Song Premiere: Wonky Tonk, “Suitors”
by Kelly McCartney (@theKELword) for FolkAlley.com
A lot of chatter has filled the country music void for quite a while now, folks arguing about what’s real and what’s not. But as artists like Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Ashley Monroe, Margo Price, Kacey Musgraves, and others break through various ceilings and kick down random doors, the argument about a lack of “real” country music is left, well, lacking. Add indie upstarts like Dori Freeman, Andrew Combs, Sam Outlaw, Tami Neilson, and Sam Morrow to that list, and the contrary position is all but erased.
And then comes along Wonky Tonk (aka Jasmine Poole) to further broaden the field with what she calls a “punk cowgirl aesthetic” on her debut album, ‘The Stuff We Leave Behind,’ which dropped last year. The set was a long time coming from the Kentucky singer/songwriter who is already back on track with more music and taking her cues from the greatest of the greats on her new single, “Suitors.”
As Poole tells it, “Inspired by Dolly and Loretta’s no-nonsense flavor of country songwriting, ‘Suitors’ was written in response to the influx of people talking jive following the release of my debut LP, ‘The Stuff We Leave Behind.’ After the release, I had friends, strangers, and the people in between projecting their needs and wants on me, with the elusive understanding that I was supposed to carry it since I put myself out as a performer.’
“Basically, ‘Suitors’ is a tune describing the toll that performing, especially as a woman, takes on one’s psyche and social life — where you have to balance being your character, as well as keeping yourself whole, while also remaining open for listeners to give and take what they need without leaving yourself bereft.”
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“Suitors” is available now via iTunes.
