Bridges (Mickey Guyton EP)

Last updated
Bridges
Mickey Guyton--Bridges.jpg
EP by
Mickey Guyton
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)
Genre Country pop [1]
Length19:00
Label Capitol Nashville
Producer
Mickey Guyton chronology
Mickey Guyton
(2015)		Bridges
(2020)		 Remember Her Name
(2021)
Singles from Bridges
  1. "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?"
    Released: March 6, 2020
  2. "Black Like Me"
    Released: June 2, 2020
  3. "Heaven Down Here"
    Released: July 24, 2020

Bridges is an extended play by American country music artist Mickey Guyton. It was released on September 11, 2020 via Capitol Records Nashville and contained six tracks. The EP was produced by Nathan Chapman, Karen Kosowski and Forest Whitehead. Bridges was Guyton's first EP release in five years and includes three singles that reflected her recent musical shift and recent events involving the COVID-19 pandemic and the various Black Lives Matter protests. The EP received positive reviews following its release and also charted Billboard 's Top Heatseekers chart.

Contents

Background

At the time of Bridges' release, Mickey Guyton had not released an extended play in over five years. [2] Guyton used this period to reflect on her musical identity. In an interview with The Washington Post , Guyton felt as if she was not being true to herself when she first began releasing music in 2014. She explained that her initial results in Nashville did not go to her expectations, which made her realize she needed to speak her truth. She started writing songs that reflected her experiences as a woman and a person of color working in the country music industry. [3] Guyton composed material for Bridges over the course of two years that reflected her recent experiences. She collaborated with new songwriters, such as Josh Kear and Jesse Frasure. [4]

Content and recording

Andrea Williams of the Nashville Scene described the content of Bridges as doubling "down on her desire to build a better world through her art." [5] Jessica Nicholson of Music Row stated that she "dives deep into her own experiences, hopes, and grave disappointments as a Black female artist" in her description of the EP's content. [6] The EP included four tracks produced by Karen Kosowski. One track was produced by Nathan Chapman and Forest Whitehead while a second track was co-produced by Kosowski and Whitehead. [7] Kosowski also co-wrote three of the album's tracks while Chapman wrote one track. Guyton co-wrote all six tracks. [1]

Bridges contains a total of six new tracks. [1] Included on the EP is "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?", a song Guyton released earlier in the year, [3] as well as "Black Like Me" a song that Guyton had first written in 2019. [8] The song was inspired by the book of the same name and discusses the experiences of Guyton growing up as a black woman. [6] Other songs on the album focus on different themes, such as "Rosé", which Taste of Country called "a drinking song for the women." [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Music RowFavorable
Nashville Scene Favorable
Off the RecordFavorable
Sounds Like NashvilleFavorable

Bridges received positive reviews from critics and journalists. Lauren Laffer of Sounds Like Nashville called it "Guyton's most powerful and moving work to date." [7] Andrea Williams of the Nashville Scene called it "classic Guyton" in relation to its production. Williams also commented on the album's material in comparison to music by other country performers: "The fact that a mainstream country artist can spend four tracks of six on an EP talking about anything other than breakups and beer is remarkable. Even "Rosé," Guyton's ode to the pink drink of choice for so many women, is less fluffy than it seems." [5]

Jessica Nicholson of Music Row praised the effort as well: "Mickey Guyton serves up six rounds of bold, elegant, emotionally nuanced music on the new EP—with more strength, fervor, wisdom, vocal and political prowess—and yes, playfulness—than many full-fledged albums." [6] Off the Record found that the album showcased a type of authenticity that was missing from current country music: "Simply put, Guyton’s EP is where country music needs to be in 2020, documenting the real human experience...This EP breaks your heart, puts it back together and helps you find peace all in one project." [10]

Release and chart performance

Prior to the EP's release, Guyton had performed "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee. It was Guyton's first radio seminar appearance since 2015. [6] The song was released as a single on March 6, 2020. [11] On June 6, 2020, Guyton released the second single off the EP, "Black Like Me". Guyton had originally intended to release it via promotion and marketing. However, following the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter protests, she decided it to release it via social media. Eventually, the song was picked by streaming sites such as Spotify, who included it on their country playlist. [12] On July 24, 2020, "Heaven Down Here" was released as the album's third single. [13] Bridges was officially released on September 11, 2020 via Capitol Records Nashville. [1] It was Guyton's third extended play to chart on the Billboard Top Heatseekers survey, where it reached number 23. [14]

Track listing

Bridges [1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heaven Down Here"
3:34
2."Bridges"
3:05
3."What Are You Gonna Tell Her?"
  • Banks
  • Emma-Lee
  • Guyton
  • Kosowski
3:13
4."Rosé"
  • Banks
  • Guyton
  • Kosowski
2:55
5."Salt"
2:39
6."Black Like Me"
  • Nathan Chapman
  • Fraser Churchill
  • Emma Louise Davidson-Dillon
  • Guyton
3:32
Total length:19:00

Personnel

All credits for Bridges are adapted from Allmusic. [15]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [16] 23

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesSeptember 11, 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Capitol Records Nashville [17]

Related Research Articles

Esthero Canadian singer-songwriter

Esthero is a Canadian singer-songwriter who lives in Los Angeles, California. The name Esthero refers both to the singer and formerly to the two-person team of herself and producer Doc McKinney. Esthero is a portmanteau of "Esther the hero"; she claims to have gotten the name by combining the name of the heroine (Esther) and last line of the movie from Sylvia Plath's novel, The Bell Jar.

