With Justin Wells’ latest album, Cynthiana (due out February 20th), the Kentucky singer-songwriter once again stokes the fiery depths of his pure intent, the core elements of the record revolving around things that matter most in life — steadfast family, genuine friends, and creative fulfillment.
Captured by Grammy-nominated producer Duane Lundy at his legendary studio in Lexington, Kentucky, Cynthiana came about as an ode to Wells’ wife, Andrea, with whom he first crossed paths with in their high school gymnasium when they were teenagers. That was exactly 25 years ago.
The 10-song LP harnesses the raw power and lyrical honesty that’s made Wells a stoic figure in the rich, vibrant tapestry of Americana, alt-country and folk bubbling up over the last decade or so from The Bluegrass State — with Wells’ tone and talent quickly spilling out to the rest of the country.
And yet, Cynthiana also shows measured growth, both sonically and emotionally, for Wells. His focus inside and outside of these songs has become clearer and more honed in with every album. The melodic foundation is tender and true, this continued tale of one man’s journey of self and of finding his purpose from within.
“Cynthiana is a long walk from my earlier work,” Wells says. “I was not in a healthy, good place [in those old days], not making great mental, physical, and spiritual decisions.”
In essence, Cynthiana symbolizes finding stability and justification in the sometimes haphazard and uncertain paths taken in Wells’ life, with the album itself becoming the epitome of that arduous, yet bountiful journey, and Wells now standing tall and proud.
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Up There with the Angels,” a galloping work of alt-country that is brimming with airy guitar licks, potent lyrics, and an infectious chorus. Throughout the tune, you can hear inspiration as varied as Steve Earle, Dire Straits, and even fellow Kentuckian Tyler Childers in Wells’ heartworn delivery that loosely dwells on the topic of American politics.
Wells describes the process and inspiration behind the tune:
Up There With the Angels has the distinction of having the longest amount of time between me starting to write it and it getting out into the world. It morphed maybe a half-dozen times over the course of finishing it, but it feels more pertinent than it ever did. To me, especially in the context of the rest of the album, it’s “Bonnie and Clyde”. It’s us against the world, because the world’s not looking out for us. More specifically, it’s borne out of a frustration with modern American politics, which seems to have less empathy than it ever did before.
LISTEN:
One Response
This is such a great song!