"Afraid of Flying" video and single are out! ✨

Friends! Happy Friday to you, and happy release day to “Afraid of Flying,” the song that I wrote during a Nashville Blizzard on the same day that someone texted me from the pre-televised Grammy awards and said, “Congratulations, you just became a Grammy winner.” When I tell you that the path to releasing this song and its corresponding album has been long, I’m not kidding. Today is a big deal for me; thank you for sharing in it!

Rock and Roll Globe has premiered the video and published an interview with me about the story of this song. You might be surprised by it; that’s all I’m going to say. This and other tales will be told in the book of essays I’m publishing with the album. Pre-orders are open!

If this is the first you’re hearing about the album:

Conversations with My Other Voice, is a back-and-forth between a younger version of me and me now. The idea to make the record was inspired by five songs I didn't get to record in my previous solo music chapter; I thought I'd track them and quietly release them as an EP, but when I sat down with them again, I found that I wasn't the woman who wrote them anymore. The stories had changed, and so had my feelings about them. So, I wrote five songs in response and updated the perspectives. It ended up being a set of conversations, hence the title. A memoir-in-songs. “Afraid of Flying” is one of the original songs! The full album will release on September 23rd.

While I’m thrilled and proud to report that Conversations is the first of my solo albums to be entirely written and produced by me, there are some invaluable contributors that need to be acknowledged here. The band on this album is absolutely part of the story, and without their presence in my life, I might not have made this particular project at all. Here are the geniuses who lent their time and talents to the work:

The next single comes out on July 15th! Pre-save “The Melody” and have it show up in your music feed as soon as it’s released!

Thank you so much for being here,

Buick Audra

Hey I’m afraid of flying up in the air, but I do it anyway

Hey there! I’m so glad to be able to share this news with you! The lead single from my forthcoming solo album is releasing on June 17th! The track is called “Afraid of Flying,” and I’ve been waiting a long time to sing it to you.

My new album, Conversations with My Other Voice, is a back-and-forth between a younger version of me and me now. The idea to make the record was inspired by five songs I didn't get to record in my previous solo music chapter; I thought I'd track them and quietly release them as an EP, but when I sat down with them again, I found that I wasn't the woman who wrote them anymore. The stories had changed, and so had my feelings about them. So, I wrote five songs in response and updated the perspectives. It ended up being a set of conversations, hence the title. A memoir-in-songs. “Afraid of Flying” is one of the original songs! The full album will release on September 23rd.

Photo by Anna Haas

I wrote “Afraid of Flying” during a Nashville blizzard; I was at the end of a years-long collaboration with another woman and was ready for the next chapter to begin. It’s about looking at what belongs to you from the pile of rubble and getting on down the road with it. If the courage and the songs were yours, take them with you. Leave the rest.

You’ll have the opportunity to get more of the story in the book of essays I’m publishing with the album!

Until then, pre-save the single if you’d like it in your new music feed the day it comes out.

This project has been a quiet dream for yeeears, waiting for its moment. Here she comes.

Thank you so much for being here,

Buick Audra

Nashville show opening for Will Hoge on October 8th!

Hey, friends! Thank you all so much for the “Lullaby of Loathing” love! I appreciate all who have listened, watched, shared, added to playlists, and spun on the radio! I made my own Spotify playlist for the song if you’d like to check it out. It’s a work in progress. Also, I did actually have “I think I hate you” pins made. I did. An outgoing message to that special misogynist in your life. You can get them on Bandcamp, and they come with a download of the song!

My shows earlier this month were a great time; I’m so glad I went. And speaking of shows, I have one more very soon! I’m pleased to announce that I’m opening for awesome Will Hoge on October 8th, at one of his two Nashville shows! You can buy tickets for the show here! I’ll have Lex Price, Jerry Roe, and Kris Donegan on stage with me. Join us if you’re in town!

9.12.21 // Westside Bowl, Youngstown OH // Photo by KM Creatives

I’m sure I’ve said it one million times, but it’s been so meaningful for me to release this series of songs in recent months after ten years away from the solo work. Thank you for receiving them. My full-length album, Conversations with My Other Voice, will come out next year. Can’t wait for you to hear it. I did an extensive interview with The License Lab over the Summer, in which I discuss the album. Check it out if you’re interested!

In the meantime, my band Friendship Commanders has some cool stuff coming up this Fall! Please follow what we do for those announcements, but I can tell you that there’s new music very soon, and also some tour dates!

Thank you for your support and attention! As always, I wish you courage, clarity, and fire.

Buick Audra

"Lullaby of Loathing" is out today & shows begin tonight!

Hello, friends!

