Charlie Mars (photo by David McClister)
Mississippi singer-songwriter Charlie Mars joined us at Jaan’s House in Nashville for his No Depression Session at AmericanaFest 2023, sharing music from his seventh studio album, Times Have Changed, which came out in early October and stems from his experiences after recently moving back to the Mississippi countryside.
Mars starts the session with the album’s opening track, “Gotta Lotta Love,” which is the first of a series of songs reflecting on his return to his geographical and spiritual roots of rural Mississippi. After having spent much of his career on the road discovering new places and chasing what he calls “shiny objects,” Mars is ready for this phase of his life to be based closer to nature and away from the constant noise and opportunities for distraction that the road affords.
That isn’t to say that he’s hunkering down at his place outside Oxford and staying put. The road is still the road, and it still serves a nearly irreplaceable purpose in the life of a recording artist. The shiny things are still there, and Mars still likes ’em. Times Have Changed examines the value of living at a slower pace, even when that pace is punctuated by the bright light hustle.
Second in his No Depression Session, Mars shares the title track “Times Have Changed,” followed third by “Country Home.”
The No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest 2023 are made possible by AEA Ribbon Mics.
Find previous No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest here, and look for more in the coming weeks.
