Singer-songwriter and former Nashville star Chris Carmack has teamed with Erin Slaver to form the alt-pop duo, Life On Eris. The married couple will release their first EP, Stonewall, on Oct. 23. The first single from the project, “Damaged Good,” is out now at all streaming platforms and digital retailers.
They drew inspiration from the complications and complexities of marriage for the new album, whose title is a nod to both the combination of their first names and to the dwarf planet Eris – named for the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Challenging genre norms, the two boldly fuse influences from Pop, Americana, Classical, and even Hip-Hop, to tell stories of romance, regret, and reconciliation. Writing all five songs together, Carmack and Slaver self-produced the EP, and played nearly every instrument including guitar, keyboard, and violin – with the exception of Shawn Pelton on drums.
“We are a husband-and-wife duo, and we bring all of the drama into our songwriting,” Carmack said. “‘Damaged Good’ is a song that we wrote to explore what we, as human beings, bring to a relationship – which is our past.”
The accomplished musicians met while filming on the hit TV drama, Nashville, and wed in 2018. Carmack’s had an instrument in-hand since he was a child, starting with the sax and then picking up the guitar. He began writing songs and performing in high school, later studying at NYU’s esteemed Tisch Adler Conservatory. He shopped his own material around L.A. while pursuing acting projects and landed notable roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, and The O.C. With Nashville, he joined fellow castmates on sold-out stages worldwide during multi-year tours across the U.S., UK, and Ireland, plus was a part of Nashville compilation albums spanning all six seasons. In 2015, he released his solo EP, Pieces of You. Slaver was enrolled in classical violin training at the age of three, and eventually attended a music conservatory to further hone her craft. She’s co-written and performed on several studio albums with JD & The Straight Shot, and has opened for acts like Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Don Henley, and Jewel.
Life On Eris’ STONEWALL EP Track Listing:
1. “Damaged Good”
2. “Stonewall”
3. “Skipping Church”
4 .“‘Script on a Bottle”
5. “Superhero”
Lauren Daigle To Play Hurricane Laura Relief Concert
/by Lorie HollabaughLauren Daigle is holding a special online streaming concert with her foundation The Price Fund to benefit those affected by Hurricane Laura in her home state of Louisiana. Recorded live at the historic Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, the concert will feature stripped down renditions of some of Daigle’s most popular hits, plus a new song.
The broadcast will premiere on Veeps at 7 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 11 and will only be available to watch for 48 hours. All proceeds will go directly to The Salvation Army and American Red Cross. Tickets and VIP opportunities begin at $25 and are now available at laurendaigle.com.
“When I was kid, growing up in Louisiana, we were plagued by hurricanes,” said Daigle. “I know first-hand the devastation they bring. With everything going on in the world right now, I want to invite you to join me in loving on those effected by the hurricanes who have lost their homes and so much more.”
The hurricane, which made landfall Aug. 27, displaced thousands of families and left an estimated $10 billion in damages in its wake.
Daigle founded The Price Fund to honor and memorialize her grandfather, who taught her how to love the world one relationship at a time. Her mission is to instill hope and love among all people, no matter their background. She invests time into people and actively works to heal wounds and injustices experienced by others.
Lee Brice Earns Eighth No. 1 Country Radio Hit With “One Of Them Girls”
/by Lorie HollabaughLee Brice has scored his eighth career No. 1 this week with his latest single, “One Of Them Girls,” which hit the top spot on both the Mediabase and Billboard charts. The tune is also Brice’s third consecutive chart topper, following “Rumor” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” a collaboration with Carly Pearce. Brice co-wrote the track with Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ben Johnson.
The singer-songwriter is gearing up for the release of his latest album, Hey World, due out Nov. 20.
“This song was embraced by both fans and radio from the get-go… it has flown,” Brice says. “We felt there was something special about it on the night we wrote it and to see how it has resonated is such a blessing and humbling. We are over the moon!”
Moon Taxi’s Sixth Studio Album ‘Silver Dream’ Coming In January
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville alt-rock band Moon Taxi will return with their sixth studio album Silver Dream on Jan. 22, 2021. The group just released “One Step Away,” the latest track from the upcoming project. ESPN’s SEC Network has adopted the song for this season’s televised games for the next four months for promos, spots, broadcasts, and more.
Moon Taxi guitarist Spencer Thomson said of “One Step Away,” “I think this song represents a side of the album that is more rooted in soul and rock. We wanted to share something that complements what we’ve already put out to give the audience some sense of the variety of what’s on the album. In this day and age, it’s tricky to get a big group of people together to shoot a video, so we came up with a concept everyone could film on their own with their phones. It also allowed each member to get creative with how he filmed his shot. I wanted it to have a dark and grimy, yet playful vibe that matched the song.”
