Celebrated Americana singer/songwriter Israel Nash is gearing up to release his dazzling sixth album Topaz on March 12. The follow-up to his 2018 release Lifted, Nash recorded the candid, textured album at Plum Creek Sound, his studio assembled from an old quonset hut near his home in the Texas Hill Country. Topaz marks the first album Nash has recorded mostly on his own, both taking his time and relishing his newfound access to immediacy, punching the red button moments after an idea hit. “It's allowed me to capture sounds and ideas, to really get stuff out of my head and into the world so quickly,” Nash says.
On Topaz, Nash is lyrically ruminating over the current political divide, while also delving into more personal topics such as family and home. The album is both raw and refined, contemplative and gripping, soft yet forceful.
Hailing from the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, Nash moved to New York in 2006 and released his debut LP, New York Town, in 2009. After relocating from the big city to the small rural town of Dripping Springs, Texas, Nash released his third album, the psychedelic country-rock effort Rain Plans, which drew comparisons to Neil Young. Nash further honed his psychedelic folk sound on Silver Season in 2015, followed by Lifted in 2018.
In this At Home Live@EXT session above, Dave Michaels chats with Israel about his personal and musical journey. Hear special performances of "Rain Plans," "Dividing Lines," "Down In The Country," and "Canyon Heart."
Watch Israel perform these songs below: