Follow Me

Rockabilly diva Kim Lenz's first album since 2009's It's All True, 2013's Follow Me, is a smoky, swaggering, old-school rockabilly celebration that beautifully showcases Lenz's furious vocals. The album was produced by journeyman roots music pianist Carl Sonny Leyland and features Lenz's backing ensemble, the Jaguars, including guitarists Ashley Kingman and Ramon Espinoza, bassist Kevin Stewart, and drummer Kevin O'Connor. Recorded on vintage tube equipment to two-inch tape — in mono no less! — the album is the epitome of purist rockabilly. However, with all her life experience and musical creativity brought to bear on these songs, Follow Me never feels like a museum piece. This is passionate, inspired modern music born out of the drama of Lenz's life. Follow Me comes on the heels of a period of personal upheaval and self-reflection for Lenz, who discovered she was adopted after the release of It's All True. It's also the first album Lenz recorded since losing her longtime friend and occasional bandmate Nick Curran, who died from cancer in 2012. However, rather than letting these setbacks drain her creativity, Lenz emerged from her period of turmoil with a stronger sense of self and a renewed rock & roll vision. Centered around the mysterious and sultry title track, Follow Me has a strong undercurrent of mysticism and fate that Lenz wraps up in her own unique vision of the feminine mystique. It's as if all of the emotional upheaval in her life opened a window to the supernatural, through which Lenz can draw power and strength. On "Follow Me," she sings "I see you staring at me trapped in a dream/You think you know what you want, but you never see/A woman to you is just a mystery/Give you a glimpse of the truth if you follow me." Ultimately with Follow Me, whether she's leading us deep into her soul or straight onto the dancefloor, Lenz is a masterful spirit guide.