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Carrie Rodriguez is a classically trained violinist who studied at the Berklee School of Music and made a name for herself as an earthy, passionate songwriter in the musician-friendly Austin, Texas. “Infinite Night” is a track from her second album, She Ain’t Me and it’s a murky bit of countrified, roots-y soul music with Rodriguez shining succinctly as a vocalist.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Kicking off with a crystal clear piano melody and then layering that with a warm twang and a tight rock backing band, Katie Armiger’s bright-eyed vocals sound right at home on this track from her album Believe. Armiger is a teenage singer from Sugar Land, Texas, whose voice has a straightforward crossover quality that is not unlike those who have blazed this trail before, such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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The sister trio of Becky, Emily, and Joanna Robertson are daughters of Barny and Carter Robertson, who were a part of Waylon Jennings’ band, the Waylors. Playing more the role of harmonizers rather than outlaws, the group (recently signed to Toby Keith’s label) apply their stylish ease and country grit to this rocking blues tune. “Different Breed” is the soulful second single from their upcoming debut.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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The Tennessee-born Whitney Duncan grew up listening to both the early rock ‘n’ roll of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis as well as modern country icons such as Tanya Tucker and Shania Twain. Now that she’s embarked on her own career at the age of 22, she’s able to fuse these elements of classic, rhythm-based guitar music and contemporary country pop. She’s got a strength in her voice which makes a song like “When I Said I Would” sound like a defiant classic.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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As back-to-back winner in television’s Dancing With the Stars (with partners Apolo Anton Ohno and Helio Castroneves), Julianne Hough has a solid foundation as one of America’s premier ballroom dancers. She furthers her winning streak, this time in country music, with “My Hallelujah Song,” the follow-up single to “That Song In My Head,” from her new self-titled debug. Hough takes a moment to reflect on her life and offer thanks in a style that recalls Christina Aguilera and Shania Twain. Hough is the antithesis of today’s tabloid starlets: a sqeaky clean and talented pixie, truly an American sweetheart.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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Lady Antebellum is a trio from Georgia that’s just about to release its self-titled debut. Ostensibly a country music group, the harmony-rich trio plays a warm mix of heartland-style rock on our Single of the Week, “Love Don’t Live Here.”
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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The ex-vocalist of Big Dismal, Eric Durrance leaves behind his former band’s big rock leanings for a more countrified air on this track from I Lost It All. Durrance’s voice has a sweet-sounding twang that gels with the barebones acoustic rhythm.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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James Otto is a part of Nashville’s MuzikMafia crew, the group of friend and performers who believe in “country music without prejudice.” His work is personified by the music of Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy. This soul-inflected country gem comes from Otto’s upcoming album, Sunset Man.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date. |
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If you haven’t heard Ashton Shepherd’s voice, then after a few seconds into our free Single of the Week, you’ll be wondering why that is. She’s a young country singer who belts out a tune with a youthful, authoritative twang that makes her sound like she’s been around for years.
“Takin Off This Pain” is the righteous sound of a woman who’s tired of being in an uhappy marriage and is ready to set herself ree. Add in a bit of fiddle, barroom piano, and electric guitar and you’ve got a contemporary country hit in the making.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.