familiar with, in this sophomore album they have succeeded in bringing a complete oral history of the Turks music to life. Getting the test pressing of the vinyl and holding that in their hands has been a lifelong dream for all the band. It’s a culmination of the dreams and aspirations of each of these amazing artists. World watch out Ottoman Turks are coming for you be prepared for a musical experience like no other.

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep9 ~ South Texas Tweek

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South Texas Tweek

South Texas Tweek is the hero for these uncertain times. His music takes you away and wraps you up in an unique honky tonk blanket of tejano goodness. With a voice of a bygone era he has simultaneously given us something new and delivered us to the time when artists like Webb Pierce roamed the country and western musical landscape. Just like his musical heroes South Texas Tweek has a genuine love for this genre of music. And it shows from his hours and hours of dedication to his craft of singing and song writing.

Growing up in the Deep South Bible Belt certainly shaped his early years but growing older has meant that his view of the world has both matured and flourished musically. With his first official single ‘Count On Me’ released on his birthday December 2020 Tweek blew the status quo of what listeners were used to out of the water. An acoustic version was out in August 2020 but this fully formed version with the pedal steel and breaks is a different beast altogether.

‘Count On Me’ The sensational debut single by South Texas Tweek.

Its not the first time for Tweek and Charley Crockett to co write a song together. On Charley’s album ‘Welcome to Hard Times’ the track ‘Lily My Dear’ was written with Tweek, Vincent Neil Emerson and Colin Colby on Charley’s tour bus outside a gig at Greek Bros, in El Campo, Texas. Vincent and Charley already had the hook with Charley playing on his banjo. After 30 minutes the song was complete! Tweek and Charley’s friendship has been growing for many years. At first Tweek wanted to be just a songwriter but the urge to stand in front of an audience took over. In September 2020 Tweek took the plunge into the country and western music world.

Hard work and passion for country and western music is what drives South Texas Tweek.

Tweek’s life and music is an inspiration and this is reflected on his entry into the Texas Music Charts. Patsy Cline, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark have all been part of Tweek’s musical education but George Jones is first among equals in his admiration and love for his musical legacy to upcoming artists. In this podcast we get to hear Tweek sing live and acoustically two songs ‘Living Low’ a folk inspired singer songwriter Texas inspired song and ‘Count On Me’ his knockout calling card in the world of music.

‘Count On Me’ by South Texas Tweek

The pandemic hasn’t slowed Tweek’s love of hunting and fishing and it’s his way of escaping the isolation of the pandemic. It’s a reminder of a life filled with friends and family that we all strive for. Tweek is looking forward to going out on the road and play some shows. Tweek’s put everything into his music and has an audience that is hungry to see such a new stellar artist live. 2 more songs are coming out from the session he recorded last October 2020. He hopes to tour in the later half of the year with a possible full album by the end of the year. His next release will be ’50 Dollars A Week’ which he co wrote with Charley Crockett coming out on Valentines Day 2021.

’50 Dollars A week’ the new release by South Texas Tweek out on Valentines Day 2021.

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep8 ~ Adam Larson & Co

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Adam Larson & Co

Adam Larson & Co are both an individual and a band who tell tales of music from yesteryear with a new modern sensibility. Host CloudwatcherUno sits down with Adam to talk about his personal journey into music. We speak about his album ‘ Long Time Coming Home’ falling in love with his song ‘Ain’t Too Old to Still Die Young’ He is such an old soul in such a young body. He has such a warm resonant voice that connects in that space between your ears and a perfect example is shown in ‘These Colors Never Run’ which you get to listen to at the beginning of the podcast. This was released in 2017 and inspired by Sturgill Simpson and the alt country movement.

Adam Larson & Co is an artist you should keep at the top of your playlist.
‘These Colors Never Run’ by Adam Larson & Co

A lot of years as a solo artist meant that Adam had a variety of songs that were resting in his phone was the gem that is ‘Long Time Coming Home’ an almost a surf rock goth country sound. ‘Trigger’ is also an amazing song inspired from a conversation about a tree. About what that tree had seen written with his wife. Murder ballads are the songs that Adam likes to produce even though he is the most genuinely happy person you’ll ever meet. It’s the perfect audio accompaniment to a spaghetti western.

