The Wooks—CJ Cain on guitar and vocals, Harry Clark on mandolin and vocals, George Guthrie on banjo and vocals, and Allen Cooke on Dobro—release “Flyin’ High” on Friday 25th February 2022. In an exclusive for Behind The Song we have CJ Cain from The Wooks sing the track “Flying High” solo. The first time that he has performed this track without the rest of the band.
CJ Cain also goes into depth as to the story about the song and and explains the importance of the lyrics and the real life characters who inspired the song and how their lives were weaved into becoming a musical gem. We also talk about the music video for “Flyin High” and how the video has brought the characters to life and thus the song into the field of animation.
The Wooks
Click below to watch the full Behind The Song video from The Wooks on You Tube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Sarah Elizabeth Haines releases her sophomore LP, Castaway, on February 25, 2022. Castaway showcases Haines’ impressive instrumental skills on viola, violin, guitar, arrangements, and production, as well as her sharp songwriting and strong singing — both on the melodies and harmonies. In an exclusive for Behind The Song we get to hear Sarah perform her song “Water” acoustically for the show.
Sarahexplains what the album and especially “Water” means to her as an artist singer and lyricist. We explore all the connotations of this word, this material to the world and beyond.
The many faces of Sarah Elizabeth Haines.
Click below to watch the full Behind The Song video from The Wooks on You Tube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
This Artist Showcase features Taylor Rae a sensational musician, singer and songwriter who blends blues, jazz and country music to produce a mesmerising musical cocktail. Check out her album “Mad Twenties” to hear how special Taylor Rae and her music is.
“5:25” by Taylor Rae
We got to speak to Taylor Rae after recovering from Covid and suffering the effects brain god. Taylor’s plan to get through this was building upon her muscle memory and performing in front of audiences. Since 2015 Taylor Rae stopped doing everything and music became not only her passion but full time job.
Taylor has already played in Austin, Houston and Dallas, then travelling to California and fly out to Nashville to Washington DC and then Virginia. Taylor is driving alone along the west and east coast. Thankfully Taylor Rae has a team to support her but she is still driving across the country and performing alone on this tour.
Taylor Rae has her eye on the ball that is Music.
Taylor speaks about her love for Santa Cruz and splitting her time between there and Austin Texas. Hopefully Taylor will collaborate again with Jesse Daniel a childhood friend who she has made some brilliant videos such as “Jackson” which showcase the best of their voices.
“Jackson” cover by Taylor Rae and Jesse Daniel
We speak about the album and the genesis of songs which made it into the album but “Sink Or Swim”, “5:25”, “Letting You Go”. They follow a break up and Taylor’s Southern Rock Blues phase and Lounge Jazz Chill sound that she created by working in hotels and weddings.
Taylor sometimes did six times a week doing these gigs but felt that she was becoming human sonic wallpaper. Grateful for the experience she used it to have production ready songs. A guardian angel provided Taylor the funds to make a full album. Along the way Taylor met a top producer Michelle Robertson and her husband who helped her record the album in two days. The video for “Window” will be coming out soon. This year will focus on promoting “Mad Twenties” until the end of the year.
Taylor Rae
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Taylor Rae. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
The County Affair are lifelong friends Kevin Brennan and Tony Regan. CloudwatcherUno catches up with the duo after they had finished supporting Ward ThomasWard Thomas | Official Website (wardthomasmusic.co.uk) on their national tour.
Kevin and Tony met up as teenagers in Nottingham in the late 70s. In their early twenties they toured the States coast to coast booking their own gigs, landing opportunities and building a reputation with over 200 gigs under their belts. Then a fork in the road came along and they had to choose, one path led to music and the other was corporate careers and settling down and raising families. They both chose this path.
Fast forward more than thirty years and around 2017 and the duo got back together again to concentrate on their music and formed The County Affair. Producer Tom Nichols heard their story on the radio and invited them to record their first album “Off The Grid” with him at the famous Abbey Road Studios.
“Man of Note” by The County Affair
The album includes such tracks as “Man of Note”, “Every Ghost” and “Playing Poker”. While on tour the duo have been busy writing songs and developing more material for a future release. They would love to bring their music to a live act and builds up their presence on the music scene.
