Eli Blackshear is an Americana artist hailing from the small mountain town of Manitou Springs, Colorado. Now residing in the Atlanta area, Eli has built a career and life for himself rooted in creativity, community, and advocacy — and he’s done it from the ground up!
Learn about Eli’s story and his new album, In Love and War, on this week’s edition of The Quinn Spinn!
This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at City Limit Studios, Old Hickory, TN.
Buddy Red is gearing up for the release of his debut EP, Bad News, on November 20. The record figures to be a breakout moment for the Atlanta-based blues artist, and even includes a feature from hip hop legend Lil Wayne on the title track.
We’re here to give you a preview, courtesy of a new music video that provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Buddy Red’s studio magic.
“Sexy” debuted to the world on October 23. The new, self-produced single delivers a brand of high-octane chaos befitting two people stepping outside the lines of their relationships. In this scenario, our protagonists(?) are not out for love; rather, they’re chasing the thrill of something new, consequences be damned.
The tune’s devil-may-care disposition is supported by gritty behind-the-scenes studio footage, captured by Randy Fat Cats. It’s clear that the rock and roll spirit of “Sexy” carried over to the creative process, showing emerging artists everywhere that you can be serious about your craft and still have a blast.
It’s time to let loose. Check out the video for “Sexy” below!
It’s the last day of October (otherwise known as Halloween). It’s also our pal ARREIS‘ birthday, right after she joined us in New Orleans to perform and speak at NOLA MusiCon.
(We have showcase photos and a recap coming to The Blog this week, by the way).
Indeed, today is the perfect occasion to highlight the Chicagoland native’s latest single, “October.” Released this past Friday, ARREIS released the rootsy pop-folk tune as a nod to the good fortune that, like the autumn wind, sweeps around the bend after periods of tribulation. For anyone coming out of (or still going through) a difficult season, “October” provides a reason to persist.
Although we’re heading into winter, brighter days always lie ahead. Check out “October” below!
“So step out from the shadows, The place where you’re alone Wage another battle, throw another stone Find another reason, to keep your hope alive Cause if you stop believing then the dream will surely die Yeah if you stop believing the dream will surely die.”
It’s safe to say we live in odd times. The economy is in shambles. The bourgeoisie class of tech bros and certain politicians seems dedicated to making life more difficult for all of us peasants. Sometimes, even the little things feel like they’re not going our way.
Through it all, the promise of a brighter day can illuminate the darkest corners of our minds. That’s where Craig Greenberg, New York City’s troubadour piano man, comes in.
Greenberg — who, you may have heard, is set to join us in New Orleans next week — offers hope with “If You Stop Believing,” an exuberant, piano-driven anthem that inspires us to keep the faith, even when the world has dealt a hand we don’t feel equipped to play.
Life is a complicated journey, and there is comfort in knowing we’re not alone. On “If You Stop Believing,” Greenberg walks alongside us, offering the perspective that every situation we encounter — whether good, bad, or bowling-shoe-ugly — has something to teach us, and holds the keys toward where we’re going next.
“If You Stop” believing was co-produced by Greenberg and Wayne Silver, who also mixed and engineered the track. Mastering was performed by Alex Psaroudakis. Greenberg performs most of the instruments — piano, vocals, guitar, and percussion — and received contributions from Hiroyuki Matsuura on drums and Tony Tino on bass.
We’ve shared the Bandcamp embed below, because it gives you the chance to buy the track after you try the track. Dig in — and be sure to keep the faith!
Composer and performer Ty Warner has released “Nora’s Jump,” his second instrumental recording. The song was written especially for Warner’s granddaughter, Nora, giving the recording a deeply personal meaning and making the release a celebration of family as well as music. The new single brings together vintage guitar tones, modern studio production, and a collaborative team of musicians and producers.
The recording features a collaborative effort with Wyoming Wave Studios, which provided the foundational production track. Asha Henshaw, a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, contributed to the project with background vocals and her musical and production expertise. Henshaw also handled the recording’s mixing and mastering, taking the project from the initial tracks through to the finished master.
