Jessica Stiles has been working the acoustic and Americana scene in both DC and Nashville for some time, but her next project, a 4 song/7” vinyl EP is all bluegrass.
She’s set to call it Little Darlin’ (Pal of Mine), after the Carter Family classic which will lead off side one. That song is expected to also serve as a digital single in advance of the record’s Spring 2014 release.
Stiles tracked at Hilltop Studio in Nashville with Josh Williams on guitar, Mike Compton on mandolin, Charlie Cushman on banjo, Shadd Cobb on fiddle and Kent Blanton on bass. Jessica sings the lead vocals, and contributes one original song, a Gospel number titled Answer Him, which she said she styled after the Gospel songs of Hank Williams and Flatt & Scruggs.
For Jessica, everything seemed to fall right into place.
“Working with (recording engineer) Steve Chandler at Hilltop Recording Studio makes my job as producer super easy. Steve works with the top names in the business, from Merle Haggard to Larry Sparks, and is currently up for a Grammy award for his production and engineering work on James King’s country bluegrass album.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to make this recording with such gifted personnel and especially right now where I’m at in this point in my life. I sincerely look forward to finishing up production and getting to drop the needle on the platter!”
There are no audio samples available just yet, but the single will be up at Airplay Direct before too much longer.
