A California-based label enters the scene with a first record featuring eight tracks that merge bluegrass instrumentation with reggae rhythms.
The deep longing of bluegrass and the laid-back groove of reggae always seemed like natural companions to us. That friction defines the entire album.”— Scott Diehl, Principal, RootsGrass Records
RootsGrass Records, the newly established independent label under The Storytellers Band, LLC, has officially announced its launch alongside its inaugural project: “A Call to the Wild,” the first album from California-based musical act The Howlers, which dropped Aug. 21 and is now streaming across all major platforms. Over eight songs, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin drive bluegrass-inspired melodies against one-drop reggae beats and heavy basslines — the record moves from the easy-going satisfaction of “Good Enough For Me” to the gradually intensifying caution of “The Bill Comes Due” and the sharp humor of “Platitudes.”
“The deep longing of bluegrass and the laid-back groove of reggae always seemed like natural companions to us,” said Scott Diehl, Principal, RootsGrass Records. “We kept banjo, fiddle, and mandolin leading the way, switched the rhythm section to a one-drop, and kept rewriting until the two styles stopped clashing. That friction defines the entire album.”
The album's tracks were penned by Scott Diehl, Michael Garcia, and Lance Frantzich. Vocal and instrumental performances were produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, then evaluated, selected, and polished through numerous iterations.
“The lyrics, the narratives, the emotion — those begin on paper,” Diehl said. “AI tools craft the performances, and our role is discernment: which take conveys the emotion, which arrangement gets discarded. The tools are fresh; the artistry is timeless — songwriting instincts, storytelling sense, and personal taste shape everything the technology produces. The opening track is called ‘AI Music Is For Me’ because the approach is part of the narrative.”
"We created the label we wanted to put music out on," said Michael Garcia, Principal, RootsGrass Records. "No higher-ups deciding a fiddle doesn't suit a reggae rhythm."
"The bass is where these two genres connect. Bluegrass moves forward while reggae holds back — once we let go of trying to make the low end serve both at the same time, the tracks began to breathe," said Lance Frantzich, Principal, RootsGrass Records.
Track list: “AI Music Is For Me,” “Where You Want It To Go,” “Dragonfly,” “High Mountain Wisdom,” “The Bill Comes Due,” “Good Enough For Me,” “Platitudes,” “A Wild Thing Woke.”
“A Call to the Wild” is accessible on all major platforms, with complimentary previews and MP3 downloads offered at TheHowlersBand.com. Complete tracks, lyric sheets, and interview opportunities are available to media upon request.
About The Howlers
The Howlers are a California roots project rooted in a straightforward fusion: bluegrass instrumentation paired with reggae rhythms. Their debut album, "A Call to the Wild," delivers eight tracks of banjo, fiddle, and mountain harmonies riding an island-inspired beat. The lyrics are crafted by humans; the recordings were brought to life using AI production technology. "A Call to the Wild" is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Find out more at TheHowlersBand.com and youtube.com/@HowlersBand.
About RootsGrass Records
RootsGrass Records is an independent label and part of The Storytellers Band, LLC, dedicated to releasing roots music that respects tradition while remaining free from its constraints. "A Call to the Wild" serves as its inaugural project. The label was established by Scott Diehl, Lance Frantzich, and Michael Garcia. Deep roots. Fresh directions. Learn more at rootsgrassrecords.com.
Scott Diehl
RootsGrass Records
info@rootsgrassrecords.com
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