Nobody—not even the most talented out there–ever said that it’s easy to get a career rolling in Music City. However, The Carmonas have managed to stake their claim in the legendary town, having wowed local crowds at the famed Bluebird Café as well as shows across the country. Their self-titled debut full-length will be out July 29, showcasing the storied sounds of the band’s current hometown of Nashville, as well as the many places they lived as children.
“It’s a true blend of American music,” the two brothers (Aaron and Chad) and sister (Alison) explain, noting that they’d grown up in an Army family that took them an ever-moving journey from coast to coast. “Most of what is heard is directly inspired from the places we’ve lived and loved and lost in our lives: The Southern, Appalachian roots of North Carolina to the seemingly endless fertile valleys of Central California; and all the desert, mountain, ocean and country roads and highways we’ve traversed along the way.”
Indeed, it’s not just the rich variety of locales The Carmonas–who are rounded out by members Willie Huston, Eben Cathey, and Daniel Heacock–have visited that’s informed their latest release.
They’ve had the opportunity to share a live bill with a diverse slate of highly respected musicians, including the Blind Boys of Alabama, Emmylou Harris, Karen Elson and Jeremy Lister, and country legend Marty Stuart. The result is a sound tinged with a lot of heartfelt folk, blues, bluegrass, those inexplicably perfect and priceless family vocal harmonies, and a prominent but delicate twang.
The band says their sound has been compared by friends and fans to John Denver, a “modern day” Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers. However, “Most of what we’ve heard from others is that we have a sound all our own.”
Indeed, the new LP offers up some unique experimental ideas that the band flirted with on their last EP. “Subtly using electric instruments and more percussion compared to our previous work has opened up the aural spectrum of our band’s sound while staying rooted in the ground,” they note. The result is a curated collection of fresh-sounding songs, without question.
“We strived to keep recurring themes and motifs that stay consistent throughout the variety of different stylistic and emotional ranges on display within each song. We feel we have accomplished this.”
In addition, while working on The Carmonas, they’ve made the time to travel the world playing for troops and their families who are stationed overseas with the USO/ DOD. And while they are certainly proud of giving back in their way to our men and women in uniform, they ultimately admit that their biggest source of pride right now is the new album.
“We hoped to create a lasting work of songs that paint an honest portrayal of the peculiar dichotomy of love and loss, hope and heartbreak, and the struggle to find equilibrium within that friction,” the band notes.
If that sounds like a tall order? “We want you also to be able to stomp your foot and raise your hand in the process!”
For full tour dates and more information, please visitwww.thecarmonasmusic.com
