The tender country-inspired tunes of Heidi Howe is inspired by honest, back-to-the-roots goodness, both in the stylistic and lyrical senses. Stylistically, Howe’s sound recalls both country greats like Dolly Parton and more style-spanning songwriters like Stevie Nicks, with a melodic and slightly nasally vocal delivery over fluttering acoustics and sentimental lap steel twangs. Lyrically, Howe’s new album – Be Good – follows the intimate theme of addiction. “[The album is about] my own addictions and those of other people I love and have loved. It’s not a recovery themed compilation of songs by any means, but my personal experiences have certainly influenced my writing,” Howe explains. “Ultimately, it’s my goal to make smart, twangy music that helps me (and hopefully others) get through rough patches and celebrate the good in life.”
Howe started her respectable music career in 1998, when she was a promising face in the Louisville, Kentucky scene. Her debut album, Nature of My Wrongs, was released the following year. Since then, national tours and critical acclaim has ensued, in addition to playing alongside names like Todd Snider, Stacey Earle, The Be Good Tanyas, and Jerry Douglas. Howe’s first album since 2007, Be Good was released just this month and features a variety of highlights, from chugging rocker “Go Back” to heart-tugging acoustical ballads like “Ruin Me”. Although still obscure in the mainstream country industry, Howe sounds and plays like a savvy veteran with plenty of engaging songwriting left in the tank. Check out the video for lead single “Kind of Crazy” below:
