Apr 22, 2008

Nashville, Tenn. April 21, 2008 - Steve Azar is returning to his Mississippi roots with the much-anticipated album Indianola, set for release by Dang/Ride Records on Tuesday, May 27. The bluesy, hard-biting country rock collection is the follow-up to his major-label album, Waitin' On Joe, which featured the No. 2 hit "I Don't Have To Be Me ('Til Monday)," and the Top 10 title track, which produced a #1 video on CMT featuring Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman.
 
Much excitement has been building around the album, as Azar has done most of the work in the seclusion and privacy of his own home studio. He not only wrote or co-wrote every song on Indianola, he also engineered and produced the CD, and can be heard playing slide guitar, mandolin and acoustic and electric guitar on several tracks.
 
"Having the studio and recording so much of the music at home lets me do all of the jobs I need to do-be a musician, a husband and a dad," Azar says. "This is the first time no one was there trying to hold my hand in the studio. But I knew how the songs were supposed to sound, and I just had to 'do my thing.'"
 
Indianola is an unexpectedly suave blend of Delta Blues, country soul and emotional lyrics. Azar describes the sound of the record as a fusion of his influences growing up in the Delta, along with those here in Nashville. The CD includes rocking tunes like "You Don't Know a Thing," and spans moods from philosophical meditation in "Empty Spaces," to funky blues-inspired numbers like "Crowded" and "Bluestune." There are stories that grip you on "River's Workin'" and "The Coach," southern rock tunes like "Flatlands" and lyrics inspired by struggle in "I Won't Let You Lead Me Down" and "What's Wrong With Right Now."
 
"Home" seethes with Delta heat, along with "Indianola," which also captures the influence of growing up deep in the South. And "You're My Life" is as beautifully straightforward and as deeply sincere a love song as you're likely to find. Rounding out the collection are two bonus acoustic tracks, "Mississippi Minute" and "Highway 61," both additional glimpses into Azar's past.
 
"Anytime I go back to Mississippi I just feel it - it's my true heritage," says Azar. "The longer I'm away the more it leaks out of me. There's a sound that's been developed that's very Delta, and this is the record that I needed to make at this time."
 
The 15-track collection was initially sold to fans when Azar went on tour with Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band last year and was very well received. Performing Songwriter called Azar 'Mississippi's answer to Bruce Springsteen': "Azar's smooth vocals have just a touch of smoky-think Keith Urban meets Rod Stewart. After one visit to Indianola, you'll want to be a permanent resident."
Indianola will be released by Dang/Ride Records on Tuesday, May 27 and distributed by Redeye Distributors. The CD will be available in stores nationwide and online music media outlets, including his newly renovated website, www.steveazarlive.com.