Press

A bleak, dust-coated slice of Appalachian folk recorded straight to a field recorder.

Recorded in the Tennessee hills using a basic Zoom H6 field recorder and some warm preamps, Homer Doak's 'Hookworm' is a heavy, completely unpolished piece of dark country. The track relies entirely on a sharp, Chet Atkins-style fingerstyle guitar pattern and a raspy vocal delivery to trace the grim struggles of Doak's grandfather in the old rural South. Rather than hiding behind clean studio production, the song leaves in the physical creaks of the acoustic guitar while recounting real family tragedies, including a fatal mule kick and a sibling's breakdown.

By mixing traditional Appalachian Carter scratching with a cold, hollow atmosphere reminiscent of early post-punk, 'Hookworm' feels completely disconnected from modern commercial folk. It is a dry, dusty recording that lets bleak historical imagery and survival do all the heavy lifting.

Red Devil Radio Listeners have put "Fail Asleep" on the charts for the first time.

Homer Doak made his debut on one of our stages and we already can’t wait to hear more. The singer-songwriter is working on new music, so give him a follow!

Wow, what a voice!! Homer Doak's vocal tone has such a deep and rich texture, immediately I feel that it's embracing me like a thick blanket on a cold night. His vocal style delivers the lyrics in a way that sounds almost conversational, with a gentleness and clarity that feels like being told a night-time story while sitting next to the fireplace.

His vocals pair perfectly with his guitar playing that feels light and effortless, a feat that can only be achieved when someone is truly skilled and comfortable on their instrument. Every note feels precisely written and executed, it feels safe to relax and enjoy the ride knowing I'm listening to someone who really knows their stuff.

The album production has a fittingly stripped back and natural sound. In addition to the guitar and vocals, there is only a shaker, one with such a clear and calming sound that it's worthy of its own ASMR video. I deeply appreciate that this album is free of the autotune that plagues the modern country music scene.

Despite the fact that every track is made with only vocals, guitar, and shaker, each song has its own identity and feeling which is a testament to his songwriting skills - both lyrically and compositionally.

My favorite tracks were "Amazing Grace", "Fail Asleep", and "Prescribe Me".

"Amazing Grace" - With some surprising twists to the melody and harmony, it made this traditional song feel fresh again. I love the texture of his voice when it hits the really deep bass notes!

"Fail Asleep" - The track that gives me the strongest sensation of listening to ASMR. Everything blends together in such a way that makes me feel like I'm being pulled into a dream.

"Prescribe Me" - I love the chords and the relatability of the lyrics about mental health struggles.

Overall a great album for anyone who wants to be transported to a cozy log cabin in the mountains, or is looking for a friend to keep them company on a lonely evening.

From The Article:

"Homer Doak is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and self-produced artist from the rugged heart of Middle Tennessee, nestled between the country music sprawl of Nashville and the misty ridges at the edge of Appalachia. His music is forged in the crucible of dark country, southern gothic, folk, and blues; a rich and shadowed blend that reflects not only the geography of his home, but also the landscapes of memory, history, and personal reckoning."