“Nora’s Jump” features three distinct guitar tracks, each selected to contribute a different tone and character to the arrangement.
The primary rhythm guitar was recorded using a rare 1981 Ibanez “Ragtime” guitar. The second guitar track features a 1971 Gibson J-40 played in Drop D tuning, adding depth and resonance to the composition. The melody was then layered using a 1979 Ovation 1116-4 Concert Classic nylon-string guitar, providing a contrasting tonal quality to the arrangement.
Henshaw took the three guitar tracks recorded at Wyoming Wave Studios and developed them into the finished arrangement with an expressive and carefully crafted production approach. Her contribution helped capture the atmosphere and musical feel Warner envisioned for the recording.
“The goal was to capture a particular feeling and let the character of these guitars come through,” said Warner. “Working with Wyoming Wave Studios and Asha allowed the original tracks to develop into something much bigger than I had initially imagined.”
The release of “Nora’s Jump” follows Warner’s first instrumental recording and continues his exploration of instrumental music built around distinctive guitar sounds and collaborative studio production. The song’s inspiration as a piece written for his granddaughter adds a personal story to the project and reflects the connection between music, family, and creativity.
“Nora’s Jump” is available beginning September 18, 2026, on major music and media platforms. A digital copy may also be purchased directly through Warner’s website, and it comes with the song’s official sheet music as a free bonus item.
Monday, August 3 was the moment I have been waiting for all my photography life. I had the opportunity to photograph my first “big” concert, Train, from the pit at Musikfest!
Yes, THAT Train! THE Pat Monahan!
I don’t need to let you know how they sounded. I mean… they’re Train! We only got to be there for three songs, and before I knew it, the three songs were over, but it was a moment I’ll never forget! Hopefully, it’s only the first of many opportunities like that. Thanks to Musikfest and UMC for the experience of a lifetime!
The best friendships are the ones that stand up against the test of time, and that can withstand any distance.
That’s the type of friendship Sam Plourd has with her friend, Marissa, and it is the topic of her latest single, “Evergreen,” released on July 10.
The bouncy indie pop tune was years in the making. The initial demo was recorded with a training keyboard from Plourd’s childhood, with vocals recorded on a Yeti microphone. From there, the Nashville-based songwriter took the project into the studio, where the idea was brought new life — while maintaining its youthful spirit.
“We started with grand piano and programmed in some drums to get a groove going. Then my producer wrote a bass line to ground everything,” Plourd recalls. “The bell-like tones heard throughout the song are actually from a Melissa and Doug learn-to-play piano that my producer had lying around his house. Not only did it capture the youthful and quirky energy of the song, it also felt very full circle for me, since the demo used a keyboard meant for children as well. To tie it all together, we added in the Rhodes and tons of funky percussion to lift the choruses and give them some flair. The vocal layering was very much inspired by Jacklen Ro, specifically their song titled “Self Control.” All of their songs have a very specific and interesting vocal timbre that comes from the layering, harmony, and panning.”
She continues, “There are seven total vocal tracks: a tripled main vocal, a doubled high harmony, and a doubled low harmony. We panned the harmonies hard left and right and kept the main right up the middle to get the desired surrounding vocal effect.”
The masterfully crafted “Evergreen” is the second single from Plourd’s forthcoming album, Butterfly Kisses (out Sept. 4). — and, according to Plourd, we have one more single to look forward to before the full-length project makes its way into the world.
For now, let’s appreciate this celebration of everlasting friendship.
“We had the type of instant connection that is both rare and beautiful, and I am so lucky to have experienced it. To me, evergreen means forever. The resilience of an evergreen tree and its ability to keep its foliage throughout every season is representative of the type of relationship that can never falter,” Plourd said. “Through every season of life, through every hardship, through every celebrated moment, Marissa is there. I wrote this song after she moved to New York for college and I was still stuck in our boring hometown. Although there was distance between us, I knew that nothing could ever get in the way of the connection we had. Five years later, and that’s still true.”
