We were so excited to be able to catch up with Ana Cristina Cash about her latest singles “Cheap Margaritas” and Daybreak” AVAILABLE NOW, as well as her upcoming EP “The Sunshine State Volume One” (forthcoming).

We talked about writing bilingually, her introduction to the music business, and how she sees a song from start to finish. This was such a fun chat!

Ana Cristina Cash is a Nashville-based American singer-songwriter who was originally raised in Miami, Florida by her Cuban parents who moved to the United States in the early 1960s during the onset of the revolution. Growing up listening to a multitude of genres, Cash’s sound wasinfluenced by an eclectic array of inspiration from Country, Pop, improvisational Jazz, and Latin music. Writing directly from the heart, the singer-songwriter’s recordings exhibit a broad vocal range, spanning from an expressive and resonating contralto to a soaring coloratura soprano, otherwise known as the “whistle register.” Ana earned her bachelor’s degree in journalismfrom Florida International University and her master’s degree in creative writing and literature from Harvard University.

Ana Cristina is currently preparing Part 1 and Part 2 of EP releases of songs that incorporate her country music with pop sensibilities and Latin influences. She will follow up the two EP releases with a full expanded album edition including several new tracks. She is a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry, The Bluebird Café, 3rdandLindsley, major sporting events and isan active part of the thriving Nashville music scene.

Be sure to check Ana Cristina out here:

• Website: https://www.anacristinacash.com/
• Bandcamp: Ana Cristina Cash
• IG:anacristinacash
• FB: anacristinacash
• YouTube: Anacrislove

We were so honored when Kirsten Rodden-Clarke and Jordan Coaker of Quote the Raven agreed to chat with us on the show! We had a great conversation about how they got involved in music “by accident,” their latest release “Map the Dark,” writing camps and we geeked out about vinyl (again!).

Quote the Raven, consisting of Jordan Coaker and Kirsten Rodden-Clarke have been performing together for over a decade. The pair got their start in small bars and pubs around St. John’s and in the past few years have rapidly grown to a household name around Canada and are steadily growing their clout on an international level.

The dynamic duo have a harmonious blend that’s incomparable; it’s like the blending of two voices into one, while their Americana meets east coast songwriting and stage dynamic are irresistibly charming.

Their sophomore album titled "Can’t Hold the Light,” an album that delves into the lives of working musicians won the 2022 ECMA for Contemporary Roots album of the year and was nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards. Their latest release “Map the Dark” is an amazing showcase of their talents!

Be sure to check them out here:

• Website: quotetheraven.com
• FB: quotetheraven
• IG: Quotetheravenduo
• Youtube:Quotetheravenduo
• TikTok: Quotetheravenduo

Talking with Shelby Means was such a delight! We geeked out over dogs. We talked about her amazing solo debut, self-titled album and the excitement of what happens next. Shelby has a long career touring alongside many legends and her first solo album shows what a legend SHE is!

Born in the bluegrass of Kentucky and raised on Wyoming’s high plains, Shelby Means is one of the foremost bassists in bluegrass, with nearly two decades of experience in bluegrass, folk, rock, Americana, and country outfits. Now based in Charleston, SC, during her tenure in Nashvilleshe was a member of the incredibly impactful GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass band of all women, Della Mae. With Della Mae and others she has traveled to more than 20 countries around the world spreading musical diplomacy.

Means is also one half of roots duo Sally & George with her husband and collaborator, Sol Driven Train’s Joel Timmons. With Timmons, Mary Lucey, and Billy Cardine, she co-founded another group, Lover’s Leap, a genre blurring, heart-led Americana band. Means is a member of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, with whom she gained her first GRAMMY win for their 2023album, City of Gold. She’s also received more than a handful of awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association for her work with Della Mae and Golden Highway.

Means is a driving player with a deep pocket, a singular stage presence, and a magnetic, centered approach to the upright bass. Beyond her work on the instrument, she’s also an accomplished songwriter and a heartfelt vocalist whose voice is rooted in tradition while authentically her own. With her debut solo music, released in 2025, Means inviteslisteners to experience the same soulful presence and adventurous spirit she has built her career on. Her singing and playing has been heard across the country and around the world, from NPR’s airwaves, the Grand Ole Opry, Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Newport Folk to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Australia, and beyond.

Be sure to check Shelby out here:

• Website:shelbyleemeans.com
• FB: Shelby Means
• IG: Shelbass

We had the opportunity to chat with Gayle Skidmore right before she got on stage for a gig! She put out her most recent album "The Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster" in April of this year and calls it her "pandemic project." She was doing work on her geneology when she dove deep into this project and it helped to kick off her next project--an album with her cousin in Finland!

San Diego-based artist Gayle Skidmore is set to release her highly anticipated neoclassical album, The Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster, on April 4, 2025. Known for her hauntingly beautiful piano compositions and emotive performances, Skidmore’s new album is a deeplypersonal and historically rich exploration of one of America's most tragic events: the collapse of a railroad bridge in Ashtabula, Ohio, in December 1876. The disaster claimed the lives of 92 people, including Skidmore’s relative, renowned hymn writer Philip P. Bliss.This eleven-track album is an evocative journey through both the human tragedy and the historical significance of the event, blending delicate, intricate melodies with deeply emotional compositions. Skidmore’s piano work captures the sorrow, resilience, and humanity at the heart of the disaster. The album is also a tribute to her grandmother, who passed away in 2019, and who was proud of their family’s connection to Bliss..After eight years in The Netherlands, Skidmore is thrilled to be back home in San Diego.

