Back Down South

Music Monday – Mikky Ekko

Photo via Dallas Gilliam

If you love Rihanna, like I very much do, then she may have been your introduction to Mikky Ekko. Their song “Stay” from her recent album Unapologetic, is so solid…and all over the radio. Their performance of it at The Grammy’s was one of the stand outs for me – simple and beautiful.

Though “Stay” was Mikky’s first-charting material, he’s not new to the scene…just new to me. Born John Stephen Sudduth in Shreveport, Louisiana, the singer/songwriter and record producer has settled in Nashville and is signed to RCA Records.

His recently released EP Tracks has got it all for me, and “Pull Me Down” is perfect. Seductive songwriting with a sick beat? Done. I love the original track, but if you know me at all, you know I’m a remix lover to the core, and the Ryan Hemsworth Remix of “Pull Me Down” takes this already incredible track to another level. You should’ve seen the way I bounced around at 47 seconds when that beats kicks in for the first time. Good Lord, I love it so much!

Stream: “Pull Me Down (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)”

03 Pull Me Down (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)

And now, go listen to the original. SOSEXY.
Buy Tracks on iTunes.

Cheers

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite cocktail you’ve recently made:
I invited some of my dear friends over to make drinks and watch the Beyoncé documentary on HBO. There was a cute girl there who loves St-Germain who I may or may not have wanted to impress with a cool cocktail. This is what I came up with..

muddle 1/8th lemon, 2 strawberries, & 1 mint sprig
add 1/3rd St-Germain, 3/4 simple syrup, 2-3 dashes of lavender bitters and 2 oz of your favorite gin
shake and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice
garnish with a lemon wheel + mint leaf

Now would ya look at that:

Speaking of making cocktails… Jamie helped takeover the “Drink This” series when I was in Nashville last week. We’re posting all the deliciousness we made next week, so stay tuned!

Music Monday – Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Part II

Photographed by Jamie Clayton

They are no strangers here, so I’m keeping this short and sweet.

You’ve seen Drew. You’ve seen Ellie (and again). You’ve seen them together. And now they’re back, because their new album Good Light is out (on iTunes now and in stores tomorrow). We are so proud of these guys for dominating iTunes, and putting out yet another beautiful piece of art. The album has so many highlights for me, but “A Place To Lay My Head” is my favorite track, showcasing so much of what I love about their music.

Stream: “A Place To Lay My Head”

1-08 A Place To Lay My Head

Let’s let Drew take it from here…

Where did you record Good Light:
We went to Ardent Studios, in my hometown of Memphis. It’s a very historic studio, everyone from Bob Dylan to ZZ Top to The White Stripes has worked there. I always wanted to go home make a record in the historic Studio A room.

Drew’s favorite track:
“Tennessee”

Ellie’s favorite track:
“The Wine We Drink”

Describe Good Light in 5 words or less:
Place. Heart. Longing. Woman. Shadow.

How does this album differ from your previous:
I wrote all the songs alone, except for some writing with Ellie and Nathan. But no outside voices this time around. I wanted to see what I had to say, or needed to say, without letting other voices, both musically and lyrically, tell me where to go. We also recorded in a much simpler, straightforward fashion. No “wall of sound” with guitars and strings, just basic parts. We wanted it to sound more like what we sound like when we play live.

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Buy Good Light on iTunes.
Make sure to check out their tour, which is about to swing back south!

Krystal

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Portsmouth, Virginia

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

What do you miss most about Virginia:
My family and my Alma Mater, The College of William & Mary. I feel incredibly relaxed when I’m in Virginia. When I go home, I truly rest my mind and my body. I have an incredible collection of memories as I spent from the time I was born till I was 22 years old in Virginia. I LOVE my life in Nashville but there is nothing like going home.

Now would ya look at that:
Post lunch at West End Cafe.

  • Ann Taylor blazer.
  • Zebra scarf from Fornash.
  • Calvin Klein dress. “This is my go-to feel good dress. Red is a powerful color. My grandma would have loved me in this dress as red was always her favorite color so I think about her when I wear it. I’ve worn it to speak in front of hundreds of people at the Association for Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting, for Valentine’s Day, post inauguration day as FLOTUS inspired me to step up my red game, and just when I need a pick me up.”
  • William & Mary Cypher Bangle, a gift from her aunt upon graduation. “I love this place and like to keep it close to me.”
  • Boots from Boot Country. “Purchased during one of my first weekends as a resident of Nashville, 3 pairs of shoes for the price of 1 means that I’m buying shoes.”

