"I Fell in Love with Country Songs Again:" Margo Price to Return to Her Roots on New Album, 'Hard Headed Woman'

For the last few years and past two albums, Margo Price has dipped her toes in swirling psychedelic rock, danced gracefully in and out of dazzling folk and flirted with synthy pop rock, expanding her style outside of the boundaries of her familiar country music.

The tenacious songstress, however, has announced a return to those roots with the upcoming album, Hard Headed Woman.

"I always joke that country music is like a toxic ex-boyfriend," she tells Holler while in Music City for various CMA Fest-related activities. "I needed some space, but I knew I would be back."

In that time of separation, she released her critically acclaimed, genre-blurring Strays and Strays II, as well as tried her hand at producing for the likes of Teddy and the Rough Riders and outlaw legend Jessi Colter.

She eventually, though, found herself in collaboration with country greats like Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and the two-year journey toward Hard Headed Woman began.

"It's been a whirlwind, but it's been great," she shares of her recent affairs –rebuilding her band, writing new songs and laying it all down in Nashville's iconic RCA Studio A.

What resulted is a 12-track collection of songs – including duets with Tyler Childers and Jesse Welles – that are, all at once, defiant and wise; tough yet vulnerable; topical but timeless; and at the end of the day, distinctly Margo Price.

With a renewed focus on songwriting, Hard Headed Woman not only marks the artist's return to country, but also a return to the basics and the things she's always loved.

"I was with my band for over a decade, and we were treading in some kind of psychedelic rock territory," she says. "There was just a lot going on, and so I just kind of stripped back the sound and fell in love with country songs again."

With the news of the new album comes the rollicking lead single, 'Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down', a resilient reminder to stick to your values and trust in yourself, especially in this day and age. The song's message of unwavering belief in oneself is something that resounds through much of the album as Price takes listeners on a voyage through life's ups and downs.

"It's been really cathartic to write songs about the journey that I've been on and where I'm going," Price says.

Fans will be hoping Price might debut some tracks from the new album at her eagerly anticipated London, UK show at Scala on June 18th, featuring stellar British up-and-comer, Maya Lane, as support. Price has enjoyed a strong relationship with her fans across The Pond throughout her career, and this trip undoubtedly feels like the perfect launchpad for the Illinois trailblazer to kickstart her next era.

'Hard Headed Woman' is set for release on Aug. 29.

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Hard Headed Woman Tracklist

1. 'Prelude {Hard Headed Woman}'
2. 'Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down'
3. 'Red Eye Flight'
4. 'Don’t Wake Me Up' (feat. Jesse Welles)
5. 'Close To You'
6. 'Nowhere Is Where'
7. 'Losing Streak'
8. 'I Just Don’t Give a Damn'
9. 'Keep A Picture'
10. 'Love Me Like You Used To Do' (feat. Tyler Childers)
11. 'Wild At Heart'
12. 'Kissing You Goodbye'

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