Surrender Hill interview (photo by Michael Rudd)
Folk duo Surrender Hill hails from North Georgia, and has spent time in South Africa recently, which inspired their recently released album Wild Country, along with recent events both in the states and globally. Rich with complex songwriting, delightful harmonies, and instruments like mandolin, banjo, organ and guitar and even a dash of trumpet, the music really speaks to your heart. We had a chance to chat with core members Robin Dean Salmon and Afton Seekins Salmon about their music, their inspirations, and more.
Americana Highways: We’re so happy to have you join us at Americana Highways to talk about your music. You have a new album out in August called Wild Country. Did you go into this planning to make an album and writing with that in mind, or did the whole thing come together more organically?
Robin Dean Salmon: This all came together pretty organically. Afton wrote a tune in South Africa in September of ’24 while we were out there called “Beyond The Break.” I seem to remember that song sort of being the setting of the bar. We didn’t set out to write songs along the same thread, but somehow they were all falling into place. We both wrote a lot in 2024 and ’25, and all were songs pointing in the same direction. It wasn’t intentional until we wrote the song “Wild Country.” With that one, we set out to write a song that sort of summed up all the other songs we had been writing.
Afton Seekins Salmon: I saw a very clear direction when we finished “The Otherside.” That song tells the story of us coming together and the rest of the songs fell in step.
AH: What background information can you give us about the album? Were there any particular inspirations behind it?
Afton: The big inspiration, as a whole, was our family. We were and are in such a beautiful place in life. Our music and our family life have completely become one. There is so much to be grateful for and to celebrate through our songs.
Robin: Yeah, as a whole, our life is the inspiration, however, within that “whole,” each song carries its own story, its own reason for being.
AH: What kind of themes run through the songs across the whole collection?
Robin: I feel like there is a pretty strong theme of healing and maybe redemption. A very positive outlook.
Afton: Yeah, there’s a lot of “knowing,” not searching.
AH: Which song, or songs, are standout tracks to you and why?
Robin: For me, the song “Witness” is a stand out. It’s a song we actually wrote back in 2018 right after our son, Wren, was born. It’s a song to him, not about him. I feel like every line in the song hits home. There is something about that song that affects me in a cathartic way when I listen to it as well as when I sing it. That’s not always the case. I generally get way more out of singing than listening. It was also lost and then luckily found. I have no recollection of writing it, but we found a recording of the song in its entirety.
Afton: I think “The Feeling of You” is a standout for me. It was one of those songs that just broke free from me. It took all of about 30 minutes to write, and every word is true. I love singing that song.
AH: Talk to me a bit about the recording process. Who did you work with in the studio, and what were the sessions like? How was the vibe, and how did the songs come together?
Robin: We recorded at our studio in Ellijay, Georgia. We had a fantastic group of guys who came in at different times. It was fun to spread things out. I built each song over several months, adding different textures. Matt Crouse was first up with drums. He and I got all the drums laid down with me playing guitar and singing. We then had Dennis Parker in for a couple of days to put down mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and some acoustic guitar. Dennis is one of the funniest guys you could ever meet. Matthew Von Doran stayed at our place for a couple of months, so he was always on hand. Matthew played a lot of electric guitar. Eric Fritsch was down for two days as well, playing B3 organ and some electric. Having the guys come and stay was a blast, because we also spent time cooking and shooting the shit. Lots of laughs.
The overall vibe was pretty relaxed, until it came to mixing. It always heats up then. I didn’t really have any issues with songs except for “River of Angels.” It took me a long time to get that song where I wanted it.
AH: How has the creative process in general and your songwriting specifically – both music and lyrics – changed and morphed through the years as you’ve grown as an artist?
Afton: I think melodically I’ve grown a lot over the years. I can hear more movement in my more recent songs. My process when writing on my own hasn’t changed much. I still need to pretty much begin and finish a song in one sitting. I don’t do well with bits and pieces. Writing with Robin has changed over the years, and we kind of finish each other’s sentences. I am able to grab onto his thread a lot more quickly now.
Robin: I think the biggest development for me over the years has been that I write a lot more lyrics without a melody in mind. I used to solely write with a guitar in my hand. Now, I could be mowing the lawn and words will start coming.
AH: How would you describe your music to someone who is not familiar with it?
Robin: Mmm, always a hard one. A musician friend came up with the perfect description: Southwestern Soul.
AH: Do you find inspiration in different or unique places? What kinds of things typically inspire you to write songs these days?
Afton: Inspiration hits me out of the blue. I don’t ever decide to write a song. Something comes over me, like a need to get a glass of water. Sometimes I will finish a song and then realize what actually inspired it.
Robin: Inspiration comes from so many things. I always write when I’m happy or when I’m sad. Inspiration is easy during those times.
But so many times, on an ordinary day, something will jump out of the blue. We just spent a week in Taos, New Mexico. A buddy of mine lives on Mentor Williams’s estate. We stayed at Mentor’s house. The first morning, I woke up and got my coffee and sat down in the courtyard opposite a tiny chapel. The doves were singing and the morning was perfect. When I walked inside to grab a guitar, I looked down at the coffee table, and all of Mentor’s rodeo buckles were set into the coffee table. The opening line to the song I wrote is: “Belt buckles set in the table and by the chapel in the courtyard, the morning doves sing.”
AH: You’ve collaborated over the years – on your recordings in the studio, performing live, etc. What does working with other artists – besides each other – mean to you, and are there standout collaborations that are special to you? What made them special?
Robin: We have been really lucky getting to work with a ton of other artists in the studio. Afton and I love performing together as a duo, and it always makes everything in our world feel right. Something we love to do, though, is bring in another musician and do fresh versions of the songs live. Matthew Von Doran is a fantastic jazz and experimental guitarist. We love doing shows with him. The three of us playing together brings the songs to life with a completely different tapestry of colors. Then we will do a show with Dennis Parker playing fiddle and mandolin and re-interpret the songs in that fashion. It’s a whole lot of fun for us to bring a one-night-only kind of feeling to an audience that knows our music the way Afton and I do it.
With regards to recording, it is unbelievable to have the talent available to us that we do. There is a lot I can do on a guitar, but there is so much more that I hear in my head that I wish I could do. That’s where guys like Mike Waldron, Matthew, and Eric Fritsch come in. Truthfully, they downright piss me off!!!
AH: Do you plan to do any touring around the album or do you have an album release show planned? What can fans expect from your live show these days?
Afton: Yeah, for sure! We will be out playing all year long. Since May 17th, we have spent a lot of time in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Coming up, we have a series of shows in Georgia.
Robin: What folks can expect are some great guest musicians working alongside us at some of our upcoming shows. We are excited for “Wild County” to be out there and fully available. We had an amazing time writing these songs and an even better time recording them.
Thanks very much for chatting with us, Robin and Afton of Surrender Hill!
Enjoy our review here: REVIEW: Surrender Hill “Wild Country”
Find more information here on their website: https://surrenderhill.com/