Arts-Entertainment
Meet QUENBY—country’s newest outlaw and advocate makes a fierce mark with her self-titled debut, out this Friday. Throughout the album, the Montana-based songwriter and activist forges her own path, empowering others to steer clear of society’s rigid expectations in favor of something way more radical—being yourself. A radical truth-teller and firebrand, QUENBY has spent her life starting over; born in Wayland, shaped by Boston, Hollywood, and Austin, she now calls the scenic solitude of Livingston home. In each place and on each journey, she chased a different dream like acting, getting a degree from Harvard, and even running for public office.
She grew to love the charged-up songwriting of Texas artist Kris Kritofferson, so she made her first single from the record a proper reimagining of his song “Best Of All Possible Worlds.” It celebrates the country star's legacy of activism and challenging the status quo, while flipping the song in an exciting new way.
Much like Kristofferson, QUENBY is a radical changemaker; she recently ran for political office in her Montana district to bring progressive ideals to a community in need. Throughout the album, she showcases her Americana roots and brings them into full context of today’s challenging times—the underdog is every marginalized person, and she is ready to fight for them.
With influences like Wanda Jackson, Dwight Yoakam, and Rosie Flores, QUENBY stands out as a lifelong wanderer who finally laid creative roots within herself after years of asking for permission from everyone else. QUENBY is also inspired by artists who celebrate loyal friendships and community like Jason Eady and Courtney Patton as much as she is by those that use their platform to speak out against injustice, like Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell.
A patchwork of cosmic country tunes and warm Americana tells QUENBY’s many stories of hard-won wisdom and emotional rebirths. Corduroy Roads offers a spiritual call to action: don’t miss your turn. Resistance is a battle cry written for the times when Quenby picked the harder road just to prove something to herself. Whether she sings about her brother’s death on Absaroka, or taking back your dignity on Wined & Dined, QUENBY offers life lessons through a wholly human lens. Elsewhere, Drifter finds her conflicted between life on the road and at home, and Washington Waltz centers around the different ways people choose to live their lives. Altogether the record celebrates the gratitude QUENBY has for the path she’s on.
From start to finish, QUENBY makes music that is unfiltered, urgent, and deeply real. One listen and it’s clear that she’s not trying to fit in with the Nashville scene—she plans to re-write the rules instead