Listen: Margo Price Previews 'Strays II,' Shares Three New Tracks

Listen: Margo Price Previews ‘Strays II,’ Shares Three New Tracks

Hana Gustafson on September 14, 2023

Today, Margo Price has shared three new songs. Released as Act II: Mind Travel, the set expands upon the artist’s time-bent kaleidoscope world conceived on Strays II, due in full on October 13 via Loma Vista Recordings, and representing the nine-track follow up to 2023’s acclaimed Strays LP. Included in today’s drop are “Black Wolf Blues,” “Mind Travel,” and “Unoriginal Sin,” featuring contributions from Mike Campbell.

Act II: Mind Travel enters the parts of a psychedelic expedition where one learns to ponder the past and welcome the present with open arms. The artist was inspired by beat poetry, out-of-body experiences, and the loss of her beloved family farm. In addition to the songs, Price also shared the final installment of the accompanying short film, Light Me Up, which explores her latest collaboration with Campbell.

“The psychedelic journey continues down the blurry rabbit hole of time and space. We were lucky to have Mike Campbell co-write a dark rocker called ‘Unoriginal Sin.’ Working with him on some of these songs was like having a master class in songwriting. Sometimes there are dark corners you haven’t explored for some time, but it does some good to clean them out,” unveiled the artist.

Also included in today’s release, “Mind Travel,” which Price describes as “one of the more lyrically strange songs I’ve written. Jeremy and I wrote it in South Carolina. It’s pretty much beat poetry on drugs with a backbeat – it was influenced by having an out-of-body experience on psilocybin. We both had some pretty incredible breakthroughs about accepting death and just reckoning with how fast it’s all going. It’s okay to be reflective and remember the past as long as you don’t get stuck back there. This part of the trip is where you learn to be satisfied with the present.”

Rounding today’s trio delivery is “Black Wolf Blues.” Referencing her experience with her husband, Price offered, “Jeremy started writing the words from my exact point of view – he found myself reflecting on my ancestors, my grandparents (Paul & Mary Price) and their love and how it grew despite the drought and the loss of their farm. I wrote the chords and the melody and helped finish the verses and chorus. Even though it has a sweetness and a nostalgic way about it, there is a looming darkness – the wolf who’s been watching and weaving his way like a stray throughout the entire album. Look for him. It’s like an invisible plague hanging in the air, it’s the man in the suit and tie who’s lying to you through his straight, white teeth. He hides in shadows.”

Following Strays II’s digital double album release on October 13, all nine new Strays II songs will be available on vinyl on November 10. Before then, Margo Price will return to the Americana Honors & Awards next week, where she is up for Artist of The Year, Album of The Year and Song of The Year.

Pre-order Strays II now. Stream Act II: Mind Travel.