“Every Ghost” by The County Affair
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring The County Affair. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
With Kevin and Tony from The County Affair. Photo by Matt Bradshaw.
Dylan Earl sits down with CloudwatcherUno to talk all things music and everything in between. We start off by talking about how the AMA UK music week had been cancelled resulting in Dylan and many artists from the United States, Canada and Europe not being able to fly to London and perform live in front of a live audience. It may be 2022 but it still feels a lot like 2020 is still trying for a third roll of the dice when it comes to gigs and events being postponed or cancelled outright.
The many faces of Dylan Earl
Some of Dylan’s last great memories were in 2018, as the last couple of years has been a blur. Dylan was supposed to be at Black Deer Fest in 2021 but that was cancelled as well. Dylan was the only American artist who took the risk of flying into the UK when the restrictions meant you had to isolate for 10 days. In the end Dylan was left without the festival and it was only through the help of friends (Stevie Smith) that he was able to do a few gigs with Judy Blank.
Dylan Earl in action.
Dylan was there to perform with Judy Blank Judy Blank | Official website who he had collaborated previously on “Throwing Lines“. Dylan’s philosophy in dealing with disappointment is the same way he deals when Arkansas Razorbacks Football snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We talk about how gigs and festivals desperately are trying to come back such as Tennessee Fields Festival where the first band that I saw was MorganwayHOME | morganway , which was the last band I saw pre Covid.
Dylan loves nothing more than to perform in front of a live audience wherever they may be in the world.
Covid and politics features heavily early on our discussion as we lament the fact that we had and still have the most inept and useless self serving politicians in charge with the resulting outcome of the loss of many lives. Thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom Dylan tells the story of how he met Judy Blank and then formed a partnership which has resulted in some damn fine songs. The pair met at Graham Weber and House Of SongsGraham Weber | The House of Songs Songwriter Summit Camps where songwriters from all over the world come to grow, create and develop as artists, writers and musicians. Tanya Tucker, Glen Campbell, Elles Bailey were all influences upon Dylan at the retreat.
Judy Blank and Dylan Earl
Dylan cannot praise Judy Blank high enough as a true lyrical genius and master of her song writing craft. Seemingly Judy can create melodies out of the atmosphere and together the duo created a solid gold country and western hit “Never Said A Word“.
“Never Said A Word” by Judy Blank and Dylan Earl
Many more collaborations have been with the very distant kinship Dylan has with his ‘cousin’ Nick Shoulders and friendship with his ‘uncle’ Willi Carlisle. The trio have a long deep friendship which has only been strengthened when Nick and Willi returned back from their wanderings from New Orleans and being on the road. Being around each other pushes Dylan and his brothers in arms to produce phenomenal storytelling and music with the result that all of their respective careers are going stellar.
“If I Could Only Fly” by Nick Shoulders, Dylan Earl and Willi Carlisle
Dylan is working with Western AF in filming and producing an Arkansas documentary and the Delta area which is where Johnny Cash comes from.
There’s been a history of the outcasts, loners and weirdo’s breaking down the fences that gatekeepers have put up around country music and that all are welcome to this beautiful genre of music.
Dylan is working on his next album ” I Saw The Arkansas” and this will also be the first track released from this new album. In the album will be the track “Buddy” and reflects the touring experience and life led by both Dylan and Willi.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Dylan Earl. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Good Morning Bedlam is a Minnesota based band and is made up of members Isaak Elker (vocals, guitar), his wife Tori Elker (bass, vocals), and Sophie Mae Beyer (violin, vocals). CloudwatcherUno sits down with the band in Tampa, Florida to talk about their new album “Lulu” out on February 4th 2022. In the podcast we also get to hear the tracks “Salt” and “Lulu” from the album.
We talk about the origins of the bands name (Isaak thought it would be cool and now take it as a mantra to greet the chaos of everyday life) and how the band started ( Sophie then 17 and Isaak 19 were inspired to start a band after going to a Davina and The Vagabonds concert). Tori was dating Isaak at the time and wanted to be in the band so much that she sang with the band, sold merchandise and learnt how to play the upright bass.
