Talk about a good year. St. Louis singer-songwriter Mattie Schell has certainly had one, touring with the Allman-Betts band, playing at Merlefest, signing with Nashville-based Compass Records and releasing a promising new album. At times evoking memories of the late Janis Joplin—particularly live—she’s forging ahead in new directions. In April, she dropped her first solo album—the rollicking Everything Means Nothing—for Compass, which also has artists including Leftover Salmon, Alison Brown, A.J. Croce, Colin Hay, Molly Tuttle, Kelly Hunt, Robbie Fulks and others. So yeah, it’s been a good year for Mattie Schell, and we’re thrilled to welcome her to the Load Out music podcast.