Americana's prominent figure Lera Lynn embraces uncertainty and disregards expectations with her new album ‘Comic Book Cowboy,’ as she reflects on life, purpose, art, and the music industry.
Stream: “Comic Book Cowboy” – Lera Lynn
Creating music brings me immense joy. Through my journey of metaphorically burying my career, I realized I lost my sense of purpose, which is essential for my vitality.
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Lera Lynn experienced a revival.
The American singer/songwriter once believed she had left the music industry behind, but on her 40th birthday, thanks to a friend’s influence, she had a revelation: “I enjoy writing and recording songs, and whatever comes next, it doesn’t matter.” That night sparked the creation of Comic Book Cowboy (set to be released September 19 via Ruby Range Records) and reignited Lynn's passion for art.
The title of the album, Comic Book Cowboy—which is also the name of a recently released single—is both striking and thought-provoking, inviting a myriad of vibrant imagery and ideas. It serves as an ideal starting point for a discussion about the album. Lynn shares with Atwood Magazine, “I believe that song, its lyrics, and the concept of donning this suit, this façade, and navigating the world really sum up what all the songs on this album address, especially in my current life phase, and where I stand in my career, as well as my identity as a woman and a mother.”
Lynn has been involved in music for 20 years, making her Nashville debut with the album Have You Met Lera Lynn in 2011, followed by her second album, The Avenues. She has since produced numerous EPs and LPs, crafted a musical score for HBO's acclaimed series True Detective—where she also made an appearance as an unnamed singer in season two—and composed music for TV shows and video games. Lynn has remained independent throughout her career, managing to support herself before the pandemic, but she has since faced financial hardship.
“My career was on an upward trajectory before 2020, and now it’s on a downward slope,” she admits. “I had a sustainable career before the pandemic, and then everything shifted. I can’t pinpoint exactly what changed, but my situation is no longer sustainable given my new responsibilities with my family and everything else.”
This sense of loss is evident in both the narratives and the sounds of her latest album. Lynn reflects on her worth as she navigates the stage of life where she no longer possesses the “physical allure” that younger singers exhibit: “It’s charming when young girls sing melancholic songs. Don’t you want to hear about my midlife existential crisis? It’s the saddest kind.” In her new single “Beige,” she questions the uniformity of art and fears becoming just another data point in someone’s algorithm: “The deepest fear I hold so dear, singing softly in my ear, though I push for the color scheme, I’m another white in a sea of creams.”
Yet, there are uplifting moments as well. In “Left Turn Lane,” the last song recorded for the album, Lynn wanted to write about a fleeting moment of connection with someone unreachable, filled with the magnetic tension of knowing there’s something special—only for it to vanish. The track has a yearning sound that's imbued with steady, mesmerizing beats. It takes on a dreamlike aspect, as those moments can only be imagined afterward.
Red light
Heavy traffic
Closing in on the night
I wanna get through
I pull up next to
A bus that is waiting too
And by happenstance
Looking through our windows
We lock eyes in the same glance
We find eyes in the same dance
– “Left Turn Lane,” Lera Lynn
“It’s beautiful in that way,” she beams. “It’s a really enjoyable song. I told my partner and co-producer, Todd Lombardo, ‘I’ve got another song.’ We jumped into the studio as a band and recorded it live, and it was such an effortless and delightful experience—one of my favorite memories from making this album.”
Atwood Magazine spoke with Lera Lynn at her Nashville home about various topics including music, politics, technology, and the empowerment of women in their late 30s and early 40s. Read on as she discusses themes of reinvention, resilience, and the challenges of today’s music industry—plus, stay tuned for her raw and unapologetic album Comic Book Cowboy, out September 19 via Ruby Range Records.
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:: stream/purchase Comic Book Cowboy here ::
:: connect with Lera Lynn here ::
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Lera Lynn © Alysse Gafkjen
A CONVERSATION WITH LERA LYNN
Atwood Magazine: Thank you for chatting with me today, Lera! I truly enjoy your new album Comic Book Cowboy. It presents a rich sonic landscape and feels like the first
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Lera Lynn, the prominent figure in Americana, embraces uncertainty and challenges conventional expectations with her latest album ‘Comic Book Cowboy,’ as she explores themes of life, purpose, art, and the music business.