Caylee Hammack is an indomitable spirit in country music, equal parts shrewd and lyrical songwriter and majestic vocalist, Hammack has that unique ability to capture the universal in the specificity of her lyrics. Now, she is set to release her debut record, If It Wasn’t For You, on August 14th and it is safe to say that you will be as addicted as us to this flawless new project.
From the opening vocal on her first single ‘Family Tree,’ it was safe to say that we were addicted to Caylee Hammack’s voice and have been waiting with baited breath for the release of her first full-length record. Having spent time as a staff writer at Universal, Hammack honed her songwriting chops and craft – the result being a debut record that is thoughtful, fiery and so unique in its sound and presentation that it could only come from an artist who truly knows her inner artistic essence.
The record opens with vintage-tinged track ‘Just Friends’ before developing into a more heavily rock-tinged ballad. The complexity of Hammack’s vocal should not be understated, riffing into an unfathomable range packed with character, from quieter moments to fire-fuelled highs. These sassy moments are what initially captivate and make Hammack instantly likeable. So ‘Redhead’ is a jewel in the record – the duet we didn’t know we had always needed with Reba. The song is as fierce as they come, as the two artists sing about raising a redhead
One of the early highlights on the record is stunning track ‘Looking for a Lighter.’ As Hammack told us in an interview last month, the track was inspired by her 23rd birthday and finding photographs of her ex in her kitchen junk drawer. The track is heartbreakingly universal about finding unwanted memories in unexpected moments. Hammack is an artist who truly knows who she is and what she wants, down to the specifics of the touches of sandpaper on the production – it is perhaps this that really demarcates her as a truly unique and special artist. Where sassy tracks like ‘Redhead’ make Hammack instantly memorable and likeable as an artist, it is these quieter moments that really showcase her tender artistry and her ability to capture the hearts and imaginations of her listeners in her thoughtful and poignant lyrics. So, ‘Forged In The Fire’ a track about creating yourself and growing up, ‘When does a phoenix learn how to fly? Do I get my wings when I stop asking why?‘ is so universal and powerful, a track about Hammack finding herself as an artist. The imagery that Hammack conjures through just a few lines is her trademark and what makes her so special as a songwriter and artist.
The record is as varied as they come – with anthemic ‘Preciatcha’ followed by empowering track ‘Sister’ that is uplifting and provides a true showcase of Hammack’s vocal talents.’When did you make yourself lonely? Thinking that you ain’t got nobody, you’ve got me.’ Hammack’s vocal soars with a more pure tone in this track in this majestic and heart wrenching track, before heading into another rock-tinged sassy track -‘Just Like You.’ ‘Imma be just like you.’ A gutsy vocal in the final part of the track gives it fire.
With Mikey Reaves as her producer, the duo have accomplished something very special – pulling a huge breadth and diversity of sound under one immensely polished and refined umbrella, seamlessly pulling together the more sensual ‘King Sized Bed,’ the bombastic ‘Family Tree’ and ‘Small Town Hypocrite’ together. ‘Family Tree’ was Hammack’s debut single and it stands the test of time as a joyous celebration of family and small town life. ‘It don’t matter cos’ the roots run deep. Ain’t nothing gonna shake our family tree.’ Whereas, ‘Small Town Hypocrite’ is the jewel in the crown of this record, an autobiographical and painfully honest depiction of Hammack’s first love and what went wrong. ‘Took all my dreams and I put them in the box, phantom pains for the wings I lost… seven years and never got the hint, ain’t that some s**t.’ The track is intensely personal and poignant and Hammack’s vocal is heartbreaking here, nearly cracking with the emotion of the single by the last verse.
Hammack’s shrewd eye for detail is clear in her choice to bring in friends Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes on ‘Mean Something’ – two of the most unique voices in country music right now join her for this flawless track about wanting to mean something, and their passion shines through.
‘Gold’ is the most stripped back moment on the record, an interlude before the final track – ‘New Level Of Life.’ This last rounds out the record and feels like a middle finger to Hammack’s ex from small town hypocrite, and is a joyous celebration of your own successes.
Hammack has created something truly majestic with her debut record, and it is a credit to Mikey Reaves to have pulled this together. An incredibly diverse record in terms of lyrics and sonically, yet the result is packaged together seamlessly in a fiery, sassy yet heartfelt record. Take note, Hammack’s trajectory goes way beyond Nashville and 2020.
