Sisters In Song

Brooke and Darin called in to chat from the road on the way to play Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. We talked about their brand new gospel album, “Soul Condition,” how they make a great writing team, still getting jitters and the Nashville numbering system. Acclaimed bluegrass and gospel duo Darin & Brooke Aldridge return with theirhighly anticipated new 11-song album which arrived earlier this year, showcasing the soaring harmonies, heartfelt performances, and authentic storytelling that have made them one of the most beloved husband-and-wife teams in contemporary bluegrass, traditional country, and Christian music. The project includes special guest appearances from Grand Ole Opry Members, Sonia Isaacs and Becky Isaacs, along with the legendary John Cowan of New Grass Revival and The Doobie Brothers. Hailing from the mountains of North Carolina, Darin and Brooke continue to blend world-class musicianship, award-winning vocals, and a deep Christian faith into music that honors bluegrass and Southern gospel traditions while connecting with audiencesacross generation. Be sure to check them out here: Website:Darinandbrookealdridge.com IG: darinandbrookealdridge FB: Darin & Brooke Aldridge TikTok: darinandbrookealdridge YouTube: darinandbrooke

In this episode we have the pleasure of talking with CannonPence, who performs under the name Twilark. We find out how the moniker Twilarkcame to be (through a dream!), and more about his debut release “The TamingTies Create.” We get insider information about the nuances of working inthe studio as a new artist, and more about the importance of Bandcamp! The Taming Ties Create, the debut album from Twilark, unfolds like a rediscovered memory: precise, disorienting, and wide open. Imbued with a quiet force, these are songs for early mornings or late nights, when reflection becomes reckoning. The indie songwriting project of North Carolina–based artist Canon Pence, Twilark emerges from the crossroads of southern melancholy and gothic folk. A melodic collection of raw emotion, sonic sophistication, and aching beauty, The Taming Ties Create weaves introspective storytelling, emotional nuance, and atmospheric instrumentation into beautifully crafted indie rock. Pence is a self-taught musician whose relationship with the art form has long been private. Raised in a household where music was ever present but learning to play was actively discouraged, he found his way into bands in high school and college, teaching himself guitar and learning how to write through instinct and repetition. What began as a quiet personal exercise turned into something more urgent, more focused—a way of unburdening. Twilark took shape gradually, without a clear starting point or defined plan. The songs were written over several years, most of them at home, often late at night. Some were long forgotten before being unearthed for the recording sessions. Be sure to check Twilark out here: Bandcamp: Twilark IG: Twilarkband TikTok: Twilarkmusic FaceBook: Twilarkmusic

In this episode, we had the unique opportunity to chat with musician/ author Dennes Sims about his recently released novel, “Neckbeard the Awesome Pirate.” We also chat about how being a musician transitioned him into being an author, a voice artist, and a composer for audiobooks. Both of Dennes’s parents were professional musicians; his mother Barbara was a singer, and his father was a bassist and a drummer. From the age of 5, he started playing drums. His mother used to take him along to her band rehearsals, and she always told the story that one day Dennes just picked up a set of drumsticks and was keeping perfect time with the drummer. At 19, he started writing songs and was frustrated that he had no way to express them, so he bought a keyboard and taught himself how to play by ear, listening to Prince, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and others. He also started performing live with bands as a singer. Over the years, he taught himself both guitar and bass guitar. Dennes says he tried the saxophone “but it sounded like a hit a goose with a scooter.” While I was teaching himself to play other instruments, he began writing short stories and then screenplays. Unfortunately, he says he never made any real inroads to making a career out of either. In 1998, he cut his long hair and got a real job, joining the FBI, and put aside his musical and writing ambitions. But he quietly kept doing them as hobbies over the years, recording all of his ownmusic. In 2021, he was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments for seven weeks. Amazingly, the doctors saved his life and his voice, but said he would probably not be a singer anymore. God works in mysterious ways, they always say… because of the treatments, his voice timbre changed, and it gave him a wider range of expression. So, he started using it for a new purpose: narrating audiobooks. Flash to 2025, now retired from the FBI, he has narrated three audiobooks for an author’s trilogy of stories, and is currently recording the audiobook for his own debut novel, Neckbeard the Awesome Pirate. Be sure to check Dennes out here: Website: dennessims.com He wrote music under two names: Julian Christian and Dennes Sims. He played all instruments and did all of the vocals. Julian Christian - Nocturne (I wrote it as part of the scorefor an indie film that never got off the ground.) https://youtu.be/WLvJt4BOTVQ?si=3EAhammWyCxOAJD2 Julian Christian music on Soundclick- some of my original songs. https://www.soundclick.com/julianchristian Dennes Sims music on YouTube- Symphony of the Damned (was also written for an indie vampire film project… was supposed to be used for dance club music in the background. Also never materialized.) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l_gcBhXtw0AauQTB9UHVvktN7lzTJiZzU&si=_x5eCjtF9g3rdEgH DMS Voice Services YouTube channel: I narrated and produced three audiobooks for another author and created the Musical Compositions for the title tracks. https://youtube.com/@dennessims?si=EddWUE0mc9CTcksd

We really enjoyed talking with Natalie Del Carmen on this episode. And we’re really looking forward to her new album “Pastures,” which drops January 30, 2026. Natalie describes it as a ‘coming of age album,’ and Natalie seems wise beyond her years! We talk about how to deal with writer's block, writing from observation, and studying the music that you love. Raised amongst the pavement and pop radio of Los Angeles, Natalie Del Carmen creates her own musical geography with Pastures. It's the sound of a modern-day folksinger narrowing her focus and expanding her reach, funneling the wide-ranging sounds that appeared on her debut album — 2023's critically-acclaimed Bloodline — into a sharp, singular version ofAmerican roots music. With Pastures, Natalie Del Carmen joins the ranks of Kat Hasty, Maggie Antone, Noeline Hoffman, Ken Pomeroy, and other empowered artists bringing a female perspective — and a youthful outlook — to the Americana space. Be sure to check Natalie out here: Website: Nataliedelcarmen.com IG: Nataliedelcarmen Tik Tok: Nataliedelcarmen FB: Nataliedelcarmen You Tube: Natalie Del Carmen

We had some great conversation and great laughs with Kashena Sampson, who started out how we did—singing with her sisters and putting on shows for her parents! She told us about her third studio record (released October 2025), “Ghost of Me,” and what went into making the album. We also talk about the elephant in the room—the hardest part about being a musician. Already celebrated by Rolling Stone for “evoking the best of Seventies folk,” Kashena Sampson turns a new page with her third record, Ghost Of Me. It’s an album that pulls up herAmericana roots and digs deep beneath the surface, uncovering the darker indie sounds that once provided the soundtrack to Sampson’s childhood. Laced with electric guitar, reverb, and synthesizer, Ghost Of Me offers a new backdrop for the songwriting and otherworldly singing of an East Nashville luminary who’s never sounded more authentic. Sampson grew up on the move, living abroad with her family before traveling the world by boat, a gig that found her paying her dues as a cruise ship singer as a young adult. Thatdiverse upbringing is mirrored on Ghost Of Me, an album that spans genres, emotional depths, and astrological tides. “This is an album about ignoring the bullshit and doing what’s authentic to me,” she explains. “Forget the rat race. Forget the bad relationships. Forget trying to please everybody. I’m tired of doing that. I wanted to do something for myself, and that’s what Ghost Of Me became," she continues. "It’s an album for me.” Be sure to check Kashena outhere: Website: Kashenasampson.com Band camp: Kashena Sampson Instagram: Kashenasampson FB: Kashena Sampson YouTube: Kashena Sampson