All Ya'll Records Kick Out the Jams for Label Showcase on 6/1

The All Y’all Records launch party at Local 506 is set to be an unforgettable night, featuring these outstanding artists among many others. In this exclusive interview, Heat Preacher, Reese McHenry, and Charles Latham & The Borrowed Band share their stories, inspirations, and future aspirations. Join us as we delve into the artistic journeys of these exceptional musicians, each contributing their unique voice to the vibrant tapestry of North Carolina’s music scene.

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Reese McHenry, a prolific songwriter from Chatham Co, NC, brings a raw and authentic energy to the stage. Known for her straight-shooting rock songs that blend humor with catchy hooks, Reese's music defies easy categorization, delivering powerful and relatable performances that resonate deeply with listeners. https://www.reesemchenry.com/

What does it mean to you to be part of the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how did you become involved with them?

Dave asked me if I wanted to be a part of All y’all and I said yes. I’m excited to play the launch party. I’m especially looking forward to seeing bands I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing live, Like Old Heavy Hands and YardArm.

Can you describe the atmosphere and energy you anticipate at the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how you plan to contribute to it with your performance?
I’m interested to see some of the bands I’ve only heard on the All y’all Spotify playlist. I’m super excited to see the bands I have seen before. Charles Latham is my forever bestie.

How would you describe the style and genre of music your band creates, and what are some of your primary influences?
I think the band Reese McHenry is straight rock. Emotive, heavy and fun. I play solo acoustic, too and that’s a little lighter, more folk/country sounding.

What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your music, and how do they reflect your band’s identity?
I think our band hopes to convey creativity, living in the moment, community based fairness and fun.

Can you tell us about your creative process and how you collaborate to write and produce your music?

I write songs and then figure out where they belong. Some go to the band, and I keep arrangements open to ideas, because the members of the band are so magical and come up with things I wouldn’t normally do. Some go to a solo, acoustic set list. I’m very behind and have a few albums worth of songs to record. I write quicker than I make money, so I’m often lagging.

What can fans expect from your set at the launch party, and are there any special surprises or new material you’ll be debuting?
for the launch party I am playing solo, acoustic. I have a few new songs to debut.

How do you see All Y’all Records supporting and influencing the local music scene, and what role do you hope to play in that development?
I love being part of this community and think that Dave and All Y’all are doing an amazing job with promotion of all the bands.

What are you most excited about regarding the launch of All Y’all Records, and how do you think it will impact your career and those of other local artists?

Any community of musicians that help each other with shows, and anything else regarding promotion can never be a bad thing. Post pandemic touring is difficult for smaller bands (maybe all bands?), and any help is appreciated.

Heat Preacher, from Chapel Hill, NC, merges alternative rock, soul, and indie influences to create a unique and modern musical experience. Their dynamic sound and compelling performances have made them a standout in the local music scene, capturing the hearts of audiences with their innovative approach. https://heatpreacher.com/

What does it mean to you to be part of the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how did you become involved with them?

Nick from Heat Preacher here, and co-founder of All Y'all Records. The foundation of the collective formed out of a friendship forged between Dave Hedeman (The Gone Ghosts) and I, over years of playing the same bills together. We saw the crowds, the palpable excitement of the local fan bases. Yet, we were frustrated by post-show stagnation, poor online sales/streaming performance, and other roadblocks that exist for indie bands. We thought there had to be a way to get bands of the same ilk to work together to raise each other up, and to share resources and contacts in order to circumvent some of these roadblocks. Through meetings over coffee and multiple discussions between Dave and I, and with other prominent artists in the Triangle, we came up with a skeleton of what a record collective in today's climate would look like. Then we started reaching out to the bands. Some took a lot of convincing, but I think many of them are starting to really dig what we are trying to do for them and with them. Really looking forward to the launch, which is the first time all of these bands/artists will be in the same room together at the same time.

Can you describe the atmosphere and energy you anticipate at the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how you plan to contribute to it with your performance?

The energy and enthusiasm for an indie rock/alt-country collective of this quality in NC is evident by the responses we've gotten from people in the few nascent events we've done. We expect each band to crush it live, because we have seen them all live and know they are capable of sharing the stage with national touring and major label acts, and some of us have already. Heat Preacher has a reputation for bringing it on stage every time. That's where we truly shine, I think.
How would you describe the style and genre of music your band creates, and what are some of your primary influences?

