Lydia Luce

Nashville musician Lydia Luce will release her debut full-length album, Azalea, on Aug. 17. Luce, the daughter of an organist and pianist (and her brother is a cellist), combines her classical training with Americana and folk influences on the new album. The project’s second single, “Helen,” premiered today (May 11).

Luce worked with Jordan Lehning and Skylar Wilson for the album, which she wrote after she moved from Los Angeles to Nashville. Azalea offers 10 tracks that span a range of human emotions, from love to heartbreak.

“The record was written after moving from Los Angeles to Nashville. Some of the songs are reflections of my time out west and the unbelievable nature that I miss,” Luce said. “I have spent a lot of time in beautiful places with people that I love and my mind often wanders to those memories and relationships.”

Luce grew up in South Florida, where her mother conducted her own symphony orchestra. For Luce, her instrument of choice was viola; later adding guitar to her set of prodigious talents. By age 13 she was performing with her mother’s orchestra, Ars Flores. She studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., and earned a master’s degree in viola performance from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Her first EP, The Tides, landed in 2015. She followed that debut with a finish as finalist in the 2016 Rocky Mountain Folk Fest songwriting competition and hit the road as a fiddle player for Sam Outlaw. In 2017, Luce performed at Merlefest and AmericanaFest, as well touring as an opening artist for singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams.

Azalea Track Listing:

Ryan Griffin

Singer-songwriter Ryan Griffin, known for co-writing Kelsea Ballerini’s “Dibs,” releases three of his own new tracks today (May 11), each produced by busbee.

“Good Company,” “Play It By Heart,” and “Best Cold Beer” are available via all digital streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify. “Best Cold Beer” is on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist.

“This is the music I’ve always wanted to make and I’m grateful to have a team that whole-heartedly believes in it,” says Griffin. “Working with busbee has brought out the best in me as an artist and a songwriter and I’m so thankful the world will get to hear the songs we’ve poured our hearts and souls into.”

“Ryan Griffin represents everything that makes the country genre a uniquely impactful and diverse musical space,” adds busbee. “His vocal and songwriting abilities convey genuine emotion and a true sense of craft that rival the best artists in the format.”

Griffin previously gained recognition with his Sake of the Summer EP, as “Backseats & Burnt CDs” was featured on SiriusXM as a Highway Find in 2017. The EP’s vulnerable ballad “Woulda Left Me Too” has been streamed more than 5 million times on Spotify, landing on the platform’s all-genre Viral 50 – US chart.

Aaron Bucks

Radiate Music, in partnership with BEC Recordings, has signed Nashville singer-songwriter Aaron Bucks, and today releases his debut single “California.” Produced by Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning producer-writer Ian Eskelin, “California” was penned by Bucks, Eskelin and Doug McKelvey. Bucks will release a full album later this year.

“Everyone has moments in life where we feel isolated and that no one else has experienced what we are going through,” Bucks explains. “I had a couple friends in my life who, during some tough moments, were there for me and chose to take the time to be my ‘brothers keeper.’ This song speaks deeply into that friendship and our camaraderie.”

While growing up in Vancouver, Canada, Aaron Bucks always gravitated towards music, but the pressure to pursue a conventional career kept him from taking his passion for music and songwriting seriously. Opting instead for culinary school, he spent every weekend performing at weddings and parties while also leading worship at his local church. Through encouragement from fans who’d heard him play and friends who knew his passion for music, an old acquaintance offered to help pay for him to record an album, which pushed him to reevaluate his career path and follow his music passion.

Brandon Ebel, President of BEC Recordings/Tooth & Nail Records, shares, “I’ve known and worked with Ian Eskelin for almost 20 years and I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. Ian played me Aaron’s music and his first single grabbed my attention right away. I look forward to working with Aaron alongside Radiate Music.”

Justin Adams’ sophomore EP Horizon is out today. The eight-song EP includes tracks penned by Brad Tursi of Old Dominion, Chase McGill, Ben Hayslip, Mark Nesler, Josh Osborne, Barry Dean, and more.

Alongside the release of Horizon, Adams is celebrating his first major cut as a writer with Granger Smith’s new single “You’re In It.” Hailing from Bixby, Oklahoma, Adams is signed to Universal Music Publishing and has shared the stage with nationally touring acts Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Trace Adkins, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, Dan and Shay, Eli Young Band, Craig Morgan, Chase Rice, Easton Corbin, Eric Paslay and more.

Produced by guitarist Derek Wells, Horizon is available on iTunes, Spotify and all other digital retailers today.

Horizon Track Listing
1. The Road // Chase McGill, Ben Hayslip
2. Back Then // Justin Adams, Andy Sheridan, Jared Scott
3. Fly // Justin Adams, Trent Willmon
4. Don’t Hold It Against Me // Mark Nesler, Josh Osborne, Marty Dodson
5. Good Rain or Jesus // Jonathan Singleton, Barry Dean
6. Feel That Feeling // Justin Adams, Houston Phillips
7. How It Rolls // Eric Arjes, Brad Tursi
8. Green Grass Blue Water // Justin Adams, Eric Arjes, Lance Carpenter

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Roland White, sound engineer Scott Barnett. (Back row, L-R): producer Ty Gilpin, producer Jon Weisberger

Roland White is recording a legacy album on the Mountain Home label. The project pairs some of the most-talented rising acoustic players with White as well as some of the best veteran players in the business. Produced by Ty Gilpin and Jon Weisberger, the album release is slated for early Fall 2018.

The player list includes: David Grier, Kristin Scott Benson, Jon Stickley, Brooke Aldridge, Darin Aldridge, Lindsay Lou, Kimber Ludiker, Aaron Bibelhauser, Gina Clowes, Jon Weisberger, Drew Matulich, Josh Haddix, Lyndsay Pruett, Jeremy Darrow, Nick Dauphinais, Darren Nicholson, and many more of today’s talented young musicians.

“Among the annals of Bluegrass legends, Roland White is in a class of his own,” said Jon Stickley. “As a pioneer of California Bluegrass, turned Bluegrass Boy turned Grammy-winning contemporary Bluegrass artist, he is a living link between old and new. At 80, his playing is still fun, fresh and youthful. Working with him on this project is one of the highlights of my career to date!”

Mountain Home is is a premiere bluegrass label with global distribution, representing such artists as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Balsam Range, The Grascals, Lonesome River Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, NewTown, Donna Ulisse, Gina Clowes, Kristin Scott Benson, The Cleverlys, Adam Steffey, Danny Roberts, Lawson and Williams, Sideline, The Snyder Family Band, John Bowman and Unspoken Tradition.