Feature: S.G. Goodman's 'Planting by the Signs' Captures Ancient Rituals and Ongoing Traditions - Atwood Magazine

      Kentucky singer/songwriter S.G. Goodman shares her thoughts on grief, legacy, and the age-old tradition that inspired her stunning third album, ‘Planting by the Signs’ – a work focused on inheritance, survival, and the quest for meaning. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, she opens up about loss and duty while guiding us through the tracks of her most personal and visionary album yet.

      With each passing year and each funeral, I am becoming more aware of my responsibility to share stories and beliefs.

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      S.G. Goodman, a Kentucky native, crafts albums that are built from the core of lived experiences – both delicate and unapologetic, jagged yet beautiful.

      'Planting by the Signs' stands as her most cinematic, intimate, and profoundly beautiful record to date: an extraordinary exploration of grief and survival, inheritance and responsibility, combined with the constant struggle between control and acceptance. This third record resonates deeply; Goodman's lyrics are striking and unforgettable, while her voice conveys raw humanity, enveloped in a warm, expansive soundscape that illuminates the darkness like a mesmerizing flame.

      Fueled by an unyielding passion and shaped by loss and grief, 'Planting by the Signs' is Goodman’s most raw and innovative album yet – a powerful narrative of inheritance and survival delivered with piercing honesty and captivating, cinematic grace. This album progresses at a slow, steady pace until it engulfs everything in its way – including our ears and hearts.

      Released on June 20, 2025, through Slough Water Records / Thirty Tigers, 'Planting by the Signs' serves as the highly awaited sequel to 2022’s 'Teeth Marks' and 2020’s 'Old Time Feeling.' Those albums established Goodman as one of America’s vital singer/songwriters, receiving critical acclaim, an NPR Tiny Desk performance, and the Americana Awards’ “Best Emerging Artist” honor. She has tirelessly toured with notable artists including Jason Isbell, My Morning Jacket, and Margo Price, while her timeless ballad “Space and Time” has been reinterpreted by both Tyler Childers and Dev Hynes.

      However, the journey has taken its toll. After losing her cherished dog Howard and facing the untimely death of her friend and mentor Mike Harmon, Goodman had to confront themes of mortality, memory, absence, and belonging.

      “Once I finished writing and releasing my earlier albums, I felt a pressing need to focus on a subject that my nieces and nephew would be able to hear about the history of our family after I’m gone,” she tells Atwood Magazine. “With each year and each funeral, I am recognizing the weight of my duty to pass down stories and beliefs.”

      That urgency culminated in 'Planting by the Signs,' an album deeply rooted in the ancient practice of 'planting by the signs' – the Appalachian folk tradition that suggests the moon’s cycles should influence life's rhythms, from gardening to haircuts to nurturing children.

      “Planting by the signs is an age-old practice, based on the belief that the moon affects water, and during specific lunar phases, conditions are more favorable for certain activities,” Goodman clarifies. “Since all living beings contain water, it is believed that the moon impacts all life forms. I was weaned from my mother by the signs. I grew up learning about cutting hair according to the moon and planting gardens in sync with its phases.”

      For Goodman, this concept is both personal and universal. “‘Planting By The Signs’ isn’t exclusive to my family or any one group,” she continues. “Some practices can be traced back to my pagan Celtic ancestors, while others were adapted by my conservative Christian ancestors. That’s my individual story, but all ancient civilizations sought guidance from nature. It’s our shared heritage, belonging to all of us.”

      As with every album she releases, the creation of 'Planting by the Signs' was as transformative as the songs it encompasses. Goodman reflects, “People often talk about ‘studio magic’ when recording. One moment that captured this for me was during the recording of the title track. My initial vision for that song was not a stripped-back folk piece, but after working with the full band, I instinctively realized we needed to take a different approach. Having exhausted my voice the night before, I decided to experiment with the arrangement without being the lead vocalist. I invited Matt Rowan to take the lead, and after singing gently alongside him to demonstrate the vocal melody, the studio magic happened. We were meant to sing ‘Planting by the Signs’ together. Matt has been one of my longest musical collaborators and agreed to join me again as co-producer for this album.”

      This blend of collaboration and intuition runs throughout the record. Whereas her debut and second album leaned heavily into rootsy folk-rock, Goodman viewed this project as an opportunity to expand her musical style. “Sonically, I approached the recording process with the