Heat Preacher exists somewhere between alt-rock and Dad-rock. We like big choruses, crazy bridges, and guitar solos. Heat Preacher blends alt-rock influences like Foo Fighters, Jack White, and Radiohead with more classic and indie influences like Van Morrison, Tame Impala, and Queen.

What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your music, and how do they reflect your band’s identity?

JD's lyrics in Heat Preacher are often introspective, yet hopeful, sometimes dipping into darker, more melancholy subject matter. Recurring themes are geared toward personal growth, desire/love, or letting go of the past. All things that everyone deals with over the course of adulthood/growing up, let alone us men-children in the band (wink)

Can you tell us about your creative process and how you collaborate to write and produce your music?

JD, the singer, brings an idea or a hook 90% of the time. Sometimes, someone else will have a guitar part or a groove in mind and share that. We kind of jam over the idea/hook until we have the bones of a song. We keep refining until the song is recorded and released. We also play different iterations of new songs live to see what we and the audience like. However, nothing is safe during production. We've chopped entire sections of songs to keep the recorded versions tight and "listening on repeatable". Then, live, we might bring a part back or extend sections to keep it interesting for the audience. We record every song with Al Jacob at Warrior Sound, who we lovingly call the 5th Preacher.

What can fans expect from your set at the launch party, and are there any special surprises or new material you’ll be debuting?

We always have something in the pipeline. Our current favorite set is titled "Oops, All Bangers", and it's lean, fast, upbeat, and danceable. We have released a handful of singles over the last year and those will definitely be in there, like. "I Wan Cheaux", and "HrtBtBby"

How do you see All Y’all Records supporting and influencing the local music scene, and what role do you hope to play in that development?

As co-founder, I truly want to support the scenes and markets that these bands come from. I believe that true influence comes as a by-product of being genuine, positive, and putting in work. If we become de-facto influencers through that process, then great, but we're not here to beat anyone over the head. We're here to help expose these bands to a wider audience and to help them reach their short-term goals. We already have done that to some degree, and it feels great.

What are you most excited about regarding the launch of All Y’all Records, and how do you think it will impact your career and those of other local artists?

I am most excited about the collaborative nature of an undertaking like this. From working with Dave, who's enthusiasm and passion is unmatched - to trading and hosting showcases in different markets across NC, SC and VA/DC. I think this will organically increase the fanbases of each band, especially those who put in the most work. In two year's time, I could see any of these bands getting signed to a bigger indie label or being able to play any market in the tri-state area and draw/make money. If that happens, I'll feel like we've done our job.

Charles Latham & The Borrowed Band, hailing from Durham, NC, marry vintage psychedelic country-rock with idiosyncratic songwriting. Their distinctive sound and storytelling prowess create an engaging and immersive musical journey, showcasing the depth and creativity of North Carolina's musical talent. https://charleslatham.bandcamp...

What does it mean to you to be part of the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how did you become involved with them?

We're excited to make some noise on Franklin St to celebrate the launch! Most of us have known each other in the music scene for awhile, either from sharing bills or sharing musicians!

Can you describe the atmosphere and energy you anticipate at the All Y’all Records Launch Party, and how you plan to contribute to it with your performance?

We're expecting, nay, demanding a big party with big party vibes, which is guaranteed since it's doing what we love the most: playing music with our friends and having a good time. The Borrowed Band is known for its high-energy performances, so there's another guarantee!

How would you describe the style and genre of music your band creates, and what are some of your primary influences?

We play country-rock for weirdos, it's a perfect marriage of off-beat lyricism and dynamic, high-level musicianship. Influences include Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Flying Burrito Brothers, The X.
What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your music, and how do they reflect your band’s identity?

The lyrics are there for those who dig that sort of thing, social commentary and tragicomic narratives, and but ultimately the band is about freedom and fun and self-expression. It's a laugh-so-you-don't-cry band.

Can you tell us about your creative process and how you collaborate to write and produce your music?

I bring a song in it's skeletal form to the band and they add the blood and meat and give it life.
What can fans expect from your set at the launch party, and are there any special surprises or new material you’ll be debuting?

We have a few new songs to debut and are excited to announce that we will be releasing our new LP on vinyl this year!

How do you see All Y’all Records supporting and influencing the local music scene, and what role do you hope to play in that development?

All Yall will be another jewel in the crown that is the Triangle music scene, we're so lucky to have so much talent in this area. Our hope is that this will amplify not just our voices, as independent artists, but will bring more attention to many more of the great talents in the area.