An epic trio.
Today, Brothers Osborne released their new album Watertown, which features a duet with the great Cody Johnson on a song called “Born and Raised Hell.” Brothers Osborne were featured on CoJo’s album Banks of the Trinity on a song called “Fool Proof” earlier this year, so it was only fitting that they return the favor. And once again… they delivered.
Watertown features 11 tracks, and TJ Osborne says it’s a journey back to their Deale, Maryland, roots, but also their beginnings as a musical duo when it wasn’t “dictated by anything other than what our hearts and souls wanted to say”:
“We’re not just getting back to where we were born and raised, but to the roots of where we started musically. A time when music wasn’t dictated by anything other than what our hearts and souls wanted to say.”
Produced by their longtime collaborator and producer Jay Joyce, and two duets with some stellar artists in the aforementioned CoJo, as well as a duet with Stephen Wilson Jr. called “Tough Kid.”
And in an interview with Rolling Stone, the duo talked about working with Cody Johnson, saying that even though they may be on different ends of the spectrum politically, it doesn’t change the respect they have for one another:
“Those collaborations had nothing to do with anything other than we respect Cody as a performer and a singer. There’s obviously differences there. There’s huge differences between he and I.
Cody’s a great guy, and he may do things that other people disagree with, or I disagree with. But really, the sum of Cody Johnson is an awesome, awesome person.”
TJ added that he considers Cody a friend, and he thinks it’s “bad***” that he is “accepting of us for who we are,” adding that they’ve known Cody for a long time and he’s still that same dude they knew back in the day:
“We hung out quite a bit back in the day, not a ton, but enough to know what someone is like, to their core. And he’s the same dude. Being in the studio with him was great. Being on stage with him at CMA Fest was great.
He knows that he’s Cody Johnson, but he’s really a humble dude, and there’s so many common values that we do have. I’m a fan, and I’m also proud of the collaborations we did.”
I mean, it’s a beautiful thing…
He points out that just like many families, people have differing beliefs, but at the end of the day, we’re all human:
“A lot of our family, we have opposing beliefs, and is it frustrating? Yeah, it is frustrating, but you love them because you can see the human under there. And it goes both ways.”
I think they’re setting a wonderful example for so many artists, and while Cody has never outright endorsed any political figure or anything of that nature, he is very patriotic and often talks about his love for this country and wanting to bring people together at his concerts.
“Born and Raised Hell” was written by John Osborne, Lee Miller and Kendell Marvel, and is a nostalgic look back on their hometown roots and what that place means after all of the years since they left it behind.
It will serve as the next single at country radio for Brothers Osborne, set to impact on November 2nd, and they released a music video as well that was directed by Nick Swift. They make a great trio, their sounds mesh so well together, and I think this is a hit. Check it out:
“Born and Raised Hell”
“Fool Proof”
Watertown Tracklist:
“Born and Raised Hell” feat. Cody Johnson (John Osborne, Lee Miller, Kendell Marvel)
“R.I.P.” (TJ Osborne, Hunter Phelps, Alysa Vanderheym)
“Family Business” (John Osborne)
“High” (John Osborne, Lucie Silvas)
“Bottle It Up” (Dan Isbell, Josh Kear, Paul Sikes)
“Ain’t Killed Me Yet” (TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Jacob Hackworth)
“Doors” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Lee Miller, Chris Pixton)
“Stubborn” (Devin Dawson, Josh Kerr, Matt Roy, Lydia Vaughan)
“Tough Kid” feat. Stephen Wilson Jr. (John Osborne, Pete Good, Lee Miller)
“Same Ol’ Different Story” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Kendell Marvel)
“Watertown” (John Osborne)
