Mandy Rowden Announces ‘Parachute’ Album and Releases “After The Gold Rush”
Above: Mandy Rowden
MANDY ROWDEN
--AUSTIN,TX-BASED AMERICANA ARTIST--
ANNOUNCES FOURTH FULL-LENGTH STUDIO ALBUM
PARACHUTE
RELEASES RENDITION OF
NEIL YOUNG’S
“AFTER THE GOLD RUSH”
LISTEN HERE
NASHVILLE, TN (March 5, 2021) - Austin, TX-based Americana artist Mandy Rowden has announced her fourth full-length studio album, Parachute, will be out Friday, March 19 via Howlin’ Dog Records. Out today is her rendition of the Neil Young classic “After the Gold Rush,” marking the closing track on the forthcoming 10-song album.
“After the Gold Rush,” recorded nearly 51 years ago (March 12, 1970), is the only song on Parachute Rowden did not write herself. Rowden stated “As we wound down the recording we began looking for a soft solo piano song that could round out the sound, and this song jumped into my head. I'm honored to play a tiny part in keeping Young's music regenerating!”
Click here to listen to “After The Gold Rush.”
Parachute rides a spirited line between Americana instrumentation and ‘70s-inspired storytelling, wrapped in an authentic modern Texas delivery. Rowden’s sound is equal parts bourbon and honey, with the search for meaning finding its way into each song, seeking answers while reveling in the wonder of it all. With all her projects, there is a common thread that is ever-present: a collection of warm, engaging songs about life and vulnerable lyrics that roll out a welcome mat of raw emotional accessibility and revealing a world textured by hurt and hope alike.
Regional authority, Austin Chronicle, raved that Rowden “kicks butt with her pen.” “Texas is where I've lived most of my life, and without meaning to, I assume I include it in everything I do,” says Mandy. Additionally, These Bad Habits, her 2015 LP, earned the title of #2 “Album of the Year” spot in Austin Chronicle’s annual music poll.
Brought up in East Texas, Rowden has been a practicing musician since the tender age of six. That’s when she began learning classical piano and violin, laying the foundation for an eventual career in music. It wasn’t until the Americana sound found its way into her soul that she embraced her true path: that of a real-deal, down-in-the-dirt singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s weathered some storms and emerged with tales to tell.
In fact, living up to being a multi-instrumentalist, Rowden took on the bulk of Parachute’s instrumentation. “Like most worthwhile things, it was both rewarding and challenging!” Mandy adds that her producer on the album, Matt Smith, held her to some very high standards. “That initially made me nervous,” admits Rowden, “but I was pleasantly surprised every time. It's my feeling that we can accomplish pretty much anything with an open mind and the right kind of support and this album is the perfect example.”
Parachute Track Listing:
“Parachute”
“Ghosts On The Arkansas”
“Get Outta The City”
“Sing Hallelujah”
“Peace Where I Used To Have None”
“Dance All Night”
“What Remains”
“She Only Loves Me When She’s Lonely”
“Christmas With You”
“After The Gold Rush”
Above: Album art for ‘Parachute’
In addition to making music of her own, Rowden is dedicated to helping others discover the joy of songwriting, vocal performance and instrument study. That’s why she founded Girl Guitar: a comprehensive rock school for women, bringing music enthusiasts of every skill level into six-week workshops with a rollicking showcase at the end. The Austin-based program introduces beginners to the basics of their chosen craft and encourages intermediate and advanced musicians to further hone their skills, all while surrounded by a supportive female community.
Now in it’s 14th year, Girl Guitar “has surpassed my wildest dreams,” says Rowden, with around 25 classes per week and quite a few repeat students. “Some of the women involved have been in the program since the beginning and are still going strong. We've had holidays together, been through babies being born, divorces, road trips, benders, you name it. It's really beautiful.”
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