New Music Friday: January 10, 2025
Nolan Taylor, Willow Avalon, Bonnie Prince Billy, Olivia Wolf, and more
Welcome back to Wick’s Picks! Below you’ll find my new music picks for the week, which celebrates everything from new records by Nolan Taylor and Luke Trimble to singles from soon to be released projects from Willow Avalon and The Devil Makes Three, among others.
Willow Avalon - “Country Never Leaves”
A little bit Dolly and a little bit Leah Blevins, the Georgia born, New York City based Willow Avalon hits the nail on the head in this nostalgic banger about how a little bit of home sticks with you no matter where you go (“You can take the girl out of the country / But it never, ever really leaves”). The song is one of fourteen included on Avalon’s debut record Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell that’s due out next week.
Bonnie Prince Billy feat. John Anderson - “Downstream”
Louisville-based Will Oldham — best known as Bonnie Prince Billy — joins forces with country legend John Anderson for a duet on “Downstream,” the lead single from his Purple Bird LP due out Jan. 31.
The Devil Makes Three - “I Love Doing Drugs”
This catchy (and slightly debaucherous) tune about doing illicit substances serves as an introduction to Spirits, the California band’s first new record in over seven years.
Hannah Juanita, Brennen Leigh, & Cristina Vane - “Atlantic City
Three of my favorite women in the alt-country and roots music scenes — Cristina Vane, Hannah Juanita, and Brennen Leigh — trade blows on this epic rendition of the Bruce Springsteen classic “Atlantic City” for one of the most prolific independent music curators in the business, Western AF. Of note, Vane has her own record, Hear My Call, out in February that you’ll likely be hearing more about on this newsletter sooner rather than later.
Low Gap & Brendan Walter - “If A Song Could Change Your Mind”
Eastern Kentucky/Southeast Ohio based country up-and-comers Low Gap team up with Dallas born riser Brendan Walter on this heartwarming song about writing a jingle to win over your crushes heart.
Moonlight Mile - “Walk In The Sun”
Keith Whitley, Leah Blevins… Sandy Hook, Ky. has a knack for producing timeless country singers, and Moonlight Mile’s Jonathan Pennington hopes to be the next in line with his radiant vocal performance on “Walk In The Sun,” a hopeful song about not letting past failures get in the way of future triumphs that we could all learn a little something from.
Bill Taylor - “Hold Your Hand”
Bill Taylor, one of the singers I highlighted earlier this week in my post “(5 More) Kentucky Artists To Watch In 2025,” taps into the love he has for his wife and the life they’re actively building together on “Hold Your Hand.”
Nolan Taylor - “Wicked Ways“
Lexington by way of Cincinnati singer Nolan Taylor’s long-awaited debut record dropped today. While “68” gets most of the project’s attention — and rightfully so — another standout for me has been “Wicked Ways,” a song about conquering self destructive habits to give yourself and those you love the best version of yourself. It’s mix of piano, pedal steel and whistling gives it a distinct blend of soul and twang that Taylor has become known for.
Luke Trimble - “Finer Things”
A lovely, danceable country ditty from Luke Trimble, “Finer Things” sees the Eastern Kentucky singer waxing poetic about building a future with the one he loves “That’ll take us as far as we need to” — unlike his car that won’t start half the time.
Olivia Wolf - “Cosmic Appalachian Radio”
I’ll admit I didn’t have Olivia Wolf on my radar until an email hit my inbox a couple weeks ago that compared her sound to Miranda Lambert and “an early Sturgill Simpson,” and listening to “Cosmic Appalachian Radio” I can see why, with it reminding me of Lambert’s “Kerosene” era and Simpson’s groundbreaking Metamodern Sounds In Country Music rolled into one. Much like Avalon, her debut record “Silver Rounds” releases on Jan. 17 and is sure to be one of early 2025’s most talked about in the country space.