Tarwater by Colin Cutler
A Greensboro, North Carolina-based singer-songwriter and Army veteran, Colin Cutler has transformed his life experiences into a tapestry of soul-stirring melodies. In 2018, he traded in his rifle for a guitar and banjo, embarking on a musical journey that would soon captivate audiences far and wide. His upcoming album, Tarwater, will be out November 3rd, 2023.
An English major turned teacher and songwriter, Colin’s upcoming album, Tarwater, is a marriage of his literary and musical interests. In a pilgrimage across the genres of the Americana genre, from his folk roots in banjo-based old time, to the gospel music of his Pentecostal upbringing, to honky-tonk country and blues-based roots rock, the lyrics explore the literary works of Flannery O’Connor, the Georgia Catholic writer whom Kurt Vonnegut hailed as “the greatest American short story writer of [his] generation.”
On Tarwater, Cutler draws inspiration both from O’Connor’s characters and themes and from his own life to craft original songs that explore themes of home, self-exile, violence, and religion, within the context of the “Christ-haunted South.”
~Rachel Hurley
Tracklist
| 1. | Bad Man's Easy | 3:48 |
| 2. | A New Tattoo | 2:42 |
| 3. | Mama, Don't Know Where Heaven Is | 4:26 |
| 4. | The Cold That's Forever | 4:30 |
| 5. | A New Tattoo (Parker's Reprise) | 4:16 |
| 6. | Save Your Life and Drive | 5:19 |
| 7. | Parker's Back | 4:41 |
| 8. | Temple of the Holy Ghost | 4:29 |
| 9. | Run to the River | 4:12 |
| 11. | Save Your Life and Drive (Radio Edit) | 5:19 |
| 12. | Parker's Back (Radio Edit) | 4:41 |
Credits
All lyrics and music by Colin Cutler
Inspired by the short stories of Flannery O’Connor
With thanks to:
The National Endowment of the Humanities for having me to the Flannery O’Connor Institute 2023 at Georgia College
ArtsGreensboro for the 2022 Artist Support Grant
The friends, family, and fans who helped support the Kickstarter for this.
Produced by Colin Cutler and Benjy Johnson
Recorded and mixed by Benjy Johnson at Earthtones Recording Studio in Greensboro, North Carolina
Mastered by Ty Tabor
Rhythm guitar, banjo, harmonica, lead vocals: Colin Cutler
Lead electric guitar: Bob Worrells
Electric and acoustic bass: Evan Campfield
Drums: Emmanuel Rankin
Steel Guitar: Dashawn Hickman
Fiddle/violin: Christen Blanton Mack
(Vocals on “Temple of the Holy Ghost,” in order): Colin Cutler, Laura Jane Vincent, Dashawn and Wendy Hickman, Aaron Pants, Rebekah Todd, David Childers
(Duet vocals on “Mama Don’t Know"): Ella Patrick (Momma Molasses)
Background vocals:
Rebekah Todd on “Bad Man’s Easy"
Laura Jane Vincent and Aaron Pants on “Save Your Life and Drive”
Album artwork by Kelley Wills of Brain Flower Designs
This work was supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, grant number EH-288088-22. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this album do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.'
License
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.Tags
Armed with a guitar, banjo, a brace of harmonicas, Colin tells stories of love and loss with characters wide open as a Midwest sky and wild as the mountains, with poetry thick as a Carolina swamp.