Have you ever wished you could just skip ahead to the part where you’ve moved on from your ex?
Stacey Kelleher released “Laugh About It” to capture that feeling. Released on June 12, the lush alt-country tune is an opportunity for the Nashville-based artist to look ahead to brighter days… even if she’s still stuck in the post-breakup muck, feeling like the joke is on her.
“‘Laugh About It’ is how you feel when you’re just waiting on the day you’ll finally get over someone,” Kelleher said. “You’re broken up, you know it’s not going to work out, you’re not going to get back together… but you’re still caught up on them and heartbroken. You know that one day you’ll be over it; it’s just a matter of waiting on that day.”
If you’re subscribed to Apple Music’s ‘New in Country’ playlist, “Laugh About It” might sound familiar. It was added to the playlist on release day — another milestone for this rising artist, as she prepares to release her first full-length project this fall.
Written alongside Robyn Ottolini and Taylor Macres, “Laugh About It” was produced by Kelleher alongside Justin Wilson, with mastering duties performed by Joe Hutchinson. And now, it’s here for you!
Have you ever been in the presence of somebody who is so good with people, that it leaves you feeling envious?
Noelle McFarland explores this phenomenon on “Butterfly Effect,” the country-tinged folk-pop banger released back in May. The rollicking tune positions our protagonist as a fly on the wall, observing a girl who seamlessly stands out as the life of the party.
“The girl described in these lyrics is excellent with people; she knows how to read a room and bring life to it, a skill that seems to come naturally to he,” McFarland notes. “As the narrator, I sing about her with a mix of jealousy, curiosity, and almost romance at times. This is intentional and meant to hint at some underlying projection. Perhaps human connection can feel unnatural to us all sometimes, but we all long for it just the same.”
“Butterfly Effect” was written by McFarland on guitar and co-produced with Aidan Rex, who teamed with McFarland to create a lush soundscape that is ready for festival season.
“We had a great time playing around with instruments to really fill up the track and give it a big atmospheric sound,” McFarland said. “There’s a combination of live drums and digital percussion. Most of the synths and pads you hear we created ourselves. We also used some layered vocal tags as their own sample/instrument, which is one of my favorite ways to use my vocal degree!”
The release was accompanied by a surprise B-side, “Father’s Daughter, Mother’s Son.” The dreamy, introspective ballad is the perfect companion to “Butterfly Effect” as it compounds on the theme of projection, with regard to the ways old relationship habits pass through generations.
“It’s about the way we try to evolve from the generations before us in relationships and parenthood, oftentimes overcorrecting and learning brand new lessons in the process,” McFarland said. “To me, it’s an extension of ‘Butterfly Effect,’ highlighting the shadow work and self-reflection that follows.”
There you go: two songs, where you were only expecting one. What a treat!
Few things in life will give us a truer sense of “it’s bigger than me” than parenthood. The perspective shift — often from staunch, dedicated individuality, to carrying the responsibility of providing for and nurturing the next generation — aligns us with our purpose, and helps us cut through the noise to realize what truly matters.
E.T. delivers that perspective on “Never Wanna Give You Away” — and he recruited longtime collaborator Iyce and fellow Nashville emcee Aye West to join him on the mission.
Produced by Konscience Beatz, “Never Wanna Give You Away” is a soothing offering of Southern hip hop and soul. Both E.T. and Aye West speak on their experiences navigating fatherhood, making clear their intentions to show up as a secure presence in their children’s lives, no matter the weather.
In between verses, Iyce adds a gorgeous refrain that complements the overall message — and even manages to sneak a clever tribute to one of Otis Redding’s most legendary moments into the bridge. (See… now you’ll have to listen for that one!)
Why don’t you get to it, then? Vibe out to “Never Wanna Give You Away” riiiiight here…
