In January of 2019, I packed up some recording gear and headed to a remote off the grid house near Joshua Tree. The plan was to set up a studio and record new music. One of my oldest friends (a fine artist) Marshal Roemen joined me to do some painting, as well as musician Eli Teplin. The house was built out of straw bails, rain on solar panels, and the only structure as far as the eye could see. Just as we started unpacking, a massive storm rolled in, bringing record rainfall and leaving us sitting in the dark without power.
With all of our recording equipment useless, I picked up an acoustic guitar and started writing songs by the light of the wood-burning stove. The first being a song called "Powerless".
In the company of old friends in the middle of the desert, I was reminded of when I first started writing music. With only out ideas and melodies to keep us company, I stumbled on the beginnings of my new record, January Flower.
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
Mat Kearney at His Best| Posted May 24, 2021
Mat Kearney returns with January Flower, his sixth studio album, and first since 2018’s CRAZYTALK. The new songs are primarily relationship driven acoustic songs with a beat. His sprinkles in references to his faith throughout the album.
I really enjoyed this album. Below are a few comments about each song: Powerless – This song was written by Kearney and Eli Teplin and produced by Robert Marvin. The song begins with acoustic guitar and then adds percussion and backing vocals. The song references beginning to work on the album in the desert when they encountered record rainfall. It is about losing control and being powerless. Can't Look Back – This mid-tempo song was written by Kearney and Trent Dabbs, and produced by Kearney and Robert Marvin. The song, about a relationship, features guitar, keys, drums, backing vocals and a memorable chorus. There’s no future in the past and you can’t look back. Grand Canyon – This song, about a distance in a relationship, was written by Kearney and Eli Teplin, and produced by Kearney, Robert Marvin, Teplin and Gabe Simon. The song features synth, guitar, percussion, keys and bass. Pontiac – This song was written by Kearney, Robert Marvin, Eli Teplin, Ruslan Rov and Rob Resnick, and produced by Marvin, Teplin, Rov. The upbeat song features keys, percussion, and has Kearney looking back on their relationship driving in her Pontiac. They Don't Know – This song is about what it takes to keep a relationship together (faith, a love that comes from above, etc.). She is his heart. The song features acoustic guitar, percussion and keys. Anywhere With You – This love song was written by Kearney, Robert Marvin, Eli Teplin and Trent Dabbs, and produced by Marvin. The song features a good beat and memorable chorus driven by guitar, synth and percussion. Say It Now – This song, about falling in love, was written by Kearney, Eli Teplin and Trent Dabbs, and produced by Robert Marvin, Teplin and Ruslan Lov. The song features keys, backing vocals, bass and percussion. Stuck in the Moment – This song finds Kearney looking back on a love that has moved on, though he can get caught in the moment, just for a moment. The song features acoustic and electric guitar and percussion. I Don't Really Care – This upbeat song features keys, hand claps and percussion. He wishes that they could just watch the sunset, and not their phones and worrying about how they compare with others. Running In Circles – This upbeat song features percussion, keys, hand claps, a memorable chorus and a good beat. He can’t get any peace. She has him running in circles. He’s tired of waiting. Boulder – This song is about a coffee shop in Nashville, now closed, when Kearney would bring his child as a newborn. The song features acoustic guitar, backing vocals and bass. You can’t stop a boulder when it starts. Blame - He was the one to blame, he was the one who changed and lost his way. He knows that that Lord forgives him but it doesn’t make what he did right. The song features acoustic guitar, bass and percussion. Something Beautiful – This is a beautiful acoustic love song. Way back when,
they knew their love could be something beautiful Best songs:
Grand Canyon
Can’t Look Back
Pontiac
They Don’t Know
Blame
Something Beautiful
to add lyrics if not listed.
