Mountain Faith Band has a new single set to drop on Friday, the first from That Which Matters, their expected Fall release on Mountain Fever Records.
It’s a song they learned from Christian pop artist Francesca Battistelli, and while it is arranged very much like the songs the band has been performing on America’s Got Talent, it’s one they chose and worked up before discussions with NBC and the AGT producers even started.
Emily (It’s Love) is of a piece with the overall theme of the album, which Mark Hodges at Mountain Fever tells us is upbeat, positive message songs. Many have a Christian theme, but the song selections and arrangements make it quite different from what bluegrass fans would call a Gospel project.
Battistelli included the song on her 2011 album, Hundred More Years, as a duet with Dave Barnes who cowrote with her, but here Summer McMahan sings it solo with a slurry, slippery style that is very modern while remaining true to her bluegrass roots. Simply brilliant.
They created this static video to let everyone hear the single.
Emily (It’s Love) will be available for download purchase on August 21, with pre-orders enabled now in iTunes. Radio programmers will be able to download the track later this evening from Airplay Direct.
Mountain Faith is up in New York City right now, working with costume consultants at America’s Got Talent. Their next appearance on the show is scheduled for August 25.
