Imagine the scene: in the 1976 documentary Heartworn Highways, country music rebel David Allen Coe stands before a group of prison inmates, all seated cross-legged on the floor, captivated by his every word. Clad in a striking black suit adorned with glimmering rhinestones, Coe shares his own experiences behind bars. He recounts a dark and traumatic moment when he was gripped by fear while interacting with a fellow inmate. The chilling tale contrasts sharply with his flamboyant appearance, highlighted by sparkling earrings dangling from his ears. Suddenly, he cut off the story and abruptly launches into his unique outlaw country style. This moment has left a lasting impression on Julien Baker. “He’s like a jester that gets to hang out in prison,” she reflects from her home in Los Angeles. “It’s dazzle camouflage.” This scene reflects much of how Julien views her new collaborative project with Mackenzie Scott’s TORRES, a beautifully composed blend of classic country narrative, uplifting escapism, and a heartfelt homage to a genre that, despite the odds, has been a significant part of their teenage years. While Mackenzie was raised in the Deep South, Julien grew up in Tennessee. Despite Julien initially finding a country music collaboration unexpected, it’s this sense of place that unified them, even as their individual journeys diverged.
The two first crossed paths at a concert in Chicago’s Lincoln Hall in 2016, after TORRES’ debut album had already caught Julien's attention while she was a high school junior. “I was like, this lady is on some shit,” she laughs, playfully chiding Mackenzie—who joined the conversation from the East Coast—for neglecting to mention that she was already a fan when they first performed together. Praising her collaborator’s early work, Julien highlights Mackenzie’s noise pedals, all-white outfits, and the chaotic sounds that emerged in Franklin, TN, just a short distance from where she studied in Nashville, the heart of country music. Mackenzie, in turn, discovered Julien through her sleeper-hit debut ‘Sprained Ankle’: “I thought it was beautiful,” she remembers.
However, it wasn’t until four years later that their collaborative project truly began to form, driven by the pandemic and their mutual need to remain creative. Mackenzie took the initiative after her tour supporting TORRES’ 2020 album ‘Silver Tongue’ was abruptly cut short, narrowly escaping being stuck in mainland Europe. Julien, as it turned out, was the first person Mackenzie thought of for this collaboration, having contemplated creating a country record for some time. In a moment of boldness, she texted Julien, who swiftly replied with a yes. “I was like, hell yeah,” Mackenzie recounts.
“I always wonder, why me?” Julien chimes in, recalling her connection to the hardcore music scene at that time; more The Devil Wears Prada than David Allen Coe. “I thought you’d have a roster of Nashville musicians who were more stylistically suited. I wasn’t like, here’s me, four-wheeling.” But for Mackenzie, Julien was the clear choice: “I love country music,” she explains. “It’s a part of my lexicon and my worldview. When it came to a collaboration, I thought, who can grasp where I’m coming from?”
LVRA and Soda Plains have joined forces for a new venture called 'Fortress'. The electronic experts convened in Berlin last summer to merge their insights gained from immersing themselves in the
FKA twigs has called off her forthcoming North American performances. The British artist launched her extraordinarily ambitious album 'eusexua' at the beginning of 2025.
South London musician Venna celebrates his return with a fresh single titled 'Prophet.' This introspective prayer, 'Prophet,' is an expansive work that focuses on spirituality.
After the launch of her project ‘Perverts’ earlier this year, the Florida-born artist is set to release her second full-length album this summer.
Rebecca Lucy Taylor will embark on her largest headline tour to date this October, concluding with a performance at Sheffield's Utilita Arena.
The swiftly-emerging pop newcomer has also revealed details about her upcoming EP, ‘Modern Romance’.
After five years of collaboration, Julien Baker and TORRES' Mackenzie Scott unexpectedly reconnect with country music on their new album ‘Send A Prayer My Way,’ revisiting a significant aspect of their past.