Muddy Magnolias’ new song “Why Don’t You Stay” premiered yesterday at Nylon and can now be heard/shared via Soundcloud. Of the song, Nylon praises, “When Jessy Wilson and Kallie North get together, they create a sound that’s honeyed and deep; it’s funky, it’s tender, it has rhythm, and it has the blues…Wilson’s verses are rich with passion while North rails around her. Their love for music, for storytelling, and what they do together is evident. By the time the final chorus explodes into a classic bluesy finale, you’re going to feel it and everything about their music.”
“Why Don’t You stay” is from the duo’s anticipated debut album, Broken People, which will be released October 14 on Third Generation Records and is now available for pre-order. Each pre-order comes with immediate downloads of “Leave It To The Sky,” the album’s title track and the first single, “Brother, What Happened?”
In celebration of the release, the band will embark on an extensive nationwide tour later this month supporting The Record Company. See below for complete details.
Already receiving widespread acclaim, The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog recently premiered the album’s closing track, “Leave It To The Sky” featuring special guest John Legend on piano and vocals. The song can now be heard/shared HERE.
Additionally, NPR Music recently premiered the official music video for “Brother, What Happened?” declaring, “…puts the duo in contention for song of this very difficult summer…The video for ‘Brother’ evokes familiar scenes from the struggle for civil rights alongside more personal encounters between lovers and family members. Most important, though, is that central visual of Wilson and North standing face to face, singing into each other’s hearts the way believers always do. It’s stirring, and it’s absolutely needed right now. As is the whole mission of Muddy Magnolias: to encourage harmony by making glorious music in its name.” Watch/share the video HERE.
Moreover, ELLE magazine describes the duo as, “a country, soul, and R&B cocktail,” while SPIN asserts, “Muddy Magnolias are a funky hybrid of traditional soul and countrified rock. Jessy Wilson has the soul of Mavis Staples and the range of Nina Simone, while Kallie North brings her Mississippi roots to the forefront with a sweet, honeyed texture. While the delivery may go down smooth, North has the verve and passion of Joplin…” and Rolling Stone raves, “…capitalizes on powerhouse vocals, no-holds-barred harmonies and a vibe that’s like the Band Perry raised on Aretha Franklin—performed as if Mick Jagger and Keith Richards inhabited the Indigo Girls.” Produced by Rick Beato (with additional production by Mario Marchetti and Butch Walker), the 11-track album was recorded in Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN in late spring 2016.
Muddy Magnolias are Kallie North and Jessy Wilson. Each with their own distinctive and unique background (North with roots in southeast Texas and the Mississippi Delta and Wilson born and raised in Brooklyn), the two were brought together in Nashville through improbable circumstances and immediately forged an unlikely friendship and musical partnership.
Of their initial collaboration and the music that has resulted, North comments, “The first day we wrote together, there wasn’t much thought that we were blending genres and worlds. That never came up. It was just natural. Ultimately, this album is a result of an unlikely friendship and is a testament to what can happen when you diversify your relationships.” Wilson adds, “It’s about getting out of your comfort zone and being rewarded with a great friendship. We’ve both felt the power of that.”
Since they met in 2013, Muddy Magnolias have toured with Zac Brown Band and Gary Clark Jr. and have performed at Lollapalooza, Hangout Festival, etc.
MUDDY MAGNOLIAS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
*with The Record Company