England might be an ocean way from Tennessee, but London-based roots rock band Nashville Exile channels the independent Americana spirit with ease.
Made up of family and friends, the group has been playing music together for years, building experience on tour and as songwriters. This collaborative spirit is fundamental to the band’s sound, otherwise influenced by legends like Tom Petty, John Prine, and The Rolling Stones.
Nashville Exile has never before released their original music, but this year marks a new chapter and a new beginning. Over the last seven months, six songs off of their brand new album, Hand Drawn, have been shared as singles, with the remaining tracks debuting yesterday, October 16th.
Their lead single, “Collide,” was released in February, followed by a sweet music video just over a week later, depicting a chance meeting between strangers intertwined by coincidence and fate. A simple instrumental arrangement allows the seamless blending between vocalists Matthew Crozer and Cat Smithurst to take centerstage. With a strong hook and surrounding background harmonies, they explore the hope that the one you love will accompany you at whatever height you soar to.
The third track, “Told You So,” offers more of a bluesy-rock feel, with Smithurst’s fiery vocal backed by a driving electric guitar and organ. This song seems to answer the titular statement with the refrain: “feels just like you said it would / doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Emotion reaches its peak here with a glitchy electric solo and a powerful opt-up in the final chorus, before fading into a smooth instrumental outro.
Originally an inside joke that was later sparked by a spirited directive given at a Foo Fighters concert, “Dance Like A Motherfucker” is an uninhibited, feel-good anthem about how no one compares to you when authentic to yourself. It’s produced as though it is a live performance with honky-tonk guitars, shouted improvisations, and a standout banjo. The accompanying music video participates in the #TohruDance challenge, a movement begun by a salaryman’s viral dances recorded before his workday, and celebrates unabashed joy.
Another song of note is the penultimate track, “Almost Gone,” which builds up from a stripped-back first half into an atmospheric instrumental break, reflecting on the ephemeral quality of life. The inclusion of harmonica adds a new sonic texture to this mid-tempo groove. “Don’t let it get away,” the listener is reminded, because capturing existence’s simplest parts is how we cherish it forever.
“Hand Drawn is the culmination of our musical careers to this point,” states Crozer. “We’ve lived our whole lives as musicians: touring, writing, recording, and learning the craft for decades. We’ve known each other a long time before we came together as a band.”
Hand Drawn is a stellar introduction to the band of savvy vets, celebrating the long road of patience and joy that Nashville Exile has walked together, with the promise of more years of sonic expression to come.