Victoria Banks Canadian singer and songwriter

Victoria Wenonah Banks is a Nashville-based Canadian singer and songwriter. Her self-produced debut CD When You Can Fly was released on the On Ramp/EMI Canada label in April 2009. The CD earned Banks a 2010 Canadian Indie Award nomination and six nominations at the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) including Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Rising Star, making Banks the most nominated female artist of 2009. "The Wheel," the album's first single, reached the Top 20 on the Radio & Records Country Singles chart earning her a 2010 Canadian Radio Music Award nomination. Music videos for "The Wheel" and "When You Can Fly" received airplay on CMT Canada.

Rissi Palmer Musical artist

Rissi Palmer is an American country music artist. Palmer debuted in 2007 with the single "Country Girl", which made her the first African-American woman to chart a country song since Dona Mason in 1987. "Country Girl" peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and served as the lead-off single to her self-titled debut album, which also produced the No. 59 hit "Hold On to Me". Also in 2008, Palmer covered "No Air", an R&B hit originally performed by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. She is also the host of Apple Music Country's show Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer.

Jessie James Decker American country pop singer

Jessica Rose James Decker is an American country pop singer-songwriter, former reality television personality, and entrepreneur. At age 15, after auditioning for and being rejected by most of the country labels in Nashville, Tennessee, Decker began working with Carla Wallace of Big Yellow Dog Music. One of her songs attracted the attention of Mercury Records, which offered her a recording contract. She released her debut album, Jessie James, in 2009. A few years later in 2013, she starred with her husband Eric Decker, a wide receiver in the National Football League, in the E! reality show Eric & Jessie: Game On.

Linda Martell American country and R&B music artist

Linda Martell is an American singer. She became the first commercially successful black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the Grand Ole Opry. As one of the first African-American country performers, Martell helped influence the careers of future Nashville artists of color.

Cassadee Pope American pop punk singer, songwriter

Cassadee Blake Pope is an American pop punk singer, songwriter, & musician. Pope was the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Hey Monday, with whom she released two studio albums & 3 EPs. Pope embarked on a solo career in early 2012, and released the EP Cassadee Pope in May 2012. She took part in the 3rd season of The Voice & became the 1st female winner on December 18, 2012. Her debut solo country album, Frame by Frame, was released on October 8, 2013 to a top 10 Billboard 200 charting. It debuted at No. 1 on Top Country Albums, with 43,000 copies sold in its 1st week.

Mickey Guyton American country music singer

Mickey Guyton is an American country music artist. Raised in Texas, Guyton was exposed to various types of music at a young age, and her material subsequently incorporates elements of contemporary country and R&B music. Moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 2011, she would later sign a recording contract with Capitol Records Nashville. In 2015, the label released Guyton's debut extended play (EP), Unbreakable.

Better Than You Left Me 2015 single by Mickey Guyton

"Better Than You Left Me" is the debut single from American country music artist Mickey Guyton. It was released to country radio on January 12, 2015 as the first single from her self-titled second EP (2015) and forthcoming debut studio album for Capitol Nashville. The song was written by Guyton, Jennifer Hanson, Jenn Schott, and Nathan Chapman. A re-recorded version of the song is included on Guyton's 2021 debut album Remember Her Name.

Maren Morris American singer

Maren Larae Morris is an American country singer. She has released two studio albums. Her 2015 extended play, Maren Morris, charted on two Billboard charts. Her major label debut album, Hero, reached number five on the Billboard 200 chart and number one on the Top Country Albums chart, and was certified platinum in the United States. Morris is also a member of the Highwomen, a group also consisting of Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby.

Dylan Schneider is an American country music singer and songwriter. He self-released his debut extended play, Wannabe in August 2016. Labelled "Country Music's Next Rising Star" by Billboard, Schneider has landed two EPs in the top 20 of the magazine's Heatseekers Albums chart in under a year without a label to support them.

James Edward Allen is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Broken Bow Records imprint Stoney Creek, for which he has released the two singles "Best Shot" and "Make Me Want To" and the 2018 album Mercury Lane.

Black Like Me (song) 2020 single by Mickey Guyton

"Black Like Me" is a song by American country music artist Mickey Guyton. It was released on June 2, 2020, amidst the George Floyd protests. It was included on her third EP Bridges, and her debut studio album Remember Her Name. The title of the song is taken from the 1961 novel of the same name by John Howard Griffin.

