There were a lot of great debuts in 2021.
Morgan Wade lead the charge with Reckless, Hannah Dasher put out The Half-Record EP and Triston Marez released his self-titled first album just to name a few, but there’s another that didn’t get near the recognition it deserved.
Back in August, Sierra Ferrell released her debut label album titled Long Time Coming and it’s a blast from the past with a hell of a future.
Her West Virginia roots and jazz influences are very present throughout the entire project, combining to form one of the most unique styles of any artist. Down-home guitar, mandolin and upright bass mix with free-flowing, jazzy lyrical phrasing, creating something immediately interesting that pulls you in the more you listen.
“I listen to everything from bluegrass to techno to goth metal, and it all inspires me in different ways that I try to incorporate into my songs and make people really feel something.”
“Jeremiah” was released as the lead single for the project back in 2020 and remains its most popular song to date. It’s the classic story of a man who refuses to settle down even though a woman loves him and wants to marry him.
“You forgot about sweet Sue
And the promises you said you’d do
She’s gonna put you back up on the shelf
She does better by herself.“
The other song that’s done pretty well is “In Dreams,” a spacey contemplation on love and the sometimes seemingly meaningless journey through life.
This is one of the best examples of her jazzy bluegrass style, wrapped up in short 2 minute 41 second lucid dream.
“But that river will flow on
Even after we’re all long gone
Now the river will flow on
Take me with you now before I’m one”
But my favorite from the project is the collaboration with fellow young picker Billy Strings titled “Bells Of Every Chapel”.
It’s about a woman distraught over that even though everything was perfect for her and the man she loves to be together, for some reason it didn’t work and he never noticed what they could have been.
As with anything Billy Stings, the 6-string picking in this one is phenomenal and the title line of the chorus will be in your head all day long, that I can promise.
“But life ain’t so simple
No life it ain’t so kind
Yes life could lead you somewhere to be all alone
You’re crying crying crying
I swear the bells in every chapel
Were ringing the day that I met you
They were ringing so clear
But you couldn’t hear
Your heart could never be mine”
This record really shows Sierra’s crazy talent and makes you realize the potential for some old school sound is better now than it’s been in quite awhile.
Sierra Ferrell, ladies and gentlemen.
Remember the name and let the neighbors hear, they’ll thank you (at some point).
