Brand new single from Nashville Exile

Nashville Exile is a band that was formed over years of friendship, family ties and an enduring love of timeless songwriting. Based in Kent in the south-east of the UK, the group draws inspiration from the classic American storytellers who inspired generations of musicians, capturing the spirit of writers such as Jimmy Webb, Warren Zevon and John Prine while crafting songs that feel highly personal. They’re a group that’s tethered to tradition while finding new life in carefully constructed melodies and honest lyrical storytelling.

Nashville Exile revolves around singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Crozer, whose musical journey stretches back well before the band’s formation. As guitarist with UnAmerican, Matthew experienced major label success after the group signed to a Universal Music UK subsidiary through A&R executive Tom Lewis. The band recorded two albums and toured internationally, playing alongside The Who in the USA and Neil Young in the UK before eventually parting ways.

Following that chapter as an ending, his first call was to cousin Cat Smithurst, a trained vocalist whose years performing with function bands across weddings, festivals and events had made live music a constant part of her life. Their shared musical history stretched back to childhood, when Matthew first introduced her to The Beatles and so reconnecting creatively came naturally. Together they’d already formed The Redfords after studying music, arranging and voice at Kent Music School, building a successful regional live act while developing original material through a charity initiative supporting homelessness projects.

As their songwriting partnership strengthened, guitarist and vocalist Amu Dennett, drummer Rick Kent and bassist Mark Smithurst later completed the line-up, transforming Nashville Exile into something that genuinely resembles an extended family. Before unveiling their own material, Nashville Exile introduced themselves through carefully chosen interpretations of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” and John Prine’s “Silent Night All Day Long,” the latter featuring guest vocals from Billy Prine.

Now the band continues its journey towards debut album Hand Drawn with the release of their brand new single titled “Sing Our Song,” perhaps the most meaningful chapter in the project’s story thus far. The song represents the very beginning of Nashville Exile itself; originally, it was created as part of an ambitious idea to write personalised songs for couples whose weddings the band had been booked to perform. While the concept ultimately failed to gain traction, one couple embraced the idea wholeheartedly and known affectionately within the band as “Flower Girl,” the bride-to-be shared musical tastes closely aligned with Nashville Exile’s own, including a love of The Band’s classic “The Weight.”

That shared appreciation became the spark for “Sing Our Song,” a track penned to celebrate someone else’s relationship but unexpectedly mapped out the creative framework for everything that followed. Opened by the laid back punch of drums, the song slips into a breezy country-tinged pop rock scene that flows with charming vocal leads carrying buoyant melodic leads and heartfelt lyricism. Flowing with instantly catchy melodic lines and timeless instrumentation, the song channels a charming Americana vibe inflected while rising with engaging Britpop appeal in the chorus.

Putting the band’s songwriting flair, musicianship talent and performance panache on full display, “Sing Out Song” presents a thoroughly joyous listening experience that’s original and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. With years of experience, countless miles on the road and songwriting based in genuine collaboration, Nashville Exile arrives as musicians finally ready to share songs that have been years in the making. As the release of Hand Drawn approaches, the band are sure to win over fans across the UK and beyond and we can’t wait to see what comes next on their compelling musical adventure.

Listen to Sing Our Song below

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