Coming in hot from New Orleans is the 25-year-old blues prodigy Sonny Gullage, delivering a stunning debut album with 12 new tracks titled Go Be Free.
With a musical lineage tracing back to the legendary Lead Belly, Gullage brings a fresh perspective to the blues music scene. His appearance on American Idol introduced his powerful voice and masterful keyboard skills to a national audience, setting the stage for this highly anticipated release.
The new album, Go Be Free, is a 12-track journey through the heart of modern blues, blending Gullage's deep-rooted musical heritage with contemporary sounds and stories. The album showcases his versatility as a vocalist and songwriter, tackling love, struggle, and hope themes.
The album starts with the sultry "Just Kiss Me, Baby," immediately showcasing Gullage's soulful vocals and keyboard skills. The title track, "Go Be Free," smacks the speakers next, infusing gospel influences into a rousing anthem of freedom for all. The uplifting "Things I Can't Control" and emotional "Separate Ways" dive deeper into personal struggles, with Gullage's emotive delivery shining through perfectly.
A standout collaboration arrives with "Worried About the Young," featuring fellow blues sensation Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. Gullage's voice seamlessly blends with Kingfish's epic guitar skills, creating a powerful back-and-forth dynamic that's bound to thrill listeners.
In the gritty "Blues All Over You" and the tender "I've Been There," Gullage showcases his ability to craft classic blues numbers with a modern twist and keep listeners captivated from start to finish with powerful lyrics and equally powerful vocals.
The album's mid-section picks up the tempo with the playful "Stop That Stuff" and the mostly instrumental "Tattooed Wings," sparking a fire in our speakers with every beat. "Hot House" comes next and brings the heat with its infectious rhythm and zapping electric guitar, while "File It Under Blues" pays homage to the genre's toe-tapping roots.
In track twelve, "Home to You," Gullage closes the album on a tender note with a heartfelt ballad, showcasing his impressive vocals and his knack for creating genuinely relatable, emotion-heavy songs that speak louder than words.
Throughout Go Be Free, Gullage effortlessly shifts from rowdy, foot-stomping numbers to intimate, soul-baring ballads—and his keyboard work is equally impressive. He's successfully created a sound that feels timeless and timely, surely impacting today’s Blues scene and beyond.
Dive into the future of blues with Sonny Gullage's debut 12-track album, Go Be Free, now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Welcome to Buzz, Sonny! We're head over heels for the depth and energy of your debut album, Go Be Free. How does it feel to release your debut album with such a rich musical heritage behind you?
I feel truly honored. I remember growing up in music, looking up to great musicians all around New Orleans and thinking, “One day, that’s gonna be me. One day, I’ll be getting on the plane in New Orleans and getting off the plane in Brazil. One day, they’ll write about me and ask me questions.” It was a big dream for the youngest of a family full of musicians. But I remember asking my dad, “Can I go with you?” And before crossing the terminal gate, he’d say, “One day, you’ll be going for yourself.” Now I look back and think of my journey and how I got here, and I have the opportunity to put it into an album with so much of who I am. It’s a fantastic feeling.
How did you approach balancing traditional blues with modern sounds throughout the recording process for Go Be Free?
I have to say that I really looked into who I am. I’m what some may call an “old soul.” I love the way that music from the past feels. From the moment it hits my ears to the moment I’m dancing and singing along, I love the feeling it gives me. I also find a unique quality in modern sounds. We say phrases and little quips that really make modern music special in its own way. So I took the knowledge of the people who have taught me and the experience of musicians who’ve come before me and mixed it with the feeling being 25 in 2024. I tried to write with the expression that came in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, while still giving a modern performance of it.
Can you tell us more about your collaboration with Kingfish and what it was like working together for his feature on Go Be Free?
Kingfish and I collaborated through our mutual producer, co-writer, and friend, Tom Hambridge. Tom and I were in Nashville writing “Worried About The Young,” The topic for this upcoming album was “Who would the feature be?” So we said, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if we had Kingfish on this song? I mean, he’s the same age as me, and he’s amazing and has this high energy in his sound!” That’s when Tom Hambridge turned to me and said, “Well, I work with Kingfish. I produced and wrote on his last few albums. I can ask if he’d be interested.” And from there, one night, I went on Instagram and saw Tom Hambridge’s story captioned, “Just recorded with Kingfish in New Orleans!” I ran to my dad and said, “I think Kingfish just recorded on Worried About the Young.” Sure enough, we got an email the next day saying, “Here’s Kingfish’s tracks on Worried! I hope you love them!” And they were AMAZING! It was a good feeling to know that not only did Kingfish take the time to hear the song, but he acknowledged that it was worth being a part of, and this was happening while he was touring and doing all of these major promotions with Fender and Jack Daniels. He took that time to put his touch on my song. That was special.
On a more personal note, which song from Go Be Free is your favorite and why?
I think my favorite song is “I’ve Been There.” I remember trying to find an approach to singing this one, and I thought of my grandfather. I thought of all of the conversations we’ve had over the years. I thought of his favorite thing to tell me, “Just keep living. I never thought I’d reach the age where I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do. But you learn in time. Just keep living.” That made the song mean even more to me, and when I hear it, I get a little reminder of his prerogative.
What do you want listeners to experience when hitting play on Go Be Free? What do you want them to feel?
I want listeners to feel the blues. I don’t just mean the downs of life. Not “My baby left me” or “I just can’t catch a break.” I want them to feel EVERY emotion life has to offer. I want them to feel the urge to run and dance and smile and laugh. I want each song to remind everyone who hears it that they’re still here, no matter how hard life may get. There’s still a world of feelings and experiences to look forward to. On all 12 tracks, I tried to give a different experience that is like a guide to living. Through the happiness, sadness, anger, love, and crazy ways that life comes at you, these songs work like a soundtrack. If even one person feels that way, I think I’ll consider my job done well.
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