Ingrid Andress’ brand new album, Good Person is out now, August 26th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

With the type of voice that immediately pierces through to a listener’s soul, Ingrid Andress has become one of Nashville’s most consistent singer-songwriters. With her left-of-center style she frequently colors outside the lines of typical country music in the best way possible. That continues on her sophomore album, Good Person, out now.

Featuring thirteen new tracks, including “Wishful Drinking,” the chart-climbing duet with Sam Hunt, her new offering is an impactful introspection of the best kind. “When people describe something as an adventure, it’s all fun and exciting,” says Andress in a statement. “But if it’s a real adventure, there’s some struggle in there, too—it’s not all fun new things, there can be some dark days. But the contrast of that is what I enjoy. Making Good Person was one of the most painful processes I’ve ever been through, but it was also the brightest and the best. It’s crazy how you can experience both those things at the same time. I didn’t think I could be more open, but I guess I am. Just when you think you’ve exposed it all, you see that you only just cracked it.”

Following in the footsteps of her critically-acclaimed debut, Lady Like, was not an easy feat, but there’s no sophomore slump here. Instead, Andress is as vulnerable and introspective as ever on the co-produced project, which features a combination of sweeping ballads and clever up-tempos. “I realized how scared a lot of people are to push boundaries and how I am not, that’s my bread and butter,” she says. “Isn’t that the goal, to discover new things? What are we doing here if we’re not trying to make new art?”

For Andress, much of the album was written when the world shut down during the pandemic, allowing her to look inward as she realized, “I wasn’t happy and [that] I needed to fix it.” This theme weaves its way through the album, which often finds Andress looking inward to deal with a broken heart and moving on from a toxic relationship.

From the opening chords of “Good Person,” the album’s title track, it’s clear listeners are in for a journey of the best kind. On the ethereal song, Andress looks both inwards and outwards, comparing herself to others as she grapples with the definition of being a good person. In a world that’s so full of judgment and comparison, the song deals with one of humanity’s most common struggles.

“’Cause I’ve cheated and lied // And made people cry // But I pray for the ones that I love every night // And I’ve shattered some hearts // And my thoughts get dark // But I’d stop for a stranger who’s falling apart // I’m still learning // Good, good person”

One of the album’s immediate standouts is “Yearbook,” a heart-wrenching ballad that has her observing a relationship that’s been long-standing, but may no longer make sense. On the sparse ballad, she looks at her parents and their 40-year-long relationship, from high school sweethearts to passing ships in the night.

“And I guess they stayed together just because they wrote forever // On the inside of the cover by their names // They were in love you can read it I guess // I’ve just only seen it in a red ink heart around my father’s face // They’ve lived in the same house for almost 40 years now // But the last day they were on the same page // Was in a yearbook”

On “Seeing Someone Else” and “How Honest Do You Want Me to Be?,” Andress continues to be blatantly honest in the best way. The former, an almost teasing track, has her challenging her lover that the person she wants to be with is a former version of herself. “And if you’re honest with yourself // You know you’re hanging onto history,” She sings here. 

Meanwhile, on “How Honest Do You Want Me to Be?” She struggles with the idea of being truly honest with someone who may only think they want the truth.

“‘Cause when you water down whiskey, it gets easier to drink // And a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine sweeter // You say you want the truth, but the truth, baby, it might sting // So, how honest do you want me to be?

“No Choice” is one of the album’s most striking moments, a building and sweeping ballad that shows Andress cracking with emotion as she grapples with a relationship ending. The heartbreak is apparent here as the singer shares one of her most vulnerable performances to date, sure to stop listeners in their tracks.

Andress spoke to Rolling Stone about the track, revealing, “That was a very emotional day. It was in a moment when I realized that the person I was with, it was just not healthy for me. It was really weighing me down when I should have been thriving. That day was just really difficult…Honestly, I wanted to take out the crying part because I don’t like crying in front of people. But I was like, ‘You know what? This album is all about being vulnerable so let’s just go there.’ It’s terrifying to do that because you’re opening up a very, very hidden part of you to the entire world. There would be no other way for me to really get across how painful that moment was without being true to that moment. It’s really scary, but at the same time, it’s more about the art to me. I’m just a vessel. What I am singing about and crying about has happened to so many other people and the goal is to make them feel less alone and more understood.”

“Pain” deals with the same toxic relationship, melding an old-school vibe with heartbreaking lyrics. Andress admits the song was inspired by Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain” and the classic sounds of the 60’s. “I love contrasting older sounds with modern flair,” says Andress. “I wondered if there was a way that could live in the country space—how throwback can we get, but also make it country, but still fit my voice?”

“Feels Like This” and “Falling for You” offer moments of hope and new love amidst sadness. Andress admits that the latter was written with her band in mind, so they’d have a reprieve from the sad songs, allowing for a fun moment during her live shows. On the building up-tempo, she muses about the moment of falling for someone new, and the hope that it never stops. “I hope that I never stop falling for you,” She sings. “I hope that your kiss always feels like it’s new.”

The official album ends with “Things That Haven’t Happened Yet,” a sparse and intimate ballad that has the singer longing for what has been and what is yet to come. “I’m only twenty-nine, but I’ve died a hundred times,” She begins, immediately enrapturing listeners.

