Americana singer-songwriter Caleb Caudle has never been one to sit on the sidelines. He was only in his teens when he began performing around his hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and has since released eight albums, including 2018’s lauded Crushed Coins, while touring almost ceaselessly. His latest effort, the forthcoming Better Hurry Up, draws from the lessons he’s learned along the way, with deep bass grooves and Caudle’s warm, low vocals providing a rich foundation for a broadly positive, forward-looking album. Produced by Josh Jackson of the Jayhawks, Better Hurry Up was recorded at the Cash Cabin, a small getaway built by Johnny Cash in 1979 in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and converted into a recording studio during the 1980s.
The title track, which Garden & Gun is proud to premiere below, channels Caudle’s earned wisdom into an anthem about chasing dreams that at times might seem out of reach. “This song became my hymn,” Caudle says. “It serves as a reminder that it’s my responsibility to create the life I have envisioned for myself.” That hymn comes complete with a choir, too. Background vocals on the song’s chorus are courtesy of a stellar group of guest musicians—Grammy winner John Paul White, rising classic country star Courtney Marie Andrews, and singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cook, with a special appearance from Caudle’s wife and parents, too.
“On the last day of tracking, my parents made the trip over from North Carolina,” Caudle says. “My wife, Lauren, brought them to the studio, and I walked into the control room and asked the three of them if they were ready to sing. This entire project felt like a dream come true, and having the three most important people in my life on this song was the best of all.” The choice to include his family and friends on the track lends tonal depth to the music, but also a figurative depth for Caudle. “There’s so much strength in community,” he says. “Singing along with a choir makes you feel like a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Stream the title track below, and preorder Better Hurry Up here. The album will be released on April 3.