My new single “Lullaby of Loathing” is now on a streaming platform near you! You can watch the video for it via Music Mecca who have kindly premiered it today! They have also published an interview with me about this single and how it fits into the bigger picture of the solo work I’m releasing right now. I hope you enjoy it!

The video was lit entirely by candles, and features Kris Donegan, Lex Price, Jerry Roe, and myself. Jerry Roe directed, shot, and edited the video. Shout-out to my fellow witches of the world!

If you would like to purchase the single, you may do so via Bandcamp.

I’m celebrating the release of “Lullaby” by playing some shows out of town, starting tonight! I’m so looking forward to playing a full band set—and I can’t wait to see Aaron Lee Tasjan, too! All dates below.

September 10 - The Outpost, Knoxville TN - full band show - supporting Aaron Lee Tasjan

September 11 - Buzzbin, Canton OH - solo show - Femme Fest

September 12 - Westside Bowl, Youngstown OH - solo show - with Jay Byrd

September 24 - Americana Fest, Nashville TN - panel - A Conversation on Substance Abuse and Addiction Resources in the Americana Community // With Lilly Hiatt, Megan Barry, & Dr. Pete Harris; moderated by Chelsea Crowell

Thank you for your support and attention! I wish you courage, clarity, and fire.

Buick Audra

September events & a new single announced!

I’m pleased to announce “Lullaby of Loathing,” coming to you on September 10th! This is the third and final of the freestanding singles to be released before I start releasing work from the forthcoming album. This one concludes the series, with fire. When I wrote this song, I thought, I can’t release this. People don’t want to hear a woman say these things. I very nearly put it on the shelf. But I’ve had a change of heart. Whether or not anyone else wants to hear me say these things, I want to say them.

When I walked away from my solo work years ago, I did so for a number of reasons. Some of them were internal, but some of them weren’t. Some of them had to do with toxic behaviors of other people, not the least of which were unfit men in gatekeeping positions in the Nashville music community. They’re everywhere. Throw a stone, you’ll hit one. This is my stone. Please pre-save the single!

Photo by Anna Haas

I’m also thrilled to share these September solo events! I’ll be celebrating the release of “Lullaby of Loathing” at these shows, along with the other singles I released earlier in the year. Details below!

September 10 - The Outpost, Knoxville TN - full band show - supporting Aaron Lee Tasjan

September 11 - Buzzbin, Canton OH - solo show - Femme Fest

September 12 - Westside Bowl, Youngstown OH - solo show - with Jay Byrd

September 24 - Americana Fest, Nashville TN - panel - A Conversation on Substance Abuse and Addiction Resources in the Americana Community // With Lilly Hiatt, Megan Barry, & Dr. Pete Harris; moderated by Chelsea Crowell

That’s the news for now! I appreciate your attention and support. Can’t wait to share the new song with you. More soon,

Buick Audra

"Maybe I'll Fly Instead" is out!

Thank you for being here! My new single is out today! “Maybe I’ll Fly Instead” is my second single in this chapter of my solo work. The song is about rising above family dynamics and choosing a path that offers more personal freedom and self-worth. It’s about autonomy. Stream it everywhere!

The track was written and produced by me, and of course, it’s me on guitar and vocals; I am joined by Kris Donegan on additional guitars, Lex Price on bass, and Jerry Roe on drums, percussion, and vibes. I recorded my vocals, but the full band was tracked by Dan Knobler; mixing was handled by Collin Dupuis; mastering was done by Dan Shike. Anna Haas shot the cover photo.

I’m delighted to share the video for “Maybe I’ll Fly Instead” with you, as well! The video is a single shot, done at sunset on Tybee Island, Georgia. We had a very narrow window of time with which to make this happen, but we were given the gifts of light, birds, a child and parent, magic, and a bloodmoon. Look for the full moon at the very end of the video; there was a total lunar eclipse seven hours later. Jerry Roe masterfully shot, directed, and edited the video. We hope you love it! Huge thanks to Americana Highways for premiering the video earlier this week!

I’m so grateful to have your attention and support. If you feel moved to share the work, it would be quite appreciated. I’m a one-woman show over here, doing my best. I send you my love and respect! Go fly.

Buick Audra

Americana Highways premieres the "Maybe I'll Fly Instead" video!

Hello, friends! 

I’m so happy to share the video for “Maybe I’ll Fly Instead” with all of you! Huge thanks to Americana Highways for the premiere love! Thrilled to be featured here with this song about autonomy and breaking family cycles.

This subject is easier for me to sing about than talk about. It’s taken me years to get to a place where I can say that I come from cyclical silence, punishment, and shame. It’s happening in my life right now as I type this. I’m grateful to the version of me who was able to write this song about it. It’s always a surprise what comes from within. Sometimes it’s hope and power. 