Adam’s music is a blend of traditional sounds mixed with Goth country sensibilities.

During this pandemic Adam has also produced the perfect song for this age called ‘Quarantine’ a perfect blend of comedic genius and homage to Willie Nelson’s ‘On The Road Again’. Go check it out on his Instagram page.

Adam Larson from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

We get to listen to listen to the new single ‘Prairie Wind’ it’s a song deeply rooted in the tradition of Jerry Jeff Walker, John Prine and Johnny Cash a tradition of epic songwriters and storytellers. Adam is the latest in the line of these musical heroes and carries forward the torch of this dark, goth country and western music. For the future Adam and the band are working on new material and producing new songs and hopefully the wait for a new full band album will not be too long.

‘Prairie Wind’ by Adam Larson & Co

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep7 ~ Dan Whitaker

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Dan Whitaker – Chicago Showman

Dan Whitaker is a name you may not have heard of but needs to be on your music radar. His body of work ranges from solo albums like ‘Moving On With You’ and his honky tonk band ‘The Shinebenders’. Dan began his musical journey by listening to Johnny Cash, Grateful Dead and Punk Rock. His first band was more a rock band but slowly he started listening to classic country artists by drowning his sorrows by listening to Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.

Dan Whitaker a song writing maestro.

Dan started with the saxophone at a young age but then later on learned piano, then bass and then picked up the guitar aged 16 with further tutelage under jazz musicians later in life. Big influences on his music has been Blues and Appalachian music and distilled into his jazz infused country music.

The remastered ‘Moving On With You’ album released in 2020 was and is his most personal album, living in a bad section of Chicago he wrote all the songs due to a combination of isolation and marking another stage in his life by getting married. Dan expressed himself in his songs and then recorded the album in his living room live way back in 1999. ‘Star Crossed Lovers’ and ‘Without Your Love’ are stand out tracks in the album. On the podcast we get to hear ‘August Gray’ a true country and western classic to my ears and ‘Can’t Take It With You’ an absolute gem of a song.

Dan Whitaker – Going boldly where no musician has gone before.

There’s a richness to Dan’s voice that speaks of his experience, the important things in your life, the melodies and threads of the universe speaking to him and coming out as lyrics that speak on a deeper level.

‘August Gray’ from the remastered album ‘Moving On With You’ by Dan Whitaker

When inspiration strikes Dan tries to use that and write down this seed of a song before it floats away. His dreams act as a way to inspire the melodies and chords in his songs. For the past 15 years he’s been paying with The Shinebenders’ and then when the pandemic he was by himself with the benefit of the band so he started doing livestreams with his older more folk and rock songs.

Dan Whitaker from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

This time alone has allowed Dan to focus on producing more music by himself. His next album will be a solo album which is full of songs that were left dormant but now will see the light of day. Dan plays 6 different instruments on the album and with support from some of The Shinebenders’. The music world will be a better place for Dan Whitaker an ambassador for honest, heart-breaking and inspiring music.

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep3 ~ Sandee June

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Sandee June is living her life singing and performing country and western music.

Sandee June’s journey into music is an inspirational story that shows it’s never too late to follow your dreams, take up an instrument and make music. In this podcast we get hear an acoustic version of ‘Somewhere Between Hell and a Honky Tonk’ supported by Craig Phillips and Jennifer Rose Toler. Sandee’s natural gift for singing a melody and her fantastic voice are on display in this podcast. 

Growing up music was an important part of Sandee James life whether it was James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard. When Sandee turned 50 and ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ rearing its head in her life she taught herself to play off You Tube. After a year of practicing Sandee wanted to play live. That’s where she was fortunate enough to meet Craig and Jennifer who showed her the way to go as hard and as fast as she could into this new chapter of her life.  Sandee plans to keep going from strength to strength from just playing with her guitar to a full band sound.

