The only thing out of place on Casey James Prestwood’s new single, “Out of Place,” is its bright country waltz. It’s a fun, foot-tapping tune if you don’t listen closely, but the song’s lyrics reveal a darker reality.
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“‘Out of Place’ is an autobiographical dark story of a friend in the throes of an overdose,” Prestwood tells American Songwriter. “Luckily, they lived. I really wanted to do something like a ‘Houston’ vibe by the Gatlin Brothers meets T-Rex, but all housed in a classic country shuffle format.”
He achieved that sound perfectly with country’s latest sensation Sierra Ferrell lending her crisp, twanging vocals to the background. Friends, Prestwood and Ferrell both played together in the Nashville band, The Cowpokes, so crafting a song as intimate as “Out of Place” came naturally.
Well, I rolled into Atlanta with guilt ridin’ on my back / Well, I thought maybe I’d see you, babe / I never knew I’d see you like that / Stretched out in a bathtub / Your eyes are all rolled back, the pair sing in a vintage drawl against the shuffling arrangement.
“Like I said, the song is kind of dark,” Prestwood continues, “and about halfway through recording it, and listening to the narrative so many times, my producer, Justin Trevino, who is blind, blurted out, ‘Did they live?’ It brightened the room when I told everyone that they did.”
Prestwood’s forthcoming album, Where I’m Going is Where I’ve Always Been, is set for release on June 16. The record will not only feature his polished songcraft but will also see some of the best country players join in on the 12-track triumph.
“It’s an honest group of songs written from the heart, telling the truth, taking risks, but nodding to tradition,” he shared.
Get a taste of the upcoming release with the new single, “Out of Place,” below.
Photo by Kaley Fluke / Courtesy of Sweetheart PR
