In the space between the lyrical directness of Lucinda Williams and the infectious melodic sense of Sheryl Crow, is Austin, TX-based artist Mandy Rowden and her forthcoming--and fourth--full-length studio album, Parachute. Out on March 19 via Howlin' Dog Records, the 10-track album rides a spirited line between Americana instrumentation and '70s-inspired storytelling, wrapped in an authentic modern Texas delivery.
Brought up in East Texas, Mandy Rowden has been a practicing musician since the tender age of six. That's when she began learning classical piano and guitar, laying the foundation for an eventual career in music. It wasn't until the Americana sound found its way into her soul that she embraced her true path: that of a real-deal, down-in-the-dirt singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who's weathered some storms and emerged with tales to tell.
Rowden is also the sole songwriter, with one exception: a cover of Neil Young's "After The Goldrush" which concludes the album's sequencing. "Neil Young is a long-time hero of mine, and I've played that song for years," says Rowden. "As we wound down the recording we began looking for a soft solo piano song that could round out the sound, and this song jumped into my head. I'm honored to play a tiny part in keeping Young's music regenerating!"
Rowden's sound is equal parts bourbon and honey, with the search for meaning finding its way into each song, seeking answers while reveling in the wonder of it all. With all her projects, there is a common thread that is ever-present: a collection of warm, engaging songs about life and vulnerable lyrics that roll out a welcome mat of raw emotional accessibility and revealing a world textured by hurt and hope alike.
