Jack Barksdale Announces New Album, Voices, for June on Truly Handmade Records Featuring Sarah Jarosz on Second Single, 'Martyrs'

Time really does fly.

It's been three years since 14-year-old, Fort Worth, Texas-based Americana singer-songwriter Jack Barksdale released his first full-length studio album, Death of a Hummingbird, in 2022. A strangely beautiful album that captured his still-high voice, intricate guitar picking and thoughtful, wise-beyond-his-years poeticism like a moment in time.

A generous helping of EPs and one-off singles helped stave off our hunger in the following years, but now the 17-year-old fully assuages his growing legion of fans with the announcement of his new 11-track album, Voices, for 13th June.

Released on Truly Handmade Records is - a label created by the estate of legendary songwriter Guy Clark as a “home for songwriters," - notably, Rodney Crowell, Tamara Saviano, and Verlon Thompson all serve on its board of directors - it's the perfect home for one of Americana's most authentically grounded new voices.

It's that idea of a "voice" that gives the album it's jumping off point, and it's particularly fitting that Truly Handmade Records is home to the new album, given that the songs - all written by him alone - are inspired by Barksdale’s thoughts on the very process of songwriting.

“In my view, songwriting is one of the closest things to schizophrenia that there is," he says. "All these narratives and voices are coming out of one person and often from unknown places. These songs are the result of these voices at work. They all come from different places, and each carries its own personality.”

"Needless to say, it’s such an honor to be a part of this label," Barksdale effuses about his new musical home. "I’m very proud of how this album turned out. It’s always so cool when your idea materializes the way you pictured it."

With Voices, he delivers his most fully realized work yet, an 11-song, 50-minute studio album that lays bare the essence of who he is - both as a musician and as a human being.

“I've been exploring many things,” he reflects, and Voices is indeed a testament to Barksdale’s relentless artistic pursuit. “Art, religion, reality, society, philosophy, and myself. I guess you could say I'm searching for a better understanding of it all.”

The second single to be taken from the album, 'Martyrs,' features another of Americana's most singular voices, multi-Grammy Award winner Sarah Jarosz.

"I’m really grateful to have Sarah Jarosz featured on the song," says Barksdale. "That song is a bit of an outlier on the album, and I think if it hadn’t been done right, it wouldn’t have fit as well with the rest of the album. Sarah really elevated and completed the song so that it feels like a refreshing change-up from the other tracks."

With lines like, "Just running from nothing but the fear of nothing at all," the gently strummed, deeply existential waltz is typical of the innate profundity of Barksdale's songwriting, inspired by his experiences of a young life spent out on the road

“Traveling for music is a lot different than ordinary travel," he says about the song. "You get to see real places more than just tourist attractions. Through these experiences, I’ve realized that rural towns in Texas and in the south are rich with strange psychology and culture that is often unnoticed or dismissed."

"I wanted to write a song about these areas" Barksdale continues, "with a special focus on the people growing up there. Most of all I wanted to take these places and these people seriously. That’s where this song came from. I was so pleased to have Sarah on this song, especially since she’s from Wimberley, Texas (which is one of my favorite areas of Texas) and she’s written several songs on this exact subject.”

“I first became aware of Jack Barksdale when I saw a video he made covering my song, ‘Eve.’" Sarah Jarosz adds. "I was immediately taken in by his thoughtful rendition. He’s an old soul who is tapping into something that is far beyond his years. It was an honor to play and sing on ‘Martyrs’ — his writing and musicianship gives me hope that the future of the Texas singer songwriter tradition is alive and well.”

The song was produced by Mike Meadows, who also played percussion and previously produced Barksdale’s debut full-length album. Jared Reynolds, another longtime collaborator, played bass, while Bukka Allen - son of Texas songwriting legend Terry Allen - added accordion, further enriching the song’s sonic landscape.

Elsewhere on the album, Jeff Plankenhorn features on Oahu Slide Guitar, Diana Burgess on cello and Luke Moller on violin and viola, as well as a guest vocal from Kelley Mickwee.

The album benefits from an all-star cast of personnel. Engineered by Britton Beisenherz of Ramble Creek Studios in Austin, Texas, Voices features additional contributions from Luke Moller, Diana Burgess, and Chris Gelin, among others. Barksdale expresses deep gratitude for the collaborative effort, saying, “Thanks to all of these people, these voices are being heard; I hope you enjoy and become acquainted with them.”

Jack Barksdale - Voices Full Album Tracklisting:

1. The Man, The Myth, The Legend
2. Martyrs
3. Only Human
4. The Cost
5. A Funny Song
6. Song Of The Artist
7. 21st Century Savior
8. God Is Dead, I Am Dead, And So Are You
9. The End Of Days
10. Entropy
11. Voices

Jack Barksdale will be touring in 2025 supporting the new album on the following dates:

April 26 - Dale, TX | Old Settler’s Music Festival

May 17 - Georgetown, TX | Renegade Revival Music Fest

May 28 - Atlanta, GA | City Winery Atlanta

May 29 - Knoxville, TN | Blue Plate Special

June 14 - Fort Worth, TX | The Post

June 21 - New Braunfels, TX | Redbird Listening Room

July 8 - Jackson, MS | Duling Hall

July 9 - New Orleans, LA | No Dice

July 10 - Houston, TX | Mucky Duck

July 11 - Austin, TX | 04 Center

July 12 - Ft. Worth, TX | Tulips (early show)

July 13 - Tulsa, OK | Mercury Lounge

July 14 - Kansas City, MO | Knuckleheads

July 16 - Milwaukee, WI | Shank Hall

July 17 - Chicago, IL | GMAN Tavern

July 18 - Rockford, IL | Music Box

July 19 - Indianapolis, IN | Duke’s Indy

July 20 - Newport, KY | Southgate House

July 22 - Pittsburgh, PA | City Winery

July 23 - Syracuse, NY | 443 Social Club

July 24 - Sellersville, PA | Sellersville Theatre

July 25 - New York, NY | Cafe Wha?

July 26 - Boston, MA | City Winery

July 29 - Annapolis, MD | Rams Head

July 30 - Vienna, VA | Jammin’ Java

July 31 - Greensboro, NC | Flat Iron

August 2 - Atlanta, GA | Eddie’s Attic

Voices by Jack Barksdale is released on Truly Handmade Records on 13th June. Preorder and presave here.