08/24/2024
When I think about all the wonderful artists that I follow, the ones that I appreciate the most are the ones who are truly self-made. There's nothing more admirable, in my book, than a musician who refuses to take any shortcuts or compromise their muse by accepting a handout. And there's nothing more special than when an extremely talented and hardworking individual like Paige Plaisance finally begins to see the many years of struggle start to pay off. Her dream is now entering the early stages of realization with the release of her debut album, Louisiana Lonely.
As the title suggests, Paige grew up in the northeastern part of The Bayou State. The family farm where she was raised is close to the Mississippi River, and the high school she attended was less than two miles from the banks of the muddy river. As a child, she learned piano and began writing songs from a very young age. After getting her diploma, she attended LSU and graduated with a degree in fashion and merchandising. She had always dreamed of becoming a musician, but she didn't want to rely on the generosity of family and friends to support her pursuit, so she packed up and moved to Austin to build a career in business. This was a perfect place to be an entrepreneur and pursue music at the same time. She arrived in the Texas hill country in 2014 when Austin was just beginning to see the beginnings of the economic boom that would absolutely explode in the following decade. After a short stint in realty, she was able to purchase an Airstream trailer that she converted into a clothing boutique that offers vintage fashion and named it the Ramblin' Rose Company - a fitting name alluding to the entrepreneurial spirit and fearless adventurism of its owner. For the next five or six years she hustled for the business located down the street from Zilker Park where ACL is held while soaking up the unique and dynamic scene in The Live Music Capitol Of The World. By 2020, and perhaps spurred by the urgency of the pandemic that many felt, she decided she was ready to make herself a part of the h***y tonk scene and show the world her own blend of country, soul, and blues inspired by her delta roots. She relocated the Ramblin' Rose to a lot behind the new Sagebrush dancehall where Zach Bryan recently filmed a music video. She talked Sagebrush's owner into letting her play music by her trailer, and eventually she was offered the opportunity to play on the outdoor stage. With her foot in the door, she began to relentlessly hit all the spots that make up the ATX h***y tonk scene. Connections naturally happened, and she eventually developed a strong working relationship with a Texas underground legend in the form of Jonathan Tyler. The Dallas native recognized Paige's talent, and the two began work on an EP that was released in 2022. Over the following two years they would continue working on tracks that would ultimately become Louisiana Lonely.
It's very rare to see such a splendidly good debut like what you get with this LP. It's also amazing to hear such a unique and original sound from such a new artist. I wanted to feature a song from Louisiana Lonely in the number one spot of the Twangy Stuff Top 50 playlist, so I chose the upbeat track "Do The Least" because I prefer a banger to start off the list. This is a great song, and so is the other very fun "Good Time Girl" (featured in the Top 50 when it was released last year), but Paige is at her absolute best on a song that provides enough room for her to voice to soar. This is what you get on a track like "Out Of Sight, On My Mind". Goosebumps are inevitable as she evokes inevitable comparisons to Tammy Wynette and early Wynonna. You will also be charmed by the more personal entries like the title track and even moreso by "Back Home Feelin'", which probably ties for the best tune on the album. Tyler and Paige's band, the Yeah You Right Boys, have done a great job crafting instrumentals that let this beautiful artist's talents shine for the world. All of the songs on the album are written by Ms. Plaisance. There are no cowrites. When you listen to this album of the year contender you will be enjoying the fruits of a decade of hard work from an otherworldly talented, truly independent, 100% self-made, and exquisitely badass artist.
