6 New Country Songs You Must Hear: Carly Pearce, Kaitlin Butts, Vince Gill, Angie K & More

This week's roundup of new country tunes features the latest album from Kentucky native Carly Pearce — who wowed at her Nissan Stadium show Sunday (June 9) during CMA Fest — as well as new songs from Matt Stell, Andrea Vasquez, Angie K, Muscadine Bloodline and a collaboration from Kaitlin Butts and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill.

Carly Pierce, hummingbird

On her new album, Pearce and her group of top musicians demonstrate the further evolution of confessional, old-school (yet direct) songwriting. The 13-song project is filled with revenge anthems and meticulously crafted kisses (the raging “Truck on Fire,” “Heels Over Head”), as well as songs that depict the stages of a declining relationship in tracks — including Chris Stapleton's collaboration with 'We Don't Fight Anymore', 'Fault Line' and the cleverly written, fiddle-driven barn burner 'Rock Paper Scissors', which will hopefully be a single at some point. The singer-songwriter once again expresses her unquestionable musical allegiances with “Country Music Made Me Do It.”

Elsewhere, Pearce bounces back from betrayal with a heart-healing new relationship on the bluegrass-tinged “Trust Issues.” As with previous albums, Pearce steps out of the pages of her own story and is the writer of all but one song on the album — offering a continuation of her post-divorce work 29: Written in stone and a cataloging of the emotional and relational progress and setbacks he has made along the way. Leading all of these songs is Pearce's versatile bluegrass-informed soprano, which brings a delightful elegance to even the most downbeat and muted numbers.

Kaitlin Butts featuring Vince Gill, “Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)”

Americana favorite Kaitlin Butts teams up with fellow Oklahoman Vince Gill here, with Gill adding earthy harmonies and backing vocals to this gorgeous fiddle-driven song. “I know in the morning you gotta go,” she sings, offering her affection and a soft place to land to a hard-working, traveling cowboy. This song – a solo penned by Butts – is a must for anyone looking for a love song with old school country sounds. “Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)” is from her upcoming album inspired by musical theater Roadrunner!out June 28 via Soundly Music.

Angie K, “Red Dirt on Mars”

Light guitar elevates this broken ballad as she searches for a place where she can cut the emotional strings that bind her to the pain of losing a loved one. “Where's a cowgirl to go burn a brand out of her heart?” Angie K wonders, her warm vocals crackling with disarming vulnerability. Angie K wrote the song with Hayden Cain, Joey Ebach and Mary Kutter, produced by writer-producer Stephanie Smith.

Matt Stell, “Smooth”

Stell turns to tender balladry on his new song as he offers an indescribable look at the deep, generational impact of a family's decision to sell family farm land to a smooth businessman. The song plays as the flip side of Cody Johnson's song “Dirt Cheap”. “They cut down the trees and dug up my roots,” Stell sings, adding that now, “I've got an empty soul and a full inbox.” Stell wrote the song with Chris DeStefano and the track appears on his new album Born aloneby RECORDS Nashville.

Andrea Vasquez, “Moving Target”

“This girl is a cowboy,” Vazquez sings in this ode to a woman with her defenses, a strong sense of wandering lust, and a vision of her life right in front of her. The pop-tinged production elevates Vasquez's emotionally nuanced, confident voice here. Vasquez, a California native with Latin American roots, wrote “Moving Target” with Bailey Morgan and Eitan Snyder.

Muscadine Bloodline “10-90″

This indie duo, made up of Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster, has been steadily building their audience for nearly a decade and continues to evolve and accelerate their craft. This soulful ode to devoted love is one of Muscadine Bloodline's best releases to date. “Gimme you on your worst day and I'll give you my best,” they sing, while the production is polished but not overdone, highlighting the harmonies brilliantly. “10-90” is from the duo's album The coastal plainreleased August 16.