GRAMMY-winning bassist, songwriter, and longtime side musician Shelby Means has traveled the world with many acts—most notably in recent years with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and previously with groundbreaking and generation-defining string band Della Mae—but her crowning achievement may very well be a step into her own spotlight. Out today, Means’ eponymous solo debut is a 13-track collection of bluegrass bangers, heartfelt lyrics, hilarious romps, and endless virtuosity that draws on the set of skills and fluencies Means has developed over her accomplished career. Anchored by her bright, confident and decidedly country voice and backed by a roster of true legends and allstars, the music is extraordinary and superlative while somehow still sounding like an informal jam session. “I didn’t feel like I had to stick with one band for the whole thing,” Means says. “I wanted it to feel like my favorite chili pickin’ parties, jams where I would make a pot of chili, invite friends over, and play music for hours.”
It should surprise no one that Means’ roster of friends and neighbors includes many supremely talented and similarly community-minded musicians and artists. Bryan Sutton (who plays guitar on the album) produced an album for Della Mae; producer Maya de Vitry happened to produce Means’ husband Joel Timmons’ album (he’s also in de Vitry’s band); Jerry Douglas produced for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway on both Crooked Tree and City of Gold; Means’ brother, Jacob, plays mandolin on a couple of selections; Golden Highway’s Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Kyle Tuttle, and Molly Tuttle herself each make appearances; there’s also Sam Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Billy Strings, Michael Cleveland, Tim O’Brien, and more. Plus, stalwart friends from her Nashville years are all over the record, folks like Rachel Baiman, Kelsey Waldon, Billy Contreras, and of course her bandmates and collaborators, many of whom she first met in Music City. With 11 of the 13 tracks original songs, trusted friends and co-writers Maya de Vitry, Joel Timmons, Langhorne Slim, Brennen Leigh, and Kelsey Waldon helped bring them to life.
Like Means’ chili pickin’ parties, the only way to get started is to jump right into the jam and listening through Shelby Means is no different. Stream or purchase the entire album today at this link. For everything else, please visit shelbyleemeans.com.