A Sonic Shuffle

Nora Jane Struthers shifts toward a heavier sound

The February release "Wake" by Nora Jane Struthers is her most personal recording yet, she readily admits. It's her most rollicking album to date, too. So does that mean she's secretly a rock 'n' roll artist?

"Yes, that's it exactly," she says by phone. But there is laughter behind that admission, and the new tunes courtesy of Struthers and her backing band The Party Line would never be confused for modern rock -- or pop, or bluegrass, really. Her songs don't fit neatly inside any singular description.

FAQ

Nora Jane Struthers

WHEN — 8 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE — George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville

COST — $10

INFO — georgesmajesticloun…

BONUS — Smokey & the Mirror and Rebecca Loebe are also scheduled to perform.

Struthers started as a traditional musician, releasing an album with her father under the name Dirt Road Sweetheart. She taught high school in New York City briefly, but a Tim O'Brien concert convinced her to move to Nashville, Tenn., and pursue music full time. Her first songs fell more squarely in the traditional songwriter world.

As recently as her last album, 2013's "Carnival," she was considered roots rock or Americana -- firmly so, as "Carnival" hovered in the Top 20 of Americana albums for almost three months. That kind of sales never hurts, but that's not the primary goal.

"Success is having people connect with the music," Struthers says. "Whether ('Wake') fits in the format as well as 'Carnival' does, I'm not sure."

It fits the format she wants, though -- some blend of bluegrass and Pearl Jam, she says.

Critics, meanwhile, latched on, even if radio was slower to do so.

NPR Music said her newest batch of songs was "guided by fire," and American Songwriter labeled them as "her best to date -- brimming and bursting with life."

Struthers remains convinced "Wake" is her best, too.

"I hope so. The real goal is to always be getting better. And I am, if only because I've played 1,000 shows since then," she says.

Indeed, Struthers and company stay busy throughout the year, and their travels often bring them to Fayetteville, where they've played the Fayetteville Roots Festival twice. Her current tour passes through on Wednesday with support from Rebecca Loebe and locals Smokey & The Mirror. The concert at George's Majestic Lounge begins at 8 p.m.

The show will feature Struthers backed by The Party Line.

"I like touring with the band. I like the energy that comes with a full band," she says.

The Party Line, in fact, may be responsible for the shift in direction. Rather than select artists who fit her musical aesthetic, Struthers says she chose artists who fit her personality. The instruments are almost secondary, she says.

"I found a really great person who plays an electric guitar," she says.

And that electric influence plays a part in the newest version of Nora Jane Struthers' sound.

"It just came naturally," she says.

NAN What's Up on 03/27/2015

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