A Western AF Video Playlist
New to Americana music? These four tracks from Western AF will help you understand its roots and resurgence.
Tunes from Willi Carlisle, Jade Brodie, Vincent Neil Emerson, and Brennen Leigh offer a soulful introduction to the YouTube channel's content. Read Meredith Lawrence's "We're Western AF" for the story behind the popular brand.•
“TULSA’S LAST MAGICIAN,” BY WILLI CARLISLE
Carlisle grew up in Kansas and Illinois and later moved to the Ozarks, where he became enamored of traditional folk music. He writes songs about queer love, capitalism, and the many characters he’s met on the road.
“TRAVELING MAN,” BY JADE BRODIE
Formerly a conductor with the Union Pacific Railroad, Brodie lives outside Winnemucca, Nevada, where she works on a ranch. She sings about her relationships and her work, including her position as a woman in traditionally male jobs.
“THE BALLAD OF THE CHOCTAW-APACHE,” BY VINCENT NEIL EMERSON
Singer-songwriter Emerson hails from Van Zandt County in East Texas. His music draws from his experiences, including growing up poor with a single mother and the forced sale of his Choctaw-Apache grandmother’s tribal land.
“OBSESSED WITH THE WEST,” BY BRENNEN LEIGH
Leigh’s performances include everything from ’40s rhythm and blues to cowboy ballads to classic country songs. The Americana musician was raised in Minnesota and is based in Nashville.
Meredith Lawrence is a New York–based writer and photographer. She started her career in local news in Oregon and Washington and is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School's Arts&Culture MA program. Her work has appeared in High Country News, Texas Monthly, and Vox.
