Best of Music: July 2021

*check out my last music round-up here!*

We are well and truly in the middle of summer, so you know I had to get a great summer playlist going. I’ve got tracks that are perfect for those days spent lounging in the garden, driving around with the windows down, planning a summer trip, or having a late night barbeque with friends and family – something or everyone! As always that 40+ track playlist can be found here: Ciara's Country July 21 Playlist. Read on for the best of the best! In no particular order…

 

Girl Who Didn’t Care – Tenille Townes

Two short years ago, I went to a festival and saw a then-unknown to me Canadian singercalled Tenille Townes as the opening act. Flash forward to now, and out of the tens of thousands of songs I’ve listened to this year, three of hers have taken their coveted spots as some of my favourites of the month – The Way You Look Tonight, Heart Shut, and now Girl Who Didn’t Care. I think Tenille really brings something new to country – she has an extremely distinct voice, writes songs that make you think (Jersey On The Wall and Somebody’s Daughter, I’m looking at you), and has an energy that I really think you can hear through the songs. Girl Who Didn’t Care is an anthem to the child inside: “I miss my imagination, I wonder how it faded. I wanna worry a little less, love a little more, like I did back when…I was younger. Making up the songs playing in my head, didn’t matter what anybody said, didn’t need to be like all the others.” Tenille certainly hasn’t let that creative side of her go, and I think that’s what has really brought her music to such a high level.

 https://open.spotify.com/album/40Y4YFAKYGg0vP0gvG7M90

 

Not Supposed To Know Each Other – Taylor Edwards

This is a song that is radio ready. It’s poppy, summery, and easy to listen to – that kind of style that very clearly toes the line between pop and country music the same way artists like Kelsea Ballerini do. Taylor Edwards presents us with a song about the fact that maybe that person is the right one for us, but just not yet: “Maybe you’re with somebody, still got some growing up to do. Maybe you’re at some party, looking for me like I’m out here looking for you. Maybe we’ve got one heartbreak left, maybe we met, maybe we’re both better alone, maybe we’re not supposed to know each other yet.” With its slick production, if you’re a fan of modern country, I think you’ll be a fan of this one too. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/56YMpDRIc0HTB7FDBq3IC8

 

Startin’ Young – Brandon Lay

This sounds like exactly the song you would expect Thomas Rhett to put out, and I don’t think the compliments get any better than that. We start off with a sweet song describing the memories and regrets of a young couple not ready for the love they’ve found, but the star of the show is definitely the chorus. From soft and sure, Brandon takes it up a notch as he sings: “If I’d’ve been a little older, I could’ve handled you better, the spell you put on me never went away. You in my blue jean jacket all wrapped up in forever, still in my bones right now, like a habit I can’t put down, sure is tough when you start young.” The guitar, the piano, the echoes, all work perfectly together to create a song that’ll be stuck in your heard for the rest of the day.

https://soundcloud.com/brandonlay/startin-young/reposts

 

New Wings – Alyssa Bonagura

I’ve been following Alyssa Bonagura since 2018, albeit in a different form – as previously part of duo The Sisterhood Band, I saw Alyssa perform at Nashville Meets London in 2018, and then again at CMC Rocks in 2019, where we were actually supposed to have an interview before the unpredictable Aussie weather put a stop to it. Having now parted ways with her bandmate, Alyssa has come back stronger than ever with New Wings. This is a soft track that would fit in perfectly at venues like The Bluebird Café, and also fits perfectly with the current unpredictable time that we’re living in. It’s a song that talks about how sometimes the hardest times in life are the most strengthening – “I can never go back to the way things were, the way it was before. It’s painful letting go, but  ain’t gonna lose hope cause I know there’s more, so much more. Like new wings on a butterfly ready to soar, I ain’t gotta stay on the ground no more, all I see are free and open skies. There’s a feeling that I am being reborn with new wings and I ain’t going back no more.” Well worth a listen. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2KejjW4UZgG4LejGToYi9S

 

