The road to Kassi Ashton’s debut album has been a long one. I first heard about the singer-songwriter when she released her 2018 song ‘California, Missouri’ and over the 6 years since then, Ashton has released a number of singles. Those releases showcased a musical chameleon that refused to adhere to the rules of Country music, instead choosing to push the boundaries while always keeping her powerful voice in focus. From that myriad of releases, you’d be forgiven for having no clue what to expect from ‘Made From the Dirt’, the long-awaited debut album from the rising star.
Looking at the credits of ‘Made From the Dirt’, you can see Ashton has worked with the finest writers in Nashville including Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Rhett Atkins and Emily Weisband. Co-writing all 10 of the tracks included here, Ashton has keenly put her own stamp on these songs, refusing to conform to what’s expected. Opening track ‘Made From the Dirt’ is a defiant anthem where Ashton acknowledges her strength and determination, singing ‘I never fit the mould, so I did it my way’. Her powerhouse soulful vocals are filled with strength, marking her out to be one of the best vocalists in the genre right now.
‘Called Crazy’ shifts from the self-empowerment feel of the title track, leaning into outlaw Country filled with ballsy lyrics. Ashton comes across as such a strong character, knowing her self-worth and embracing who she is. Those themes run throughout the assured and confident record. ‘Son of a Gun’ channels 90s Country with a rock edge that’s driven by Ashton’s distinctive drawl, which gives way to guitar solos and thumping drum rhythms, contrasting nicely with the shimmeringly seductive beat of “I Don’t Wanna Dance”, a song tinged with sadness as Ashton fends off the advances of a man who isn’t the one she wants.
The album’s centre-piece is the Lori McKenna co-penned ‘The Straw’ and it’s one of the highlights on the record. Ashton is such a gifted vocalist and this is a chance to hear her backed by a more stripped-down arrangement. The gravitas and depth her voice has is something truly stunning, and it makes the personal lyrics of ‘The Straw’, an exploration of reaching breaking point, all the more emotional. Following immediately on from that is the gorgeous ‘Angels Smoke Cigarettes’, a searingly honest reflection of being exhausted by the trials and tribulations of life.
Elsewhere on the record ‘The Stars Know’ is an upbeat acknowledgement of a past relationship that ran its course but evokes good memories, the moody ‘Drive You Out Of My Mind’ is about taking a long drive to try and clear your mind when nothing else works, and ‘Till The Lights Go Out’ is a celebration of chasing your dreams and refusing to be stopped by anything. The album comes to a close with ‘Juanita’, a loving ode to Ashton’s grandmother who was a huge influence on her. It’s a lovely tribute and a fitting close to a superb album.
‘Made From the Dirt’ has been well-worth the wait. I honestly didn’t know what to expect but the record has exceeded my expectations. Ashton is a such a vital voice in the Country music genre and her abilities as both a songwriter and a vocalist mark her out as one of the finest rising stars. ‘Made From the Dirt’ is a confident and assured collection that should pull more eyes onto Ashton and her music. With no filler across the 10 tracks, ‘Made From the Dirt’ is one of the year’s best albums.
Track list: 1. Made From the Dirt 2. Called Crazy 3. Son of a Gun 4. I Don’t Wanna Dance 5. The Straw 6. Angels Smoke Cigarettes 7. The Stars Know 8. Drive You Out Of My Mind 9. Till The Lights Go Out 10. Juanita Record label: Snakefarm / UMG Recordings Release date: 20th September 2024 Buy ‘Made From the Dirt’ now
This article contains an affiliate link. Purchases through this link may result in us earning a commission.