Antoine

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Raised in:
Washington D.C.

Lives in:
Montgomery, Alabama

How living in Alabama has influenced your style:
Living in the southeast where spring and autumn have been replaced with extra helpings of summer, I’ve learned to incorporate lightweight fabrics. Madras, seersucker, and gingham are my absolute favorites. Oh, and the bow tie! Without which, no Southern Fraternity man’s closet is complete.

Now would ya look at that:

Hoss

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Raised in:
Tomball, Texas

Lives in:
Jasper, Georgia

Favorite Southern sweet treat:
I’m a simple desert guy, and it doesn’t get any more simple than ice cream. In my opinion, Texas makes two of the greatest ice creams known to man. Blue Bell will always hold a special place in my heart, and Cookies & Cream is my go to. However, the Mexican Vanilla at Amy’s Ice Cream, mixed with Oreo’s in a shake, is my all time favorite, and I never visit Austin without getting one.

Now would ya look at that:
Mark’s newest jacket, which is over 50 years old, is one of the greatest things I’ve found in a guest room closet. It belonged to my grandfather (“Hoss”), a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Music Monday – Luke James

A couple weeks ago, I posted this video on Twitter/Facebook with the bold statement “Every time Luke James hits the high notes in ‘I Want You,’ an angel gets its wings.”

And I really think so.

Luke James, a New Orleans native, is my latest R&B obsession. James has written for Bieber and Britney, opened for Beyoncé, and was nominated for a Grammy (Best R&B Performance for “I Want You”). Spend an hour like I may or may not have watching live YouTube videos of him and you might just become as obsessed as I did. Preceding his official album, which will be released this year, he released Whispers in the Dark, a 10-song collection that you can get for free. I love it all.

Get “I Want You” on iTunes.

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Subscribe to Go Back Down South, my Spotify playlist for all the songs featured here.

Drink This – Elderflower Manhattan

The Drink:
We love St-Germain and are always trying to find news ways to use it. Until now, I’d only mixed it with bourbon in a Traditional Elderfashioned (a drink that’s been a hit in our house). I saw the Elderflower Manhattan recipe on Slash Food and made it immediately…and loved it. Put your 2 oz Bourbon (I used Buffalo Trace), 1 oz St-Germain, 1/2 Dry Vermouth (Dolin), and 2 dashes Angostura bitters in a shaker, add ice, shake it up, and strain into a chilled glass.

Now, here’s a way to spice it up…use Cinnamon St-Germain. When Jamie suggested I make some, this was the first drink I wanted to try it in. I picked up a mini bottle, so not to tamper with my main bottle, added 3 cinnamon sticks, and let it sit for 24 hours before tasting it. And wow…is it good. It’s not too overpowering, but just the right hint of cinnamon mixed with elderflower. In this cocktail specifically, it adds a nice cinnamon smell with a faint cinnamon taste, and takes it to a whole new level of delicious!

The Glass:
Crate & Barrel martini glass.

The Attire:
Monogrammed L.L. Bean flannel pajamas…because sometimes we drink in our pajamas!

Paige, Part II

Photographed in Austin, TX

Raised in:
Sugar Land, Texas

Lives in:
Austin, Texas

Favorite bar(s) in Austin:
Violet Crown Social Club because it’s dirt cheap, serves seasonal Lagunitas beers, and it’s a short bike ride from my house. Whip In because they have amazing beer on tap, tasty noms, and it’s a lovely stroll through my neighborhood. Contigo (which is technically a restaurant, not a bar) because they serve tasty cocktails and they don’t make you feel like a jerk for ordering one.

Now would ya look at that:
Paige second shot a wedding with me and then took me to Violet Crown (mentioned above) where I drank $4 Bulleit’s.
See also: Paige, Part I

  • Necklace – a Christmas gift from her Mom. “It used to have three triangles but given my inability to properly care for my possessions, it broke. So now it’s just me and two triangles. I still dig it.”
  • H&M cardigan.
  • Nasty Gal top.
  • BDG Twig High-Rise jeans.
  • Shoes – “People ask me all the time where they’re from and I feel like a jerk because I can never remember…”
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