Alexa Rose | photo courtesy of the artist
Meet Appalachian roots singer Alexa Rose, hear a beautiful new ballad from her debut album Medicine For Living
Alexa Rose, an emerging roots singer from Virginia’s Allegheny Highlands, has announced that her debut album Medicine for Living will arrive this October. She has also shared the album’s title track, a gorgeous and highly traditional ballad built on two tender guitars. Rose shows off incredible control over the shape of her voice as she sings of “such jubilee.”
Gillian Welch is a clear touchstone for Rose, but Rose herself also notes the influences of John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, and Alynda Segarra (Hurray for the Riff Raff) on her songs. “This album is Appalachia-meets-Memphis,” Rose explains in a press release. “The stories and inspiration emanate from the mountains, but the tracks have all these different musical elements coming in.” The upcoming album was produced by Clay Jones (Modest Mouse, Buddy Guy) and Bruce Watson, who heads Rose’s label Big Legal Mess, and recorded at Watson’s Delta-Sonic Studio in Memphis.
Rose has also announced tour running dates from August through December, including a show on November 9th at The Locks in Manayunk with Amythyst Kiah. Medicine for the Soul comes out October 4th on Big Legal Mess.