Maverick Country Music Magazine

1 September 2021

It has been a busy summer here at Maverick despite not having the usual amount of festivals or gigs to attend. In a previous issue, I mentioned that the time away from the stage had allowed artists to dive into writing and recording music; we’re still seeing the after effects of that as those artists share with us the finished products. For some artists though, they have dived deep into the archives of their careers to find hidden gems to share with us. At the beginning of the month Emmylou Harris released a very special recording of a concert she and the Nash Ramblers played back in 1990 - the sound is so sharp and the emotion so raw. She sat down with us to discuss what it was like for her going back to that time and hearing such an incredible show all these years later. Whilst some artists are just beginning their journey, such as Kameron Marlowe who is our ‘One to Watch’, others are taking their final bow. The Queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson has had a truly illustrious career but her album ‘Encore’ marks the end of an era as she passes the baton to the younger generation. One lady who is a part of that younger generation, Sonia Leigh, who co-wrote a song for Jackson’s final album, also took time out to chat to us about getting back on the road. Whilst America is beginning to open up and tours resume, we still face cancellations here in the UK. Luckily the artists who are back to touring the States are keeping us entertained by still finding time to get into the recording studio. Our cover artists Old Dominion spoke to us whilst on tour about their fourth studio album and the special bond they all share, which is the secret to their success. A highlight for myself in this issue was speaking with Brandi Carlile, who knows all too well the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people in the creative industries. She spoke of her success with twin brothers and writing partners Tim and Phil Hanseroth and her GRAMMY award win as part of The Highwomen. Speaking of writing partners, our Nashville editor, Eric Dahl brings us a taste of music city as he reflects upon Summer NAMM and fills us in on the latest exhibitions at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I truly believe that behind every song is a whole team that doesn’t always get the recognition they deserve. This issue of Maverick features producers and songwriters as well as talented artists from all over the world. I felt like the creatives that we interviewed took us on a journey through the music so I hope you’ll grab a brew and a biscuit and enjoy coming on this journey with us.