title of his last album, his Zoolander press photos shot at the gym, and even his very stage name suggest he’s telling a joke with an awfully long punchline. But on his new album
, the Canadian creative born Afie Jurvanen couldn’t be more genuine. Or as they love to say in country music, “authentic.”, as its title implies, is a collection of country-inspired ballads fleshed out with steel guitar, thoughtful lyrics, and a guest spot by Vince Gill. Released today, it’s a gorgeous listening experience — and a reminder that the best country music doesn’t have to come from Nashville’s insulated Music Row.
. “At the end of the chorus, I say, ‘Don’t polish up what should stay raw/It’s just a song.’ And what I’m realizing is that the closer I can hew to that philosophy, the happier I am with the outcome and the more open I’m leaving it for the listener to discover.”“It’s just junk food. And junk food is easy to access. We all know it’s not very good for you,” he says. “When you have poor ingredients, you have to mix them up all together and try to convince people that this is some elevated thing.