The Architect of the Anthem Steps Out: Bandana Cheyenna’s The Artist’s Pilgrimage: Act 1: The Dream
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
If you’ve turned on a radio or scrolled through social media in the last year, you’ve heard the handiwork of Bandana Cheyenna. As a co-writer of Dasha’s billion-streaming global juggernaut “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’),” as well as hits for Alexandra Kay and Magnolia Rising, Cheyenna (they/them) has spent years as Nashville’s “secret weapon.” But with the release of their debut EP, The Artist’s Pilgrimage: Act 1: The Dream, the architect is finally moving into the house they built.
This six-song collection is the first chapter of a four-part odyssey slated for release throughout 2026. Born from a two-year “pilgrimage” that saw Cheyenna living out of their car while exploring the American West, the EP is a “gender-free and genre-free” exploration of what it means to chase a mountain-sized ambition. Blending the cosmic folk of Joni Mitchell with the sharp, modern country-pop of Kacey Musgraves, Cheyenna’s sound—which they jokingly call a “three-way queer hippie song child”—is the breath of fresh air the genre has been waiting for.
Track-by-Track: Climbing the Metaphorical Mountain
1. God and the Crickets Co-written with MaRynn Taylor and Blake Ruby, this opener serves as the mission statement for the “Pilgrimage.” It captures that specific, lonely vibration of a nomadic life—seeking the divine in the silence of the wilderness. It is vulnerable, atmospheric, and sets the stage for a journey that is as much internal as it is physical.
2. Interlude (Instrumental) The only previously unreleased track on the project, this instrumental piece (co-produced with Herbie Mortera and Rob Lowman) acts as a sonic palate cleanser. It’s a moment of wordless reflection that allows the listener to sit with the weight of the “Dream” before the EP shifts gears into more driving territory.
3. Anyhow (feat. Adam Wendler) A standout collaboration with Canadian folk-pop artist Adam Wendler, “Anyhow” is the anthem for the persistent. Born from a simple note in Cheyenna’s phone, the track evolved into a conversation about creative devotion. The hook—“The only time we really have is now, Anyhow”—is a poignant reminder to seize the moment, regardless of the obstacles on the path.
4. Against The Grain This haunting, “outlaw-esque” track is Cheyenna at their most defiant. Featuring spooky vocal layers and a signature guitar lick from Wendler, it’s a song about rejecting the “norms” of society, religion, and family. For an artist who grew up in the cornfields of Ohio under strict religious traditions, “Against The Grain” feels like a hard-won victory cry.
5. Man Who Moves Mountains A solo write, this track leans into the folk-roots of Cheyenna’s father’s record collection (think Dan Fogelberg and John Denver). It’s a stripped-back, soulful meditation on power and perseverance, showcasing Cheyenna’s ability to tell a “mountain-sized” story with just a few chords and a heartfelt vocal.
6. Back To Light The EP closes with a soaring Americana-pop anthem. Written in a Polish writing camp, “Back To Light” is a masterclass in resilience. It tackles mental health with grit and grace, mirroring the arduous climb out of depression. It provides a hopeful conclusion to Act 1, leaving the door open for the “pilgrimage” to continue in Act 2.
Artist Spotlight: The “Hippie Cowboy” of Music City
Bandana Cheyenna isn’t just a songwriter; they are a cultural force. A 1999 baby who spent their childhood secretly listening to country radio, Cheyenna has navigated a remarkable path from Ohio to the red carpets of the People’s Choice Country Awards (where they won 2024 Female Song of the Year).
By bringing queerness and diversity to the forefront of the Americana landscape, they are proving that the “Dream” is big enough for everyone. As Cheyenna puts it: “I have a story to tell, and I wanna give it my all. I really have been working towards this my entire life.”