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High Road

by Byron Dowd

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1.
A New Way 02:58
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2.
High Road 03:11
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3.
Raindrop 03:14
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4.
Gasoline 03:34
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5.
The Millertone 04:29
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about

Byron Dowd crafts story songs with equal measures heart (“A New Way”) and home (“The Millertone”). Each sharply written narrative owns endless energy (“Gasoline”). Proof: High Road. “These songs remind me of a relationship,” Dowd says. “Worn out doesn't mean something can't work. You just need to try new things sometimes. We need to look and work outside the comfort zone to see or hear beauty in things every now and then.” The North Texas-based singer-songwriter's brand-new EP – a five-song collection produced by Paul Osborn and Dowd and featuring several top talent players – certainly has. In fact, few songwriters deliver unforeseen wisdom and wit as well.

The title track particularly resonates for good reason. “My dad's most poignant advice came during a visit on a Sunday afternoon when I had my son in tow,” Dowd says. “Dad said something like 'If someone goes low, just stick to the high road. It shows your character to those who matter. It'll suck, but ride it out. It won't last long and you'll gain respect from those that didn't matter when the smoke clears.'” Truer words have never been spoken. Icing on the cake: High Road features effortless elegance from several ace backing musicians including multi-instrumentalist Milo Deering, Larry Rolando (guitars), Kerry Huckaba (bass) and Joe Mansir (percussion).

A soulful songwriter from north Texas, Dowd embodies Americana music. Stirring raw emotion, his songs tug hard on the heartstrings, drawing from his country and folk background. After the release of his self-titled debut album in 2012, Dowd surprised many by his album spending several weeks near the top of the AMA chart. His disparate influences from Steve Earle and Walt Wilkins to James Taylor and John Fogerty guide the way. “Walt Wilkins showed me how to weave complex ideas into a relatable story,” Dowd explains. “Steve Earle is unapologetically himself. I love it. Jason Isbell shows that it's okay to write cryptically as well as straightforward. You don't have to focus on just one approach. Tyler Childers writes what he wants and says, 'Fuck it.'”

Folks notice the strong influences in Dowd's unique style. “Byron has one of the best country music voices I've ever heard,” says Mark David Manders, a former B.W. Stevenson songwriting award winner at Dallas' iconic Poor David's Pub. “His voice is one hundred percent barroom baritone, the kind of voice that can get a girl to two-step and dare her boyfriend to step outside all in the same breath. His songs are country – not honkytonk – but Jason Boland and Waylon Jennings kind of country.” “Byron has an honesty in his voice that you believe when you hear it,” echoes singer Matt Hillyer of 1100 Springs. “That’s the thing that sells a song, and he’s got it for sure. His lyrics take you to places you would have to have lived through, and when he delivers them you know he has.”

Quick backstory: Dowd stepped away from music professionally to focus on his newborn son seven years ago. Then one fateful day last year his son asked Dad why had so many guitars that he doesn't play. That simple question ignited his songwriting fire and Dowd was off tracking a brand-new collection of original songs at Audio Dallas immediately after that conversation. More songs to take around the globe: Longtime fans know Dowd’s depictions of life’s lessons have been honed through playing stages across the United States as well as Europe. Dowd has traveled from the Netherlands down to Italy, Austin up to St. Louis, but now enjoys residing with his roots of north Texas. Dowd aims high this year with the appropriately title High Road as he follows his true passion of songwriting.

credits

released November 1, 2020

MUSICIANS:
Milo Deering: Fiddle, acoustic guitar, dobro, steel guitar, banjo
Larry Rolando: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Kerry Huckaba: Bass guitar
George Anderson: Upright Bass
Tyler Withrow: Acoustic guitar, vocals
Jay Brown: Keys, utility instruments
Joe Mansir: Percussion
Josh Rodgers: Percussion
Byron Dowd: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar

ALL LYRICS AND MUSIC WRITTEN BY BYRON DOWD
PRODUCED BY PAUL OSBORN AND BYRON DOWD
RECORDED AND MIXED AT AUDIODALLAS BY PAUL OSBORN
PHOTOGRAPHY: BYRON DOWD
MASTERED AT TONAL PARK BY RANDY LEROY

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Byron Dowd Dallas, Texas

A soulful songwriter from north Texas, Dowd embodies Americana music. Stirring raw emotion, his songs tug hard on the heartstrings, drawing from his country and folk background. After the release of his self-titled debut album in 2012, Dowd surprised many by his album spending several weeks near the top of the AMA chart. His new album HIGHROAD has raised that bar. ... more

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