What a great show we have for you this week. Donavon Frankenreiter joins us from Hawaii and spreads all the chill beach vibes. From the great Canadian city of Toronto comes Donovan Woods to share his intimate brand of singer-songwriting.
Nick also has a conversation with Zara Alexandra – a singer-songwriter herself – about the joys and challenges of working the land in these contemporary times. She is the Organizer of the Colorado Chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition.
That’s all this week on eTown!
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Donavon Frankenreiter
For nearly two decades Donavon Frankenreiter has been traveling the globe, first as a professional surfer and now as a musician. Born in Southern California, Donavon spent most of his youth chasing waves, turning pro at the age of 16.
These days instead of surf competitions, it’s concert halls that bring Frankenreiter to town, where he entertains audiences with his unique blend of laid-back grooves, philosophical lyrics and soulful delivery.
This year, Frankenreiter is releasing his first studio in 9 years, out September 20. The album, entitled Get Outta Your Mind, marks the 20 year anniversary of his self-titled debut album.
Donovan Woods
Since he released his first album a decade ago, singer-songwriter Donovan Woods’ blend of folk, country and pop has resonated with audiences all over the world. In recent years, the acclaimed, award-winning singer-songwriter has seen his profile grow with his breakthrough album, Without People.
Touring behind (2020’s) Without People saw Woods play to his largest audiences to date. That included a stint opening for New Jersey-based retro rockers Gaslight Anthem on their recent reunion tour.
Throughout his distinguished career, Donovan Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince words, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers and on 2024 studio album, Donovan takes that a step further. Honest and unflinching, on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Woods takes a long look inside and isn’t necessarily thrilled with what he sees. For an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul, this is as emotionally gritty as he has ever been.
Long known as a masterful storyteller, Woods is at his absolute best on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now. Across the album’s 11 sparse, intimate songs, Woods finds himself reflecting on the ups and downs he has been through since 2020. His writing allowed him to open up and address the complexities of life that he has been going through.
The album, he notes, serves as “A funeral to the life he was living.”
Sonically, Woods decided to take a different approach.
“We had our boundaries and made things sound beautiful within them,” he says. “And what’s left is scrappier than Without People, but I feel like moments of creation are much more accessible on this record.”
As Woods continues to work on himself, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now is the portrait of a songwriter at his creative best. Addressing the truths and pains of life is never easy, and here, he does so in a way that’s brutally honest. After all, that’s what great songwriters do.
Zara Alexandra
Zara Alexandra studied human rights and film in school before jumping around in the film world, eventually circling back to agriculture, where she felt most at home. Zara lives on a farm and ranch that produces direct-to-consumer beef, lamb, and Community Supported Agriculture vegetables for her community in Colorado. She is a singer-songwriter and Colorado Organizer of the National Young Farmers Coalition.