‘Don’t Die with your music inside’ is the motto that drives Sandee to produce the music she loves.
‘Somewhere Between Hell and a Honky Tonk’ by ‘Sandee June’

Sandee has a gift for singing and her love and passion for music radiates from her every pore. Sandee is planning to release an EP in January 2021 and her album in Spring 2021. It’s truly amazing what you can do when you have faith in your own abilities and the passion to deliver on your ambition.

Sandee June from the podcast with Craig and Jennifer Phillips. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep2 ~ Dalton Mills

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Dalton Mills, first amongst equals when it comes to singer songwriters.

Dalton Mills soul sparkles so brightly you’ll need sunglasses to go with a Hazmat suit. An exceptional lyricist he’s captured the lives, loss and heartaches of the disposed. Like a later day Chekov or Tolstoy he sings about the lonely souls in society, those who have fallen through the safety net and then kept falling with no end insight. His self titled album ‘Dalton Mills’ explores the stories of those who don’t register on the mainstream, who aren’t able to voice their pain and longing in a world where increasingly they are becoming ghosts.

‘Tornadoes’ by Dalton Mills

In this podcast we get to listen to two acoustic songs from Dalton they are ‘Tornadoes’ and ‘Mountain Call’ from his majestic album. A labour of love for over a year and a half from taking the songs in lyric form and then with the help of friends, recorded in the back of a record store. The album was recorded just at the cusp of the pandemic, any later and we wouldn’t have such songs out in the world.

Dalton Mills is a bringer of light to those dark areas of the world we all need to see.

Coming from rural Kentucky from the small town of Middlesboro, (a city that’s built in a crater!). Dalton has seen his fair share of those who’ve been affected by drugs, mental health issues and those who’ve been abandoned by their families. Not one for happy songs, Dalton expresses more affinity for songs touched by darkness and damaged people, damaged people are often the most dangerous. They know how to make hell feel like home. Dalton follows in the footsteps of his musical heroes Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark, John Prine in writing and performing songs that matter and connects with an audience who want more than just manufactured pop songs.

Dalton Mills performing live.
‘Last Goodbye’ from Dalton Mills. One of the bleakest songs ever put to music. Magnificent!

Picking up a guitar as a high school student has led Dalton down this path of musical greatness. For the last 5 years Dalton’s been writing songs of a phenomenal calibre. One of the bleakest songs ever put to music is ‘Last Goodbye’ a tale of a bedridden soul, who has lost all hope and waiting to see if he will perish at the hands of his carer. It’s a song that will stay with you hours after you’ve heard it. Go listen to this sensational artist who brings words and stories from the darkest corners of humanity to life.

Dalton Mills from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S3 Ep1 ~ J.Tex

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J.Tex has an authentic Texas sound that will immerse you in the stories told in his album ‘Neon Signs & Little White Lies.

Born in the USA but brought up in Denmark, J.Tex (Jens Einer Sørensen) grew up listening to Bluegrass music while other children were dancing to Abba. CloudwatcherUno sits down with J.Tex from his home in Copenhagen where we talk about his childhood, travelling to Tennessee as a teenager, his amazing tattoo’s, busking on the streets of Italy, driving trucks on the Faroe Islands and all the while honing his skills and his sound to produce a sumptuous album called ‘Neon Signs & Little White Lies’ from the Heptown Records label.

‘Way Down In The Country’ by J.Tex from the album ‘Neon Signs & Little White Lies’

This is his seventh album and is simply the nest. The album was recorded in Lund, Sweden with the production skills of Tommy Tift. The album was recorded on the same analogue mixing board which produced the hits for ABBA. With this album J.Tex wanted to capture the sound of that live music experience to his audience. Recorded in the studio over three days the music truly captures the electrifying magic that is J.Tex. Jens describes how his songs grow and develop from practice sessions to live performances. Music is his job 24/7, 356 days a year. In this podcast we get to listen to ‘Way Down in The County’ and two acoustic tracks ‘I Told You So’ and ‘Broken Rose’.

