Meet The Apache Relay. They’re from Nashville Tennessee, where they have been performing their own special blend of Americana/Pop and Roots since way back in 2009. They’ve toured extensively with the likes of Mumford & Sons and Jenny Lewis – and recently toured the UK, with The Weeks.
Their second, self-titled album is already out in the States, but will be released in the UK on 6 April, via German indie label, Membran. The album release will be preceded by the UK debut of their single, “Katie Queen of Tennessee”, which has, to our ears, a bit of a Kodaline feel about it…not at all a bad thing.
The Apache Relay are Michael Ford Jr (vocals/guitar), Ben Ford (bass/vocals), Mike Harris (guitar/vocals), Brett Moore (keyboards/guitar/mandolin), Kellen Wenrich (fiddle/keyboards) and Steve Smith (drums). They released their debut album, “American Nomad” in the US back in 2011, and were met with critical acclaim. Since then they’ve been touring relentlessly, and have only just recently been able to take out time for songwriting. It’s been worth it though – the new songs show a band that’s eager to push past the boundaries and explore different areas. “The Apache Relay” features string arrangements by the legendary Jimmie Haskell, as well as collaborations with songwriter Jonathan Rice.
Speaking about the new album, Michael Ford Jr said:
‘ “We went into the studio pretty open-minded knowing only that we wanted to come out of it with quality pop songs and not try to repeat anything stylistically that we had donein the past. We had about 30 or 40 songs written but it wasn’t until we tracked “Katie Queen of Tennessee” that we knew what aesthetic we were going for. The album is, attimes, very ornate, very orchestral. Like “Valley of the Fevers” has violins and cello arrangements, and so do several other songs, like “Terrible Feeling”.’