Good Morning Bedlam’s music is an outpouring of how they are feeling rather than constrict themselves to a particular sound or genre. If they hear a Jazz song that they like then they will go all in and make a Jazz song but with their own unique take on what that should sound like.
“Lulu” by Good Morning Bedlam
Isaak says that, “We are a pop band pretending to be a string band”. Sophie , Teri and Isaak have used their theatre backgrounds to give everything they have and fully embody the energy, heart and passion on their live show. Influences for the band range from Billy Holliday, Otis Redding, BonIver, Pokey Lafarge, Oh Hellos and Phox.
Good Morning Bedlam are known for their contagious energy, with members careening about the stage, jumping and dancing with a wild playfulness. With tight soaring three part harmonies, and thumping kick-drum, they captivate their audience night after night with no intention of slowing down.
In February of 2021 Isaak, Sophia, and Tori returned to Carpet Booth Studios to work with Zach Zurn on their third full-length record Lulu. On May 28th of 2021 they released a single titled “Blue House,” and have continued to release one song off of the upcoming record every five weeks, which will culminate in the official release of the record on February 4th 2022. In July of 2021 they ran a successful Kickstarter for their upcoming album Lulu, where fans from around the world pledged a total of $34,000. It’s easy for artists to make art but it’s difficult for those artists to champion their art and requires a belief that people want to listen to their music.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Good Morning Bedlam. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
CloudwatcherUno catches up with Sterling Drake in the middle of his “Roll The Dice” tour promoting the EP of the same name. The EP was supposed to come out on vinyl last October but literally every artist under the sun wants to make physical copies of their songs. Melvin Dillon from Soul Step Records collaborated with Sterling to produce a slice of honky tonk, dancehall and western swing heaven. The orange coloured vinyl is a testament to the quality of production and care that goes into each pressing.
“Roll The Dice” 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.
The Man…The Guitar…The Country…“Roll The Dice” EP by Sterling Drake from Soul Step Records
Sterling likes to catalogue the music that he likes on a public forum playlists on Spotify. As for the future Sterling has many many songs that he’s been saving such as old style country songs with a modern twist, bluegrass music and everything in between.
Sterling is looking to tour in the North West in Spring 2022 and the South East later in the winter. Sterling also plays once a month at the Station Inn in Nashville, Tennessee.
Click below to hear more from the podcast with CloudwatcherUno featuring Sterling Drake. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Adam Shoenfeld sits down with CloudwatcherUno to talk about his new album “All The Birds Sing“. The album was a team effort with his producer and wife Katie Cook and the album was produced in his home studio where he has access to his many guitars, drum kits and musical paraphernalia. The album was inspired by the music of ELO, George Harrison, TheBeatles and Tom Petty. Around 5 to 6 years ago Adam began singing lead vocals on stage and building his stage presence before a live audience. One of the highlights is is the track “The Sky Is Falling Down“. We also get to hear Adam’s cover of The Beatles “Norwegian Wood“
“The Sky Is Falling Down” by Adam Shoenfeld.
There’s a lot of authentic love in the lyrics in this album. The majority of the tracks were written by Adam or with Katie except for “Lose To Win“which was a collaboration with another songwriter. We discuss “Her Song“, “The Sky Is Falling Down” and “All The Birds Sing“. For Adam his songs come to him quite easily as he consciously tries to harness the electricity and magic that runs around in his mind. Adam played bass, keyboard, guitar and drums on all of the tracks.
The first songs for this album began life on 2018. In early 2019 after a particularly heavy day doing session work Adam told himself he would start work on an album and finished writing songs in Feb 2021. Adam explains how he was offered record deals in the past but studios wanted him to be more Country and he always saw himself as Rock and Roll. It’s because of that sound that he is one of the most sought after session guitarists in Nashville.
Adam Shoenfeld in action.
Adam’s album is a Modern Classic , drawing inspiration from sixties and seventies and bringing it bang up to date. Adam is looking forward to playing the album live in front of an audience and I for one would love to be at that gig.
