Photo credit: Alex Loops

Mandolin Orange shares new track
“Hey Stranger”
New album Blindfaller out 14th October

“Known for their beautifully crafted songs, as well as for their straight-forward yet elegant performances.”  NPR’s “Folk Alley”

“… the incredible musical bond between Marlin and Frantz… [is] an innate chemistry that’s been  honed in the studio, strengthened by the road, and refined by time.”   – Paste

Acclaimed North Carolina-based band Mandolin Orange—about whom No Depressionrecently raved, “The voices of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz were seemingly destined to make music and beautiful sounds together in harmony…the music they make is nothing short of perfection”—debuts their latest single, “Hey Stranger,”

Listen and share “Hey Stranger” HERE

Their previous single, “Hard Travelin’,” premiered recently via PopMatters, who called the track, “a delightful mix of Americana, bluegrass and country.” See the post HERE and stream/share the song HERE.  Both tracks appear on the band’s highly anticipated album,Blindfaller, out 14 October via Yep Roc Records.

Stream the debut single “Wildfire” HERE.

While staying true to their Americana sound, the new album tackles modern day themes seen in our daily headlines. The North Carolina duo—comprised of Emily Frantz(fiddle/vocals) and Andrew Marlin (mandolin/vocals)—recorded the album in a one-week break from touring at Rubber Room Studio in Chapel Hill, NC. “We wanted different vibes and different intuitions on these tracks,” Marlin says, “and I feel like we really captured that.” To bolster their message and sound on Blindfaller the duo added a full band, which features Clint Mullican on bass, Kyle Keegan on drums, Allyn Love on pedal steel and previous collaborator, Josh Oliver, on guitar, keys and vocals. Speaking to their recording process Frantz notes, “We talked about the feel of each song and pointed out loosely who was going to be taking solos, but it was mostly a lot of fresh takes, a lot of eye contact and a lot of nods and weird winks.”

Founded in 2009, Mandolin Orange has built a noteworthy catalog of recordings. The band’s 2013 release This Side of Jordan garnered critical acclaim from NPR, who called the album “effortless and

beautiful,” and American Songwriter, described it as “honest music, shot through with coed harmonies, sweeping fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and the sort of unfakeable intimacy that bonds simpatico musicians like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.”

Their 2015 follow-up, Such Jubilee, furthered their standing with inclusion in Rolling Stone’s “30 Great Country Albums of 2015 You Probably Didn’t Hear,” NPR’s Folk Alley’s “Best of 2015 Listener’s Poll,” and Amazon’s “Best of the Next 2015.”  The record was #1 onMagnet’s “Top 10 Indie Roots Albums of 2015” and Paste called it “an album full of blissful moments.” 

On the road, the band has built a dedicated following with extensive touring including appearances at Austin City Limits, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and Pickathon.