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“I wanted to make something that sounded like Ralph Stanley went in and got backed up by Soundgarden,” Chaney says of his forthcoming album. “I write what I listen to. And whatever I listen to is going to come out in my music.”
Set to be released in September, In the Shadow of the Mountain draws from Chaney's lifelong admiration for 1990s rock — specifically Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots — as he aims to find a melodic balance between that raw and real rock sound and the bluegrass and folk music of his native Kentucky.
“I’m not concerned with being labeled as ‘country.’ There’s not a lot of music being released right now that is doing much for me — I want to make something I want to listen to.”
The follow up to the more obviously grungey 'Alone?' from earlier in the year, the next taste of the album comes in the form of the more upbeat 'The Unsatisfied.'
Described by Chaney as being “a much-needed pick-me-up by this point in the record," with a lively bluegrass shuffle beat and Chaney's well weathered woodbine and whiskey rasp, 'The Unsatisfied' is a common man anthem for all of life's great dreamers.
"Settle down child, don't you know what you've asked for? A life of uncertainty, a life of crime," he sings in the chorus. "The man with no patience must walk out of cadence, damned to be unsatisfied."
"'The Unsatisfied' is a song written about my early experience as a touring musician and songwriter," Chaney says. "It's a confession of how I felt at the time of writing the song. I believe that if you want to stand out and create anything original in this life, you're going to have to take a different route than the other guys. That route is often fraught with peril. Two or three years down the road, now - much has changed about that 'ol boy, and much remains the same.”
Listen to 'The Unsatisfied' below
In the Shadow of the Mountain was captured by famed producer Duane Lundy at his legendary studio in Lexington, Kentucky. While talking at-length about the possible collaboration, Lundy spoke of his love for Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots.
“I know plenty of bluegrass guys that could have recorded this for me,” Chaney says. “But, I wanted to take that string band and folk sound and bring it to a rock producer, to bring that big sound out of these acoustic instruments — [Duane] was about to do that.”
The album was also co-produced by guitarist Zachary Hamilton, a close friend of Chaney, who is also the brother and bandmate of rising Lexington singer-songwriter Abby Hamilton.
“[Zach] has that ability to fill a room with his guitar, his voicings, and all the choices he goes for down the neck of the guitar,” Chaney says. “When Abby was opening for us, I got to sit there and watch him play every night. I knew when I was going to do another album, he needed to be involved in some capacity.”
Heading into the recording sessions, Chaney brought along his band, which includes Ella Webster (fiddle), Kyle Kleinman (mandolin), Joel Murtaugh (upright bass) and James Gooding (drums). Acclaimed Kentucky musician (and former bandmate) Aaron Bibelhauser also makes an appearance.
With this pivot in his tone and intent compared to his 2021 debut album, Mercy, Chaney sees this current path as more in-tune with what he’s not only wanted to do all along, but has slowly shifted towards in recent years amid endless touring and performing.
“I was super green [while recording Mercy]. I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Chaney admits. “And, by the grace of so many people around me, we were able to get some really great string band music on [that album].”
Since Mercy, Chaney has added a full drum kit to his band and live show, something that was done to enhance his sound and stage presence — this thunderous beat to accompany the sorrowful songs.
“If I have drums, then we’re going to do it all the way,” Chaney says. “And that unlocked some capabilities for me as a writer to pursue a sound that I don’t think has been fully captured by anybody.”
As of late, Chaney has returned to his hometown of Catlettsburg, Kentucky (population: 1,780). The tiny Appalachian community lies along the shores of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers, at the crossroads of the borders of West Virginia, Ohio and The Bluegrass State.
“I think [Catlettsburg] shows through in everything that I do,” Chaney says. “And if you want to write songs where that stuff is going to come through, then I feel I need to be around my roots.”
For Chaney, even though he’s only in his mid-twenties, his journey has been long and bountiful already. From growing up in rural Appalachia to going to welding school, only to leave it behind and take a leap of faith when an opportunity to pursue music emerged.
That life-changing decision led to Chaney hitting the road and finding work at The Burl, a storied Lexington music venue. Chaney has come full circle with The Burl, by selling out the space on multiple occasions to fervent crowds, including the large outdoor stage.
With In the Shadow of the Mountain being the latest milestone for Chaney, what remains is this driven musician in search of not only himself and his sound, but also an audience just as hungry — for something new, something different, and yet something so familiar.
“In a lot of ways, things have gone extremely far. And yet, so many things have remained the same,” Chaney reflects. “And I think that’s been the beauty of the journey.”
In the Shadow of the Mountain is released on Ridgeline Records via Thirty Tigers on 19 September. Presave and Preorder here.
