An exceptional debut album from the young duo. Though it’s still incredibly early in the year, we’ve already seen some killer releases. Undoubtedly, the biggest drop so far was Zach Bryan’s mammoth record, With Heaven On Top. With that being said, we’ve also seen some stellar singles from the likes of some of the most underrated artists in the game, with Kashus Culpepper, Clay Street Union and Southall all living up to the high expectations set for them. Today, however, marks the release of what can only be described as one of the most impressive debut albums I’ve heard in quite a while. This release, obviously, is none other than Low Gap’s Geneva, which was first announced here at Whiskey Riff back on November 28th. View this post on Instagram In case you’re not familiar with the duo, comprised of brothers, Gus and Phin Johnson, they’ve been making waves across many independent country circles for the past few years. When they were in their early teens back in 2021, they burst onto the scene with their debut single, “Mockingbird,” which has since become a cult-classic among their ever-growing fanbase and has scored the siblings well over a million streams on Spotify alone. Since then, Low Gap has become what can only be described as one of the most exciting young voices in the genre, blending the sounds and stylings of their Appalachian roots in both Lexington, Kentucky and Holmes County, Ohio. Working with the likes of Ryan Youmans (producer of Muscadine Bloodline’s Teenage Dixie) and Adam Odor (producer of Silverada’s 2024 self-titled album), the young duo has built up quite a reputation over the years. Flash forward to 2025, Low Gap had themselves quite a year. In addition to opening for the legendary Chris Knight, whose influence can undoubtedly be heard on the record on tracks such as “Cuyahoga River,” the siblings have continued to elevate their sound, which blends some Americana stylings with traditional country elements, with the release of multiple key singles. After catching lightning in a bottle with fellow rising star, Brendan Walter, and scoring their fastest-rising song to date on the infectious, “If A Song Could Change Your Mind,” back in January, the Johnson brothers would follow it up with the likes of “Churches,” “One Mississippi” and “Someone to Call Home,” all of which showcase their brilliant blend of Americana, Red Dirt and traditional influences and appears here on Geneva. What jumps out at you upon your first listen to the album is just how unique and ultimately authentic their sound truly is. As stated previously, Low Gap has roots in both the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky and Ohio. And while it could have been incredibly easy to lean heavily into the popular Americana stylings from the area spearheaded by the likes of Tyler Childers or even West Virginia’s Charles Wesley Godwin, Gus and Phin simply don’t here. While it would be remiss not to note the Americana influences, highlighted primarily by Phin’s brilliant mandolin work throughout the project on tracks like “Someone to Call Home” and the Julia DiGrazia duet, “Beattyville,” the brothers brilliantly blend some downright killer, Red Dirt-inspired tracks on Geneva such as the rambling “Churches” and the sultry ode to their roots, “Cuyahoga River.” Beyond the stellar production present on Geneva, the strong themes of both religion, history and philosophy can all be felt here. Two songs that best represent this would be the pre-released “Ranch Style House” and “Heroes.” As for “Ranch Style House,” it ultimately serves as a push-back against today’s hyper-materialistic, oftentimes gaudy stylings of today’s current social climate and mainstream music in general. Here, the Johnsons muse about living a simple life working a blue-collar job with a wife, kids and a couple of dogs running around in the yard of the titular 70s-style ranch house. Though it may come across as a bit of a trope in the genre, in an era dominated equally by the bombastic stylings of Morgan Wallen and the dark, self-critical nature of Zach Bryan, a perspective like this from a pair of young brothers simply feels refreshing. As Gus explained, “Ranch Style House” was born out of a frustration with the current state of popular music online today. “I’m just sick of music where people are telling you how you should live your life, especially when they’re wrong. Like, yeah, I think having a family’s great and wanting to own a house is a great financial decision for anybody… I’m just very sick of the whole mindset of, ‘Oh man, you’re not living life unless you go move to LA.’ It’s a celebration of simplicity in a way, just pushing back on hustle culture.” Though “Ranch Style House” is a standout simply due to its existence in direct opposition to today’s culture, the lyrical standout of Geneva is undoubtedly “Heroes.” Similarly, the track also serves as a contrast to a lot of maximalism found in both pop culture and music in general. Opening up the song brilliantly, Gus muses about all of his heroes, ranging from Keith Whitley and Hank Williams to Lane Frost and Dale Earnhardt, all died young. And early in the song, he ponders going out in a blaze of glory, noting that the infamy might get him a shot at some radio play. However, this is Low Gap we’re talking about. Instead of playing on any tropes many young country artists would lean on, from playing into the “good die young” cliche or simply wanting to live like the legends before them, alternatively, they reject this notion and focus on living to see the next generation succeed. “There’s a lot more to this life than stardom I can start building up for the next It’ll be even better than expected Just old enough to contemplate death” It’s not often you see a group as young as Gus and Phin offer up a collection of songs that not only carry on strong instrumentation found in both the Appalachian and Red Dirt scene but also challenge you to look at the world from a different perspective. With that being said, however, that’s exactly what they do here on Geneva. In an era filled with seemingly thousands of young artists trying desperately to latch on to trends and pray for a viral moment, Low Gap proves that all you need to create a meaningful collection of songs is simply staying true to your roots and offering up a unique perspective on life. Simply put, Geneva is a record that demands your attention and will ultimately go down as one of the best debut albums of the year when the dust has settled. “Heroes” “Ranch Style House” “Say a Prayer” Low Gap Tour Dates January 22 – Columbus, Ohio – Rumba Cafe January 23 – Cleveland, Ohio – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern January 24 – Newport, Kentucky – The Southgate House Revival January 29 – Louisville, Kentucky – Zanzabar January 31 – Nashville, Tennessee – The Basement February 12 – Lexington, Kentucky – The Burl February 14 – Toledo, Ohio – Ottawa TavernThe post Low Gap Delivers Heartfelt Ode To Appalachian Roots In Stellar Debut Album, “Geneva” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.