A native son of Arkansas, JD Clayton delivers a delightful blend of country and rock that feels as grounded as the red dirt roads of his hometown. With Blue Sky Sundays, his sophomore album and first with Rounder Records, Clayton steps up as producer, capturing the immediate vitality of his live shows while spinning stories that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. The result is a record that feels like a sun-drenched drive with the windows down - effortlessly cool, yet full of heart.

Following the success of his 2023 debut Long Way From Home, Clayton’s latest finds an artist hitting his stride. Recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios and mixed by seven-time Grammy winner Vance Powell (Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton), Blue Sky Sundays conjures the unpolished spirit of ’70s rock while embracing the movement of the road. “Life’s messy, and music should be too,” Clayton says. “I wanted this record to feel real - like you’re right there in the room with us.” The album kicks off with “Let You Down,” a slow burner that explodes into a high-octane jam, capturing the chemistry of Clayton’s road-tested band. “We’d been touring so much that the band was dialed in,” he explains. “I wanted to highlight each player’s strengths, so producing it myself felt like the natural next step.”

Born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Clayton’s roots run deep. Inspired by his grandfather’s bluegrass picking and his own years leading church music, he honed his craft through college gigs and weekend trips to Nashville, recording songs that captured the soul of small-town life. His big break came unexpectedly during the pandemic, when a landscaping gig in Music City gave him the space to write what would become his debut album. “I’d sit in the back of the truck with my headphones on, scribbling lyrics while we drove from job to job,” he recalls. “Now, every time I pass a tree I planted, it feels like a piece of that journey is still there.”

While Long Way From Home leaned toward folk, Blue Sky Sundays taps into Clayton’s love for rock legends like the Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Standouts include a smoldering cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” and a Southern-fried take on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Mississippi Kid,” reimagined as “Arkansas Kid.” Elsewhere, “High Hopes & Low Expectations” delivers world-weary wisdom, while “Dirt Roads Of Red” mixes Southern rock with piano-driven swagger. And on “Dance Another Dance,” Clayton channels the blues with a love song inspired by his cousin’s real-life second-chance romance. The album’s title comes from a lyric in “Slow & Steady,” a song that captures the carefree spirit of teenage summers.

Since moving back to Fort Smith with his wife and two daughters, Clayton has found a sense of peace that permeates the album. “There’s a handful of records I turn to when I need a pick-me-up,” he says. “If this album can do that for someone - if it can turn their day around in a matter of seconds - that’s the best feeling in the world.” With Blue Sky Sundays, JD Clayton proves that sometimes, going back home is the best way to move forward.