CQ Roundup with Chris Housman, Amy Martin & Erika Jonsson
By Christopher Treacy
We’re playing catch-up this week with a few songs that got past us recently. While some artists are releasing holiday tunes, Chris Housman released “Bible Belt,” which stands as a reminder this season that all is not well beneath the cloak of Christianity. Erika Jonsson recorded what seems to be a love song for her dad (the translation engines don’t do a great job with Swedish), and Amy Martin’s latest is a queer love song for the ages. Adam Mac serves up another memorably lusty grind, and newcomer Hayley Siano leads with a Song of The Week about that scary time in the wake of a breakup when we’re left to get reacquainted… with ourselves.
-CT
Song of The Week: Hayley Siano – “Get to Know Her”
Hayley Siano pours their heart into this folky pop ballad, which showcases a powerful vocal performance and palpable depth of feeling. Siano’s song—her fourth solo single in as many years—celebrates that strange time in the wake of an ugly breakup when we remember ourselves as individuals and get to know ourselves again, now changed, however daunting the task may seem. “Get to Know Her” also seems to somehow touch on the specifics of queer love; although difficult to pinpoint exactly how it comes across, the track definitely speaks to non-heteronormative relationships… we can hear the queer. Which isn’t to imply that straight breakups are less sticky. Formerly the lead in a country band called Kickin’ Nash, Siano now fronts her own band… we’ll find out more in a Q&A scheduled for tomorrow!
Adam Mac – “New Vibration”
Mac bares the teeth in his pop chops once again in the follow up to “Disco Cowboy,” referencing ’80s radio pop with a brain-branding guitar lick that comes for us on the chorus. Lusty and tense, “New Vibration” brings the heat just as the colder temps settle in, reminding us that Mac’s got new music coming in 2023. If you haven’t already, check out the Q&A we just ran on this country-pop up and comer.
Chris Housman – “Bible Belt”
They hit you over the head with it
Stuff it down your throat
Say ya need to be forgiven
While they keep casting stones
I know that they mean well
They’re just trying to save ya from hell
But I’m still bleeding from that beating
I got from the Bible belt
Housman really lays it out in this cleverly written, beautifully produced tune. Making room for those that hold onto their faith, banjo plucking in the background, he croons about the hypocrisy in organized religion and the ongoing impact it has for queer people as they maneuver adulthood. Many songs have been written on the topic, but few balance it all so gracefully.
June Clivas & the Ditty Boys – “Christmas Ghost Town”
Yayyyy for queer outlaw country holiday tunes. Clivas and Co. return with a galloping, sinister sounding, knee slapping plea to Saint Nick to show some love for a lonely adult that could use a little hope—and company—this holiday season. Git!
Amy Martin – “Good Morning Beautiful”
Martin’s monthly releases continue to dazzle as she compiles an album due in 2023. “Good Morning Beautiful” is a love song, and perhaps the most straightforward one we’ve heard in a while. A simple declaration of queer love, Martin belts this one to the heavens, sending out an impassioned ode to her partner, but the song transcends the particulars of who it was written for and instead (hopefully) reminds us all of times when we’ve felt that elusive contentedness with another person. It’s powerful enough to inspire longing.
Erika Jonsson – Alskade Farsan
Sweden’s Erika Jonsson sometimes records in English, sometimes not. This new single, which translates roughly as “Loved the Father” is country to the core and sung very sweetly, even if the cadences seem a little odd to English speakers. Sometimes, when lyrical meaning is removed from the equation, we’re forced to focus on the musical elements of a song and how they intersect instead of dwelling on a specific topic. Let your mind wander…
Christopher Treacy has been writing about music and the music industry for 20 years. He’s contributed to The Boston Phoenix, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, and Berklee College of Music’s quarterly journal, as well as myriad LGBTQ+ outlets including the Edge Media Network, Between the Lines/Pride Source, Bay Windows and In Newsweekly. He’s the Managing Editor for CQ and lives in Waitsfield, VT.
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