Renowned solo bluesman Scott H. Biram has announced his first full-length album in four years, The One & Only Scott H. Biram, slated for release on March 29. The album, Biram’s 13th overall and 9th with longtime label Bloodshot Records, follows a storied, near-30-year career marked by critical acclaim and a resilient spirit.
Biram’s journey took a dramatic turn following a near-fatal crash with a semi around the time of the 2003 release of his third record. Undeterred, Biram forged ahead, creating the instantly recognizable raw, unfiltered music that became his hallmark. With that same spirit of remaining unbowed in the face of larger-than-life challenges, the pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020 became a creative haven for Biram, inspiring him to craft nine original tracks and two traditional covers for his upcoming album.
Speaking about the album’s sonic direction, Biram shared, “I’m constantly trying to go back to the junky, lo-fi sounds of my early records,” says Biram. “But it’s harder to do now. The more you learn about production the harder it is to convey that genuine unproduced feeling. I have to compromise between overproduced and lo-fi, so it sounds pro, but still keeps that grittiness. It’s a mix of blues, country, folk, and influences from heavier genres like metal and hard rock.”
The One & Only Scott H. Biram showcases the singer’s signature unapologetic style. Tracks like “No Man’s Land” describe the hazards of growing up poor in a small Texas town, breathing the fumes from oil wells and brush fires. Says Biram, “I was remembering a bumper sticker I saw as a kid that said, ‘Oil Field Trash and Proud of It!’”
“Inside a Bar” captures the feel of an empty saloon on a slow Monday night. It’s a straight-forward country blues, with an understated vocal, intensified by an impressive solo, that mimics the tones of a pedal steel guitar. “I was going for the sound of loneliness and alcoholism colliding.”
From the January 6th riot-inspired “Sinner’s Dinner” to a unique rendition of Lead Belly’s “Easy Rider,” Biram’s album is a tapestry of emotions, traversing themes of mortality, romance, and nostalgia without adhering to a single overarching narrative. “I view my albums as collages, combining elements from punk, metal, blues, country, and bluegrass. They reflect the diverse aspects of life – it’s not a concept but an expression,” explained Biram.
With The One & Only Scott H. Biram the singer once again proves to be an unstoppable force and demonstrates his unique ability to live up to the traditions of rough-hewn, individualistic Texas-borne music. He plans to take his electrifying act back on the road, touring extensively in 2024.
