Amanda Stewart Shares Deeply Personal Single "Drugs," Album 'Venom' out 7/28
AMERICANA ARTIST
AMANDA STEWART
RELEASES DEEPLY PERSONAL SOPHOMORE SINGLE
“DRUGS”
WITH PERFORMANCE STYLE MUSIC VIDEO
FORTHCOMING ALBUM
VENOM
SET FOR RELEASE ON FRIDAY, JULY 28
Above: “Drugs” album artwork
NASHVILLE, TN (April 19, 2023) — Montana-based Americana artist Amanda Stewart delivers “Drugs,” the second offering from her forthcoming 12-track album Venom, due out Friday, July 28.
Unpacking the topic from a rather unsaturated angle, the track is an empathetic exploration of the fine line between compassion and self-destruction when dealing with a relationship clouded by addiction. Arriving with an official performance style music video, the acoustic arrangement is sung in buttery harmony with local Nashville band, Cabin Boys, and allows Stewart to step into a spotlight of compelling vulnerability.
Stream / Purchase “Drugs” here.
Unveiling this morning on Americana UK, music journalist Andrew Frolish remarked, “Lyrically heartbreaking, ‘Drugs’ is performed with real emotion by Stewart and her collaborators Collin Elmore and Reuben Bidez of Nashville band Cabin Boys, whose voices are full of character. The trio’s beautiful harmonies ache with compassion over an atmospheric arrangement with a gentle rhythm, swelling keys and moody electric guitar.”
“During a particularly dark time in my life, I became close to someone I had known for years — but soon found out that I had never really known them at all,” Amanda opens up about the story behind “Drugs.” “I started to feel them pull me into being something for them that I knew in my heart I wasn’t ever going to be. As much as I wanted to help, I also knew that I needed to protect myself, so this song is sort of my letter to them, as well as to myself.”
“Drugs” succeeds the release of the LP’s lead single, “Lonesome Mountain,” which had Americana Highways noting “Amanda Stewart has a powerful voice that will not be denied,” as well as being spotlighted on The Boot, it’s clear Stewart possesses a wide and open perspective of life, marinating and reflecting on her own experiences until she feels called to share through her music.
Unveiling this morning on Americana UK, music journalist Andrew Frolish remarked, “Lyrically heartbreaking, ‘Drugs’ is performed with real emotion by Stewart and her collaborators Collin Elmore and Reuben Bidez of Nashville band Cabin Boys, whose voices are full of character. The trio’s beautiful harmonies ache with compassion over an atmospheric arrangement with a gentle rhythm, swelling keys and moody electric guitar.”
“During a particularly dark time in my life, I became close to someone I had known for years — but soon found out that I had never really known them at all,” Amanda opens up about the story behind “Drugs.” “I started to feel them pull me into being something for them that I knew in my heart I wasn’t ever going to be. As much as I wanted to help, I also knew that I needed to protect myself, so this song is sort of my letter to them, as well as to myself.”
“Drugs” succeeds the release of the LP’s lead single, “Lonesome Mountain,” which had Americana Highways noting “Amanda Stewart has a powerful voice that will not be denied,” as well as being spotlighted on The Boot, it’s clear Stewart possesses a wide and open perspective of life, marinating and reflecting on her own experiences until she feels called to share through her music.
Above: Set of “Drugs” Performance Music Video with Cabin Boys
L-R: Collin Elmore, Amanda Stewart, Reuben Bidez
Amanda channels a bare bones, stylistically diverse, Americana sound characterized by mellifluous vocals, intertwined by a harmonious fusion of sharp and gentle qualities. Her lyrics probe towards life’s melancholic and pensive experiences, yet find unbashful moments to amp up and rock out.
Growing up in the mountains of Montana, Amanda spent much of her time on her grandparents ranch, being exposed to the acoustic instrumentation and simple yet honest songwriting of Americana, folk and country music styles. The musical notes of her childhood braided with the openness and sequestered life in the mountains allowed her the space and quiet that was integral in her journey of self discovery as a person and as an artist. “Montana is a hidden gem full of all sorts of genres of music,” Amanda says. “That paired with the slower pace of life compared to other cities I’ve lived in like Seattle, gave me the figurative and literal space for self reflection.”
It’s hard to believe Amanda wasn’t always honed in on her craft with an album like Venom that’s so honest and raw, but the songwriter took a while to find her own voice and sound. Music has always been a part of her life. “I can remember sitting at the old, slightly out of tune, piano at my grandparents ranch in Montana just plugging away at the keys and singing nonsense,” she reflects, “I was always singing or humming as a kid.” But it wasn’t until she started truly dedicating herself to the art — writing her own songs and playing gigs most nights of the week — that she really started to understand what her voice could do and how singing of things she cared about made her better.
“I just want people to feel ok with whatever they're feeling,” Amanda says when talking of the message she hopes to portray through her music. “There are songs about a lot of serious and difficult things, and also songs about fleeting moments in my life, and I know others have had similar experiences.” Life doesn’t look the exact same for every person, but through shared emotions we are reminded of how connected we truly are and Venom perfectly encapsulates these synchronicities. “I want people to get these songs stuck in their head, so that they can be reminded that someone else has been where they may be at now, or have been before in life.”
TRACKLISTING FOR VENOM:
“Another Broken Song”
“Window”
“The Monarchy”
“Drugs” (feat. Cabin Boys)
“Barn Crazy”
“Lonesome Mountain”
“Venom”
“Leave”
“Town Pump”
“Saved”
“Right Next To You”
“When You Know”
Above: ‘Venom’ Album Artwork