Maeri Ferguson

Two records arrived in early pandemic days of spring 2020 that proved timeless but also timely — salves for a terrifying time: Jess Williamson’s hauntingly ethereal Sorceress and Waxahatchee’s grounded, gut-wrenching Saint Cloud. Both were the kind of songwriter albums perfect for privately smiling through tears, solitary walks, and

Accepting yourself as you are takes work, and for Courtney Marie Andrews, it meant opening herself up to possibility. It meant writing a song a day, giving in to romance, and all the things that made her uncomfortable. The payoff was more than just a privately held personal one. It

If the self-titled 2020 debut of Bonny Light Horseman (ND interview) seemed like a one-time thing for its singular magic and specialness, the pandemic only reinforced that notion, like it was all just a heavenly mirage. The beloved songs of that first go-round were savored and held close. But the

“Some people suffer from a social stage fright / Like the world is a sniper with a bright spotlight,” John Fullbright sings on “Social Skills,” a darkly humorous tune off The Liar, his first new album since 2014. Though he can find the funny in needing a little alcoholic lubricant to

Nikki Lane needed a break. The grind of a road warrior like Lane is not for the faint of heart, and after the release of her third album, 2017’s Highway Queen, she wasn’t sure another go-round was in the cards. Still, she kept busy, continuing to play shows,