Maya de Vitry is a Nashville singer/songwriter who is a little bit country, folk, indie rock, and Americana. She released her fifth and latest album, All My Faith, on July 24, 2026. Not surprisingly, she displays all those influences mentioned above. Themes of love and acceptance – particularly self-acceptance resonate throughout the album.
Maya says, “I’d like my music to feel like you are invited into a lush living forest or into a remote river canyon where suddenly you are stripped of not only modern conveniences but also modern distractions. Where you can feel the essence of your own humanity and those around you. Where suddenly a stranger’s story becomes interesting, or where you might choose teamwork and problem solving and creativity over dogma. Where reciprocity and care start to feel more natural than just about anything else.”
The songs come across as if Maya is experiencing them in the moment. And that is exactly what she wanted. Her lyrics paint vivid pictures of life as it happens. “I want to let you in with all my faith” from “All My Faith” is one example.
“There’s Nobody Else” is another. It is a love song like you rarely hear. We sometimes relive old memories and old pain then lash out at someone close to us. We may hurt them deeply but our need and love for them is even deeper. Of course, Maya says it much more eloquently. I look forward to chatting with Maya soon.
Irish singer/songwriter Glen Hansard tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident on July 29, 2026, outside of Dublin. He had recently released two albums that now serve as a “best of” compilation.
On April 24, 2026, Glen released Don+t Settle (Vol. 1 – Transmissions East) followed by Don+t Settle (Vol. 2 – Transmissions West) on June 26. Basically a double album, the 22 songs were recorded in studio over two nights in April 2025 in Berlin’s Funkhaus in front of a live audience.
“I’ve always been more comfortable on stage than in a studio.,” Glen said at the time of the albums release. “I love making records. I love the process. But the song lives before an audience. A song needs witnesses. It’s where I feel like I can really grab hold of it. And know it – the way that it’s meant to be known.
“So to record this album in front of an audience was incredibly gratifying. It gave the songs a new lease of life. One always hopes the songs will land, take root and mean something new. Beauty is in the ear of the behearer.”
The albums feature songs from Glen’s solo career, his time with his indie rock group The Frames, and his partnership with Marketa Irglova in The Swell Season. There are no retakes, no overdubs, no auto tune, and no editing. So what you hear is what he gave. And what he gave is astounding.
The music world was stunned and saddened by the tragic passing of Irish singer/songwriter Glen Hansard. Hundreds of mourners filled St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, including Bono, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Declan O’Rourke, and actor Chris O’Dowd. Bruce Springsteen said on Instagram he was “heartbroken” at the loss of “a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.” Many of us shared Bruce’s grief.
Hailing from Moore, Oklahoma, McKennan Pomeroy – who goes by Ken Pomeroy – is of Cherokee descent. She lately has been getting quite a bit of attention following tours with Lukas Nelson, Iron & Wine, John Moreland, and others. Her take on Richard and Linda Thompson’s “Wall of Death” made its way onto the Twisters soundtrack, while Hulu’s Reservation Dogs featured her song, “Cicadas.”
Ken became infatuated by John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” at the tender age of 11. Her stepmother burned a CD for her with just the song on it 18 times. She listened to it over and over. It opened up a whole new way of experiencing music for her. She decided she wanted to provide that experience for other people.
Thus, a singer/songwriter was born.
Like the best of singer/songwriters do, Ken weaves tales based on experience and self-reflection. And those tales are brought to life through the vocalization of emotion. Translation: She makes you feel you like you are not alone because she went through something similar to what you experienced.
Cruel Joke, released on May 16, 2025, on Rounder Records, was Ken’s second studio album. It was well received with “Stranger” and “Flannel Cowboy” among the tunes gaining particular attention.
Ken will release her third studio album for Rounder on August 21, 2026. Entitled, Tonight’s News, it features a touching rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos).” According to the folks at Rounder, the album promises a “reimagining of a handpicked, eclectic collection of songs that shaped her artistry. Performed live with no overdubs and the band gathered in a circle, each track captures a raw, authentic moment preserving the spontaneity, warmth, and intimacy at the heart of every performance.”