Please enjoy this single-shot video that Jerry Roe directed and shot on beautiful Tybee Island! I had to get back to the Atlantic for this one, to borrow courage from it. Jerry’s vision for this was perfect.

All my love and thanks to the folks who played on this track: Kris Donegan, Lex Price, and Jerry Roe. Thank you all for always showing up and bringing your best selves to my work. Thanks and appreciation to Dan Knobler who tracked the band, Collin Dupuis who mixed, and Dan Shike who mastered! Thank you for helping me make this song sound like my Miami childhood. Love to Anna Haas for the cover photo! 

The single releases on all platforms on Friday! Pre-save now!

Thanks for being here!

Buick Audra

"All My Failures" is in the world!

Friends!

Thank you all for being here. I am so thrilled to share my new single “All My Failures” with you! She is my first proper solo release in ten years. Stream it anywhere and everywhere!

“All My Failures” came to me in my sleep about a year ago. I woke up and heard the chorus as clearly as you’ll hear it on the track. The song is about the middle-of-the-night panic attacks I’ve lived with for years. Months later, I recorded it with some of my favorite musicians on the planet. Here’s the band: Jerry Douglas, Lex Price, Jerry Roe, Bryan Sutton, and myself. The great Trina Shoemaker mixed it, and Dan Shike mastered it. Anna Haas took the cover photo as well as all press photos for the release. What an absolute pleasure to work with all of them.

We also made a video for the song; it premiered in Rolling Stone earlier this week! They named “All My Failures” as one of the best Country songs of the week! Jerry Roe directed, shot, and edited the video—and did such a beautiful job with it.

I wrote an essay about the origins of both my panic attacks and the song. The fantastic literary site, Brevity, published it today! I hope you enjoy it.

Last, there is one small piece of merch for this release: Failure Mail. I’m hand-writing out all of the things I’ve considered to be my failures, and then I’m mailing them out—releasing them to the world. If you’d like one, you can buy them exclusively from Bandcamp! Each card comes with the song, too! The lyrics are also up on Bandcamp.

Thank you for celebrating today with me, It means the world! I look forward to sharing more work with you in the coming months. For now, please enjoy “All My Failures.”

Buick

Rolling Stone names "All My Failures" as one of the best Country songs of the week!

Friends! I am beyond thrilled to share this news with you. Rolling Stone has named “All My Failures” as one of its picks for the week. They’re debuting the video in advance of the official release date, this Friday, April 23rd (pre-save here)! Huge thanks to them and to Jon Freeman for honoring the work in this way!

My love and gratitude to Jerry Roe, who wrote, shot, and edited the beautiful video, and who loved me through the process of realizing this pivotal work of mine. Immense gratitude to the brilliant and generous musicians who joined me for the track: Jerry Douglas, Lex Price, Jerry Roe, and Bryan Sutton. Gratitude to Trina Shoemaker who mixed the track, and to Dan Shike who mastered it.

(And to younger versions of me: congrats, kid. We did it. We’re doing it.)

This song has been grown from seed, set out into daylight, protected from the elements, and watered at safe intervals. Here she is. Love and thanks for being here!

Buick Audra

JULY + AUGUST TOUR DATES FOR FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS // SOLO PERFORMANCE ON FRET BUZZ

Hi there!
My band has some upcoming Summer tour dates! We're also excited to announce the Nashville show at the end of the run on August 3rd with fellow local heavies, Howling Giant. Save the date, Nash! All are listed below.

If you'd like to receive notifications about when Friendship Commanders are coming to a city near you, follow them on Bandsintown!

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I performed a new solo song called “Pocket-Sized Friend” on a new web series by Mike’s Music called Fret Buzz! The show is about songwriting, guitar players, vintage instruments, and coffee. Mike’s Music is a terrific music store with two locations; one in Cincinnati OH and one in Covington KY. The Covington spot has a sound stage and they’re hosting this new series there! I was on the third episode, which airs on August 1st. Subscribe to their YouTube channel here and stay tuned for updates!

That’s all for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

-BA

UPCOMING FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS TOUR DATES:

7.21.19 // Highlands Tap Room // Louisville KY

7.22.19 // Cobra Lounge // Chicago IL

7.23.19 // Buzzbin // Canton OH

7.24.19 // Sanctuary // Detroit MI

7.25.19 // Westside Bowl // Youngstown OH

7.26,19 // Milk Boy // Philadelphia PA

7.27.19 // O’Brien’s Pub // Allston MA

7.28.19 // Apohadion Theater // Portland ME

7.29.19 // Brooklyn Bazaar // Brooklyn NY

7.30.19 // Wonderland // Richmond VA

7.31.19 // Slim’s // Raleigh NC

8.01.19 // Caledonia Lounge // Athens GA

8.03.19 // Little Harpeth Brewing // Nashville TN