Dierks Bentley has released his new single, “Bourbon in Kentucky,” to radio on Tuesday (May 28th), and it’s the first taste of his new album, Riser, which is due in stores this fall. “Bourbon In Kentucky” explores the dark internal emotions of loss and disconnection told through an intense vocal performance by Bentley and haunting backing vocals from Kacey Musgraves. The singers’ emotions are matched sonically with scraping guitar tones and a rhythm section based in tension and mystery. It’s a gripping account of separation and the dramatic steps many take to kill the pain that accompanies it.
“I’ve never heard anything like ‘Bourbon’ before,” Bentley said in a press release. “I really love the angst of it. I’ve been there before where you can’t drink your way through a heartache or a broken heart. There’s such an aggressive lonesomeness in this song.”
Dierks thought it was a perfect beginning for his forthcoming album, Riser. “‘Bourbon’ came around and it kinda has this darkness to it and this loneliness to it, but it kind of rocks, and Kacey Musgraves singing harmonies. And it just opens the door to a whole new dimension, and it just was different. I think when people hear that, they won’t be able to pigeonhole the record and be like, ‘Oh, I know exactly what he’s doing here; what he’s trying to do.’ It’s gonna be like, ‘Wow! I really have no idea what is going on here. It’s so different from what I’ve heard in the past.’”
For a behind-the-scenes look into the studio for the recording of “Bourbon in Kentucky,” visit RollingStone.com.
AUDIO: Dierks Bentley talks about his brand new single, “Bourbon in Kentucky,” and why he felt it would be a great first release from his forthcoming album, Riser, due out this fall.
Dierks Bentley (Bourbon in Kentucky) OC: …being heard together. :38
“It was just something different that my hardcore fans would be surprised to hear. Maybe just put out something new and different and exciting. ‘Bourbon’ came around and it kinda has this darkness to it and this loneliness to it, but it kind of rocks, and Kacey Musgraves singing harmonies. And it just opens the door to a whole new dimension, and it just was different. I think when people hear that, they won’t be able to pigeonhole the record and be like, ‘Oh, I know exactly what he’s doing here; what he’s trying to do.’ It’s gonna be like, ‘Wow! I really have no idea what is going on here. It’s so different from what I’ve heard in the past.’ But, hopefully…it peaks their interest to check out the whole album, because it’s definitely an album project. It’s not just a bunch of songs thrown together. There’s an importance to the whole project.”
