Lauren Morrow (The Whiskey Gentry) has always displayed a keen ear for twangy ballads and fiery rockers that are gritty and heartfelt. Her striking voice and songwriting talent has earned her praise from an array of Americana tastemakers, from Rolling Stone to Garden & Gun. Now based in Nashville, the Atlanta transplant has a history of serving up stunning bangers that honor the long tradition of country music.

On her debut album, however, Morrow ventures into new sonic territory and strikes gold. Falling somewhere between Shania Twain and Fiona Apple, People Talk is a swirling bouquet of steel guitar, rock drums, smooth pianos, and Morrow’s elegantly spun phrases. Put simply, it’s a fucking delight to listen to this genre-blending record.

But don’t take our word for it. We’re premiering a little taste from People Talk. “Nobody But Me” is an anthemic declaration of self-love. Morrow confidently asserts “If you ain’t helping then you’re hurting / It ain’t hard to see / Don’t need nobody but me” while matching the hard rock swagger of Jack White. If your give-a-damns are busted, then throw on this song and sing along as Morrow’s voice shimmies from slow simmer to all-out barnburner.

“I am deeply proud of this song,” Morrow says. “I had a small idea in my head about having a piano-driven song on the record similar to a lot of my influences from Tori Amos to old Coldplay. During a writing session with [producer] Parker Cason and Jason [Morrow], we fleshed out the tune, and I wrote some very vulnerable things about myself and my experiences in the music industry over the last decade. It became a song about empowerment and standing in your own self, flaws and all. You can hear the years of this angst in the vocal performance—Parker pushed me to my very limit here. Also, the guitar solo by Adam Meisterhans might be one of my favorite parts on the whole record.”

Mixed by Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Phish) and Jaquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Shania Twain), People Talk is a record that balks trends and sets its own style. It’s a refreshingly edgy album from a town that is notorious for churning out cookie-cutter artists.

Stream “Nobody But Me” above.

People Talk is out tomorrow, Mar. 31, on all streaming platforms from Big Kitty Records.

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