“I learned so much in this chapter of my life—and I’m still so young, so I’m terrified of what else I’m going to learn on the next album,” she says. “Ending with that song was a very intentional reminder to myself. ‘You think you’ve got it figured out now, so you’re worrying about the next thing.’ Don’t do that, there’s no point. It’s all going to happen the way it’s going to happen, whether you want it to or not. The journey isn’t over.”

For Ingrid Andress, the journey is far from over, and we’re certainly here for it. If Good Person is any indication, it’s certain to be a beautiful – and occasionally bumpy – ride.

Good Person is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Alexander Ludwig’s brand new, debut album, Highway 99 is out now, August 26th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

With a shockingly country drawl and an airy approach to country music that channels the best of the early-2000’s, Canadian actor-turned-country-singer Alexander Ludwig’s debut album, Highway 99, is out now. Released by BBR Music Group/ BMG Nashville, the full-length is a follow up to 2021’s self-titled EP, which featured songs like “Sunset Town,” “Love Today,” and “Summer Crazy.”

While he may be best known for roles in Vikings, Heels, and The Hunger Games, Ludwig always had country music in his blood, growing up on the likes of Alan Jackson and George Strait. He began writing songs at 12, falling in love with country music on long drives with his family. “I named my album ‘Highway 99’ because that drive is really where I got my musical education,” shared the singer, reminiscing about road trips from Vancouver to Whistler Mountain. “So much of my musical education growing up was driving through the mountains in Canada. […] When I think of this album, it wasn’t so much a story from start to finish, like a concise story, it’s this winding road of feelings that I wanted to communicate.”

Produced by Jason Aldean’s bandmates, Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy, Highway 99, is definitely a nod to the country Ludwig grew up on, meshing the best of Aldean, Chesney, and other influences into an album full of stadium-ready anthems, odes to small towns, and celebrations of life.

“Summer Crazy” is one of the album’s most apparent standouts, setting the perfect soundtrack for a day at the beach or a barbecue, and the Instagram caption that’s sure to follow. With driving guitars and a perfect hook, the track is as radio-ready as they come.

Likewise, “Love Today” shines as another clear highlight, Ludwig raising a lyrical glass to seize the day. “It’s good to be alive, kinda smile on my face, yeah it’s gonna be okay,” He sings over the infectious melody and catchy tune. “I love today.”

The album’s first single, “Faded on Me,” is a more rowdy up-tempo with an anthemic feel, yet semi-autobiographical for Ludwig. “If my album could be summed up in a song it would be ‘Faded On Me,’” said Ludwig in a statement. “The song spoke to me so much. As a kid, my parents taught me to roll with the punches, and this song is all about that.  Taking whatever life throws your way and throwing it right back.”

 “One more night in a neon town // And I pull my heart into one more, one more round // Burn both ends till they both burn out // Shots I’ve missed, girls I kissed // When the heartache hits I go till it’s faded on me // I go till it’s faded on me // Till it’s faded on me.”

Much of Highway 99 finds the singer-songwriter longing for the one that got away. This can be heard on tracks including “After You,” “Back,” “Can’t Outrun You,”  and “Melrose Avenue.” On “After You,” he admits that things will never be the same after someone special is gone, while “Back” also has him longing for those days when things were better.

“Can’t Outrun You” also finds the singer-songwriter desperately trying to escape a lost love who’s everywhere he goes and everywhere he looks. “Everything here reminds me…” He croons. “Every neon bar // That Texaco star // Every sundown water tower view // Rolling down that main street strip // Every parking lot kiss // Runs through my mind // No matter what I do // Every road, every mile I go // I can’t outrun you.”

While some tracks may allude to Ludwig being lovelorn, that couldn’t be further from the truth for the happily married superstar. One song reflecting that is “Malibu Blue,” which Ludwig says he played for his wife on their first date, so it will forever hold a special place in his heart.

Like any good country album, there are songs about small towns, back roads, and simpler life on Highway 99, including “Sunset Town,” “Rough Around the Edges,” and “That’s the Life I Want.” While the star could easily “go Hollywood,” he longs for a simple life out in the country with someone special. “Simple as a windows-down singalong song,” he muses. “As long as this life keeps on spinning // That’s the life I want // You’re the girl I want in it.”

The album concludes with “Let Me Be Your Whiskey,” a slow burner where Ludwig begs someone to help him numb the pain. In fact, he offers for them to self-medicate together on the sparse ballad of knowing something is wrong despite how right it may feel. 

“Let me be your whiskey //  You can be mine // Spend the whole night with me // Until the mornin’ light // Ain’t gonna heal the heartache // Ain’t gonna stop the rain // Let me be your whiskey // And for a while, kill the pain.”

Throughout Highway 99, one note is how similar Ludwig sounds to Kenny Chesney, in a good way. In fact, if there’s ever a Chesney biopic, Ludwig might have to shave his head and don a tanktop and a cowboy hat to play the country superstar.

Highway 99 is a great introduction for Alexander Ludwig to country music fans, as it melds common tropes with an early-2000’s flare and his own spin on summer nights, lost love, and the perfect life.

Highway 99 is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.