Aaron Carter makes his debut with a 24-song album- This Town

Aaron Carter- photo by Emily Morgan Photography

Let me introduce you to Aaron Carter. Aaron is a singer and songwriter making his mark as an emerging artist and quickly becoming one to watch. This didn't start out as a review piece, but I have listened to This Town many times and am impressed with the quality and raw talent Aaron has in his vocals and songwriting. I met Aaron through a mutual friend a few years ago after they had written a few songs together. Aaron Carter is also an avid fisherman, and catfishing is his favorite pastime. Showing his dedication to his musical craft, he recently sold his fishing kayak to invest in new sound equipment.

His songwriting talent has been escalated by the cowriters in his debut project, This Town, a 24-song album released in mid-February. Aaron Carter seems a much more seasoned artist than he is. Let me discuss some of the songs on this album and give a shout-out to the talent shown in this debut. In this collection, each song paints a visible picture, some of where and how he grew up in Rockwood, Tennessee, starting with the title track, This Town. Then some songs are more about the life he leads, the hobbies he likes, and the lessons he learned in this small town living (Homegrown Country, Hit Rewind). Aaron co-wrote 5th Generation Redneck about his family with Jesse Scarbrough. My Friend, Fairytale Kind of Love and Love Me Tonight are the handiwork of a collaboration with Jeremy Neely @neelymusic. Neely and Carter also worked together on filming the acoustic video for Love Me Tonight in Manchester, TN. After hearing Aaron singing on social media several years ago, Jeremy Neely encouraged Aaron to write and release music, introducing him to his producer, Jake O’Neill @jakeoneillvocal.

Aaron is playing nearly 60 shows per year and focusing on college towns in the southern and southeastern states. Shows in states including North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida, and Texas are in the works for 2024. The tour list is available on his website. Aaron Carter won the Country Rising Star and Song of the Year ( for Fairy Tale Kind of Love) from Who's Hoo: Independent Country Music Countdown. Aaron's ultimate goal is to move into music full-time and retire from his duties as the driver for the ambulance. Thankfully his schedule has worked well with his music career.

Thank you Aaron Carter for sharing your stories, and music and letting me get to know you a little better. It was my pleasure to chat with you In A Country Minute!

Leavin' Page Town debut's Ride or Die

This post isn't an introduction, it's a reintroduction. Cindy and Tony Haedt recently took on a new adventure as a singer-songwriter duo Leavin’ Page Town. They have been the Minnesota band front runners for Dram Shop Country for the last ten years. This new adventure expands their talents into performing at intimate songwriter sessions, and listening rooms, as well as recording and releasing original music. 

The name of their duo is inspired by Page Township, a northern Minnesota town that Tony and Cindy call home, the place they return to that gives them inspiration and rejuvenation. A series of events took place that gave Tony and Cindy what they needed to confidently pursue this path with Leavin’ Page Town. Meeting producer Greg Huberty (Loud Cow Studios) at the Midwest Country Music Organization Awards was one of those connections that inspired this path. A Nashville trip gave them some inspiration for songwriting as well.

Cindy and Tony are members of the Texas Country Music Association and the Midwest Country Music Organization, leading them to travel and perform through many states. Tony and Cindy have connected with many other artists including some Red Dirt Country artists throughout Texas as well as the upper Midwest. Leavin’ Page Town plans on releasing singles throughout the year and finally, an EP to conclude the year.   

The debut single for Leavin Page Town is a love story, Ride or Die. Written by Cindy and Tony Haedt and Josh Morningstar (Must Be the Whiskey by Cody Jinx), produced by Greg Huberty. The video for Ride or Die was shot in December on a farm on the upper level of a working dairy barn while the cows were below with birds flying through the rafters, soon to be released.

“I was living’ life full speed ahead

Never thought that I’d see thirty then

This old guitar was my escape

Never dreamed it’d lead you my way

Your soul’s reflection of mine

You showed up in perfect time

You’re my reason why

Like a harmony you melt right in

You set me on fire

Baby, you’re my ride or die”

Keep up with Leavin' Page Town and their show dates on their website linked above.

Thank you, Cindy and Tony, for introducing me to your new adventure, I'll catch you at a show this summer, In A Country Minute

Mary McGuinness's album Shadowcatcher

Mary McGuinness recently released the album Shadowcatcher. I had the pleasure of talking with Mary about the songs and process of this release recently. The album consists of 10 songs opening with Dreamy Feeling which was the final released single. Each song on this album is a snapshot of Mary McGuinness's life, "the stories I wanted to get out, and the stories I wanted to tell". Bounded Beauty is a song Mary wrote about her great-grandmother, and Springtime Thunder is a song Mary wrote for her dad while he was going through cancer, diving into her Celtic heritage in his honor. The title track ties them all together.

Mary McGuinness Instagram

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Mary McGuinness TikTok

Mary McGuinness said she originally wrote 15 or 16 songs for this record and to narrow it down she solicited the help of her producer. Mary expressed that the songs seemed to reveal themselves to them knitting themselves together into a flow. The songs she didn’t select for this collection were not "throw-away songs but maybe will fit better on a different project." Each song on Shadowcatcher was meticulously placed in the layout after Mary played them in 30 or so different song lineups before choosing this particular order. Mary aimed for a continuous progressive flow through these 10 cuts and was specific with her choices to make a masterpiece. Those details make this record special and authentic to getting to know Mary McGuiness and her multicultural heritage. Shadowcatcher is a reflection of Mary McGuinness and what she envisions. The bulk of the album was written in Nashville which she now calls home.

Songwriter and producer Joe Pisapia produced Shadowcatcher but there is more to that story. When Mary McGuinness and Joe Pisapia had their initial meeting, Mary requested Pisapia to assist her on a song she was stuck on and trying to finish, she played Joe a couple of songs, and ... they completed Spellbreaker, and then another and those couple of songs turned into a full album. Mary wrote with a talented array of songwriters to create this album. Mary said they had so much fun and she'd never laughed so much during a project that she is certain "the laughter was absorbed into the music." Recording the tracks for Shadowcatcher took about 5 days and then there were a few rerecorded parts, mixing the tracks, adding background vocals, harmonies, string instruments, and the harmonica to complete the songs.

The songs selected for music videos were Once in a Blue Moon and Double Vision following their single releases. The compilation of this record was a reminder to Mary on when to pause and when to revisit those parts of projects that caused the most struggle but in the end, it is a one-of-a-kind assortment of authenticity and musical talent.

Congratulations Mary McGuinness on this release. I appreciate your time and openness in talking about yourself, In A Country Minute.