KASSI ASHTON - Straw - MCA Nashville/Interscope Records

Kassi Ashton has been widely recognized as one of the most talented young artists on the country music mainstream spectrum for the past few years.  It’s hard to believe, but she is just now set to release her highly-anticipated debut album in about a month.  The ACM-nominated songstress continues to build anticipation for the forthcoming record with the release of a brand-new song.  “Straw” is available now, both digitally and on all streaming platforms, via MCA Records Nashville.

Written by Ashton along with Lori McKenna and Luke Ldaird, “Straw” tells the tale of heartbreak following the end of a relationship.  The dramatic details are articulately and flawlessly described through poetically-vivid imagery, putting the listener in the narrator’s heart and mind as she croons her way through the devastating minutiae of a happily-ever-after’s nightmare demise.  Ashton had just endured a breakup of her own, and the potential vibe of the song immensely drew itself to her.

“This is the oldest song on the album,” Kassi said.  “I was at a writing camp, and I had just broken up with my boyfriend and I hadn’t seen Lori (McKenna)in a while, so I was telling her about the breakup: ‘Well, the straw that broke my back was…’ And she goes, ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to write that…’ I just looked at her and started crying.  I wrote it right there with Lori and Luke (Laird) on a baby grand.”

The lyrics are expressively-depressing but eerily-relatable for those of us who have experienced heartache, while Kassi’s powerful vocals accompanied by a gentle guitar create the perfect ambiance for the disposition of the track’s inferences.

“My shoulders would hold ya

And the gravity of the blame

Heart broke, no joke

Do we really have to give it a name

My back aches, my bones break

I was the only one willing to change

Who cares what made it heavy anyway

The straw”

In a short time since being formally recognized as a true rising country star, Ashton has created a diversified catalogue between anthems, aggressive hooky melodies, and now, subtle, sentimental ballads.  She continues to prove that she can do it all, and the sky is the limit for her musical creativity.

This beautiful tale of heartbreak further adds to her already-impressive resume of artistry, which encompassed the genre as a whole while garnering praise and respect from fans, critics, and fellow artists alike.  Serving as a follow-up to “Son Of A Gun”, released just last month, “The Straw” is perhaps the final preview of her upcoming debut record, ‘Made From The Dirt’.  The 10-track effort is due out September 20^th, also featuring the previously released standout tracks “I Don’t Wanna Dance,” “Called Crazy”, and “Drive You Out Of My Mind”.

(Review Written By: Chad Carlson)