You can find the album on streaming platforms everywhere on May 10, but it’s already out now as an early release download in Dolby Atmos on ImmersiveAudioAlbum.com! I’m incredibly proud of this album and the unique story it tells, and I wanted to share some thoughts on the title track "Cottonwood” in particular.
The lyrics are about a guy stuck in this cemetery in a small Arizona desert town. It starts with this drifter showing up, talking about truth and selling lies. That's kind of the vibe of the whole place - not much good news or future to look forward to.
The key line in the song is Cottonwood is where I'm from, I can't escape my fate. This guy is trapped by his circumstances and the whole legacy of his family. His parents were born there, he was born there, and now he's just following in their footsteps without any real way out.
I tried to paint a picture of how stagnant and hopeless everything feels for him. His truck is broken down and rusting, the girl next door keeps getting married and divorced. He's just holding on until he can drink the day away and forget about it all for a while.
Musically, I wanted the song to have this gritty, desert rock feel to match the dusty, barren setting. The acoustic and electric guitars kind of blend together to create this raw sound. And the melody and chords have this really melancholic, introspective vibe that fits the hopelessness of the lyrics.
At the end of the day, "Cottonwood" is a song about feeling trapped and weighed down by your roots and your family's past. I think that's something a lot of people can relate to, no matter where they're from. It's about that struggle to break free and find your own path.
I'm really proud of all the tracks in this album, but hope you enjoy reading a bit more about this song in particular. I can't wait for everyone to hear it on the new album. I hope it resonates with folks and makes them feel something real. Get the Dolby Atmos download now in IAA here.