Culture
Morgan Washam previews new album with new single ‘Mountainside’
By: Emily Votaw
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Jackson-based singer-songwriter Morgan Washam released a new single, Mountainside, today, offering the first glimpse of his forthcoming full-length album Peace of Mind, due out this spring. The warm, emotionally inviting Americana track marks Washam’s first solo studio release since 2015’s Blood Moon.
Washam will be familiar to many for his decades of contributions to the region’s musical community, primarily through long-time projects Peach Melba and Wildwood Franklin.
Mountainside blends twangy Southern vocals with understated yet confident musicianship, unfolding as a mid-tempo track that gently invites the listener to “fly a little bit higher.” Built around acoustic guitar and subtle rhythmic variation, the song balances pop-country accessibility with the emotional integrity of rootsy Americana.
Lyrically, the song favors simplicity and sincerity, with lived-in lines delivered through an unguarded yet technically polished vocal performance, resulting in a sound that feels grounded without becoming heavy and hopeful without tipping into sentimentality.
Washam wrote Mountainside in the fall of 2019 and began recording sessions in 2020 and 2021 before shelving the project for several years. He later returned to the material with renewed focus, completing the track through sessions split between his home studio in Jackson and recording spaces in Nashville.
A standout element of the track is its rhythm section, notably the drumming by veteran session musician Chad Cromwell. Cromwell has recorded and toured with artists including Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Stevie Nicks. His playing on Mountainside remains subtle but assured, providing a steady foundation that allows the song’s emotional arc to unfold naturally.
The track also features Billy Zehnal on bass guitar, a longtime Ohio musician and member of Wildwood Franklin since 2018, and Bradley Huffman on electric guitar, a longtime collaborator and Ohio University alumnus who previously performed with Washam in Peach Melba during their college years. Washam sings lead vocals, plays acoustic guitar, and produced and engineered the recording.
Peace of Mind will serve as Washam’s second studio album and will include additional contributions from bassist Jason Hogue and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Lombardo.
Washam and Wildwood Franklin will celebrate the album with a release show on March 6 at The Side Bar (24 East State Street), with the Caitlin Kraus Trio opening.
It is also of note that Peach Melba will also reunite for a performance at the same venue on April 25, marking the band’s first Athens appearance since Halloween of 2002. Washam has hinted that new Peach Melba recordings are in the works, and says he will announce additional live dates throughout the spring and summer.
Mountainside is available now. More information about Peace of Mind and upcoming performances can be found at morganwasham.com.