Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Alyssa Bonagura has quietly become one of the most versatile and respected multi-hyphenates operating between Nashville and the UK country scene. Equally at home on stage or behind the desk, Bonagura has built a reputation for sharp songwriting, rich musicality and a deep understanding of country, Americana and pop influences. Her upcoming album ‘America’s Backroads,' a 13-track collection recorded in Nashville and entirely co-written and produced by Bonagura, feels like the culmination of a decade-long journey, blending personal storytelling with the lived experience of touring and writing across continents. Featuring collaborators such as Joe Bonamassa, Jeffrey Steele and David Sneddon, the record showcases not just her voice, but her identity as a musician and creative architect.
Beyond her own artistry, Bonagura’s influence continues to expand behind the scenes. She recently played a key role as a writer and producer on ‘All On Red' by Kezia Gill, helping shape one of the most exciting UK country releases of the year, while also co-writing ‘Getaway Car' for The Shires. It’s a testament to her range and credibility that she can move seamlessly between artist and collaborator, bringing the same level of authenticity and craft to every project she touches. With ‘America’s Backroads,' Bonagura steps firmly back into the spotlight, but with the experience, perspective and creative confidence of someone who has already left a significant mark behind the scenes.
The album opens exactly as its title suggests, with freedom and a sense of wide-open possibility. ‘I Wanna Go' sets the tone with a swampy, slightly distorted guitar riff that feels steeped in southern heat, before easing into a laid-back groove that’s equal parts country, rock and backroad cool. “Jump in, get close, pick a road, I wanna go,” she sings, capturing the album’s central thesis in one line: this is a record about motion, connection and the places, both literal and emotional, we travel through in life. It’s a clever reintroduction to a song first recorded by Morgan Evans, but here it feels deeply personal, rooted in Bonagura’s own story of growing up on the road.
That sense of identity and self-reflection continues into ‘Small Town Tuesday (Who U Gonna Be?),' one of the album’s standout moments. Built around a jangly, Sheryl Crow-esque guitar line and conversational, almost spoken verses, it blends West Coast sunshine with small-town introspection. “Everybody got somebody they wanna be… who you gonna be?” she asks, cutting straight to the heart of the album’s recurring theme of self-definition. Bonagura’s raspy, lived-in vocal carries the weight of experience, while a bluesy guitar solo adds grit to what is ultimately a deeply reflective, grown-up country-rock song.
‘Circles' leans into a more polished, radio-friendly sound, but retains a smoky, sultry edge reminiscent of Alannah Myles’ ‘Black Velvet.' or classic Heart from the 80s. “You got me spinning like a wheel… where I am is where you begin,” Bonagura sings, exploring the intoxicating pull of love and connection. It’s a song about finding completeness in another person, but also about the dizzying, sometimes overwhelming nature of that bond. Thematically, it ties neatly into the album’s exploration of relationships, not just romantic, but emotional and spiritual, even though it was originally a hit for Jana Kramer about a decade ago!
‘Life is a Road' expands that idea outward, returning to the imagery of movement and choice that defines much of the album. Again drawing on that Sheryl Crow-esque cadence, Bonagura delivers lines like “You can be who you wanna be, love who you wanna love” with a sense of hard-earned wisdom. It’s a song that feels shaped by her own journey, from growing up on a tour bus to studying at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, blending American country storytelling with a distinctly British pop sensibility.
‘Closin’ In From Miles Away' deepens the sonic palette, pairing acoustic intimacy with a southern rock punch. The verses feel introspective, “walking on a high wire” and questioning whether a relationship will survive, before the chorus opens up into a Lynyrd Skynyrd-style groove. Gospel-leaning backing vocals add texture and warmth, reinforcing the album’s recurring sense of community and connection. It’s a song that captures the tension between uncertainty and hope, a theme that runs throughout the record.
