Nicolle Galyon To Share Surprise EP ‘Second Wife’ On Friday

/by

Photo: Claire Schaper

Hit songwriter Nicolle Galyon, known for her nostalgic stories of strength, home and heartbreak, will continue to deepen her identity as artist-songwriter as she pulls back the curtain on her life as a wife with her surprise EP Second Wife, out this Friday (Oct. 13) on her and fellow renowned songwriter Rodney Clawson‘s 16th wedding anniversary.

Written by the couple over a long weekend at their farm outside of Nashville, Second Wife welcomes listeners into their world with what Galyon calls a an “imperfect, honest and kind of irreverent” title, six personal tracks and accompanying videos. The collection was recorded with co-producers Jimmy Robbins and King Henry at the famed Sonic Ranch in Texas, and follows Galyon’s debut project Firstborn.

“Second Wife shows the side of me that is flawed, self-deprecating, understated, silly, and yet unconventionally traditional. The side of me that fell in love at 21. That’s a side of me that I don’t always show—the married one,” shares Galyon. “If Firstborn was a memoir, Second Wife is more of a fun adventure in real time.” She adds, “the thing about Second Wife is even the title itself is imperfect. That’s probably my favorite thing about being one. The illusions (and delusions) I had as a firstborn were gone once I became one.”

The EP opens with a one minute prelude, “Jo.,” which finds Galyon expressing gratitude to her mother-in-law, detailing all of the ways she helped shape Clawson. In the upbeat, tongue-in-cheek “Prenup.,” the husband and wife poke fun at their lack of need for a prenup upon marriage, with Clawson’s vocals carrying the second verse and chorus. The next track “The Grain.” is a piano-driven ballad that reminds listeners how different love stories can look as it nods to Galyon’s home state of Kansas.

The second half starts with “Rooms.,” a vulnerable confession chronicling how walking into rooms together has evolved throughout their relationship. A metaphor for multiple life experiences, Galyon’s anxieties are ultimately overshadowed by her unwavering desire to be with Clawson. “Texas Hold ‘Em.” brings the EP to a crescendo in energy, as she shows her lighthearted side while singing the cheeky, romantic tune. Second Wife then concludes with “Under The Rainbow.,” a foreshadowing of her family’s recent move back to her hometown of Sterling, Kansas—a place that has stayed at the core of her writing over the last two decades.

Second Wife Track Listing:
1. “Jo.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
2. “Prenup.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
3. “The Grain.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
4. “Rooms.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
5. “Texas Hold ‘Em.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
6. “Under The Rainbow.” (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg)

Liza Anderson
Latest posts by Liza Anderson (see all)