Anna-Louise reviewed the single “Paper Cut” back in May (link), and we are returning to the music of Verna Margaret as she is releasing her new EP on August 8. An advocate for LGBTQ and social justice, her press information tells us that “Virginia Beach-born artist Verna Margaret bridges the gap between modern country and its traditional roots, blending classic instrumentation with sincere, selfless storytelling. Her love for music began early—she wrote her first song at age three, inspired by a baby bird leaving its nest. By eight, she was captivated by the world of country music, finding comfort in watching CMT and absorbing everything she could about the genre. From ages 14 to 22, Verna Margaret honed her craft as part of a rock band, gaining invaluable experience and shaping her artistic voice. In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles and has since reconnected with her roots, writing and developing her sound, and chasing the dreams that first formed in front of a TV screen. Verna Margaret draws lyrical inspiration from songwriting legends like John Prine and Lucinda Williams, channels the musical spirit of Jerry Jeff Walker and Emmylou Harris, and evokes the timeless vocals of Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt. These influences have helped her forge a sound that’s both personal and universal, deeply emotional yet refreshingly individual. Often retreating to Joshua Tree to write, she embraces her genre-spanning background while staying true to herself, resisting the urge to conform.”
Although the EP has three songs only, each track is above the four minute mark, which means we have just under 13 minutes of listening time.
“White Shutters, Red Door” opens matters up with a folk styled track, wistful and with this little fiddle break late song that changes direction nicely. She reminds me of an old troubadour of old, travelling cities and stealing kisses as she goes. There was something of the gypsy traveller in the track and I know that when Anna-Louise had a listen to this one she referred to it as a track of lonely roads and haunting refrain. It has a rustic feel about it and I liked the medieval style harmonies at the end.
“Paper Cut” is up next, which we listened to and Anna said of this “I was taken into a sway along to the music country track that I would love to hear late at night played with the sun setting over the sea! The vocals are dreamy, the music gently uplifting. I would suggest country radio would gain from giving this a spin, it has a decent kick to it.” I will add a little and say that I enjoyed the conversational style of the song and I agree that I would love to hear this one live.
“Lookin Back” is a stripped back track, an acoustic guitar and vocal providing an intimacy of the delivery. It is a gently romantic song, one to simply sway along to and enjoy with a glass of wine.
So, whether you’re chasing sunsets, reminiscing with a glass of red, or dreaming of fiddle breaks under desert skies, Verna Margaret’s EP is the kind of short-but-sweet journey worth taking. Three tracks, thirteen minutes, it’s country with a twist of poetry, a dash of wanderlust, and a whole lotta heart.
And we hope you liked the review, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise pages, shops, editorials and even a poetry page. Content is free here, but we work hard for you, and to support the magazine, please show your appreciation on the support button below and buy me a coffee!
By Stevie Ritson