James Wilson, known professionally as Paisley Fields, is a queer country music artist based between Brooklyn, NY and Nashville, TN.[1]
Paisley Fields | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hudson, Iowa |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013 – present |
| Labels |
|
| Member of | Lavender Country |
| Members | James Wilson |
| Website | thepaisleyfields |
Background
editWilson grew up in Hudson, Iowa[2] where their grandparents owned a farm.[3] They grew up listening to country music, but resisted performing in the genre until they reconnected with their country roots while living in Japan.[3]
Wilson is queer and non-binary.[4]
Career
editWilson assembled an alt-country band[4] which performed their first show as the Paisley Fields in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve 2013.[3] After the release of their first EP Oh These Urban Fences in 2015, Wilson adopted the name Paisley Fields as a stage name.[4] Their first full-length album Glitter & Sawdust, released in 2018, is an exploration of the duality of the masculine and feminine.[3]
The next two albums Electric Park Ballroom and Limp Wrist were released on Don Giovanni Records.[5] Electric Park Ballroom is named after a dancehall they visited in childhood but the songs center on present-day urban narratives[6] while Limp Wrist focuses on the realities of rural queer life.[7]
In 2019, Paisley Fields toured with queer country pioneers Lavender Country and Lavender Country later guested on Paisley Fields' "Stay Away From My Man."[4] They played keyboards on Lavender Country's 2022 album Blackberry Rose.[1]
"Burn This Statehouse Down," a duet with Mya Byrne protesting Tennessee's anti-trans legislation,[8] was chosen as one of NPR music critic Ann Powers' favorite songs of 2023.[9]
As a songwriter, Wilson has written with Bob the Drag Queen ("Purse First") and Scarlet Envy ("Feeling Is Mutual," "Press On," "Is It Me?").[10]
Style
editPaisley Fields combines country, rock, pop, and disco while their lyrics include explicit queer themes,[11] ranging from gay sex ("Ride Me Cowboy")[11] to being outed ("Blackhawk County Line")[7] to referencing Matthew Shepard ("Iowa").[6]
Discography
edit- "Burn This Statehouse Down" with Mya Byrne (2023) (Kill Rock Stars)
- The Field Sessions Live EP (2023) (Don Giovanni Records)
- Limp Wrist (2022) (Don Giovanni Records)
- Electric Park Ballroom (2020) (Don Giovanni Records)
- Glitter & Sawdust (2018)
- Oh These Urban Fences EP (2015)
References
edit- ^ a b "LIVE MUSIC IN ARKANSAS: Groundbreaking Paisley Fields plays Little Rock tavern | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Meet four queer artists helping to shake up country music". NBC News. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c d Domenighini, Annalise (2018-04-10). "Paisley Fields' New Album 'Glitter & Sawdust' Is One For The Queer Country Books". Vice Media. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c d Collo-Julin, Salem (2020-07-15). "Paisley Fields makes out and open country music". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Paisley Fields, Sug Daniels, and Sean Barna kick off their journey to Texas at Ortlieb's". WXPN. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b Isobel, Leah (2022-08-28). ""A Straight Line is No Guarantee" Paisley Fields - Limp Wrist". Left Of The Dial. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ a b "ALBUM REVIEW: Paisley Fields Explores Place on Campy, Confident 'Limp Wrist'". No Depression. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ "The Boot's Weekly Picks: Mya Byrne + Paisley Fields, Summer Dean + More". The Boot. March 23, 2023.
- ^ Powers, Ann (December 16, 2023). "ANN POWERS' FAVORITE SONGS OF 2023".
- ^ Emch, Cindy (2019-06-20). "Scarlet Envy Drops Divine Dance Track • Country Queer". Country Queer. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ a b "SXSW Music 2023: The Best Things We Saw on Thursday". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-12-22.