In a music industry aching for authenticity, Thomas Hinds is a hard-touring troubadour surviving on raw talent and a heartfelt folk-rock repertoire. His exquisite third full-length Where Do We Go From Here, recorded at Alabama’s legendary FAME Studios (Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding etc.), has him poised to gatecrash the mainstream. “I want people to get a sense of comfort from my music, knowing that they’re not alone,” he mulled during a roadside pit stop. “There’s always hope, and there’s beauty even in hard times.” Like most great artists, Hinds’ work is largely autobiographical. It’s simply him: his heart and his life experience laid bare. A songwriter since age 16, he put music on hold when he married young and prioritized parenthood. When the relationship fell apart, Hinds plunged into a dark chapter when only an ultra-prolific, pent-up return to songwriting kept him going. With his kids grown, Hinds began planning to become a full-time touring musician. Following warm receptions for his 2015 debut album Ghosts and Lamentations and follow-up EP Barbwire Bouquet, he hit the road in earnest in 2019 and soon was playing almost 150 shows a year. Noting that many of the wineries, distilleries, festivals, and house parties he plays were within a 5-hour radius of Atlanta, he gambled on a move from New Mexico to north Georgia. “I just stepped off the ledge and things just came together to make it happen,” Hinds recalls. “That was confirmation that I was doing the right thing.” Also an author, Hinds’ poetic soul infuses the blues-based Americana that scales new heights on Where Do We Go From Here, which he self-released in June 2023. Recorded with producer Spencer Coats at the storied FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, the album features an A-list band led by former Bonnie Raitt guitarist Will McFarlane and steel guitar from longtime Garth Brooks bandmate Bruce Bouton. “I often had the hair on my neck standing up or a tear in my eye, because I was listening to something that had been in my head for years, but I just couldn’t explain,” he recalled. Hinds is supporting Where Do We Go From Here with evocative video content, showcases at SXSW 2024 and, of course, more countless miles in his trusty van. As he converts fans one-by- one, show-by-show, his hard-fought career is already a success by its very existence. “I always want there to be a silver lining at the end of things,” he concluded, recalling an epiphanous evening drive. “I was in the southern Pennsylvania hills, windows down, in that golden light. And I’m thinking, man, I would never in a million years have imagined this!”
For over 25 years, guitarist Mark Grundhoefer has been a professional musician playing in numerous bands, devoting countless hours of session work, and developing a full-time teaching studio. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he continues to perform, record, and educate. His solo music, which is available on all digital platforms, has been streamed more than 6 million times in over 170 countries. Mark's sound is a reflection of his southern roots and his classical and jazz studies. He has a worldwide following of 60,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and about 30,000 on the other streaming services. Check out his new project, created with his musical partner David Brimer, that is dropping on May 17th, called “In Technicolor.”
Hailing from the Midwest, Kirstie Kraus moved to Nashville in 2017 to further pursue her flourishing career as a solo recording artist and songwriter following her time in the midwest country-rock band Thirsty Jones (her fans are now nicknamed Thirsties as an homage to that period and a fun rhyming play on words to her name). Kirstie's music style is an original mix of modern country with Blues, Pop, and Rock undertones.
Since permanently relocating to Music City, Kirstie has toured across the US and opened for some of country’s biggest stars including Thomas Rhett, Kip Moore, LANCO, Eric Paslay, Brandy Clark, Walker Hayes, The Cadillac Three, Pam Tills, Brothers Osborne, and Randy Houser to name a few. In 2023 her breakout year in the UK arrived with her playing the coveted C2C Festival at the O2 Arena in London. Her fanbase in Britain has grown considerably and her name further rose up the ranks with her 2023 duet single ‘Who Am I Gonna Love’ with Thomas Kavanagh which rendered support from Apple Music, Absolute Radio, BBC Introducing, CountryLine Radio and many more radio and media outlets in the world.
2024’s growing success built on a standout 2022, which saw Kirstie Kraus releasing her debut album ‘Yes You Can’ which she supported with a six-month headline tour across America - the LP comprised 11 tracks including the hit singles ‘Bird’, ‘Thirsty’, and ‘Silver’. The LP was a roaring success and earned Kraus multiple accolades such as 7x nominations at the Best of Women of Country, and Josie Music Awards (the largest independent music award show).
Having been writing and playing music since the ripe age of 11, Kirstie Kraus understands the nuances of her vocals and through that, she is able to create songs that showcase her abilities and complement the tone she has. You only have to take a look at her back catalog and industry support to see that country music is where she belongs and that she is an artist who is rightly taking Nashville by storm.
Kirstie Kraus is right where she needs to be! She’s a Nashville-based standout artist with a heart of gold and a creative mind focused on her art.
Currently, Kirstie Kraus is recording new music side by side with Grammy Winning BMG Studio A & Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio Producer Jeff Huskins at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville and has already dropped her two March singles 'Beaches Be Crazy' and her anthemic female duet 'Dab a Dolly' which found its way to BBC Breakfast, WSM, and hopefully in the hands of the Queen of country herself Dolly Parton!
I had the honor of speaking with Kirstie for a second time (as my FIRST repeat guest) while she was touring over in the UK, so let’s catch up with Kirstie on Living in the Limelight!
Jennifer Alvarado is an international recording artist from Vale, North Carolina and has amassed over 1 million streams on Spotify alone. Her music has a country sensibility with a pop current running through it. Her sound is a mixture of country, pop and blues that reflect an eclectic blend of influences.
Some Awards and current Nominations include: - Nominated for 2023 Carolina Country Music Award for “Female Artist of the Year” - awards in January 2024 –
Nominated for 2023 WVIU Music Award for “Favorite Christian Country Song” –
Awarded Silver “Entertainer of the Year” at the 2023 International Singer Songwriter Awards, where she was nominated for seven awards total
And on and on!
So sit back, relax, and enjoy this conversation with Jennifer Alvarado about songwriting, stage performing, storytelling, and sharing a message with others in a meaningful way.