Mustangs of the West to Release “Time” – Album produced by Mark Howard (Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris)

February 7, 2020

(Los Angeles, CA) – February 7, 2020 – Southern California-based Mustangs of the West will release their debut album, TIME, on March 27, 2020 via Blue Élan Records. New single, “I Blame Love”, is available today on all streaming platforms.

An album more than 30 years in the making, TIME is a story of five women redefining Americana-infused country rock. TIME was produced by esteemed Canadian record producer/engineer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris) at the iconic Henson Recording Studios (formerly the historic A&M Records studios). Lead singer Suzanna Spring describes the decision to hire Mark, “Working with Mark was transformative. We needed a strong producer, and he just had remarkable vision for the songs.”

Featuring strong three and four-part vocal harmonies, the chemistry of the voices and instruments creates a powerful sound that is Mustangs of the West, drawing on both country and rock influences. The twelve songs on TIME, including nine originals, perfectly blend the Americana, California-country and rock influences of each of the band members to create a sound that is modern yet classic. First single and video “How Blue” pulls from the group’s Americana side with Aubrey Richmond’s violin intertwined with beautiful acoustic guitars, framing Spring’s angelic lead vocals. Current single, “I Blame Love”, showcases a Blues-centered vibe, allowing for Richmond’s darkly rich, lead vocals to wash over the listener. Sherry Rayn Barnett’s signature guitar licks, a deep groove from drummer Suzanne Morissette, and gospel harmonies from Spring and bassist Holly Montgomery complete the sound.

The all-female band first made waves in the burgeoning Los Angeles music scene, starting in the late 1980s. There had been an explosion of country-influenced music in the city for over a decade. A wild variety of styles, and bands ranging from the Screamers to Los Lobos, drew worldwide attention to the City of Angels. One of those styles, first labeled “cowpunk”, grew into a much bigger movement that included everyone from Dwight Yoakam to the Screamin’ Sirens. When the Mustangs (as they were known then) appeared, they immediately turned heads and developed an energetic following that tagged them as leaders of this new musical brigade.

Now named Mustangs of the West, band members have reunited to take up where they left off in the mid-’90s. The line-up features three of the original members, Sherry Rayn Barnett (electric guitar, vocals), Suzanna Spring (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), and Holly Montgomery (bass, vocals) with the addition of Suzanne Morissette (drums, vocals) and Aubrey Richmond (fiddle, vocals) to make the full quintet.