It took Jonathan Terrell nearly three years to make Westward. It wasn’t easy going to the studio to record his third LP. Only weeks before, Terrell lost his brother Emmanuel to PTSD.

Terrell will be the first to tell you his brother was his biggest fan, and deep down, the Austin songwriter knew his album really had to speak. All the emotional narratives emerging from the darkest corners of the heart had to come through without pretension, no holding back.

After various changes, rearrangements, rerecording, fine-tuning tracks while on the road, and indispensable contributions from friends in the local music community, Westward was ready to go. Noted by reviewers as some of Terrell’s strongest work to date, the album takes its cues from the rawest heartbreak in country to the most seductive fire in rock – with room for folk, pop, and extra heat from pedal steel.

Terrell continues his weekly musical residency this month at Trace at The W Hotel, Wednesday evenings 6 to 8 p.m. The next performance is this Wednesday night, October 14. This is a socially-distanced show. Please don’t forget your mask.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.