Strung Like a Horse's latest album, Dirt, captures the band's signature blend of Americana and indie rock, delivering a raw and heartfelt narrative centered on community, connection, and the grounding power of relationships.
Strung Like a Horse, the Chattanooga-based band known for their high-energy blend of Americana and indie rock, is back with their second studio album, Dirt. Self-produced and recorded at Morningstar Studios in Philadelphia, the album is a raw, authentic reflection of the band's roots and relentless spirit. Leading the charge is the single "Find Your Way Home," a track that frontman Clay Maselle described as the heart of the album.
"‘Find Your Way Home’ ties into the meaning of the whole record, Dirt," Maselle explains. "It’s simply about grounding yourself in community and relationships that give your life meaning. Being there for others, especially when you feel like they are lost. Life can be a whirlwind. ‘Now we’re all flying while trying to hang on,’ and we need to really hold tight to our family and friends that need us for support. Not trying to control them, but being there when they find their way back home. Whether that’s a physical place or a mental state of being."
Dirt follows the band’s 2020 debut, WHOA!, which was produced by multi-Grammy-winner Matt Ross-Spang at the Sound Emporium in Nashville. That album, recorded mostly in a single pass without overdubs, captured the unfiltered energy of Strung Like a Horse’s live shows and resonated deeply with audiences, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and landing on several year-end best-of lists, including the Americana Music Association’s Top 100 Americana Radio Airplay Albums of 2021 and No Depression’s Best Roots Music Albums of 2020.
With Dirt, Strung Like a Horse continues to build on the momentum of their previous success. Their unique blend of storytelling, roots instrumentation, and alt-rock edge, influenced by the likes of John Hartford, Split Lip Rayfield, and Old Crow Medicine Show, is on full display. Maselle’s Mississippi-bred, Chattanooga-based songwriting delivers a raw, unapologetic narrative that speaks to the human experience, from the chaotic to the serene.
The group has built a loyal following through relentless touring, with performances at major festivals like Bonnaroo and AmericanaFest, as well as high-profile gigs supporting acts like Old Crow Medicine Show and the Infamous Stringdusters. Their live shows have earned them a reputation as a must-see act, blending grit and grandeur in equal measure.
CMT aptly summed up the band’s appeal: “Strung Like a Horse’s claim to fame is delivering Americana music with grit and grandeur.” American Songwriter echoed the sentiment, noting, “Each component plays a part in the story delivery, without one filler track.”
With the release of Dirt , Strung Like a Horse continues to remind us of the power of music to connect us to our roots, our communities, and ultimately, ourselves. Their message is clear: in a world that often feels chaotic, it’s the people and places that ground us that matter most.