Lanie Gardner emerged from the Appalachian hills of Burnsville, North Carolina, where music was woven into her family’s DNA. She learned to sing from her mother and pick up guitar from her father, while her late grandfather’s unfulfilled musical dream inspired her own path. A born storyteller, Gardner refined her voice and pen from a young age—writing songs by twelve and turning her bedroom into a studio by her teens. Her breakout came when her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams' went viral, amassing tens of millions of views and fuelling a brisk ascent in the music world. Gardner’s debut ‘A Songwriter’s Diary' dropped in late 2024, earning her spots as a 2025 Artist to Watch from both the Recording Academy and Amazon Music and laying the groundwork for her genre-blending sound—melding classic rock, R&B, country, indie-pop grit and small-town storytelling.
Her forthcoming sophomore album, ‘Faded Polaroids,' out this Friday, September 5, is a lyrical scrapbook tracing the emotional polarity of her life to date—family, heartache, healing, and memory. Across 18 tracks, she channels raw honesty and sonic diversity—from the atmospheric lead single ‘High Divin’ (featuring none other than Mick Fleetwood on drums) to upbeat small-town pop tunes, nostalgic title cuts, and gravel-edged indie-rock blooms. She describes the album concept as being born from a trove of actual polaroid snapshots—some pristine, others worn and nicotine-stained—that collectively reveal life’s “most beautiful parts” and, by reflection, encourage listeners to compose their own photo-like memories.
‘Faded Polaroids' arrives as an expanded and fully realised version of the ‘Polaroids' EP Gardner released earlier this year. Songs like ‘Taking the Slow Ride,' ‘Boys Like You,' ‘Buzzkill,' ‘Concrete Cowboy,' ‘Hold Your Horses' and ‘Little Bit of Lovin’ provided the backbone of that project, which I described at the time as “vivid snapshots” of a young artist growing in confidence. Read our original review right here.
Now, with new tracks added to the mix, Gardner fleshes out those ideas into a full-length album that feels expansive, nuanced and unafraid to blur lines between genres. It’s a striking evolution from her stripped-back debut, bursting with colour, Appalachian heritage, and a sharper bite when it comes to addressing love and life.
The new material kicks off with ‘Boot Down,' a barnstorming southern rock country anthem that immediately sets a bigger, bolder tone. In step with the western-tinged pop trend popularised by artists like Dasha and Tanner Adell, Gardner leans into a meaty guitar riff, pounding drums and handclaps to deliver an empowerment anthem. “Who’s walking over who now?” she asks with defiance, flipping the script on betrayal and reclaiming control. It’s a moment of fiery strength that contrasts beautifully with the reflective intimacy she showcased on her debut album, proving her versatility as both a writer and performer.
From there, Gardner dives into darker territory with ‘The Hills Have Eyes.' Here, a brooding western guitar riff underpins breathy, sultry vocals that spin a tale of paranoia and intrusiveness. “There’s no place to hide, the hills have eyes,” she warns, capturing the suffocating scrutiny of living under constant watch. The track not only showcases her vocal range but also her ability to turn real-world anxieties into cinematic narratives, grounding her artistry in both Appalachian storytelling tradition and modern social commentary.
The title track, ‘Faded Polaroids,' is one of the album’s most poignant moments. Stripped back and wistful, it finds Gardner comparing herself to a box of old photographs: the sum total of memories, mistakes and lessons that shape who she is. Sonically it straddles indie pop and country with delicate restraint, landing somewhere in the orbit of Morgan Wade. The reflective lyrics feel like a cleansing moment of self-acceptance, offering the listener both melancholy and hope. It’s a mature, thoughtful centerpiece that anchors the whole album but then it's a Lori McKenna co-write so you wouldn't expect anything else!
Elsewhere, Gardner mines familiar country pop terrain with ‘Don’t Fall in Love,' a heartbreak track polished with Laurel Canyon gloss. Chugging guitars build into a Stevie Nicks-esque chorus that would sound at home alongside Fleetwood Mac or Lady A. The theme may be timeless—pleading with an ex not to fall in love with someone else—but Gardner injects it with charm and a retro warmth that makes it irresistible. That Fleetwood Mac influence runs throughout the album, particularly on ‘Jeans' and ‘High Divin’, where 70s and 80s production values are reimagined through a 2025 lens. Mick Fleetwood himself even appears on drums for the latter, lending both authenticity and gravitas.
One of the album’s strongest threads is Gardner’s grounding in Appalachian roots. Tracks like ‘Rattler and the Devils Whip,' ‘Mama’s Kitchen Table,' (featuring Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild on co-writing duties) ‘How Long Til Tennessee' and ‘Love You Like Appalachia' pull her heritage into sharp focus. Whether warning about the dangers of the Blue Ridge mountains, wistfully longing for home on the road, or paying tribute to family and small-town traditions, these songs remind us where Gardner comes from. They balance the commercial pop edges of the record with earthy, soulful storytelling steeped in place and memory. The harmonica, banjo and steel guitar touches add texture, while her rich vocals bring the songs to life with smoky, emotional weight.
What makes ‘Faded Polaroids' so compelling is the way it balances light and dark, intimacy and power. Gardner doesn’t shy away from taking aim at toxic relationships on ‘UR Mad' (a Lanie Gardner solo write) and ‘Daddy Didn’t,' turning anger into sharp, empowering hooks. Yet she also leaves room for tender reflections and nostalgic tributes, creating an album that feels like a journey through both her inner world and her Appalachian landscape. It’s a huge step forward from her debut—more daring, more polished and more confident. By weaving Fleetwood Mac’s Laurel Canyon shimmer with Carly Pearce-style country and Morgan Wade-esque indie grit, Gardner has crafted a record that sounds simultaneously timeless and entirely relevant in 2025. ‘Faded Polaroids' isn’t just a collection of snapshots; it’s a full-length portrait of an artist stepping boldly into her own era understanding that where she is now is the sum total of the life and experiences that have shaped her up to this point.
Tracklist: 1. akin’ The Slow Ride 2. Boys Like You 3. Boot Down 4. The Hills Have Eyes 5. Little Bit Of Lovin’ 6. Faded Polaroids 7. Don’t Fall In Love 8. Rattler And The Devil’s Whip 9. Mama’s Kitchen Table 10. Hold Your Horses 11. Concrete Cowboy 12. How Long ‘Til Tennessee 13. Jeans 14. Love You Like Appalachia 15. Buzzkill 16. Ur Mad 17. Daddy Didn’t 18. High Divin' Release Date: September 5th Record Label: BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville Buy ‘Faded Polaroids' right here.
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