That tension gives way to something more reflective on ‘Hippies & Gypsies,' one of the album’s most personal tracks. Based on a real-life story of finding a guitar in a South Dakota pawn shop with her father, it’s a love letter to the journey itself. With its folky, acoustic arrangement and subtle piano flourishes, it channels the spirit of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez whilst having a vague echo of Billy Joel's ‘Piano Man' in the cadence of it's melody. ‘Hippies & Gypsies' isn’t about destination or success: it’s about discovery and the moments that shape who we become. It’s also where Bonagura’s upbringing and influences feel most tangible, bridging her family roots (Alyssa is the daughter of Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura, who fronted the 1980s and 90s country group Baillie & the Boys) with her artistic identity.
‘Foundation' brings things back into the groove, blending southern funk with gospel and R&B influences. “There’s a strong foundation of love,” she sings, building a metaphor around relationships as something constructed over time. It’s easy to hear echoes of Lainey Wilson’s modern country swagger mixed with the soul of Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. It’s one of the album’s most musically rich tracks, underpinned by a sense of warmth and emotional grounding.
That warmth explodes into pure joy on ‘Feels So Good,' a heartland rock anthem that feels tailor-made for open highways and summer drives. Built on a Tom Petty-style riff, it’s a celebration of being alive, “Let’s get lost, baby, just go driving with all the windows down.” It’s arguably the album’s most immediate and radio-ready moment, but it also encapsulates its core philosophy: gratitude, freedom and living fully in the present.
‘Love You Like That,' featuring Joe Bonamassa, adds a dose of blues-rock swagger to the mix. With shades of The Rolling Stones and Faces, it’s a groove-heavy throwback that feels both timeless and effortless. Bonagura’s vocals lean into a raw, rockier edge here, while Bonamassa’s guitar work adds a layer of authenticity that elevates the track into something genuinely special.
The album’s final stretch shifts into a more introspective gear, beginning with ‘Noise,' a gentle ballad built on acoustic guitar and vivid imagery. “All this place needs is a little noise,” she sings, imagining a house filled with life: birthday parties, bonfires, family. It’s a song about restoration, both physical and emotional and it highlights Bonagura’s strength as a storyteller.
‘When You Move to LA' strips things back even further, offering one of the album’s most intimate moments. “It’s a city of angels going through hell,” she observes, capturing the loneliness and contradiction of chasing dreams in a place that can feel both magical and isolating. It’s a beautifully understated track that feels tailor-made for songwriter rounds and quiet reflection. ‘Old Friends,' similarly, continues that gentle, reflective tone, blending influences from Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Train and even The Beatles into a warm, nostalgic meditation on reconnection and forgiveness. It’s a reminder that the relationships we carry, past and present, shape us just as much as the roads we travel.
Finally, the title track “America’s Backroads” closes the album in fitting fashion. A soft, folky ballad, it feels like a summation of everything that’s come before: freedom, movement, reflection and identity. As Bonagura sings about grabbing a guitar and heading out west, the imagery of open roads and endless skies becomes a metaphor for her life and career. It’s a quiet, contemplative ending that reinforces the album’s central message: the journey is everything.
Taken as a whole, ‘America’s Backroads' is a richly textured, deeply personal record that blends country, rock, folk and pop into something uniquely Bonagura. It’s shaped by her upbringing on the road, her time in Liverpool and her love for artists like Joni Mitchell and Sheryl Crow, but it never feels derivative. Instead, it feels lived-in, full of stories, places and emotions that resonate far beyond her own experience. Themes of freedom, identity, connection and gratitude run throughout, making this not just an album about travel, but about growth, resilience and finding meaning along the way.
Tracklist: 1. I Wanna Go 2. Small Town Tuesday (Who You Gonna Be?) 3. Circles 4. Life Is a Road 5. Closing in from Miles Away 7. Hippies & Gypsies 8. Foundation 9. Feels So Good! 10. Love You Like That (featuring Joe Bonamassa) 11. Noise 12. When You Move to LA 13. Old Friends 14. America's Backroads Release Date: 5th June Record Label: Lookout Mountain Records Buy ‘America's Backroads' right here
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