Made from the Dirt is the debut studio album by American country music artist Kassi Ashton. It was released on September 20, 2024, through a joint partnership between MCA Nashville and Interscope Records.[1] It includes the singles "Drive You Out of My Mind" and "Called Crazy".
| Made from the Dirt | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by | |
| Released | September 20, 2024 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 36:15 |
| Label | |
| Producer |
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| Singles from Made from the Dirt | |
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Content
editAshton wrote or co-wrote all 10 tracks on Made from the Dirt,[2] and co-produced the album with Luke Laird, with additional production on select tracks from Oscar Charles and Todd Clark.[3]
Described as equal parts "grunge and glamour", Ashton came up with the album title while watching a live feed of a couture fashion show[4] and it was inspired by the duality of her upbringing that found the singer "celebrat[ing] the unique incongruities that have shaped her thus far", and the cover artwork features her wearing an outfit that she made herself.[3] Ashton wrote the title track because "we are made all the better every time we get back up. We are more beautiful because of the scars, stories, and bulls***. I hope after listening down, you feel seen, you feel validated, and you feel like the baddest to ever do it".[5] In creating the album, Ashton cited musical influence from the likes of Stevie Nicks, Eric Church, and Chris Stapleton, among others,[6] and set out with no theme in mind, instead opting to just be vulnerable, collaborating with well-known songwriters such as Lori McKenna, Rhett Akins, and Luke Laird.[4]
Ashton, who studied at Nashville's Belmont University, landed a publishing deal in 2016, and subsequently signed a recording contract in a joint partnership with Universal Music Group and Interscope Records the following year.[4] After a string of standalone single releases and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Dates in Pickup Trucks" was ultimately released as Ashton's debut to country radio in 2022, though it was not included on the album,[7] and the album was released seven years after initially signing her record deal.[4]
"Drive You Out of My Mind" was released as the album's lead single in March 2023, pulling in first-week adds from 42 stations.[8] It reached a peak of number 42 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in September 2023. "Called Crazy" was issued as the second single on May 6, 2024.[9] Ashton was chosen as Audacy, Inc.'s 'Launch' Artist, lending additional platform support to "Called Crazy".[10] It debuted at number 53 on Billboard Country Airplay ahead of its release as a single,[11] and pulled in adds from 43 stations by its impact date.[9] It became her first song to enter the top 40 of the chart in its seventh chart week,[12] and reached a peak of number 32 in August 2024.[13]
"Son of a Gun", "The Straw", and "I Don't Wanna Dance" were also released as promotional singles leading up to the album release.[14][15] "Son of a Gun" is described as her origin story, with Ashton drawing inspiration from the way her parents met.[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Made from the Dirt" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 2. | "Called Crazy" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 3. | "Son of a Gun" |
|
| 3:23 |
| 4. | "I Don't Wanna Dance" |
|
| 3:17 |
| 5. | "The Straw" |
|
| 4:04 |
| 6. | "Angels Smoke Cigarettes" |
|
| 4:01 |
| 7. | "The Stars Know" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 8. | "Drive You Out of My Mind" |
|
| 3:32 |
| 9. | "'Til the Lights Go Out" |
|
| 3:42 |
| 10. | "Juanita" | Ashton |
| 4:03 |
| Total length: | 36:15 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Kassi Ashton Official Website". Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Lorie Hollabaugh (July 12, 2024). "Kassi Ashton Slates Debut Album 'Made From The Dirt' For September". Music Row. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Kassi Ashton Releases Debut Album – Made From The Dirt – Out Now". UMG Nashville. September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ilana Kaplan (October 12, 2024). "Kassi Ashton Says Her Long-Awaited Debut Album Has One Message: 'You're a Bad Bitch'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Monica Rivera (September 20, 2024). "Kassi Ashton's debut album, 'Made From The Dirt,' is here". Audacy. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Alex Ross (September 20, 2024). "Kassi Ashton Says First Country Album Isn't an 'Era I'm Going Through': 'Don't Want the Debut to Be a Trend' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Tricia Despres (February 25, 2022). "Kassi Ashton on Why Love Is 'Worth It' — and How Her Grandma Inspired Her Song 'Dates in Pickup Trucks'". People Magazine. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Country Aircheck Weekly March 13, 2023, Issue 849". Country Aircheck. March 13, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Country Aircheck Weekly May 6, 2024, Issue 908" (PDF). Country Aircheck. May 6, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Monica Rivera (May 6, 2024). "Meet Audacy 'Launch' artist, Kassi Ashton". Audacy. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. August 2, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "Kassi Ashton Releases New Track "The Straw" – Featured on Her Debut Album MADE FROM THE DIRT, Out Sept. 20". UMG Nashville. August 9, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "Kassi Ashton Releases New Song "I Don't Wanna Dance" Out Now". UMG Nashville. May 31, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.