Last Friday (May 9), Kristina Murray released her latest album, Little Blue. The nine-track collection is Murray’s third full-length and her first with new label partners Normaltown Records. The LP’s tracks dig into depression, loneliness, depression, and existential crises through the lens of a songwriter who is deeply influenced by country music’s cornerstone songsmiths.
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Ahead of the release of Little Blue, Murray sat down with American Songwriter to talk about the new album, her influences and more.
Kristina Murray on Learning to Love the Recording Process
Some may not understand how long it can take a collection of songs to see the light of day. Kristina Murray wrapped recording on Little Blue years ago. After the long wait, it finally hit digital streaming platforms last week.
“We recorded this album in February and April of 2023. So, it’s been a whole almost two years since it was finished recording. It’s just crazy how long all of that stuff takes,” Murray reveals. “It was pretty great. I love the recording process, which is something I’ve grown into. Initially, when I recorded my first record in 2013, I was so new to it that I was a little scared of it. But now, I’ve really grown into it and wish I could do it more often,” she says.
“With live performances, it’s just the one and that’s it. There’s a certain magic about performing live that I really appreciate. But with recording, to be able to be like, ‘That’s not quite right. I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on what, but let’s keep digging and find what it is I’m looking for,’ is amazing,” she explains.
“When I cut the vocal for ‘Fool’s Gold,’ I was so unhappy with it. I was just like, ’I hate this. We should throw it away and come back and record another day.’ But my producer was like, ‘I’m going to save this just in case.’ Then a month later, I came back and he played it for me. And I was just like ‘This is really great,’” Murray recalls. “It’s just such a fun process, and I feel lucky to get to do it with friends and really great musicians. I hope to be able to do it more consistently in the future.”
Classic Vocal Influences
It doesn’t take a deep dive into Kristina Murray’s discography to see that she is heavily influenced by some of country music’s greatest singers. There’s something truly classic and timeless about her voice and delivery.
“My favorite singer is George Jones, for sure. Early on in my musical learning, I studied a lot of my brother’s Emmylou records. So, basically, Elite Motel through Roses in the Snow. Those were my two biggest influences,” Murray reveals. “I just love really great vocalists. So, when I think about my peers like Erin Rae and Logan Ledger, who are both on the record. I also love the way Ronnie Van Zant sings. I’ve been compared to Patty Loveless before, that’s a high compliment. She’s a huge inspiration for me,” she adds.
Kristina Murray’s Favorite Songwriters
Little Blue proves that Kristina Murray is one of the most underrated songwriters in the country music world today. She has a way of grabbing the listener’s ear with unique turns of phrase and all but forcing them to listen to what she has to say. One example of this comes in the song “After Midnight Special,” when she refers to a crowded honky tonk bar as a “neonscape.” During our conversation, she revealed some of the songwriters who influence and inspire her.
“My favorite songwriter is probably Lucinda Williams,” Murray reveals. “It’s funny because I’ve never tried to write a song like her because I think that’s impossible. But I have some other peers and friends that I feel are writing like her. Willie Nelson is also a huge influence for me. Also, Patterson Hood, I really love the Drive By Truckers,” she adds.
“Some of my favorite classic songwriters are people like Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, Harlan Howard, Dolly Parton, Rodney Crowell, Dean Dillon, Dennis Linde, Dylan, Hank Cochran, Alan Jackson, and Charlie and Ira Louvin,” Murray says.
“I feel really inspired by my peers, too. Brennen Leigh is a huge inspiration for me now. She’s an incredible songwriter. Also, people like Neko Case, Katie Crutchfield from Waxahatchee, Lillie Mae, Jamie Wyatt, Ashley Monroe, Brent Cobb, Erin Rae, Logan Ledger, Alicia Gail, The Kernal, Corey Parsons, and Jessica Lea Mayfield.”
Murray’s Favorite Tracks from Little Blue
“They’re all so differently special to me,” Kristina Murray says when asked about her favorite song from Little Blue. “I feel like ‘Fool’s Gold’ is very autobiographical for me. It’s the most deeply sad. It dug deep into what I was feeling at the time. So, I feel like that was really special,” she says. “It has one kind of line that’s like ‘what if we didn’t live in a depressing pity party for ourself? What if we were able to explore our mind and emotions a little more and recover some of the light that you know is that and is coming but hasn’t shown itself for a while.’ So, I would say that definitely is very dear to me,” she adds.
“I really love how the song ‘Has Been’ turned out. When we went into the studio, I didn’t have a composition for it, necessarily. I had the chord progression. From what it was initially supposed to be to what it turned into is really special to me,” Murray recalls.
“Then, ‘You Got Me’ is a love song I wrote for my current partner at the beginning of our togetherness and courtship. So, that one has a special place for me as well.”
Little Blue, the new full-length album from Kristina Murray, is available to stream and purchase now.
Featured Image by Schuyler Howie
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