Three tracks at the unique intersection of Americana and alt country

Nathan Evans Fox – “Hillbilly Hymn (Okra and Cigarettes)”
-This is one of the most unique songs I’ve found in all of 2025. It does something that I absolutely love… blending the sacred and the profane. This is lived life for me; it’s not all gospel and it’s not all gritty. Life is a delicate blend of how we were raised and who we’ve become. This song has a rhythmic, poetic opening. But let me tell you that you should stay with it because it opens into a timeless choral style that reminds me of a future in heaven that I haven’t yet experienced. How someone could sing “there ain’t no use in prayer at all” while layering traditional gospel vocal blending is delightfully ironic and heartfelt. I feel like I could sit around this campfire and feel right “at home,” so to speak. This is a gem.

Moonmill and Ditto – “The Pieces”
-I’ve been writing about folk duos pretty much since day one of running this site, so I’m often a sucker for the sound. This track is a welcome addition to that longstanding tradition. The acoustic guitar work feels comfortable and energetic, conveying folk and bluesy stylings in equal measure. The vocal harmonies are the star of the performance, pulling the listener in to a connection with the lyrics as well as the emotional mood of the track. The key lyric about “picking of the pieces of the person you were” is both admonition and encouragement. Hey, you can do this. There’s a fearless optimism here that hits just right… and the instrumentation feels buoyant in a way that is just right for a summer folk playlist.

Nia Hendricks – “Drunk Cigarette”
-I won’t lie, I’ve kind of sat on this track for a little while. I wasn’t sure exactly where to put it. I almost featured it on its own because it’s just so special. The understated production in the opening is perfect for pulling the listener in to connect with the lyrics, which are stunning. It’s a love song. It’s a heartbreak song. It’s a detailed biography of a love that left. It’s heartachingly true and exactly the type of narrative that makes music richly rewarding for all who hear it. In the midpoint of the track, the production swells to an almost cinematic style of folk rock, elevating the emotional richness in a different way. If you really lean and listen to this one, you’ll feel the heartfelt expression. No matter who you are or who you love, there’s a relatability to that “memory of a moment” that happens here. It’s a spine-tingling bit of emotional storytelling and I hope you feel it as much as I do.