One of my greatest joys in life is supporting music artists. I receive a lot of press releases because I write for Buddy Magazine. We are strictly a Texas Music magazine. However, I often receive music from artists who aren’t based in Texas but deserve a shout-out.
That is the case with these two ladies. So, I am using my blog today to introduce you to Claudia Nygaard and Ruby Lovett!
Claudia Nygaard is Nashville based and Ruby Lovett is from Mississippi.
Their music touched me and I want to share!
Claudia Nygaard isn’t afraid to tackle sensitive or difficult subjects with her music. From that aspect, she reminded me of a younger Loretta Lynn. She is a fantastic storyteller, as is shown in the lyrics of the title track of the album, “Lucky Girl.”
It tells the tale of her great, great, great grandaddy, her great grandaddy and her grandmother all on her father’s side of the family. From Norway to North Dakota, it’s a journey of hard times and heartache, a tribute to one family’s ability to survive and thrive. With that kind of family lineage, it makes Claudia a lucky, lucky girl!
“Like a Moth to a Flame,” she relates a story that many of us have experienced. There are times in life where passion draws us too close to the fire and we singe our wings. I loved these lines from the song, “Mama if you need me, you can find me in my room/I’m pulling all the shades down, gonna sit here in the gloom/Mama I’ll be tending to these wings so badly singed/Mama I’ll be praying that he’ll pass this way again…” Sigh…Some lessons are never learned.
With songs like “The Codependent’s National Anthem,” “Tumbling Down,” and “I’m A Little Bit Embarrassed” it’s easy to see that Claudia doesn’t shy away from the raw honest truth.
This just might be my favorite line from this collection of emotion-driven songs. “This isn’t something ladylike to do/But you treated me like trash/So that’s how I’m treatin’ you…” The title of that song is “Me Too.”
If you’d like to sample Claudia’s music, here is her performance of “Lucky Girl.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFe3-jLUwmk]
You can find her new CD, Lucky Me, wherever music is sold, but for your convenience, here is the Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Girl-Claudia-Nygaard/dp/B07VC1DF79/
When Ruby Lovett emerged on the music scene in the late 1990s, music critics said, “Lovett’s voice is a refreshing slice of hillbilly heaven. “
When I listened to her new CD, I had to agree. Her voice is authentic and real.
While she didn’t write all the songs on her album, It’s A Hard Life, she chose songs that fit the theme and tell compelling stories.
The first track, written by Nanci Griffith, “It’s A Hard Life,” speaks such strong truths! “If we poison our children with hatred/Then a hard life is all that they will know…” Isn’t that a message the entire world could pay heed to today?
Lovett did write the second song on the album, “A Father’s Love,” as a tribute to her adoptive father. This line says it all, “Some say blood is thicker than water/And tho’ I wasn’t born your daughter/You cherished me as if I were your own…”
“Catfish John,” takes us back to another place and time in history. “He was born a slave in the town of Vicksburg/Traded for a chestnut mare/But he never spoke in anger/Though his load was hard to bear…”
Another written by Lovett, “Straight From My Heart,” drips with genuine emotion and her delivery is nothing less than pure honesty. “Here in this changing world/where nothing lasts forever/A love that you can count on is sometimes hard to find…”
Ruby Lovett’s music is as real as she is, full of honest emotion and real life situations sung with pure grace and power. I’d like to tell you about every song on this beautiful album, but I’ll let you explore, if it has piqued your interest.
Take a listen for yourself!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CbbWjZn4JI]
AMAZON purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/ItS-Hard-Life-Ruby-Lovett/dp/B07P6YXFRX/
Follow Ruby Lovett:
Thank you for allowing me to introduce these two amazing women and their music to you! I hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Oh, showcasing women musicians. I cheer for you, Jan!
Most definitely! I love promoting music artists as well as authors! Thanks, Pat!
Fun, Jan. Thanks for the introductions and sharing some great music. 🙂
Thank you, Diana! Glad you stopped by!
Wow those are 2 amazing singers. Thank you for sharing. You and I love the same types of music.
Love you
Thank you, Tonya. I am glad you enjoyed them! Love you!
Jan, storytelling and music is my favourite! 😀 Two fantastic artists and I look forward to listening to their albums! I’ve never thought of writing reviews for songs and you do so with heart and beauty! Well done! You’ve definitely piqued my interest!
Thank you so much, Annika! My true love for music and music artists shines through! 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and I know these ladies appreciate you as well!
On follow up: the title track of ‘It’s a Hard Life’ is compelling and beautiful.
I agree about that song, Rob. It’s another awesome song.
The song is full of hard truths.
Damn, Lucky Girl is a great song. Straight From the Heart is classic. Nice choices, Jan.
Thank you, Rob! I’m happy you gave it a listen.
I’m a big fan of country music, Jan. Hell, I was raised on it.
Thank you for these introductions, Jan. I enjoyed them.
Awesome! That was my goal, John!
😁