Buried Treasure, October 9

By Adeem Bingham, Editor

Happy Friday, y’all! It’s been a hell of a week full of existential headaches, but don’t worry, friends, for I have a prescription. This edition of Buried Treasure has juicy pop country from the UK, Piedmont shoegaze, croonin’ from the Cumberland Gap, seafarer shanties, and a serenade for the stars from our friend Brian Falduto.

Give these folks some of your attention, like ‘em on Facebook, follow ‘em on Spotify, etc. In less than five minutes you can help elevate queer artists in country & Americana and find yourself some new favorite songs in the process. Y’all drink lots of water, take a break from the social media’s when it gets unbearable, and be gentle with yourselves. 

I appreciate you,

Ol’ Deemie
(that’s what the boys call me when I’m hanging drywall)  

Brian Falduto

You’re probably familiar with Brian Falduto whether you realize it or not from his work as a child actor. He’s still acting & now he’s writing songs too. His new single opens with a funky bass line juxtaposed against a simple fiddle part, syncopated synth and electric guitar. “I’d rather be in the middle of nowhere drowning in the neon,” he sings before launching into the chorus with big, rich horns and his delicious falsetto. 

Katie Dee & The Quaking Aspens

Katie Dee & Julien Dee are a quirky pair of creatives based in Pittsburgh. Their lo-fi conceptual folk album “From The Sea” was released in July and is a collection of original sea-shanties that experiment with sound to teleport the listener to a disruptive and imaginative space. “I’m waiting for my undead Viking / With thunderclouds and flashing lightning,” is wrapped in the sound of dropping chains. The album occupies a lot of eerie and provocative worlds. Wander those worlds on their Bandcamp. RIYL: The Magnetic Fields, Dar Williams

Emily Lockett

Emily is a delightful, award-winning singer-songwriter from the UK. If you’ve fawned for Taylor Swift’s teases at queer aesthetics pairing with her pop sensibilites, then Emily is going to break your heart in all the right ways. Crisp, clear production delivers her new single “Front Porch” with everything you could ask for in a pop-country song ahead of a full EP that I’m very excited for. “She’ll leave with me here tonight.”

Christopher Hamblin

Christopher is a musician from the Cumberland Gap, formerly the Artistic Director of the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus, and husband to living legend Latrice Royale (season 4, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, I stan). I was introduced to Christopher digitally and have been fawning over this new single “Give Me A Holler” which opens with a delicious little mandolin lead part and filled out with dobro and a bed of acoustic instruments. “Give me a holler and a piece of land / Give me a neighbor who will lend a helping hand,” Christopher croons, “And the next time you’re in town, give me a holler” It’s campy and warm and lovely and streaming everywhere.  

Carter Hodge

Carter is a Queer, non-binary musician near Chapel Hill. Their sound nests in the space between indie-folk and Americana and sounds adjacent to artists like Conor Oberst and Caroline Spence. The new single “Too Many People” has simple lyrics but a poignant and stunning production. Carter’s sort of disinterested way of singing is strangely compelling and really carries the emotional vulnerability of the song. I would recommend following them on Spotify because these two singles are really lovely. 

“Buried Treasure” is your bi-weekly guide to under-the-radar queer artists in country, Americana, and folk. Know an artist who should be included? Contact us!