Click below to hear more from the podcast with CloudwatcherUno featuring Adam Shoenfeld. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Season 6 of the CloudwatcherUno podcast comes to a close with a fabulous talk with the legend that is Chris Roberts. Chris was born in Austin, Texas, then moved to Aspen, and when we spoke we did so from his new home in Joshua Tree, California where he recorded his most recent EPs ‘Red Feather and ‘Lost and Found’. Chris fell in love with the Californian landscape and the vibe and moved in a blink of an eye.
‘Six Months Too Long‘ by Chris Roberts
Chris can’t wait to travel across the UK and Europe to bring his good time music to audiences who need to listen to this stunning artist and his sensational sound. To Chris it’s just Rock and Roll with a southern voice that gets tagged as Country Music but to Chris labels don’t mean anything. To Chris if you love the music then play another song and another until you are surrounded by the energy and warm embrace of Chris’s lyrics and songs.
‘Hate When You’re Gone‘ by Chris Roberts
Chris’s vision for his music is to showcase his energy, determination to tear the roof off with his rock and roll and bring joy to the fans. For Chris his music and his songs just pours out of him, there is no existential dread, no struggle with a blank page. An example of how awesome Chris’s music is his ‘Red Feather‘ EP which features songs such as ‘Hate When Your Gone‘ and ‘Remember That It’s Me’. An Ep that was made during the pandemic
Chris Roberts ~ A true original voice within the world of music.
Chris is a prolific artist and has also released his ‘Lost And Found‘ EP which features the songs ‘Loving Arms‘ and the classic Sammy Johns track ‘Chevy Van‘. All this from a musician who only recently took up playing piano and guitar. Chris has a gift and it needs to be shared with the world.
‘Jam In The Van‘ with Chris Roberts and his band.
Chris recently moved from Colorado and the most important thing to travel with Chris to Joshua Tree were his books filled with songs. For Chris trying to organise a set list takes time as he wants to give the best performance he can with a combination of killer songs, hooks and melodies. So if you hear that Chris Roberts is playing in venue near you make sure you run, don’t walk to that gig because you will be in the presence of greatness when the lights go up and Chris is on stage.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Chris Roberts. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Katie Mae sits down with CloudwatcherUno to talk about her album ‘Yellow Medicine Hills‘ which was released in October 2021 and ‘Hazy Angel‘ which was released in October 2020. When Katie Mae plays with her band then the name of band changes to Katie Mae & The Lubrication a truly original kick ass musical experience! Katie Mae had just started releasing music as an independent artist in 2019 and then on February 29th 2020 was the first Lubrication gig.
‘Yellow Medicine Hills‘ by Katie Mae
We talk about how Katie used the time during the first initial lockdown practising and honing her songs and as restrictions relaxed playing with her band to make her music have even more depth and soul.
Katie Mae an Arizona native and troubadour
We talk about our love for live music and how emotional it’s been for Katie not only to play live in front of an audience but to see other bands such as ‘Trampled by Turtles‘ and feel connected to strangers again through the power of music. Hopefully gigs at least will continue at Phoenix, Arizona because there’s something special about seeing the music you’ve heard in between your ears live in front of your eyes.
Katie’s start in music was from going to her Kindergarten teachers piano lessons when she was a very young girl so that she too could get a popsicle as a reward for playing the piano. When Katie reached Middle School at the age of 12/13 just for fun Katie would play guitar and her love for punk music started but then developed into an appreciation for singer songwriter acts.
‘Say When‘ by Katie Mae & The Lubrication
Over the last 3 to 4 years between living in Flagstaff, Arizona and then moving back to Phoenix Arizona, Katie started playing gigs with friends who needed a vocalist for their punk/metal bands. The experience was so much fun she developed her own voice, her own sound and music.
Her first solo live gig was in 2018 at the Quail Lounge in Phoenix Arizona. The experience was a full on adrenalin rush and one that Katie wanted to repeat again and again and Katie hasn’t looked back since.
Click below to hear more from the podcast with CloudwatcherUno featuring Katie Mae. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
CloudwatcherUno PLAY.LISTEN.ENJOY. 