Little Big Town, the celebrated country music group, has unveiled their latest studio album, titled *It’s a Dying Art*, which became available to the public on 28 August. This marks the band’s twelfth studio endeavour and is imbued with themes of enduring relationships and the importance of traditional crafts, such as songwriting and community engagement.
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The band members—Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Phillip Sweet—are reflecting on their journey as they commemorate over 25 years together in the music industry. Westbrook remarked during a recent interview that such longevity among bands is becoming increasingly uncommon, a sentiment that ultimately inspired the album’s title.
Fairchild regards the release of *It’s a Dying Art* as the beginning of a rejuvenating chapter for Little Big Town. She emphasised the importance of harnessing their unique vocal talents and creativity. “Using our voices and our gifts to create something only we can make together feels significant,” she shared. Fairchild sees the album as a tribute to the simple yet profound acts of affection that keep relationships alive. She reminisced about cherished traditions such as note-writing, quilting, and even the act of bringing flowers from the garden to friends.
The band collectively expressed their hope to preserve not only the art of music but also other aspects of life and artistry that may be threatened in the modern age. Fairchild pointed out the value of creating “flawed art,” saying, “Making art that is flawed because that is art.” Schlapman added that community ties are particularly special in Nashville, where they enjoy deep connections with fellow country musicians.
Sweet noted that as members of Generation X, they find themselves gravitating back towards analogue experiences. Fairchild affirmed this observation, expressing a desire to teach younger generations about the craft of songwriting. According to her, it is essential to keep traditional artistic skills alive in today’s fast-paced digital environment.
The album features an impressive collection of songs, many of which were co-written by Fairchild. Sweet described the selection process as an embarrassment of riches, highlighting their long-standing philosophy that the best songs rise to the top. He remarked, “We’ve always believed that the best song wins,” indicating their natural inclination toward a cohesive storytelling experience through music.
Westbrook, who also happens to be married to Fairchild, added that her prolific songwriting was noteworthy during their creative sessions. He joked about her ability to consistently produce remarkable tracks that kept the band excited.
Another highlight of the album is its collaboration with fellow country artist Kelsea Ballerini on the track “Closing Time.” One song that the band is particularly fond of is called “Long Way to Your Heart.” Fairchild revealed that they had been sitting on this song for quite some time, and it was co-written with the renowned songwriting trio known as The Love Junkies, who were behind their hit “Girl Crush.”
Reflecting on the timing of unveiling “Long Way to Your Heart,” Fairchild conveyed her relief that it finally found the right moment to be included in an album. “It just didn’t work out until now. I’m so glad it did,” Westbrook agreed, highlighting the importance of a song’s placement on an album.
Fairchild mused about the common experience of not wanting to force a song’s integration into a record, explaining that they strive for a feeling of eagerness to perform every track live. “We can’t have any we’re like, ‘Wish I hadn’t cut that,’” she clarified, as Schlapman joined in with a light-hearted acknowledgement of past experiences.
With the new record now released, Little Big Town is set to embark on their *For the Art of It Tour*, which is scheduled to commence on 24 September. As the band takes to the road, they look forward to sharing their music with fans while celebrating the art of timeless songcraft that is so central to their identity.