Of the record, Thomson added, “We hope we’re giving people something to look forward to. We’re really excited and proud of the album and can’t wait to share the experience of it.”
Silver Dream Track List:
Weekly Register: Keith Urban Debuts At No. 1 With ‘The Speed of Now Part 1’
/by Jessica NicholsonKeith Urban debuts at No. 1 on the country albums chart this week with his 10th studio album, The Speed of Now Part 1, earning 40K in total consumption, according to Nielsen. The feat marks Urban’s ninth No. 1 album in the United States.
Luke Combs‘s What You See Is What You Get is at No. 2 this week, with 26K, followed by Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me (21K), Combs’s This One’s For You at No. 4 (20K), and Kane Brown‘s Mixtape Vol. 1 (14K). RCA’s Tyler Childers debuts at No. 6 on the country albums chart with Long Violent History earning 13K in total consumption.
Gabby Barrett is at No. 1 on the country on-demand audio streaming chart, with “I Hope” earning 8.2 million streams this week. Jason Aldean‘s “Got What I Got” is at No. 2 with 7.5 million streams, followed by Wallen’s “7 Summers” with 7.3 million. Lee Brice‘s current radio chart-topper “One of Them Girls” is at No. 4 with 7 million streams this week, with Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” rounding out the Top 5 with 6.2 million streams.
The top country song debut this week comes from Luke Combs, featuring Amanda Shires, on “Without You,” which debuts at No. 13 with 5.3 million streams.
Country Music Association Honors Claire Horton With International Media Achievement Award
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, top row): CMA Director, International Relations Bobbi Boyce; U.K. publicist Claire Horton; (bottom row): CMA Vice President, International Relations & Development Milly Olykan
The Country Music Association honored U.K. publicist Claire Horton with the 2020 CMA Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award on Monday, Sept. 28. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which contribute to the development of country music outside the United States.
Artist Ashley McBryde surprised Horton via a video message during a virtual CMA U.K. Task Force meeting.
“We are delighted to be presenting Claire Horton with the 2020 CMA Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations & Development. “She’s been an important contributor to the story of country music’s growth in the U.K., working incredibly hard to help build artists’ profiles in mainstream media, as well as country media. We’re thrilled to see that her efforts have been recognized by the industry.”
Horton began working for Richard Wootton Publicity in the early ’90s. In 2016, she launched Claire Horton PR, focusing on executing publicity campaigns for international artists and U.S.-based country artists in both specialist and mainstream media in the U.K., Horton has worked with artists including Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Luke Combs, Waylon Jennings, Lady A, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and more. Horton has also executed publicity campaigns for international events including Country to Country festival, Country Music Week U.K., the U.K. Americana Awards, as well as CMA’s international CMA Songwriters Series and Introducing Nashville tours.
The CMA International Awards honor industry executives and artists in five categories, recognizing those who have supported and made a difference towards the growth and promotion of country music in the international marketplace.
Earlier this year, CMA awarded Ben Earle of U.K. country duo The Shires with the 2020 CMA International Country Broadcaster Award, Ilse DeLange with the 2020 CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award, and John Esposito with the 2020 CMA Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The CMA International Artist Achievement Award will be presented later this year.
HARDY, Osborne, Mitchell Take Top Three On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellHARDY remains at No. 1 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with co-writer credit on Morgan Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown,” Cole Swindell’s “Single Saturday Night,” Jameson Rodgers’ “Some Girls,” and Robert Counts’ “What Do I Know,” as well as his own “One Beer” and “Give Heaven Some Hell.”
Josh Osborne moves up to No. 2 with “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani) and “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts). Jake Mitchell takes No. 2 with “One Beer” (HARDY Feat. Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson), “Some Girls” (Jameson Rodgers), and “What Do I Know” (Robert Counts).
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Parker McCollum To Release ‘Hollywood Gold’ EP In October
/by Jessica NicholsonMCA Nashville artist Parker McCollum is set to release his new EP, Hollywood Gold, on Oct. 16. The singer-songwriter penned five of the EP’s six tracks.
“To say I’m excited for my fans to listen to this new project, Hollywood Gold, is an understatement,” shares Parker. “I’m always striving to become a better songwriter and I feel like my songwriting on this EP is some of my best to date.”
The EP takes its title from the name of a horse McCollum’s grandfather owned decades ago. The Jon Randall Stewart-produced project includes his current Top 15 track “Pretty Heart,” as well as “Young Man’s Blues.” Hollywood Gold is the latest in a string of albums and EPs, following 2013’s EP A Red Town View, 2015’s The Limestone Kid (which included the regional Texas radio hit “Meet You in the Middle”), as well as 2017’s full-length album Probably Wrong, and a set of two EPs released the same year.
