SONG PREMIERE: Reece Sullivan Stirs Up Instant Alt-country Classic with “All Out Of My Hands”

For those of us who have gone into studios with a batch of new material, it can all go south in a number of different ways. The performances can lack the desired spirit. The engineering can fail to capture the intention of the artist. Post-production can kill the mood, leaving empty shells of once-captivating songs. But for singer/songwriter Reece Sullivan, everything worked out perfectly in his most recent venture into the studio. “All Out of My Hands,” the first single from this fresh batch of tunes, contains all the warmth and conviction of an instant alt-country classic.

Originally an Arkansas native, Sullivan now resides and records in Lafayette, LA. Though the songwriter didn’t expect much when he arrived, he found Lafayette to be a ”hidden musical hub” of players and producers. When he decided to team up with producer Charlie Gathe, Sullivan expected to record the core of the song at Gathe’s studio then retreat back to his small home studio to finish the record. But the songs blossomed in Gathe’s studio. With the help of veteran musicians like Jim McGee, Miki McCartney, Nikia Yung, and Sharona Thomas, Sullivan stumbled into the greatest recording experience of his career.

Today Glide is excited to premiere “All Out of My Hands,” which opens with a plaintive acoustic guitar and vocal melody. Layer upon layer builds to create a crescendo of high lonesome fervor. The players have a united energy on this recording – everyone listening for what the other players bring to the sonic landscape. McCartney’s drums are present, with every cymbal crash placed perfectly. Yung’s violin adds a mournful tone to the track, adding to Sullivan’s easy-going yet earnest vocal delivery. As Sullivan sings about the chaos of life, the band swirls around him. It’s rare to hear music that so perfectly matches the tone of the lyrics. But, Sullivan and Co have managed to pull it off so beautifully here!

Sometimes, the best songs sneak up on you – like they were waiting just around the corner to startle you back to life. “All Out of My Hands” is a shot of Springtime tied up with an alt-country ribbon. This song is a gift for those of us who need a little reminder to let go sometimes.

Listen to the track and read our conversation with Sullivan below…

What made your partnership with producer Charlie Gathe so special? Were there any songs that changed once you got into the studio with him?

I like Charlie a lot on a personal level, and he’s become a friend. We have a good deal in common and will often chat for 20 minutes to an hour after I arrive. But being friends and having stuff in common doesn’t help a song fly in a studio. He knows what he’s doing on a different level than most and has a set of skills that I don’t. For me, it’s the first time in over twenty years that I’ve just almost fully let go and let someone else be in charge. There’s a great relief with that.

I historically try to allow songs to do what they want at all stages of development, but with having a proper producer, there’s a greater chance for more evolution, as one would guess. Most songs ended up with a more prominent beat, which I’m all about and, in my opinion, greatly helped. The song that changed the most for me was probably Very Near, which will be my fourth release from the album. The drums we ended up with were something I wouldn’t have been capable of envisioning, and there’s some ambience and slight orchestration that I wouldn’t have pictured, either. I love the way it turned out. That said, all the songs changed to degrees; probably the most prominent, across the board change was that many of them became bigger than I would’ve guessed.

What excited you about working with this group of musicians? It’s clear from the song that there’s an energy with this group of people. Do you think they’ll stick around for a bit?

Well, all the folks on the album live here in Lafayette, and we’re all friends. In fact, Josh LeBlanc, who plays trumpet on the track (Dark Night of the Soul), brings his daughter to the same swimming pool my daughter and I visit. So, I just saw him within the hour. In other words, everyone seems to be sticking around! I’m pretty certain most of them will be on my next batch of songs, which is well underway. It can’t be overstated how good the players are in this city. I’d take Lafayette musicians over any other. Speaking of energy and what took this song to the next level, Nikia Yung (violin) and Sharona Thomas (backing vocals) shine bright. They are both so good and tasteful; it’s incredible.

What can we expect from the rest of the songs from this session?

There are several other tunes that I think have something of the same feel and production as All Out Of My Hands, but there are a few oddballs, too. The next single I’ll release, Two Heinie Two-Step, is co-write with Larry Penland from Hattiesburg, MS, and it’s a bit silly and has something of a folk-country flavor. Very Near is darker, more brooding, and more serious, lyrically. Coming Off My Meds, Again, is wild and chaotic like a runaway train and has something of an almost live feel for the band. I do feel there’s a through line to the sound, but the songs are considerably varied . . . which is one reason I switched the album name (from FALSE SUMMITS) to, SONGBOOK, which I feel characterizes the collection better.

What has your move from Arkansas to Louisiana taught you as a person and as a player?

As a person, not to resist life. I moved here about 17 years ago, and didn’t want to at all…I resisted. It took me a long time to relent and accept the change. Had I done so much earlier, I’m pretty certain things would’ve opened up, in the most general ways, sooner. As a player, I’ve met so many good songwriters and players in both Baton Rouge and Lafayette, that I’d like to think something’s rubbed off on me.

Do you plan to tour on these songs? Where can we find you the rest of the year?

I have a lot of upcoming shows lined up, starting in Southern Louisiana, going to the Fayetteville, Arkansas area and then to Indiana for a couple shows. I also have a few more here random shows later in the summer. That said, after this first single, I have four more coming, which will land the album release late in 2024. I plan to work towards a more proper tour soon after it releases, hopefully the beginning of 2025.