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The welcome return of Western North Carolina-based outfit The Resonant Rogues comes with the first single taken from their forthcoming self-titled album featuring Holler favourite Sierra Ferrell on backing vocals.
This is the fourth album from the duo, made up of Sparrow and her partner Keith Josiah Smith, who have become known for their extensive touring and travelling throughout the U.S. - Keith by hopping freight trains, Sparrow with a circus troupe. The Resonant Rogues came together after they met by chance in Asheville 10 years ago and combined their talents.
The first taste of their fourth album comes in the form of ‘Show Me’. A generous serving of soulful country piled high with yearning and a big dollop of good old fashioned country heartache. Sparrow channelling her inner Connie Smith as she belts out the sultry standard while Sierra Ferrell gleefully sha-la-las behind her. With its sweeping strings and weeping accordion, this is country music as classic as it comes.
“Everyone deserves to be treated well - by their partners, their family and friends, and by themselves,” explains Sparrow about the song’s inspiration. “This song reflects on what real love looks like - it’s an action we show up with every day, not just a word we say. Sierra and I had a great time in the studio with the doo-wop backing vocals!”
‘Show Me’ is premiering exclusively on Holler below
Recorded over two weeks in Nashville at the Bomb Shelter with producer Andrija Tokic, the album allowed the band to pull together a sonic thread that feels more focused and less all over the map than previous projects, with a distinct sense of place within string band music, and within a modern interpretation of the classic styles that inspire Sparrow and Keith. It’s still as folky as ever, but with a confident embrace of rock ’n’ roll energy.
“Making this album was such a dreamy process,” Sparrow told us. “The Bomb Shelter is super cozy - full of cool woodworking and vintage instruments and feels like a living room that I’d like to hang out and play music in all day and night. Andrija Tokic is a breeze to work with, just the right combo of great ideas and just letting the musicians do their thing, playing the songs like we’ve performed ‘em a thousand times, but with an extra sprinkle of excitement and magic of recording in a space where some of my favorite songs of all time have been tracked.
“The songs on this record are super special,” she adds. “Definitely the best I’ve written. I’ve never been more proud of a body of work I have been part of creating; every song is consistently excellent through to the end (the last two songs are maybe my favorite)”
The album was recorded analog, direct to tape, giving it warmth and a live-in-the-room sound. That immediacy feels right for musicians who cut their teeth as buskers, playing street corners across the U.S. and Europe. Special guests on the recording include The Resonant Rogues’ long-time friends and collaborators, such as Sierra Ferrell and Benjamin Tod (background vocals); John James Tourville (pedal and lap steel, 12 string guitar, butter knives, guzheng); Jason Dea West (harmonica); Kristen Harris (fiddle); and Landon George (upright bass, drums, baritone guitar).
“This record feels like a long time coming since we haven't released a full-length album since 2019,” Keith says. “We had a lot of personal growth in the years these songs were written, having our performing career stop due to Covid gave us a lot of time to think about where we were headed in life and what was really important to us, and I think the songs speak to that. We had an unusually high volume of material to choose from after some very productive writing years, so we’re really happy with all of the ones we chose for the record! In addition to Andrija’s excellent work, we had some creative powerhouses in our band that each brought a little something extra than just their instrumental chops.”
The album, The Resonant Rogues, is released on November 10th
