Nashville, Tenn. – Ahead of the release of Aaron Lewis‘ next country album THE HILL (out March 29 via The Valory Music Co.), the multi-platinum selling singer today drops “Made In China,” the second track to release from the upcoming project.
“The best songs come from a place of authenticity,”
“This one started as a conversation with friends as we picked up items around the room with ‘Made in China’ stamped on the bottom.
And we put pen to paper.”
AARON LEWIS
Less tongue-in-cheek and more on-the-nose, “Made In China” (written by Lewis and Bobby Pinson) offers the loud-and-proud declaration that some things (like Lewis) are still made in the USA.
With a dusky dose of down-tuned acoustic balladry, Lewis tributes a brash sense of patriotic pride, built to last and not ashamed to say so.
Featuring ten tracks penned solo or with a tight circle of collaborator/confidants, the THE HILL speaks to a time of upheaval – both in the wider world and within.
Pledging to shoot his fans straight, Lewis offers up a 50-50 mix of riding out the winds of change and driving another mineshaft deep into his soul.
Like his 2022 collection FRAYED AT BOTH ENDS, Lewis delivers THE HILL as an acoustic record, maximizing the potential for lyrical impact.
Produced by Lewis alongside Ira Dean, it’s raw in the purest sense of the Country-rock term – often backing his jagged-edge vocal with just a guitar, dobro and mandolin.
The Vermont-born powerhouse first found success with Staind – the 2000s-era hard rockers who injected meditative muscle into an era better known for mindless aggression.
But while that band is still very much alive, it was never enough to satisfy Lewis’ creative drive.
Embracing his roots to earn a rare second round of success, a series of solo Country projects have led to two No. 1 Billboard Country Album debuts – TOWN LINE (2011) and SINNER (2016) – plus a PLATINUM collab with heroes George Jones and Charlie Daniels (“Country Boy”), and a GOLD-certified Billboard No. 1 with “Am I The Only One” in 2021.
Lewis’ 2022 solo album followed suit, with FRAYED AT BOTH ENDS emerging as the best-selling Country album in America, but he never wrote songs for the stats.
No matter the sonic setting, Lewis writes and sings to get his truth out and THE HILL is no different.
“Somebody’s got to live this shit, and these songs, they’re me,”
“I really don’t feel like I’m alone in my feelings – I’m just more willing to open up my mouth.”
AARON LEWIS
THE HILL TRACK LIST
“Let’s Go Fishing” | Written by:Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson
“Over The Hill” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson
“Made In China” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson
“Spinnin’” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele
“Over Me” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele
“Outlaw” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson
“Up To Me” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson
“That’s My Life” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele
“Only In My Mind” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele
“Little More Mine” | Written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson
ABOUT AARON LEWIS
Aaron Lewis grew up in Springfield, Vermont, listening to his grandparents’ country 8-tracks.
Those roots inspired the multi-platinum Staind founder to return to his origins for the #1 Billboard Country Album debuts Town Line and Sinner, as well as Billboard’s #1 Hot Country Song debut “Am I The Only One,” only the 9th time since 1958.
Having recorded with George Jones, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Alison Krauss and Vince Gill, Lewis has put a traditionalist brand on his outlier country.
