Sticking to her roots. It’s a great time to be an Ashley McBryde fan lately. If you haven’t been keeping up with the “One Night Standards” singer as of late, at the very end of December, she’d share a tearful video to Instagram and tell fans that she had just gotten done listening to her upcoming album. She explained that even though she’s written and been through every stage of the process with these songs, it still felt brand new and had her in tears, and she said that it was like she had never heard the music, or the artist: “I just listened to ‘—‘ for the first time. It’s a rough mix, it’s not even mixed. And I had just listened to ‘Hand Me Downs,’ and I wrote the damn thing, me and Jessie Jo and Laura, I knew what was in that song. And then I listened to it, and I kept staring at the dash, like, why would you do that to me? I’ve been here for every note, every syllable, every breath of this record. And I’m listening to the mixes and it’s like I’ve never heard this record. It’s like I’ve never heard this artist.” View this post on Instagram After announcing it a week prior, on January 23rd, McBryde officially kicked off her new era of music with the re-recording of a fan-favorite track, “What If We Don’t,” which first appeared on her independently released debut EP, Jalopies & Expensive Guitars, back in 2016. Unsurprisingly, long-time fans (myself included) absolutely loved the reimagining of the classic track and were begging for another preview of the upcoming album. Less than a month later, the Arkansas native officially announced the release of its second single, fittingly titled “Arkansas Mud.” View this post on Instagram In an Instagram reel promoting the track, McBryde would describe the track as a cautionary tale of straying too far from your roots and ultimately letting yourself slip into bad habits. Candidly, she’d admit that she’s fallen down that rabbit hole before, but that time has now passed. “Dimming your light or denying yourself causes all kinds of problems. Drinking problems, substance problems… even as the chick that’s known for sticking to her guns, there are parts of me I still let slip away. I don’t mind telling you now, I tried to fill those spots with all the wrong things. And that time has passed.” As for “Arkansas Mud” as a whole, it’s an absolute gem from the 42-year-old singer/songwriter. It should go without saying that she’s never shied away from her rock roots, namely on tracks such as “Martha Divine,” “Rattlesnake Preacher” and “Voodoo Doll.” With that being said, McBryde and Co. simply let it rip on this track, which was written by McBryde herself, Chris Tompkins and Jessie Jo Dillon. Coming out firing in the first verse with some slick, stop-and-go guitar riffs, the “One Night Standards” singer lays the groundwork for the aforementioned bad decisions and hardships she’s faced. “Percocet and Adderall Nicotine and alcohol Throwing dishes down the hall Bad decisions tried ’em all I’m turning off the radio I can’t take it anymore I started singin’ Curtis Loew I need a little rock and roll” In the equally rockin’ chorus, McBryde brings the metaphor of the titular “Arkansas Mud” home. Noting how the powers that be can try to shine her up or break her down, which she admitted happened in the past, she’s now firmly planted within herself and her roots. “Oh, you can shine me up You can whittle me down But, oh, what’s underneath you can’t scrub out It’s in my throat It’s in my bones It’s on my boots And in my blood That Ozark streak sure runs deep And it sticks to me Like that Arkansas Mud” Overall, “Arkansas Mud” is McBryde firing on all cylinders. Sonically, it sees her pushing the limits of her established sound and the genre as a whole. In turn, we get some absolutely fantastic musical moments, highlighted by the bold choice to have a full-fledged mandolin solo mixed in between the established overdriven electric guitars. Lyrically, it’s a rock-solid effort that serves as a timely reminder to stick to your roots despite what outsiders might say. “Arkansas Mud” Redemption Residency Dates February 19 & 20 – Postcards from Lindeville March 19 & 20 – Just Me and My Shadow April 17 & 18 – Mixtape from the Mixed Up YearsThe post Ashley McBryde Sticks To Her Roots In Rocking New Track, “Arkansas Mud” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.