Cristina Vane — Make Myself Me Again
Rising Americana, finger-style and slide guitar star Cristina Vane’s much-anticipated second album, Make Myself Me Again, out now on Red Parlor Records, is a fantastic collection of songs that showcase her wide range of vocal and picking styles.
Rooted in Americana, delta blues and traditional bluegrass (the Carter Family is one of her influences), with a vocal range that can go from soothing to soulful, the now Nashville-based Vane offers up 13 refreshing new songs about the turmoil of relationships, life, nature, and the human experience.
The album was co-produced by Brook Sutton (Blackberry Smoke) and Jano Rix (The Wood Brothers), with appearances by some of Vane’s world-class musician friends like fiddle players Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (Molly Tuttle) and Billy Contreras (Béla Fleck), harmonica player Jake Friel, and others.
Title track “Make Myself Me Again,” is an upbeat, twangy fingerstyle guitar number, full of infectious optimism, the kind you feel when you’ve been down for awhile, but are springing back up again.
“Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win,” Cristina’s silken voice croons, “I’m gonna make myself me again.”
It’s a song I think we can all relate to, having been through the last two years.
“Sometimes Baby,” features Vane’s sultry vocals over a twangy bluesy beat.
“River Roll,” is a dark and moody twist on a more traditional Appalachian sound, with Vane on Clawhammer Banjo, her haunting vocals backed by a full string band and Bronwyn on fiddle.
The lyrics are a meditation on climate change, and human’s interference with nature, until one day, “the river had enough.”
“How You Doin’” is a sassy teaser full of salty twang and attitude, with a throwback sound to 60’s psychedelic rock, with a bit of blues harmonica thrown in. Check out the video here.
“Small Town Nashville Blues,” features the gorgeous range of her smooth, silky voice, from crooner to yodeler, with some honky tonk blues harmonica.
“Little Black Cloud,” is a smoking hot blues number, with a rock hook, with lots of power and energy. This is one that you are going to want to see Vane perform live, along with “Little Bit of Me,” with its sweet and sultry opening that opens up into a rock song. Definitely another number you want to hear loud and live.
“Things Have Changed,” changes things up with some slow smoky blues, as does “Strange Times.”
Banjo tunes include “Oxbow Meander Loop,” co-written with Kyle Tuttle, featuring him on Baritone Banjo, and Contreras burning up the fiddle, and “Time for Leaving.”
“Old Enough” features a more melodic country and western sound.
“Colorado Sky” is pure and simple vocals and fingerstyle guitar.
I was lucky enough to discover Cristina Vane back in 2017 and saw her play at the Taos Ale House, where I picked up her EP Troubled Sleep. It immediately became my road trip soundtrack.
It’s been a pleasure following her musical journey and hearing the evolution from Troubled Sleep, to Nowhere Sounds Lovely, to Make Myself Me Again.
As she hones her sound and finds her own musical ground, Cristina Vane has proven she is a powerhouse—that rare mix of incredible vocal talent and range, and badass blues guitar and banjo playing.
I can’t get enough of her sound—there’s something about the salty twang of that resonator guitar paired with her silky smooth vocals—kind of like the umami of music—that just satisfies the soul.
Other musicians include Karl Smakula and Tyler Larson on acoustic guitar.
Listen to Make Myself Me Again on your favorite streaming platform or order your copy today.
Vane is currently touring to promote the new record.
To check for tour dates near you, visit www.cristinavane.com
____________
Produced by Brook Sutton (Blackberry Smoke) and Jano Rix (The Wood Brothers);
Vocals, slide guitar, clawhammer banjo: Cristina VaneBass,
Recording, Engineering, Mix, Master & Co-production: Brook Sutton
Percussion, Keys, & Co-Production: Jano Rix
Harmonica: Jake Friel-Harmonica
Fiddle on “River Roll” and “Time for Leaving”: Bronwyn Keith-Hines
Fiddle on “Oxbow Meander Loop”: Billy Contreras
Baritone Banjo on “Oxbow Meander Loop”: Kyle Tuttle
Guitar on “Oxbow Meander Loop”: Tyler Larson
Guitar on “River Roll” and “Time for Leaving”: Karl Smakula
Master: Kim Rosen at Knack Mastering, Ringwood, NJ
Album Art: Gina Leslie