Hailing from Massachusetts, Carolee Rainey is a talented country artist whose timeless sound has seen her go from strength to strength over the last six years. Songwriting for Carolee is a calling, a way to articulate her thoughts, emotions and experiences into a journey of artistic expression. Music is a path to self-discovery and she intricately stitches threads of her own life on the strings and keys of the acoustic instruments that form her sound. Steeped in the roots of folk and Americana styles, her melodies shine with authenticity and carry the weight of her captivating lyrics.
First sharing her original sound with the world in 2018, she released her debut single “Empower” which she’s since followed up with multiple well-received singles, two EPs and her debut album THE WILD CONCERT UNPLUGGED. Now she brings us her latest release, sharing the first song she ever wrote with the new single titled “Hard Times in the Heart.”
The song takes its listeners on an adventure through the highs and lows of a relationship, capturing the turbulence of emotions that define heartbreak, portraying the complex interplay between pain and longing. The profound lyrics cover the ever-changing dynamics of love, where fleeting moments of perfection eventually give way to shifting priorities, altering the course of a relationship.
Delicate acoustic guitar notes tumble as soft strings and warm bass notes usher in Carolee’s vocals, delivered with elegance and strength in equal measure as she threads poignant lyricism. With a gently swaying rhythm and beautiful acoustic arrangement, her voice spins alluring melodies that perfectly mirror the profound songwriting. Casting a timeless country scene of subtle melancholy cut with hazy brightness, the playful dance of string leads and her soaring vocals aching with emotion, “Hard Times In The Heart” is a truly classic outing from an artist who’s becoming a torch bearer for the style in the modern era. It’s a stunning display of her songwriting talent and vocal ability that sees her continue to share a compelling and enduring sound.
Commenting on the single, she shares, “This is the first song I ever wrote. Ironically, years later, the lyrics mirrored my own personal life. This song landed me my first publishing deal. It was a tremendous labor of love and an awakening on the intricacies of songwriting.”
Recorded at Ricky Skaggs Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, “Hard Times in the Heart” benefits from the contributions of top-notch Nashville and Hendersonville session musicians. The synergy between Jonathan Trebing on guitar, Chris Donohue on bass, Eamon Mclaughlin on fiddle, Chris Benelli on drums and Carolee herself on guitar and vocals, under the guidance of engineers Lee Groitsch and Dewey Boyd, Jr., results in an enchanting musical experience.
The song’s visual counterpart, a music video directed by David Veslocki, plays out against the East Coast shores of Connecticut. In this atmospheric setting, Carolee immerses herself in individuality, reflecting on the ebb and flow of love. The video gracefully flows through the stages of a relationship, capturing the evolution from love and involvement to frustration and abandonment. Carolee’s presence amidst the wind and mist adds an ethereal quality, enhancing the video’s impact and complementing the depth of her lyrics.
Watch the music video for Hard Times In The Heart below
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