Photo byBroken Jukebox Media

Carolyn Shulman is prepping for the release of a new album.  It’s titled "Heart on a Wire” and has a drop date of September 20th, 2024.  But first, for those of you not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit o’ background.

Carolyn Shulman

Photo byBroken Jukebox Media

According to her official website and other online sources, Carolyn Shulman is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.  She is based out of Denver, Colorado.  Her rockin’ resume includes her premiere platter, “Grenadine & Kerosene” which dropped in 2021 and peaked at number 22 on the folk radio charts.  She was also “a finalist in the 2022 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase.” 

Signature Sound

Carolyn Shulman’s current signature sound is a melange of multiple music genres including Americana, bluegrass, folk, and rock.  Her influences include (but are not limited to) Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and Patty Griffin. 

"Heart on a Wire"

"Heart on a Wire” is a 10-track album of all original material written by Shulman who leads the way on acoustic guitar and vocals.  She is backed by an assortment of other artists including Christian Teele (drums), Bradley Morse (bass), Eric Moon (keys and accordion), Eben Grace (electric guitar), Enion Pelta-Tiller (fadolin and fiddle), Glenn Taylor (pedal steel guitar), Giselle Collazo and Jen Hitt (backing vocals), and producer John McVey (electric guitar, banjo, baritone guitar, high strung guitar, percussion,  acoustic guitar, and backing vocals).

Track by Track

The album opener is the softly sung song “Heart on a Wire.”  Clocking in at over five minutes, it is also the longest track.  Still, despite the length, the piece is free of meandering guitar solos and other musical filler.  It’s a strong lead-in and earned its place as the title track.  

The second selection is the song “Bolt Out of the Blue.”  It’s a melancholic, solid song-story about star-crossed lovers.  It’s warm, easy-going yet appropriately dramatic. 

The energy picks up on “All Burned Out.”  It’s an aptly hectic personal statement about life in modern times.  It’s radio-ready and wonderfully relevant.

The folksy, country-culled cut “Old Farm House " is a nostalgic number that takes us to the titular old farmhouse, where Shulman reflects on a simpler recent past in a musically memorable piece on “progress” and change. It’s already an early fave of the critics, too.

“Call My Heart Home” is a (ahem) heartfelt, tuneful tip of the hat to loved ones as well as a melodic, evocative emotional offering. It’s about knowing where you belong and that you are welcome there and is intimately infused with her personal warmth.  It is effectively both introspectively personal and universal.   

Not to be confused with the 2021 Niko Moon song of the same name, this “No Sad Songs” is, like all the other cuts here, an original.  It’s a rhythmic reflection thematically reminiscent of Lee Ann Womack’s turn-of-the-century track “I Hope You Dance” but with a more personal touch.  It is an exploration of loss and strength in the final face of adversity.  Lyrically, it focuses on the celebration of life lived over the sorrow of its ultimate end.

“Little Sparrow” follows.  This folksy single is a praiseworthy piece.  It’s a positive, pleasant Passer domesticus ditty wherein the bird begs the “sun to climb.”  Shulman told the press that the cut concerns “the unique and valuable things that each person contributes to the world.”

She concluded: “It’s a reminder that everyone has challenges, but that those storms are temporary, and we should strive to keep going even through hard times.  Although I was not consciously writing it with myself in mind at the time, I realize now it was exactly the message I needed to hear in order to keep moving forward with a career as a songwriter. I hope it inspires others to pursue their passions and keep their spirits up even through difficulties or setbacks.”

No, this “Sunflower Seeds” is not a cover of the 2016 Bryce Vine track.  It is an honest, emotional song-story apparently inspired by the plight of a Ukrainian refugee who (among other human moments) gives some soldiers sunflower seeds.  It is a tuneful tale of struggle and resilience.

Also included is the nigh-poppy number named “Little Reprieve.”  Complete with a lyrical list of little relatable roadblocks, this soundtrack-ready selection is a fun, effective offering about needing a break from a bad day.  Indeed, her cry for a good time is totally relatable and probably what makes it another early fave of fans and critics alike.

The album's endnote is “Eye to Eye” and it’s not a cover of the 1985 song by Go West.  This is yet one final effective example of Shulman’s artistic abilities.  It focuses on seeing others and being seen by them.  It is, in essence, a nuanced number about humanity and our attempts to truly and totally communicate with each other.

Overall…

Overall, this new work is a general testament to Shulman’s artistic evolution, blending poignant lyrics with skillful guitar-playing and rich, warm production work.  Her use of heartfelt themes, multiple music genres, and influences offer an insight into her inner-self and result in musical compositions that are rife with many memorable metaphors and lovely lyrical lines.  The songs stir deep emotions, gently challenge the listener, and explore character-driven stories, societal issues, personal reflections, and suggest the importance of the human connection.  So, check out Carolyn Shulman’s “Heart on a Wire” because it’s the perfect cure for when you feel “All Burned Out.”