The first time I picked up a guitar and tried to tell a story, I was hooked. Music felt honest and open, a way to talk about the places I’d lived and the people I’d seen. I grew up in Maine, where evenings in coffeehouses and local pub stages taught me how to let melody and memory collide. Decades later, after moving to St. Louis and honing my craft through solo gigs and band performances, I finally felt ready to write a record that married my folk‑honed roots with a grittier, Americana edge.
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That turning point came when I began writing the songs that became Small Town Ways—songs steeped in nostalgia and perseverance, but framed with a little more bite than usual. “Catch Me If You Can,” the lead single, was born from nights of reflection and whiskey‑soft regret. Its lyrics are almost entirely true—some borrowed, all sincere. Musically, it nods to roots rock while keeping one foot in acoustic honesty.
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From there I built the rest of the album around that tone. Tracks like “Old Octobers” and “Crazy Way Home” lean into storytelling, painting scenes of small‑town reverie, while songs such as “Better Alone” bring a sharper edge--chords and vocals that trace emotional bruises earned on road-and‑bar tours. I might not be a southern rocker by any stretch, but borrowing that raw grit felt authentic to this record. My hope is that with all my albums and an ever‑growing collection of singles, each song feels lived‑in and sincere—telling listeners where I’ve been and maybe offering a glimpse of where I’m going.