Hollywood Gold Track Listing:
Chris Carmack, Erin Slaver Partner As Alt-Pop Duo Life On Eris
/by Lorie HollabaughSinger-songwriter and former Nashville star Chris Carmack has teamed with Erin Slaver to form the alt-pop duo, Life On Eris. The married couple will release their first EP, Stonewall, on Oct. 23. The first single from the project, “Damaged Good,” is out now at all streaming platforms and digital retailers.
They drew inspiration from the complications and complexities of marriage for the new album, whose title is a nod to both the combination of their first names and to the dwarf planet Eris – named for the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Challenging genre norms, the two boldly fuse influences from Pop, Americana, Classical, and even Hip-Hop, to tell stories of romance, regret, and reconciliation. Writing all five songs together, Carmack and Slaver self-produced the EP, and played nearly every instrument including guitar, keyboard, and violin – with the exception of Shawn Pelton on drums.
“We are a husband-and-wife duo, and we bring all of the drama into our songwriting,” Carmack said. “‘Damaged Good’ is a song that we wrote to explore what we, as human beings, bring to a relationship – which is our past.”
The accomplished musicians met while filming on the hit TV drama, Nashville, and wed in 2018. Carmack’s had an instrument in-hand since he was a child, starting with the sax and then picking up the guitar. He began writing songs and performing in high school, later studying at NYU’s esteemed Tisch Adler Conservatory. He shopped his own material around L.A. while pursuing acting projects and landed notable roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, and The O.C. With Nashville, he joined fellow castmates on sold-out stages worldwide during multi-year tours across the U.S., UK, and Ireland, plus was a part of Nashville compilation albums spanning all six seasons. In 2015, he released his solo EP, Pieces of You. Slaver was enrolled in classical violin training at the age of three, and eventually attended a music conservatory to further hone her craft. She’s co-written and performed on several studio albums with JD & The Straight Shot, and has opened for acts like Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Don Henley, and Jewel.
Life On Eris’ STONEWALL EP Track Listing:
1. “Damaged Good”
2. “Stonewall”
3. “Skipping Church”
4 .“‘Script on a Bottle”
5. “Superhero”
Brandy Clark Sets Livestream Concert Benefitting MusiCares
/by Jessica NicholsonBrandy Clark will offer a free livestream concert on Thursday, Oct. 1, from Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley, with all donations benefitting the Recording Academy’s MusiCares program.
The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and can be viewed on Clark’s Facebook, Twitch and YouTube pages.
Clark recently teamed with Brandi Carlile for a new song “Same Devil,” featuring vocal and production work from Carlile. The collaboration follows Clark’s Your Life is a Record project, which released via Warner Records earlier this year, spearheaded by producer Jay Joyce. She launched the online series “You Can’t Come Over (But You Can Come In),” to stay connected with fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show, which is held each Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT via Clark’s YouTube page, has welcomed guests including Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, Cam, Shane McAnally, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tenille Townes, Lori McKenna, Maddie & Tae, Leslie Fram and more.
Natalie Grant Celebrates Release Of First New Album In Five Years With ‘No Stranger’
/by Lorie HollabaughNatalie Grant released her 10th studio album, No Stranger, last week. The album is Grant’s first full-length project in five years, following her 2015 chart-topping release, Be One.
In celebration of the release of No Stranger, Grant went live on her Facebook page last week as part of a special album release event and performed a free in-studio concert with her husband/producer Bernie Herms on piano and a live string ensemble.
In addition to introducing new music, Grant, along with Dare To Be partner Charlotte Gambill, will host “Dare To Be Live,” a first-of-its-kind livestream event, on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can purchase tickets and get more information at daretobe.com.
With strings recorded live at London’s famed Air Studios, No Stranger is a labor of love between Grant and her husband, writer/producer Bernie Herms, who produced the record, helmed all the orchestral arrangements, and co-wrote half of the album’s tracks. The lush, timely collection includes Grant’s new radio single, “Face To Face,” as well as her Dove-nominated collaboration with Steven Malcolm, “Even Louder,” and worship anthem “My Weapon.” Moreover, for No Stranger, Grant chose to put her powerful vocal stamp on Casting Crowns’ hit, “Praise You In This Storm,” which Herms originally penned with Casting Crowns front man Mark Hall. Last week, the five-time GMA Female Vocalist of the Year released a cinematic music video—also featuring her husband—for her version of the track.
No Stranger Track Listing: