Ella Langley: 'Dandelion'

Ella Langley releases her sophomore album, Dandelion, out now, April 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

Since the release of her debut album, 2024’s hungover, Ella Langley has proven herself a force to be reckoned with in country music. Following its success, she teamed up with Riley Green on the viral megahit “You Look Like You Love Me,” alongside her own solo juggernaut, “Choosin’ Texas.”

Now, the singer-songwriter steps back into the spotlight with her sophomore effort, Dandelion, out now. Produced by Langley with Miranda Lambert and Ben West, the SAWGOD/ Columbia Records release features eighteen new tracks. “This record has so much growth in it,” shares Langley in a statement. “I’ve never poured more of myself into a project, into a song, into an idea, and it’s fallen out so beautifully. It’s about learning yourself, making mistakes, and realizing that it’s all just part of life.”

For Langley, the album captures everything she is as an artist: pure country seamlessly blended with vintage flair. Heartbreaking lyrics meet twangy instrumentation, all tinged with Alabama roots. “I want this record to be something fans can relate to, but also something they want to get up and dance to,” she explains. “To me, it feels like fireflies in the summertime… windows down on a red dirt road… the best kind of Sunday afternoon.” The result is a record that doubles as both a personal reflection and a nostalgic love letter.

For Langley, Dandelion offers old school country with a breath of fresh air. It’s honest and raw, while perfectly crafted with radio-ready hooks. The LP is cleverly bookended with a nearly 500 year old folk song, “Froggy Went a-Courtin,’” setting an immediate tone before hopping right in to the album’s title track.

“Dandelion” is a perfect musical appetizer for what’s to come. It’s a midtempo celebration of all the things that make her unique, as both a person and an artist. Her voice shines with its uniquely honeyed tone as twangy guitars remind listeners who Langley is.

“No stranger to a dirt road or a country muddy river bank // If you’re pickin’ me, you oughta know // I wasn’t made for a fancy crystal vase // A mason jar and old blue jeans, from my roots to my boots, I’ll always be A dandelion // Born to live free”

Much of the album finds Langley firmly in her musical sweet spot, in the vein of “Dandelion” and “Choosin’ Texas,” yet it never feels repetitive.

“We Know Us” nods to the spoken-word stylings of “You Look Like You Love Me,” elevated by a doo-wop-tinged country strut. Meanwhile, “Low Lights” echoes the wistful feel of Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz,” layering heartbreak over a gently swaying melody. “You & Me Time” is a swinging, seductive ode to intimacy, while “Bottom of Your Boots” finds her pleading for commitment.

Heartbreak threads through tracks like “Broken” and “Last Call for Us,” while “Speaking Terms” stands out as one of the album’s most poignant moments. Sparse and deeply relatable, it plays like a musical prayer, capturing the uncertainty of faith and silence. In many ways, it’s her “Are you there God? It’s me, Ella” moment, finding her lost in the confusion that comes with a one-sided conversation. “I’m listening but you don’t say a word,” She confesses, “If your answer’s in the silence, I’ll be patient, but it’s hard to know my prayers are being heard.”

“Butterfly Season” offers another special moment, pairing Langley with Lambert on the gorgeous ballad about moving on and moving forward. Lambert’s harmonies complement Langley beautifully, reinforcing her status as one of the genre’s finest duet partners.

“It’s butterfly season, I’m finding my wings // A good time for leaving behind the old me // Headed for blue skies and lavender fields // Don’t know where I’m landing, just know how it feels // When it’s time to fly”

While she leans into her artistry, Langley never strays from radio-ready anthems, with songs like “Be Her” and “I Gotta Quit” offering those perfectly crafted moments. Co-written by HARDY, “Be Her” is one of the album’s most clear chart toppers, its instant earwormy status highlighted by simple repetition and catchy handclaps. Here, she longs for someone else’s life in a way that feels both authentic and yearning. Meanwhile, “I Gotta Quit” offers the album’s most punchy and tongue-in-cheek moment, a welcomed raucous interruption in an otherwise vibey collection.

Langley also longs for the simpler things in life on standout tracks like “Loving Life Again” and “Somethin’ Simple.” The former is a breezy and lush celebration of the things in life that make it worth living. Here, her voice is warm yet ethereal, hinted with the warmth of comfort of home. Likewise, “Somethin’ Simple” finds her longing for a life much different than the one she’s currently living. “While I’m livin’ the dream, All I’m dreamin’ about is, Slowin’ down just a little,” She muses. “When I lay there and close my eyes, I’m lookin’ for somethin’ simple.”

While Langley may be dreaming of simplicity, her career trajectory suggests anything but. With Dandelion, she continues to put her own stamp on traditional country, subtly reshaping the genre along the way. She may call herself “just” a dandelion, but like a yellow flower in a sea of green, she’s sure to stand out.

Dandelion Tracklist:

Froggy Went A Courtin’ — Intro
Dandelion
Choosin’ Texas
We Know Us
Low Lights
Be Her
You & Me Time
Loving Life Again
Bottom of Your Boots
Speaking Terms
I Gotta Quit
It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Last Call For Us
Broken
Somethin’ Simple
Butterfly Season ft. Miranda Lambert
Most Good Things Do — Acoustic
Froggy Went A Courtin’ — Outro

Country Swag Picks:

Somethin’ Simple
Butterfly Season (with Miranda Lambert)
Dandelion
Loving Life Again
Speaking Terms

Ella Langley shares new album, “Dandelion,” out now on all streaming platforms.

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

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