Aubrey Dale is at the start of a new chapter in her career. She has released three songs this spring, starting with If Church Was a Bar, of which more below. She was the one who taught me what California Sober meant in her song of that name, and more recently she released a hymn to her home state in Dear South Dakota.
I thought those first two songs had set the compass for Aubrey's career going forwards. They are brash, ballsy songs with strong themes. To certain groups they will be antagonistic, especially to those Christian churches where she first learned to become a musician back home.
The third and most recent of the three, Dear South Dakota is more reflective, slower and sadder. This song shows her range as a wiser woman in life and in her music. She is writing a letter to her home state as though it were a person. She's lonely. Although the place drove her mad, at least she knew everyone and, more importantly, everyone knew her. She misses the family. Everyone is getting older. Perhaps they knew her too well. Perhaps they held her back. She's leaving, though she already left several years ago. She is on a new path now, and this has the advantage of being the path she chose rather than the one set for her. So long and thanks for the memories.
I firmly believe Aubrey Dale has found her true path now. California Sober is about as far from her roots as you can imagine. It's a lively rock and roll tune that calls Gretchen Wilson's Redneck Woman to mind. She's had one drink too many, once too often. Time to dry out and try the weed. At least there won't be any hangovers. Were it not for those, perhaps we would all drink a little more? She admits in a voice over at the end: mom probably won't enjoy this one. Which is another way of saying that you certainly will.
I cannot wait for more music from Aubrey. She plays live regularly and is just beginning to carve out her own space in Colorado. Wherever you own mental north/south divide is in America, most people would not say Colorado was in the south. It is a mountain state, covering some of the Rockies, and this desert mountain imagery is strong in many of her photographs.
I told the bartender I was looking for God
He poured a whiskey on ice and said you found the right spot
He said that woman there has stories to tell
We sit and listen as she drinks from the well
In the article below you will find the first words I wrote about Aubrey Dale. I came across her brilliant song, If Church Was a Bar, through some algorithm or other. I still listen to it every week and it remains my favourite of these three songs. It's a critique of modern Christianity, especially as it is in America. But it's also an anthem to the roadside dive bar too. Can each institution learn from the other? Read more below.
PAUL DETTMANN
Aubrey Dale has an older EP on Bandcamp which is more mellow and acoustic than the newer tunes on Spotify. You can find out more about Aubrey on her own website and she has a number of live gigs later this week!
Press Bit
In her own words, Aubrey Dale is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter hailing from Colorado, though much of her life was spent in the heart of South Dakota. Having returned to Colorado, Aubrey Dale is eager to make a mark on the vibrant local and regional music scene, blending influences from classic 70s folk and rock with the storytelling traditions of 90s & classic country. As both a songwriter and cover artist, Aubrey Dale brings a unique sound that resonates with a myriad of audiences, celebrating the rich tapestry of American music. Whether performing original songs or beloved classics, Aubrey Dale invites listeners on a journey through heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies. Her new singles “If Church Was a Bar” and “California Sober” are now streaming wherever you listen to music.
