Roots Round-up (Eden Brent, Wyatt C Louis, Adeem the Artist and more)

The US is roiling now with waves of student protest, the trials of the orange man and the upcoming election, so it’s a good time to be looking at artists who are catalysts for change. Here’s some who are breaking the mould, building new ideas and redefining genres in the US and Canada.

It’s been delightful to see a wave of African artists in Americana recently, and a testament to the ever more open world we live in. Artists like Peter One, Mon Rovia and now Ugandan-born Jon Muq, who has a debut album on The Black Keys’ Easy Eye Sound, are making waves in the US. Muq’s voice on Flying Away (Easy Eye Sound ★★★★) is a glory, and his life story is powerful, but what’s most interesting here is that he’s setting the template for what’s likely to be the next big sound: light elements of Afrobeats-like R&B, some folk instrumentation, a bit of country, and a dose of vintage soul. As Africa dominates the world stage more and more, the continent’s incursion into Americana and roots music is most welcome.

Despite many artists in roots, Americana and trad dedicating their socials to news of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and many pleas to Free Palestine, there haven’t been too many protest albums coming out of these genres. It’s strange then that the powerful compilation album, Songs Not Bombs Vol 2 (Songs Not Bombs ^★★★), has flown so far under the radar. Compiled by Kentucky singer-songwriter Jordan Smart, this comp features mostly exclusive tracks from a host of great roots and Americana artists, with all proceeds donated to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Billy Bragg resurrects his 2006 protest song ‘The Lonesome Death of Rachel Corrie’, while Adeem the Artist’s haunting ‘How Do I Explain this to My Son’ is a stand-out track. Other artists include Carsie Blanton, Mama’s Broke, Rachel Baiman, Possessed by Paul James, Al Scorch, Chris Pierce and more.

Speaking of Adeem the Artist, their new album, Anniversary (Four Quarters/Thirty Tigers ★★★★★) is an absolute triumph of songwriting. We knew they could turn a deft phrase, with a kind of wry wit that’s too rare these days in country music – their takedown of Jason Aldean’s chilling ‘Try That in a Small Town’ was a masterpiece – but for folks hoping for more expert trolling, the new album is remarkably restrained. Adeem leans on their ear for a beautiful love song, and honestly there are so few queer love songs in country music that we could stand to get a full album of them. Of course, Adeem still has great protest songs on this album, like ‘Nightmare’, a disturbing look at the Christian far right taking hold in America, or ‘Night Sweats’, a haunting tale of a dead child in Palestine. This will easily be one of the best Americana albums of the year.

How many times have we heard about an artist moving between genres easily? It’s usually hype, but the new album, Chandler, from Canadian Cree artist Wyatt C Louis (Royal Mountain ★★★★) might make you believe in a genre-less world. Utterly smooth vocals, soft pedal steel, beautifully heartworn lyrics… Louis’ music wears its heart on its sleeve, softly pouring out love songs. There’s more at work beneath the surface though, as Louis playfully subverts binaries, both in gender and in the ‘country music or not’ divides of their Calgary home. And even when their lyrics hint at classic country tropes, it’s from a decidedly Indigenous and Canadian perspective: ‘And you’re carefree / With pounding drums / To take you home / Night falls hard / On these dusty roads.’

Born in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, it’s perhaps no surprise that pianist and singer Eden Brent (Yellow Dog ★★★) would turn to the blues. She learned early on from blues pianist Abie ‘Boogaloo’ Ames, and has carried the torch for his boogie-woogie piano playing ever since. Her new album, Getaway Blues, however, was recorded in London! Though you might think she’s following the lead of blues greats like BB King and Howlin’ Wolf, who crossed the pond to make great albums, she got the idea from her husband, British jazz trumpeter Bob Dowell. Forming a group of the best studio musicians, this album mines a deep vein of blues balladry. With her smoky vocals, it’s a great delivery of a classic sound.

This column originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Songlines. Never miss an issue – subscribe to Songlines today