I overheard a conversation the other day where someone made a remark along the lines of “Nashville hip-hop never emerged.” It was a lament for the independent music scene in the city; somewhat defeated that Music Row had won the war and that days gone by were filled with stronger offerings. From a bird’s eye view, maybe that sentiment feels true? $avvy and Kent Osborne moved to LA. We haven’t heard from Ron Obasi in a minute! Six One Tribe had a cover story with the Nashville Scene in 2022, along with the “Best Hip-Hop Group” award but everyone seems to be still be waiting for what’s next?

The bad news is, there’s no straightforward path to finding all the great new hip-hop coming out of Nashville. Spotify isn’t going to do the work on your behalf, you may have to dig. The good news is, if you’re willing to look, real gems await. Case in point, the latest release from Qualls – “Ight” – is a high energy, infectiously repeatable, banger. Both Qualls and guest emcee $hrames bring some great verses and the horns running throughout the beat make it impossible to turn off. The chorus keeps it simple, leaning into “Ight” in the simplest and most memorable way.

I’m not making Qualls out to the be savior of the hip-hop scene (tho, if you haven’t heard the full-length album The Gray Area, more treats await you) but his work does serve as an excellent example of the scene continuing to thrive. We’ve been following his work since 2020 when he released the Valley Chronicles EP and the work has only improved over the years. Six One Tribe continues to release albums and makes 615Day a huge event at Basement East. $avvy and Kent Osborne may be gone but you can’t fault anyone for exploring other pastures. Maybe Nashville’s hip-hop scene hasn’t exploded (past tense) because it’s too busy evolving (present tense). If you’re paying attention, it’s clear. Ight.

Regular readers of this site will know that we are devoted fans of the Nashville Ambient Ensemble project – an impressive collective of musicians crafting immersive soundscapes. Electronic composer Michael Hix led the formation of the group and set the bedrock for the two albums they have released. We interviewed him here on the site back in 2021 for WOTT Music and again in 2024 when Carissa Stolting interviewed him for Radio Resistance. He’s thoughtful and insightful in his approach to music and the tools he uses; physically and mentally.

With all that context, we are extremely pleased to see the announcement of his newest endeavor and a new moniker for himself – Wonderful Aspiration of the Source. It’s a bit of a mouthful at first but the context is that Hix is a practicing Buddhist and this name speaks directly to that. On the project he says:

“Wonderful Aspiration of the Source is my lineage name in the Zen tradition I practice. This album came from a place of needing to simplify. Music stopped being a standalone pursuit and became part of my mindfulness. These songs are more from the heart.”

The first single from the forthcoming, self-titled, album is “Cadence” – one of ten compositions on the record that eschew the electronic and synthetic soundscapes of previous projects in exchange for a more sparse, guitar based, environment. While the vibe of “Cadence” is different from the prior works of Nashville Ambient Ensemble, the DNA between them is still clear and present. The mood is gentle, calm and meditative – a very intentional feeling given that the songs emerged from his daily ritual of mindfulness.

Wonderful Aspiration of the Source (the album) will be released on September 19th via Centripetal Force. You can pick up the double vinyl over on Bandcamp, as well as stream “Cadence” anywhere now.

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know that we’re fascinated by the growing collective of “shoegaze influenced” bands in town that regularly co-mingle amongst each other, swapping members, production tricks and evolving together. For a little intro to this group, check out Episode 366 of our local music podcast.

One member of this collective is Billy Campbell aka Make Yourself at Home. His 2025 album Set features contributions from Zook and Total Wife, as well as Thomas Luminoso and Husam Subo. The record is filled with angular guitars, buzzing walls of reverb, vocals that ebb and flow from the void and a general sense of unfurling – exploding, even. These are all familiar tenets of the genre but Campbell is offering up anything but tropes. “Blue Apollo” has an emphatic choral outburst that is as hook-y as it is cathartic combined with a uniquely buzzing wall of noise. “Pretty Things” combines acoustic guitar, distorted drums and a sense of melancholic dread – fans of The Microphones production will be right at home. “Nobody Knows” finds Campbell’s voice floating far above the mix with shiny guitars and a jaunty beat driving it along. That’s all just to say, this isn’t a cookie cutter undertaking by any means.

Labeling an artist with a specific genre runs the risk of pigeonholing them and setting newcomer’s expectations. In this case, “shoegaze” is simply a dangling carrot to lead you to an album of richer diversity. Set delivers a great deal of comfort food with its production style and guitar tones but ensures you are left with a distinctly MYSAH taste by the end of it all. I’ll be back for more, no doubt.

When thinking about the Nashville independent scene, it’s natural to include bands from surrounding suburbs – Franklin, Murfreesboro, Antioch, etc. However, Cookeville, TN is often left out of that consideration. At about a 90-minute drive, it’s nestled halfway between Nashville and Knoxville – a tough drive for a quick show from either direction but, as a college town, a strong candidate for musician’s to bond together and thrive in their own scene. Looking at the artists self-identifying as Cookeville based over on Bandcamp, there is definitely a scene happening over there worth keeping an eye on. One recent release from the area leaving quite an impression is The Dog’s Body recent full-length Deer of Wisdom.

Released via Gezellig Records, Deer of Wisdom is a Southern rock record at its core. Not in the way that Skynyrd or The Black Crowes are Southern Rock but in the way that Drive-By Truckers, Glossary and Deer Tick embody the genre – personal lyrics reflecting Southern hardships fused with a unique blend of guitars and emphatic melancholy. Listening through the record a few times, every track on the record exemplifies this balance if you’re open to actively listening through the lyrics.

Musically, the album fuses together a delightfully wide range of modern rock influences from the last 25 years. The punk rock blast of “New Moons”, the chuggy rock anthem of “Skeletons”, the sweaty unfurling of “Adderall” and the buoyancy of “Little Sins” are all part of a larger tapestry of that keep the record interesting start to finish.

Rock music of any genre is not easy in 2025. It’s a format that’s been done to death and often comes with a serious lack of authenticity. Maybe emerging from Cookeville solves that problem? The distance from larger metro areas is a both a burden and a boon but it creates an opportunity to create something unique to The Dog’s Body own yet immediately familiar. Whatever it is, Deer of Wisdom is a reminder to keep paying attention.