J.Tex ‘Neon Signs & Little White Lies’ needs to be in your album collection. It’s the sound that you’ve been looking for.
Cheers to J.Tex for bringing country and western music to life.

J.Tex mixes Americana, Country, Bluegrass and Roots music and influenced by Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins. Jens music is a melting pot of sound, riffs and melodies that invoke an era of music that is far from the music that comes out of Nashville now. It connects with your soul, mind and body to make you smile and get up and dance.

J.Tex from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno

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

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S2 Ep9 ~ Roscoe Parker Band

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Roscoe Parker Band is playing the long game in the world of country and western music.

Roscoe Parker Band needs to be on your music radar. You definitely need to listen to ‘You Might Get Lost, You Might Get Hurt’ it’s a fantastic album full of hidden gems and lyrics that make you want to get up and dance. It’s taken six years to get here but it’s been worth the wait. You’ll think your listening to a mid western country artist except he comes from Malmo, Sweden. Yes, Sweden. The music scene from these countries is breaking through onto the country and western scene.

Roscoe Parker Band will bring the magic to your playlist.

Growing up in southern Sweden, Rickard’s idol was Bruce Springsteen. Who didn’t want to be Springsteen eh? In this podcast we get to hear three songs from the latest album ‘You Might Get Lost, You Might Get Hurt’ and they are ‘Jackson Town’ ‘Let It Burn’ and ‘Still Drinkin’ My Beer from a Can’. The last song Rickard had help from Daniel Hollow but essentially its a biographical song about how deep down you can’t forget your roots.

‘Jackson Town’ by Roscoe Parker Band

We discuss factory made music versus independent artists and the struggle to keep your music authentic and not just a product for the masses. Roscoe Parker Band shows how much fun you can have with the country and western genre. His music combines the best of honky tonk with a clean 21st century sound. Inspiration comes at any time for these songs, from being outside running and walking, cooking in the kitchen even being in the bathroom!

The new album from Roscoe Parker Band. Go get this album! Your ears will thank you.

For the future there are already three or four songs already prepared for the second album. I for one can’t wait to hear these on this future album.

Click down below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Roscoe Parker Band. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and many other platforms.

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CloudwatcherUno Podcast S2 Ep8 ~ Sweetheart

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John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes from Sweetheart

The Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) award winning Sweetheart have just released a new self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ released by the label Mother Likes It Records It’s a phenomenal achievement for this band and one that places them on the music map. Sweetheart are John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes and hail from Norway. In 2003/4 Sweetheart was a three piece collective and then more of a country rock band. After a 14 year absence in 2018 the band was reformed into a more melancholic sounding band that currently tugs at your heart strings that carries you along into a different universe full of longing and memories of what could have been.

Sweetheart performing live on stage.

The new self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ explores the sense of missing something or someone. The songs feel like poems brought to life by the intense ghostly vocals that lay open the human condition.

‘Ghosts’ by Sweetheart from the self titled album ‘Sweetheart’ released by Mother Likes It Records

We get to hear the acoustic version of ‘Leaving for Stockholm’ which describes the true life experience of what it feels like when someone you love leaves to travel away from the family home. We also hear the acoustic track ‘Can We Make It Out Of Here Alive’ a song that could be an anthem for 2020. There’s also a favorite of mine ‘The Pines By The River’ that opens the podcast.

You need to add Sweetheart to your playlist.

Being a musician was always a childhood dream for Anne Mette and one that she always wanted to follow through into adulthood. Meeting John-Arne has focused her energies with his in producing an album that channels her beautiful voice to full effect. The turning point for John-Arne was listening to the album ‘Heartbreaker’ from Ryan Adams.

John-Arne Gundersen and Anne Mette Hårdnes from Sweetheart talking on the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno © 2020

Click down below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Sweetheart. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and many other platforms.