I Just Wanna Hold You – Clay Walker

I like to do my research on the songs and artists I recommend to you, and was I expecting to find that the artist of this song, Clay Walker, has been active since 1993? Absolutely not. I Just Wanna Hold You sounds so modern that I really was surprised that it wasn’t released by someone who just walked right into contemporary country. But, like Tim McGraw, Clay Walker is an artist who has evolved over the years. Unlike Tim McGraw, Clay Walker is an artist who isn’t getting the recognition he deserves. Clay hasn’t had a number one hit since 1997, but honestly, this should be one. This is a heartfelt, upbeat track to express the strongest kind of love: “Some wanna live that high life, some wanna taste that fame, some wanna sunset ride off in a cowboy kind of way. Some wanna keep it small town, some wanna be a rolling stone, some wanna find something better somewhere down the road, but I just wanna hold you.” It’s really good, and if this and another of his great recent songs, Need A Bar Sometimes, are any indication of how good Clay’s just released album Texas To Tennessee are, then it’s going to be a hit.

https://tidal.com/browse/album/179604181

 

Little Bitty Town – Chase Bryant

While we’re talking about underrated artists, let’s talk about Chase Bryant. Chase has had some great songs throughout the years – Take It On Back, Little Bit Of You, Room To Breathe, and Little Bitty Town is no exception. Whilst a number of the artists I’ve mentioned in today’s list have been country-pop, Little Bitty Town is country rock – punctuated by strong percussion and Chase’s gritty vocals, this is a song about breaking up with someone who lives in the same town as you: “No matter where I go, gonna see her around every now and then…everybody knows she was my girl, it’s a big old world but it’s a little bitty town.” This is a song that clearly accentuates the pain of having to see that person who meant so much to you everywhere you go – add this to your summer party playlist.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4BN3ByKAyd7godDr32DcMz

 

Run Girl – Payton Smith

You know those artists that keep sneaking into your playlists? Payton Smith is one of mine. At just 21 years old, Payton’s songs have been appearing time and time again – Like I Knew You Would, This Ain’t That Song, and now Run Girl. The latter is well and truly my favourite, a rocky ballad about encouraging the girl he loves to chase her own independence and dreams: “I can’t hold you back and I can’t fence you in, even though I know you’re the one, girl. If this is goodbye then we fought that good fight and neither one of us won, girl. And what’s best for you is best for me, so if you’re gonna leave, go on and run, girl.” From what I’ve seen, Payton’s vocals and songwriting ability are up there with the greats. This is a must for any Kip Moore, Frankie Ballard, Dustin Lynch, David Nail, Brantley Gilbert, and all of that fans – hey, it might even be a little bit better.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2tGnU68RyR8vW0Zw7nZhNa?si=a8AWydXlQyasxTADrcgyrA&dl_branch=1&nd=1

 

Young – Jonathan Hutcherson

July was a good month for discovering new artists, and one of them was Jonathan Hutcherson. The Voice fans might recognise him from Season 10 of the show, which he competed on at age 16, and since then, it’s obvious that his voice and style have continued to evolve into something that mixes gospel, bluegrass, pop, and both modern and traditional country. Young is a nostalgic song about grasping onto that feeling of those moments that make you feel on top of the world: “The whole world’s waiting on the tip of my tongue, while I kiss you in the dark til the moon finds the sun, never felt that way when I’m holding someone, like we’re always gonna be, always gonna be young. Singing that song at the top of our lungs, gotta a couple big stars and I’m staring at one, watching time unwind out here in front of us, like we’re always gonna be, always gonna be young.” This is one of those ‘main character’ songs that deserves a spot on your ‘if my life was a movie’ playlist. One to watch!  

https://open.spotify.com/album/0hXdIfoRDUhc2GAqBOQ4nA

 Another month down, and loads more great songs in the bag. I’d love to know what songs you loved this month – let me know on Twitter @CiarasCountry, and if you want to check out all of my monthly playlists and more, my Spotify can be found here, Ciara's Country Spotify. You can also join me ever Friday GMT 5-8pm on www.ukcountryradio.com for three hours of great country music just like this – I hope you’ll join me! Thanks so much for reading!