Joselyn & Don – Seeds & Bones – EP
Americana Highways Grooves & Cuts 
by John Apice
October 6, 2022

Montana natives & L.A.-based Joselyn & Don have a nice deep unique noir-sounding gothic country approach. With music & lyrics by Joselyn Wilkinson (lead & background vocals/tenor ukulele/djembe) & Don Barrozo (guitars/bass/keyboards/percussion/ horns/cigar box slide guitar/accordion/bgv). 

The lead-off of 5 tunes is “Deep Down,” which creeps along with savory guitar & an expansive spirit in its melody. The EP Seeds & Bones (Drops Oct. 7) was produced by Don & is actually quite a penetrating effort since it’s not your run-of-the-mill country effort. The duo may be originally from the northwest & live in L.A., but this music is closer to hoodoo nation Cajun country, Louisiana, the Delta where eeriness has a distinct beauty. The horns on their songs lean into an Allen Toussaint tradition. 

Joselyn (love that name, rare nowadays) Wilkinson has great pipes. Her clarity, intonation & phrasing is well-paced & the tone is perfect for these songs. Below the surface, the duo can sing whatever they wish but on first listen, the atmosphere, impression — is Southern gothic with big dark mansions, Spanish moss, trinkets hung from wide porches jingling in the air next to a coconut face & feathers, the low misty fog that drifts around giant uprooted trees. Evil? Voodoo? Not necessarily. Just surrounded by magic, spiritual posturing & a practitioner of dark arts. 

The title track “Seeds & Bones,” is arranged impeccably. It has a resilient guitar that whispers through the voice & narration. Compelling, well-written & despite the “darkness” hopeful words. 

Additional musicians — Alan Mark Lightner (drums on “Give Up the Ghost”). Highlights – “Stay,” “Seeds & Bones,” & “Deep Down.” 

https://americanahighways.org/2022/10/06/grooves-cuts-september-2022/