Midland discuss new 'Barely Blue' album, working with Dave Cobb: 'Most fun we've ever had in the studio'

A decade ago, Midland's Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy found themselves at the iconic Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas and made their initial recordings as a trio. They evolved their simultaneously modern and retro sound, fused by their contrasting harmonies, a process that was later highlighted by the release of their 2021 project The Sonic Ranch (and its corresponding documentary). That same year, Sturgill Simpson released his landmark album, produced by Dave Cobb Postmodern sounds in country music.

“We referenced a lot of stuff from the '70s and '80s,” says Midland singer/guitarist Wystrach. Bulletin board. “When we heard [Simpson’s] album, we felt it was exactly, in so many ways, like what we were trying to capture to pay homage to the music we love, but in a modern and contemporary way.”

From that point on, Cobb, also known for his work with Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell, became an ambitious producer for the trio. They realize that ambition with their new, eight-song release Just Blueout September 20th on Big Machine Records.

Although both works were recorded about 1,600 miles apart (Just Blue recorded at Cobb's Georgia Mae Studios in Savannah, Ga.) and separates them from 10 years of touring and recording, two top 5 hits on the Billboard Country Airplay charts in “Drinkin' Problem” and “Burn Out” and an ACM Award for New Vocal Duo /group of the year, there are distinct similarities between the two projects.

“It comes full circle back to our first album, where it was a fully immersive, experiential recording process, as opposed to a list of songs that we had to cut,” Wystrach says, adding, “I think it was probably the most fun we've ever had. we ever had in the studio. Working with Dave was one of the best musical experiences, I think collectively, of our lives.”

As much as Midland's top music itself, Savannah's aura is baked into its grooves Just Blue.

“It's important for Dave to get you in the mood and set the table,” says bassist/singer Duddy. “Because we were in his hometown, the first thing he did was get us in the car and he drove us around the neighborhood. He is very proud of Savannah and the culture. He was an excellent tour guide and historian for the city, so you feel like you are part of the environment.”

“I don't think it's a coincidence that Johnny Mercer grew up there and wrote [the lyrics to] 'Moon River' for that area,” adds lead guitarist/vocalist Carson. “It's so storybook and graphic, I think it comes through on the album.”

Away from the everyday atmosphere of Nashville, the trio found a free creative spirit in Cobb's studio. There, a process marked by recording time, followed by dinner, wine, casual conversation and more late-night recording, sparked what Dundee describes as a “freedom to experiment, because the clock isn't ticking.”

The trio went into the studio with nearly 20 songs in mind for the project, eventually narrowing it down to Just BlueHis concise set builds and deconstructs each song until it fits the overall atmosphere of the album.

“It's a way we've always wanted to record because when we read stories about how some of our favorite albums were made, like the Rolling Stones in France Exile [on Main St.]they are in this kind of live space and they have time to deal with things. 'Lucky Sometimes' is a song that we recorded, listened to again and went back and tore it down to pieces. The original version had drums and it was just a very different sounding song.”

“Dave was very opinionated when it came to which songs he felt worked together,” Dundee recalls. “There's a dark art to picking songs that work together, and sometimes you're too close to the material to know what's best for it. Dave was very instrumental in finding and putting these songs together.”

The group members contributed writing to seven of the album's eight songs, including the slow romance of “Baby It's You,” the cascading harmonies of “Old Fashioned Feeling,” the weary swagger of “Lucky Some” and Carson's solo. write “Halfway to Heaven.”

The only outside track is “Vegas”, written by Ryan Beaver, Jeff Hyde, Jeremy Spillman and Ryan Tyndell. The song is the trio's first to record from outside writers, aside from recording occasional covers of songs.

“The working film we had [for “Vegas,”] we really blew it up and made it something that felt like it fit into this puzzle that we were building,” Wystrach says of the song based on rehashing the long-standing phrase “Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” “You can almost smell the frustration in this song and the longing and nostalgia for it. It really feels like a first-hand experience, and I think all of us have collectively lived through the story of that song – and it's such a classic turn of phrase that's been part of the pop culture vernacular for so long.”

Wystrach, Duddy and Carson were joined in the studio by Cobb, keyboardist Philip Towns, percussionist Chris Powell and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Powell for a recorded effort that they feel captures the energy of their live performances for the first time in a long time, while the radio still sounds ready.

“I think the three of us collectively feel that the last three albums don't really reflect what we've been hearing live. I think all of our favorite albums sound a little bit like the live show, and that's something we wanted to pursue and incorporate into this album,” said Wystrach. “What people are hearing is an album of live tracks that is imperfect, human, has a raw state.”

The UTA-retained band will release the new songs when The Get Lucky tour kicks off on September 19, including stops at Red Rocks Amphitheater and ACL Live. They will also return to Indio, California's Stagecoach festival in 2025.

In a world filled with oversaturation in so many aspects, Midland adheres to the ethos of 'keeping people wanting more'.

“We definitely did that when it came time to create our live show,” says Duddy. “We never tried to jump ahead and play on a field that could have been bigger. We specifically tailored our live show to the point where it will sell out. Not everyone can walk in the door and there may be some vacancies.

“That's kind of what this album is – we really wanted to be able to showcase each of these songs because we believed in them,” he continues. “We feel like these eight songs can tell such a story and have such a landscape both through us and through Dave.”