8 New Country Songs You Must Hear: Miranda Lambert, Randy Travis, Tenille Arts and more

This week's roundup of new releases includes Miranda Lambert's first new music since joining Republic Records in collaboration with Big Loud, as well as Randy Travis' new song, which was recorded with the help of AI. The lineup also features music from Kameron Marlowe, Tenille Arts, Colby Acuff, Jesse Daniel with Ben Haggard and more.

Miranda Lambert, “Wranglers”

Lambert returns to the genre of revenge stories that first served as her musical intro, and as her fans know, this Texan's vocals are often at their best when she's issuing a heavy, low growl of warning to anyone who dares to do her wrong. . Written by Audra Mae, Evan McKeever, and Ryan Carpenter, this song charts the story of a woman who is at a crossroads in her independence and who doesn't shy away from the fiery vengeance required to put those plans into action. “Wranglers” is Lambert's first new music under her recent deal with Republic Records, in collaboration with Big Loud.

Randy Travis, “Where Did That Come From”

Although the use of artificial intelligence has been widely seen as a threat to artists and songwriters in recent years, Country Music Hall of Famer Travis' label team at Warner Music Nashville intended to use the technology to help the singer, who he had limited speech. for more than a decade, after a stroke in 2013 left him with aphasia. This song, originally recorded by singer James Dupre and written by Scotty Emerick with John Scott Sherill, serves as the anchor, a track that feels as classic as many of Travis' previous hits. Through artificial intelligence and meticulous sound processing by Travis' longtime producer Kyle Lehning, Travis returns with “Where That Came From,” his vocals sounding strikingly close to Travis' timeless recordings of the 1980s and 1990.

Tenille Arts, “So Do I”

Arts delves into the desperation of loneliness on “So Do I,” drawing on feelings of confusion, frustration, and not quite counting while wrapping it all in a mesmerizing pop hook. “Do you feel like the whole world is waiting for you to do it right?” he asks in this piece, written by Sasha Sloan, King Henry, Demi Lovato and Laura Veltz. The song is featured on Arts' latest album, to be honest, which was released on May 3, and builds on her penchant for soul-digging contexts and deeply detailed story arcs. The album is released through Dreamcatcher Artists and distributed through STEM.

Colby Acuff, “Scared of the Dark”

Acuff, who signed to Sony Music Nashville last year, excels at combining acoustic sounds with his grainy voice and deeply personal stories. His latest, which he wrote solo and produced with Eddie Spear, builds from even violin and vocals to percussion, sharp violin lines and relentless acoustic guitar, drawing out the lyrical arc of an ongoing mental health battle with depression and shame. , but ultimately drawing hope for better days.

Lonesome Ace Stringband with The Andrew Collins Trio, “May Day”

It's been nearly two decades since the Lonesome Ace Stringband played an acoustic residency at Toronto's Dakota Tavern — around the same time that Lonesome Ace's Chris Coole wrote this track with Andrew Collins of The Andrew Collins Trio. The two groups combine their talents on this breezy, exquisitely performed instrumental, with a mesh of mandolin, banjo, bass, guitar and fiddle capturing the warm, vibrant essence of spring.

Cameron Marlowe, “On My Way Out”

Marlowe's searing vocals are front and center on his new song, written by Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Taylor Phillips and Bobby Pinson. Soaring and tender, Marlowe's voice is a foil to this song as he ponders how he wants to leave this life better than he found it, right his wrongs and thank those who meant the most to him. A top shelf excursion from this North Carolina native and former native The voice contestant.

Chase Matthew, “First”

He tries to get out of a troubled relationship, but everyone he spends time with comes second only to his first love. It chronicles each of the first blossoming moments of love in this role model relationship, from the first time she called him “baby,” to the first time she kissed him. Sonically, the song lives up to the pop-oriented songs on the radio, while the melody gives his charming vocals room to soar. Matthew wrote the song with Ben Hayslip and David Lee Murphy.

Jesse Daniel & Ben Haggard, “Tomorrow's Good Ol' Days”

Dripping harmonica and strummed guitar, this collaboration between Daniel and Ben Haggard (son of country music legend Merle Haggard) is the latest hard hitting honky tonk release from neo-traditionalist Daniel. Here, they lament a country “on the brink of war,” children “growing up too fast,” and corporations buying up farmland and reshaping the economy in the process. Their weathered, raspy voices are a perfect foil to the story, a throwback to other country classics that have lamented various economic and social changes they see as damaging. The song is from Daniels' upcoming project Counting the Mileswill be released June 7th on Lightning Rod Records.