Wilder Adkins pays tribute to mothers everywhere with new single
“Mother” out on NewSong Recordings May 8
May 7, 2020 (Asheville, NC) – Birmingham, AL-based singer-songwriter Wilder Adkins did not intend for his latest single, “Mother,” to be autobiographical. Instead, it’s a tribute to and a call for grace for mothers everywhere. The song was recorded live in the artist’s home during the pandemic, with accompanying musicians contributing remotely.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, “Mother” will be available at your favorite streaming platform on May 8 from NewSong Recordings.
Autobiographical or not, the song draws influence from Adkins’ personal experience as a father. “I think parents can carry a lot of shame, but it’s a really hard job,” says Adkins. “I realize that more than ever now that I have two children of my own.”
Undeterred by the challenges of recording during a global pandemic, vocals and guitar were recorded live in Adkin’s spare bedroom; backup vocals, keys and violin parts were recorded remotely in Nashville, with Bryan Segraves on keyboards; Collins McLaughlin on violin; and Janet Simpson on background vocals. The song was then mixed in Asheville by Gar Ragland.
Altogether, the song is a gentle and poignant acknowledgement of mothers, regardless of imperfections. The introspective melody calls to mind country-Americana lullaby, with a poetic lyricism typical of Adkin’s work.
“This was a song that really began with just the first line,” says Adkins of the inspiration behind the tune. “My stepmom, who was the youngest of three girls, used to say that her mom could never just say her name without accidentally saying her sisters’ names first. So then I thought, ‘that’s just the order that their names are stored on your tongue.’ I don’t know that I really intended to write a serious song at first. I was kind of just thinking about trying to write a clever country song, but it sort of changed as I was working on it, into a song about grace.”
Adkins was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2016 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition and has since performed at esteemed venues, including The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Sundance Film Festival’s Sundance ASCAP Music Café, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
“I hope this song is an encouragement to all the mothers out there,” says Adkins. “And maybe it will encourage some folks to call their moms as well.”
Adkins debut album, Nightblooms, was released in 2009. Subsequently, he has released numerous singles and four full length albums – Nativity (2009); Oak & Apple (2011); Runaround (2013); Hope & Sorrow (2016); and last year’s In This Pilgrim Way (2019).
