The GRAMMY®-nominated trio Midland has announced the release of their new album Barely Blue, set to drop soon. This eight-song project delves into themes of loneliness, masculinity, and resilience in the face of heartache, capturing the essence of near-empty bars and shimmering heat waves. The album, recorded with 9x GRAMMY winner Dave Cobb at Georgia Mae Studios in Savannah, GA, and mixed at Apex Sound in Burbank, CA, showcases the trio’s signature sound, blending steel guitars with heartfelt lyrics.
Mark Wystrach (lead singer/guitarist), Cameron Duddy (bassist/vocalist), and Jess Carson (guitarist/vocalist) bring to life a space where solitude is acknowledged, and life goes on, all tied together with the classic country vibes they are known for. The band has just released the album's opening track, ‘Lucky Sometimes' along with an official video directed by Harper Smith.
They also announced ‘The Get Lucky Tour' set to kick off on September 19 in Cincinnati, OH, and includes stops at iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheater on October 12 and ACL Live in Austin, TX, on December 20. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 28.
Mark Wystrach shared his thoughts on the new single: ”Lucky Sometimes' is a get-up-and-go, hot streak, feel-good anthem for when it feels like you just can’t lose. The arrangement is sparse with a high and lonesome groove that crests with soaring harmonies on the hook. It’s the first song on the album and an introduction to the new sonic landscape that Midland found with Dave Cobb at the helm.”
Cameron Duddy added about the creation of ‘Barely Blue,' “We knew we wanted to go somewhere else. We are all big believers in a certain time and place, a sense of classic country that comes from roadhouses and bad coffee, miles and miles on the road – and the idea that, even though we’re all happy, love and life falls apart, but that doesn’t mean you have to, too. When we were writing these songs, it was a trip into all the things in country music we love.”
Wystrach continued, “Dave Cobb had been a producer we wanted to work with since we first heard Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. Dave’s eclectic musical background and the way he approaches recording as an experience and not a task made him the perfect match for us. On Barely Blue, we feel like Dave helped us find the sound we’ve been searching for a long time.”
Barely Blue is characterised by the trio’s celestial harmonies, reminiscent of the lushness of The Mamas & the Papas, the robust sound of Buffalo Springfield, and the cosmic Americana of The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds. For those feeling good, the album’s tracks offer a sense of movement. For those feeling the ache, it provides truth and resilience. For everyone in between, it’s an honest reflection on facing disappointment and making life work.
‘Lucky Sometimes' follows the release of ‘Old Fashioned Feeling,' which was named one of the best songs of the week by Rolling Stone and Billboard, with the latter praising the track for its “old-school, soulful country sounds” and smooth harmonies.
Reflecting on their journey, Cameron Duddy noted, “Our sound and writing has always been evolving. We were three guys who met at a wedding, talked about music, and realized how much we had in common. We started singing together and were amazed at the sound of our combined voices. What started with ‘Drinkin’ Problem’ was the beginning of a journey that’s always been interesting; it’s twisted and turned, but honestly, Mark, Jess, and I have loved everywhere it’s taken us.”
For a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit Midland's official website.
