Like flowers on a finely tailored cowboy shirt, Joe Ray McDonald’s music effortlessly weaves together melody, emotion and precise flatpicking guitar!
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
With the release of his single “First Rains of May,” Joe Ray McDonald establishes himself as a compelling new voice in the Americana scene. This is the first taste of his upcoming sophomore album, Cowboy Cake, set for release in 2025. Hailing from Canada’s Ottawa Valley, McDonald’s music carries the weight and introspection of the genre’s greats, drawing a lineage that places him somewhere on the spectrum between the legendary Townes Van Zandt and the modern troubadour Tyler Childers.
The song delves into the sort of existential dread that defines classic Americana. The narrator, unable to outrun his inner demons, finds a tragic end. McDonald reveals the inspiration behind the track was a classic outlaw ballad, a story of a desperate man driven to crime to support his family. The title itself is a poignant and specific detail, referencing the exact moment of the narrator’s death. McDonald notes that he enjoys “singing from a dead person’s perspective,” a creative choice that imbues the lyrics with a haunting, retrospective quality. He also intentionally removed a verse to maintain a sense of mystery, allowing the listener to fill in the gaps of the narrator’s past, a storytelling technique often employed in filmmaking.
The meticulous attention to detail extends beyond the lyrics and into the production. McDonald began building the track in his home studio with bassist Chris Pond and drummer José Garcia. The recording then traveled to Nashville, where Colter Wall’s band member, Patrick Lyons, contributed overdubbed pedal steel and dobro, adding a rich layer of country authenticity. Further additions of Rhodes piano, harmony vocals, mandolin, and fiddle completed the intricate sonic landscape. McDonald’s decision to spend three months mixing the album himself speaks to his passion for every aspect of his craft, much like his filmmaking heroes Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone.
Ultimately, “First Rains of May” is more than just a song; it’s a carefully constructed piece of art that reflects the artist’s holistic approach to his work. Joe Ray McDonald’s commitment to constantly improving as a “songwriter, guitarist and human being” is evident in the depth and emotional resonance of this single. With “First Rains of May,” he is poised to join the elite group of Canadian singer-songwriters at the forefront of the evolving Americana genre.