Jamie Kindleyside wants to fly you to the Moo-I mean, Mars…
His new album, Would You Live With Me On Mars?
Out 11/6
Produced by Suzi Ragsdale
“A heart of gold, a mind of steel and a tongue to be reckoned with.” – Malcolm Holcombe
Jamie is one of those songwriters whose imagination is faster than his pen. Songs fall out of the sky like rain and flitter around like fireflies. So, when Jamie decided to set forth on laying down the tracks for “Would You Live With Me On Mars?”, he chose his musical sidekick, Suzi Ragsdale. They first tracked the songs with Jamie’s acoustic guitar, Alison Prestwood’s bass (Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Peter Frampton), and Nick Buda’s drums (Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton) at a cool, vintage studio, Burns Sound in Burns, TN. Engineered by young tech genius Jeremy Deardorff, they recorded to 2” analog tape, which gives it that warm, rich sound you hear on classic albums from the 60s- 70s. The duo took the tapes to Suzi’s Home Studio in Kingston Springs, TN, and added Jamie’s vocals, Suzi’s harmony vocals, piano and accordion, Tammy Rogers King (of Steel Drivers fame) on fiddle, Pat Buchanan on electric guitar (Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper). To round out the textured songs, they asked Dan Dugmore up the road to add pedal steel and electric guitars (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks).
The stories behind the songs on this album cover the ground like kudzu, reaching out and breaking into the listener’s senses because they are so relatable. He draws from family, friends, community, and, of course, love – both romantic and familial – topped off with a singing voice filled with character, or maybe characters.
“Beautiful love songs, groovy fun songs, or scary, sad songs, this album has it all. Jamie’s voice is full of character, and his lyrics are often surprising in the best way. His guitar playing is wonderful, full of memorable, signature licks, and his songs come from a huge and insightful heart. I’m more than honored to have been invited to produce this record and so thrilled with everyone’s stellar contributions.’ – Suzi Ragsdale on working with Jamie
The album’s centerpiece is the duet with Suzi Ragsdale, “If I Didn’t Have You,” a playful yet tender duet that recalls 90s country duets. Jamie explains that the song came together as they labored in the studio: “Suzi felt like the lines of the verse should be split between her and Jamie, to create a dialogue of commitment and appreciation.”
How lonely I would be if you didn’t love me
I’d never love again, never love again
No, no one else would do if I didn’t have you
I’d never love again, never love again – If I Didn’t Have You
Other songs on the album that stand out are “Old Scrap Bin,” based on a handmade mandolin that Mike Garris from Del McCoury’s bluegrass band had made. And that’s what kind of kicked off the ” Where did you get that mandolin? “I built it out of the old scrap bin,” and he just made it by hand. Then everything else in that song is kind of about, like, waste not, want not, you know, um, like make, do, or do without sort of the vibe.”
“His writing is sharp, spare and honest…” – Kevin Welch
A fun cross-country romantic chase with “Train Rollin’ Down The Track” is a great dancing tune, with Jamie’s voice bouncing around the melody; it sounds like a Jimmy Buffett song, with Suzi on accordion and Jonell Mosser backing up with their sweet vocals. He wrote the song during the pandemic for his band, The Night Night Birds, and felt it was a good country band song. The moral of the story is “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. The song travels all the way out to California, but love conquers all of that, all the traveling around. He just wanted to be back with the girl. And in the last verse, he would do anything to get there, even if you shovel them into the hopper.”
Her dress was green, her heels were high
Her dress was green, as green as her eyes
We said our goodbyes, she got on the train
I don’t know her number, I don’t know her name
I don’t know her number, I don’t know her name – Firefly
Born in Massachusetts in 1969, Jamie Kindleyside began playing coffee shops & clubs in New England in his early 20s. He moved to Nashville in 1998, having already made his first self-titled CD. With gainful employment in the kitchen at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, he was in the perfect spot to hone his craft. He has recorded four albums, all of which have made it to the Americana Charts, with his last album reaching as high as number 46.
He has performed around Nashville at the following: Tin Pan South, WMOT Finally Friday live sessions, The Family Wash (no longer around), Bobby’s Idle Hour, and various intimate venues.
“A very talented singer/songwriter, Jamie has played everywhere from dives to the street to festivals and often at the Bluebird Cafe. No matter the venue, the crowds relate to him. He is a poet, blues man, a folkie, and a nice guy.” – Amy Kurland, founder of The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Jamie Kindleyside’s songs are like golden nuggets, as they are always thoughtful, sometimes silly, and all of the time insightful. Give “Would You Live With Me On Mars?” a listen.
