Even after the many detours it’s taken to get him here, the world of music has not been a “dead end road” for Kiefer Luttrell. The Americana country artist has given up a lot to be where he is today, and he’s not turning back anytime soon.
His latest EP, Tall Tales and Dead End Roads, is just as it sounds: a collection of tales subtly referencing his life experiences, performed in a more raw, acoustic fashion than previous releases. Full of reflective lyrics and soulful vocals, each of the four tracks is personal, yet ambiguous enough that listeners can relate elements of their own lives. Much inspiration comes from the splendor and appeal of the natural world – mountains, rivers, and a quiet country life.
The opening track, “Every Shade of Blue,” is a tender narrative about drawing strength from someone you love. It takes a lot to trust another person with your vulnerability, and Luttrell notes the benefits of letting someone heal your broken parts. He croons, “Cause you knock the rust clean off my soul / And you wipe away every shade of blue”.
“Long Winding River” has more of an acoustic guitar ballad feel, as Luttrell reflects back on the twists and turns of life. Just as the river, he claims we must go with the flow, “rolling” with the changes and the curves as they come, prepared for the impending uncertainty. Some personal favorite lyrics from the track include the line, “Muddy as hell / But I’ve lived my life well so far”.
We’ve likely all felt trapped in the monotony of life, going through the motions and feeling unable to make an impactful change. Luttrell terrifically captures this sentiment in “Dead End Roads,” a nod to the EP’s title. Twangy guitar and a steady beat holster this song, relaying his frustration and paranoia in the wandering.
The aptly named closing track, “End of the Line” is an allusion to what comes after our lives here on Earth. Luttrell reminds us that we’re all on borrowed time, unaware of how long we get to be here, so we should make the best of it. At the end, he envisions: “When the good Lord takes my hand / And guides me past the end of the line”.
Kansas born and bred, it’s no surprise that his hometown of Iola has been a continual inspiration for his songwriting. His debut album, These Great Plains, dropped in 2022, followed swiftly by his second album, Sidewalk of the Universe, in August 2023. Both were independent releases.
Fresh out of high school, Luttrell was unsure about pursuing a music career due to financial barriers to allow him to give it his best shot. In the interim, he spent years working in various factories. In 2012, feeling a call to something greater, he joined the U.S. Army. Three deployments in the military and service on a Special Forces team earned him the honor of a Green Beret.
Returning home in 2019 after his honorable discharge, Luttrell began his pursuit of a life in music, enlisting in college to study English.
Though it wasn’t on his original timeline, Luttrell’s second act so to speak included him moving to Nashville to make his own music, with his latest offering in the form of the existentially delightful Tall Tales and Dead End Roads.
