Single Review - Whiskey Over Ice - Kezia Gill

 

When you think about Country Music, you often think about Whiskey, when you think about Kezia Gill you will think about Whiskey and let’s be honest, in the when you mention UK Country Music you think about Kezia Gill.

 

This is not us casting any shade of Kezia and her drinking habits!  Having previously released a single “Whiskey Drinking Woman” and naming her very popular livestream sessions “Pour Me A Strong One”, even the most casual of fan is aware that Kezia is partial to a whiskey (with lemonade!) and so it is no great surprise that this latest single is Whiskey Over Ice. 

 

The song was debuted on the recent headline tour, and when introducing it, Kezia said

Write about what you know, and if it ain’t broke…

 

Some people will have heard Kezia playing at one of the UK’s country festivals, others when she supported The Shires on tour, still others from the club scene in Derby while Bob Harris’ country show on Radio 2 may have been the first time.  Perhaps this single will be the first introduction to the music of this award-winning singer songwriter.  However you have found Kezia you will have heard her touching lyric writing, powerful performance style and her distinctive voice, all of which are evident in this new single

 

Drums, guitar, slow beat and we are under way with Kezia’s vocal.  Heavily US influenced but with a definite UK sound the song sits firmly in the Country genre, with a rock edge to both the instrumentation and the performance. That edge and the power demonstrate why Kezia is such a favourite when she takes to the stage for a live show. 

Cleverly using drinks analogies to describe the excitement of a new relationship, the writing is pure Country, and the guitar from Luke Thomas really cements the feel – it is rare for a UK song to sound so much like it has come direct from a Nashville writing room, or perhaps a Nashville bar! The production was tweaked in Music City, but the song undoubtedly already sounded Nashville before being sent there for a final polish.

 

We will certainly join this “Whiskey Drinking Woman” for some Whiskey Over Ice – both through this song plus her upcoming live performances with the Girls Night In – The Round Tour, an appearance with the Honky Tonk Roadshow plus appearing in both Glasgow and London for Country 2 Country!

 

Whisky Over Ice, the new single from Kezia Gill is available to download or stream from Friday 3 February.

 

You can find and follow Kezia on Instagram and Facebook and stream her music on Spotify

Kezia Gill is represented by ZimagineD

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Single Review - The Mess I Made - Kezia Gill ft Sarah Jory

 

Kezia Gill has spent around 17 years becoming an overnight success, and we boarded the Kezia bus around two years ago.  It is a joy to see that she is now enjoying the recognition that her talent so richly deserves, not just by winning awards (triple winner at the last Silverball Country awards) but with radio airplay on national station Radio 2 – and on mainstream shows as well as Bob Harris Country.

Kezia’s new releases now go to Whispering Bob for first play amongst the great and good of the Country Music world, but Kezia shows why she is probably UK Country’s favourite home girl by attracting a massive and loyal audience to her Friday night livestreams live from her lounge whilst wearing her fluffy slippers!

Kezia is promising us a new EP to be released in the Summer, and the first track from that EP is The Mess I Made.  For this new single Kezia is making the most of her powerful and Bluesy vocal and to support that Kezia turned once again to two times Silverball Country Musician of The Year Sarah Jory to provide the incredible guitar to back her voice.  Although best known for her pedal steel, Sarah is an amazing guitarist, putting raw power and passion into everything chord she plays, and her performance here is no different.

When you have a single combining the two most talented women in UK Country, you hit play with an assumption that you will be hearing something good.  Just a simple guitar strum warms you up before Kezia comes in with a soaring, wailing vocal which transports you to the deep South.

I shouldn’t have played the games I played

A story of not so much regret but acceptance of “The Mess I Made”.  A semi cautionary tale, reminding us that if you get it wrong you must face the consequences, but to be honest you are going to listen to this just wrapped up in Kezia’s powerful singing and Sarah’s slide – the two complementing each other completely.

Kezia can embrace a range of styles – from her Irish roots to pure Country, a little modern Nashville/Pop country – and her willingness to experiment and her variety not only set her apart as a talented writer and performer but has also allowed her to bring this Americana influenced song to us.

You will for sure raise a glass, and sing along with this, and perhaps reflect on any games you have played, and any mess you may have made.

 

Kezia has clearly kept busy during lockdown, not just with this new single and her weekly livestreams, but also some fabulous videos along with husband Lloyd and there is also a fascinating behind the scenes video of the journey involved in getting The Mess I Made out to the world.  As lockdown eases Kezia is booking live shows – probably most notable an appearance at Buckle and Boots Country festival as well as Craic by the Creek at the same venue.  A theatre show, and more intimate performances are also already on the calendar.

The Mess I Made, the new single from Kezia Gill is available to download and stream from Friday 16 April

You can try to keep up with Kezia (!) by following her on Facebook, Instagram, her website and on Spotify

Single Review - When We Move - Tennessee Twin ft Sarah Jory

When a song comes to us billed as featuring Sarah Jory on pedal steel, there is an element of excitement and curiosity.  Excitement because Sarah is without question the finest Country instrumentalist in the UK (and has won our own best musician award two years in a row), her performances are electric - curiosity about how she will blend into the song.

With When We Move, no need for the curiosity, just the excitement.  When you combine Sarah’s pedal steel with Victoria’s voice the result is sublime. The gentleness of the steel matches and complements the gentle vocal from Victoria – almost as though the two are performing a duet.  Sarah will never demand centre stage, but shares it beautifully with Victoria.

The song itself deals with the difficult time in a relationship when someone must back down and make the first move to reconcile a disagreement.  Those times call for a soft approach and if it all works out the two of you are back in tandem – moving together.  The feel of the song conjures an image of how that must go – gentle, flowing.  The vocal, the pedal steel and Geoff on acoustic guitar all blend to provide that sense of oneness.

Musically it really does all come together, with no one element feeling more or less important than the others – much as a relationship should ideally be!  The steel and guitar feel country, the vocal certainly has a folk feel to it.

This is not a song designed to have you up dancing, but it shows off the quality of all three performers, all adding their part to create a soft, soothing listen.  You can add your own story over the top of Sarah and Geoff’s instrumentals and have a good cry – its good for you!

 

Wouldn’t you love to hear these three combine again?

 

When We Move, the new single from Tennessee Twin featuring Sarah Jory is available to download and stream from Friday.

 

You can find and follow Tennessee Twin on Facebook, Instagram, their website and on Spotify

Sarah can be found on Facebook, online  and on Spotify