New York, NY (Top40 Charts / SOUTHERN HALO) SOUTHERN HALO's story arc expands with the April 27 release of their latest CD, the concept-driven, dream-inspired JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES. This 14-track package, produced by Catt Gravitt and Gerald O'Brien, mirrors the emotional and musical growth of Natalia,
Hannah and
Christina Morris, the three sisters from the Mississippi Delta who form SOUTHERN HALO.
Inspired by a dream of Natalia's, features 10 songs written or co-written by the lead vocalist/guitarist, and four titles from
Music City's hottest tunesmiths. The catchy ode to the glories of Southern womanhood, "Southern Halo," kicks off the project and marks the first "scene" of this movie-made-music. A co-write with Roxie Dean, the strong, multi-layered vocals and sing-along chorus make this a natural choice for the first "instant gratification track" offered with each iTunes and Amazon pre-order of the CD. The disc is the second outing for the trio with SESAC's 2012 Writer of the Year Catt Gravitt (Kelly Clarkson, Jake Owen) and Gerald O'Brien (Martina McBride, Trace Adkins) at the helm.
Continuing the album's theme is the first single "Anything Is Possible." Written by Gravitt and award-winning songwriter/producer Carl Falk, the hooky, upbeat track is a veritable anthem to the power of positive thinking and is already resonating at Country radio. A lyric video, featuring performance footage, can be seen on YouTube.
JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES explores the excitement found and challenges faced when chasing one's dream. The eagerness to experience new places is offset by the longing for the constant comforts of home, while the idea that anyone can indeed reach for the stars is reinforced. Natalia,
Hannah and
Christina continue to prove that dreams do come true - if you work hard and believe. Highlights abound, and the tracks range from Rock-ish ("My Girls & Me") to beautifully poignant ("Not Today") to confrontational ("
Hey Boy").
The album's title track is a Pop/Rock-infused, modern-day fairytale that features underscored Rap-style background vocals and a sultry yet whimsical feel. Written by Gravitt,
Jana Kramer and Brian Kierulf, "Just Like In The Movies" showcases SOUTHERN HALO's diversity and their fearless approach to music. The track was singled in the U.K. late last year and enjoyed enormous success.
"Missing Mississippi," written by
Natalia and Jennifer Adan, slows things down with the true tale of Natalia's first night in her new Nashville home. Sweet, reflective and emotional, the song shows that sacrifices are always made in pursuit of the dreams that inspire us. Another track that shines the light on leaving, "
Famous" tells the tale of the loneliness that can surround stardom. Penned with Alex Dooley the message is deep - and partially hidden by a seductive melody. "Tom Girl," written with Melissa Bollea Rowe, describes a character familiar to the Morris sisters: someone who loves to get their hands dirty, but also loves to dress up for special occasions. As
Natalia says, "everyone talks about 'tom boys' or 'girly girls' - no one ever talks about 'tom girls.'
Christina loves fishing while
Hannah rides horses and I enjoy building projects in our backyard, but we love to get prettied up for a night out. We're all 'tom girls.'"
Tom girls they may be, but Natalia,
Hannah and
Christina are all driven by the same dream.
Music inspired SOUTHERN HALO; now their songs are inspiring young Country fans everywhere. Drummer
Christina and bassist
Hannah are still in their late teens, and
Natalia just recently crossed over into her early 20s. They're exploring, challenging themselves to take risks and raise their bar - and JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES proves they have reached new heights - and they are proud of it. This new album is poised to follow the phenomenal success of their previous, eponymous CD, and is sure to bring new listeners to the fold as it breaks new ground for the trio.
