Rachel Swain – “Neon Lullaby”

Rachel Swain has been a staple in the roots community for over two decades, but her solo album, Neon Lullaby, feels like the exact moment she is stepping entirely into her own light. Growing up between Austin and Houston before moving to Chicago, she spent her childhood absorbing country, blues, and songwriting traditions from her parents. That lifetime of music comes to a head on this record, which she completely built from the ground up, owning every piece of her music.

The record feels like walking into a dimly lit bar where someone is crying into a drink while couples spin on the dance floor. It captures a strange emotional middle ground, it doesn’t hide from grief or betrayal, but it refuses to get stuck there either. The track “Mama, Whatdya Say” perfectly captures that mood. It started as a voice memo after Rachel overheard a line at a local lesbian bar, and it turned into a late-night country soul groove alongside fellow Chicago artist Reilly Downes. Producers Ryan Joseph Anderson and Adam Gardner gave it a dirty, Southern blues feel that feels completely effortless.

Go follow Rachel Swain on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with her journey and see what she releases next this year.