LISTEN: Laurelyn Dossett Dazzles With Longing & Infectious Melodies On “How Many Moons”

Deep in the NC foothills, where Big Creek flows into the Dan River, Laurelyn Dossett makes music. For over three decades, she has written and performed songs rooted in folk and Americana traditions, penning such classics as Levon Helm’s “Anna Lee” and the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ “Leaving Eden.” Like the garden she tends, Laurelyn’s music is grown from her life. From love songs to anthems of resistance, she is an icon of North Carolina’s music, theater, and political scene. 

How Many Moons is her declaration, proof she is still changing, growing, and crafting perfection. Produced by M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger, her new album elevates past favorites and brings new stories fully to life. In collaboration with many of the musicians Laurelyn encouraged, her voice and vision are lifted, proving her place as one of the most unique voices in American music. How Many Moons is set to be released on August 28. 

How Many Moons marks Dossett’s studio debut, and the title track is our first preview of the anticipated first LP of the veteran songwriter. On the lead single, we are introduced to the carefully crafted poetry that has defined the artist’s output over her career, a lively yet thoughtful ode to living in uncertainty. Dossett’s vocals two-step around animated twang stemming from the searing strings and bouncy percussion, cloaking the longing in the lyrics with a honky tonk aesthetic. “How Many Moons” explores the longevity of love, seeking stability, while the people and emotions that dictate our days seem to pay no mind to the ever-flowing river of time. Dossett explores this concept with the cathartic empathy that makes the release of her long-awaited debut album such an exhilarating experience, and this is only the first preview of the LP.