I’m not always a fan of country music. Yet I’m all about “Rusty Nail,” which Yuin/South Coast singer-songwriter Felicity Dowd says is her “countriest” release yet. I think the reason it speaks so strongly to me is because it comes from such an authentic place. Felicity didn’t overthink this one. The organic way it kind of spilled out of her while she sat in a campground before a festival helps it feel so natural, no matter what genre it leans into.
“I cut my foot on a rusty nail was the first line I wrote,” Felicity said. “It was completely random – I was just sitting around before a festival and having a bit of fun writing. Then I realised it actually hinted at something I’d been going through in my life. It started as this random idea, and then the rest of the song just came from there. It was almost reminiscent of Pony or Dolly Parton – that old country vibe. And when I started playing it, I had so much fun. I thought, let’s lean into it. Let’s get some fiddle. Let’s get some mandolin.”
This is also one of the first recordings Felicity’s done without backing vocals. It gives it an extra layer of grit and immediacy that I’m really into. It might be a bit of a left turn for Felicity, but I hope to hear her playing more in this space.
Image used with permission from Bec Gracie Publicity