What Are You Gonna Tell Her? 2020 single by Mickey Guyton

"What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mickey Guyton, which was released on March 6, 2020, as the first single from her third EP Bridges and was subsequently included on her debut album Remember Her Name.

Boys (Dean Brody song) 2020 song by Dean Brody

"Boys" is a song recorded by Canadian country artist Dean Brody and American country artist Mickey Guyton. The song was co-written by Emily Reid, Matt McVaney, and Travis Wood. It was the third single from Brody's seventh studio album Boys.

<i>29</i> (EP) 2021 EP by Carly Pearce

29 is an extended play by American country music artist Carly Pearce. It was released on February 19, 2021, via Big Machine Records and contains seven tracks. The project was co-produced by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins. It is third music collection released in Pearce's career and her first extended play effort. Its lead single, "Next Girl", has become a charting country single since its release in 2020.

<i>Unbreakable</i> (Mickey Guyton EP) 2014 EP by Mickey Guyton

Unbreakable is an extended play by American country music artist Mickey Guyton. It was released on January 1, 2014 via Capitol Records Nashville and contained four tracks. Unbreakable was the debut album collection by Guyton and consisted of acoustic musical instrumentation. The album would receive positive reviews and reach positions on a music publication chart.

<i>Mickey Guyton</i> (EP) 2015 EP by Mickey Guyton

Mickey Guyton is a self-titled extended play by American country music artist, Mickey Guyton. It was released on May 26, 2015 via Capitol Records Nashville and consisted of four tracks. The EP was co-produced by Nathan Chapman and Dann Huff. It was the second extended play released in Guyton's career and contained the charting single, "Better Than You Left Me." The EP itself would reach charting positions on music publication charts following its release.

Heaven Down Here 2020 single by Mickey Guyton

"Heaven Down Here"' is a song by American country music artist Mickey Guyton. The song was composed by Guyton, along with Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. The track was produced by Karen Kosowski. "Heaven Down Here" was released as the third single off her 2020 extended play, Bridges. It received acclaim from critics and also featured a corresponding music video.

Mickey Guyton discography

The discography of American country music artist Mickey Guyton contains one studio album, four extended plays, nine singles, 11 promotional singles, one additionally-charting song, seven music videos and two album appearances. Signed to Capitol Records Nashville, Guyton released her debut extended play in 2014 titled Unbreakable. It charted at number 14 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers survey shortly after its debut. In 2015, the label issued her first single, "Better Than You Left Me". The song was her first to reach the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it peaked in the top 40. It also reached a similar position on Billboard's Canada Country chart. Guyton's self-titled second EP was also released in 2015, peaking at number 15 on the Top Heatseekers chart.

<i>Remember Her Name</i> (Mickey Guyton album) 2021 studio album by Mickey Guyton

Remember Her Name is the debut studio album by American country artist Mickey Guyton. It was released on September 24, 2021, via Capitol Records Nashville. A follow-up release to her extended play, Bridges (2020), the album includes the singles "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?", "Black Like Me" and a re-recorded version of her 2015 single, "Better Than You Left Me". The project centers around her personal and professional setbacks over the course of several years. Lyrical themes highlight Guyton's insecurities, anxieties while on her musical journey. The project received generally a favorable response from critics as well.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bridges: Mickey Guyton: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ↑ Collar, Mike. "Mickey Guyton: Biography & History". Allmusic . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 Yahr, Emily. "Mickey Guyton has been ready for this moment. Country music kept her waiting". The Washington Post . Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Hudak, Joseph. "'Black Like Me' Singer Mickey Guyton Plots 'Bridges' EP". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 Williams, Andrea. "Mickey Guyton Stands Strong on Her New EP Bridges". Nashville Scene . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nicholson, Jessica. "Mickey Guyton On Her New EP Bridges: "I've Said My Truth"". Music Row. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 Laffer, Lauren. "Mickey Guyton to Release 'Bridges' EP in September". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Houghton, Cillea. "Mickey Guyton Announces Bridges EP: This Is My Truth". Taste of Country. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Stefano, Angela. "Mickey Guyton on Finding, Keeping Faith in Darkness". Taste of Country. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "REVIEW: Mickey Guyton – Bridges (EP)". Off the Record. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  11. ↑ Shaffer, Claire. "Mickey Guyton Releases Devastating New Song 'What Are You Gonna Tell Her?'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Hight, Jewly. "Country Star Mickey Guyton: Why Being 'Black Like Me' Shouldn't Be Twice As Hard". NPR . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "In a Crazy World, Mickey Guyton Seeks "Heaven Down Here"". Country Music Television . Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Bridges chart history". Billboard . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Bridges: Mickey Guyton: Credits". Allmusic . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Mickey Guyton Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Bridges -- EP by Mickey Guyton". Apple Music . Retrieved 18 February 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.