Tigirlily Gold - Blonde EP

Sister-duo Tigirlily Gold are on a mission to bring raw girl power back to Country Music.

On the coattails of their hit single “Shoot Tequila,” Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh ramp up the momentum with their debut Monument Records EP Blonde, a collection packed full of unapologetic sass, empowerment and introspective songwriting prowess. The expertise of revered producers Shane McAnally, Pete Good and Alex Kline add a layer of Music City polish to a collection tailor-made for Country radio.

Gravelly electric guitar introduces us to the title track ‘Blonde’ a soaring anthem that encourages listeners to find strength in embracing one's true, “Blonde” self. “You can’t buy happiness / but you can buy hair like this”, sing the duo with unwavering confidence and self-pride. It sets the tone for a project about staying true to your roots, with a dash of endearing self-deprecation along the way.

With the nostalgic ‘Hometown Song’, the duo have an absolute gem that captures the essence of small-town life, painting a vivid picture of conflict in a close-knit community and the bittersweet feeling of leaving it all behind. “For every person I wanna prove wrong / there’s another I wanna make proud”.

Country fans will be all too familiar with the rose-tinted views of hometowns, but in ‘Hometown Song’ we have an alternative, much more poignant perspective. Melodically stunning, it showcases Tigirlily Gold at their glowing best.

The duo honed their craft playing four-hour sets on Broadway, and that experience oozes from their lyricism and production. ‘Move On’ adds a sultry, sexy tone, as a love interest is urged to cut to the chase and make “a move on me”, whilst “Shoot Tequila” presents a rowdy, alcohol-soaked honky-tonk anthem that draws influence from those bar room tales of bad decisions and repercussions. Co-written with Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra and David Mescon, it’s that golden lead single that emerging acts all over Music City strive to record.

More slow, contemplative material wouldn’t go amiss on the full album, but as far as making a statement goes, Blonde ticks the boxes and builds anticipation just nicely. With their infectious, instantly loveable melodies and unfiltered lyrical nous, there’s already a defiant attitude but also such familiarity to Tigirlily Gold’s music.

It strikes up a connection like a duo far beyond their years.

8/10

Tigirlily Gold's 2023 EP, Blonde, is released June 23 via Monument Records.

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