Be sure to check out Gayle here:

• Website: Gayleskidmore.com
• Bandcamp: Gayle Skidmore
• IG: gayleskidmore
• TikTok: gayleskidmore
• FB: Gayle Skidmore
• You Tube: Gayleskidmore

This was such a fun interviewand such a pleasure talking with Kolton Moore (of Kolton Moore and The Clever Few) from his home town-populaton 67! They have so much going a new single“Strawberry Thief” out TODAY, a new album “A Place That I Call Home” (available for pre-order now) out in September, and a fall tour kicking off soon! We chatted about how this new record differs from the others. Kolton called it a “grown up record”. We also chatted about how he got started in his career by taking a chance and entering a contest from a Texas radio station called “The Pickin’ Party” and how things have gone from there. Truly a greatconversation with a truly humble human being.

Kolton Moore & The Clever Few have announced their sixth studio album A Place That I Call Home, due out September 26. Produced by GRAMMY-winner Matt Ross-Spang (JasonIsbell, Margo Price), the new album finds the band navigating adulthood while taking stock of hard-earned life lessons along the way.

Recorded in full-band takes at Ross-Spang’s Memphis studio in less than five days, A Place That I Call Home captures Kolton Moore & The Clever Few's electrifying mix of rock, blue-collarstorytelling and Texas-sized country hooks. Lyrically, the songs here are mined from Moore’s personal experiences, from wild teenage nights and mental health journeys to the joys of fatherhood. The end result is an album about redefining the meaning of home from a road-warrior band that used to play 250 shows a year when they debuted in 2012.

Made up of frontman Kolton Moore and backed by lead guitarist Ryan Wilcox, bassist Matt Gumley, keys player Sam Jones and drummer Aaron Dowd, the band strikes the right balance between Southern grit and maturity on A Place That I Call Home. With almost 630,000 uniquemonthly listeners on Spotify alone, they’re now shining a light on their evolution without pulling any of the punches that have landed their music on TV shows like Yellowstone and American Idol.

Be sure to check Kolton and the band out here:

• Website: Koltonmoore.com
• Youtube:koltonmooreandthecleverfew
• FB: Kolton Moore and the CleverFew
• IG: koltondmoore
• TikTok: koltonmoore_thecleverfew

We had so much to talk about with Sweet Megg, including her latest album “Never Been Home” and how it got its name. From starting as an opener on a ukelele to moving to France to study jazz music, to doing a Cirque de Soleil country music project, Sweet Megg has been a road warrior and storyteller! We had a great chat with her and learned so much about what makes Sweet Megg, well, Sweet Megg!

Sweet Megg is a dynamic vocalist and songwriter originally from New York City, now based in Nashville. She began her career at just 16 as a songwriter and has worn many hats since: whitewater raft guide, DIY anti-folk artist, Parisian and New York jazz singer, honky-tonk angel, and circus ringleader.

Her diverse travels and experiences have imbued her music with rich history and boundless innovation. Her vocals are both expertly trained and refreshingly raw, making her sound relatable and captivating.

Megg’s music weaves together many threads of the American story—her Irish heritage, early blues training in high school, years immersed in the jazz world, explorations through the American South, inspiration from East Village poets, and the honky-tonk traditions of Nashville. The result is a sound that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern, offering a unique blend of old and new.

Be sure to check her out here:

• Patreon: Sweet Megg
• Band Camp: Sweet Megg
• Website: Sweetmegg.com
• IG: Sweet.Megg
• FB: Sweet Megg
• TikTok: sweetmegg

We were thrilled to get the chance to chat with Hillary Reynolds about her latest album “Changing Seasons” AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE AUGUST 8TH!!!

We also talked about her single “Can’t Turn off My Mind” (which you can hear ON THIS EPISODE) and the “jukebox in her brain.” Hillary describes her music as “if Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen were musicians.”

Originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, Reynolds has been living and songwriting in Los Angeles for several years. Her songs have been recorded by Little Big Town (“Next to You”) and Dani Rose (“Got It from My Mama”) and can be heard on hit television series Yellowstone and Loudermilk.Reynolds also curates and hosts house concerts and works with creatives in her hometown on projects to benefit The Trina Fund which supports women with breast cancer and was established by and named for her mother, who died of breast cancer in 2011.

Be sure to check Hillary out here:

• Website: Hillaryreynolds.com
• IG: Reynolds.hillary

We really enjoyed talking with 13-year-old, rising country start Josie Sal on this episode. We talked to Josie about the unconventional start of her career (a bet from her dad), how she put here team together, her newest single “Fake Friends” and how she balances it all!

At just ten years old, Josie Sal took a dare from her father to sing in front of a crowd in Florida, sparking a passion for music that quickly transformed into a promising career. After her impromptu performance of “Dance Monkey” captivated the audience, Josie began taking vocal and guitar lessons and performing at venues across Pittsburgh and Florida. By age eleven,she had already shared the stage with stars like Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll and opened for country icons such as Riley Green and Aaron Tippin.

Josie has written and recorded multiple original songs, including her debut single, “On My Way,” and continues to make waves in the music industry. With performances at major events like Tootsie’s 64th Annual Birthday Bash and a nomination for Junior Artist of the Year at the 10th Annual Josie Music Awards, her star is rapidly rising. Known for her versatile repertoire that spans country to classic rock, Josie's energy and emotional connection with audiences make every performance unforgettable.

Be sure to check Josie out here:

• Website: josiesalvitti.com
• Facebook: Josie Salvitti
• IG: josiesalmusic
• TikTok: Josiesalmusic
• YouTube: Josiesalmusic