Up-and-coming Americana singer/songwriter Will Stewart (Timber, Willie and the Giant, Blank State) moved to Nashville for a change of pace and to broaden his horizons, but for Stewart, the lure of home never faded. In early 2016, Stewart decided to return his Alabama roots and use his experiences as the basis for his debut full-length release. County Seat was produced by Lester Nuby, III, (St. Paul and the Broken Bones, St. Vincent) and explores Stewart’s Southern roots, mixing fond nostalgia and awareness of the region’s dark, flawed past. Musically, County Seat was inspired by one of Stewart’s favorite albums, The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies: “I’ve always wanted to make an album that tried to strike that vibe — a sort of damaged country/Americana. Sad music but strangely beautiful.” Album highlights include: the excellent title track; the roots rocker “Sipsey”; the melancholy take on Justin Tubb’s “Mine Is a Lonely Life”; the somber “Brush Arbor”; the heartbreaker “Heaven Knows Why”; the rambling Dylan-esque “Dark Halls”; and the striking “Equality, AL.” County Seat is a strikingly beautiful album about leaving home and returning to see it through new eyes – in Stewart’s case, a “love letter to the South.” – Written by JFelton
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