Singer-songwriter Townsend is gearing up for the release of a relatable new track, “Stay.” The track will be available on all streaming platforms on Oct. 22. Penned by Townsend alone, “Stay” tells the story of a narrator coming to terms with the end of a relationship while still secretly hoping her partner will change. The midtempo pop-rock track features a bittersweet melody that embodies the feeling of having mixed emotions. The song also showcases Townsend’s deep, emotional voice and sincere vocal delivery. Townsend describes the complicated situation with lyrics, “Your side of the bed stays cold / Your warmth is what makes this house a home / I know you’ve got your places to be / But I pray you find your place next to me.”
Townsend described her inspiration for the song when she said, “This song was inspired by that moment in a relationship when you know it isn’t working. It describes a situation where you yearn for someone to stay and really show up in a relationship, but they always end up leaving or falling short. The song discusses leaving the lights on and leaving the bed just right, all in hopes for that person to show up as needed.”
“Stay” is the lead single off Townsend’s upcoming EP, due out in November 2021.
Townsend has been in the music industry scene for many years, opening for chart-topping artists including Safety Suit, Jason Reeves, Kris Allen, Push Play, Andy Davis, and Ben Rector. She was also named band of the month by The Little Rock Scene, received the Spotlight Award from Trich Foundation Inc., and took home a Battle of the Bands victory through a competition put on by The Arkansas Times.
However, in 2016, she endured heartache and tragedy when her drummer passed away. Townsend took a break from the scene but realized over time that words, particularly lyrics, can be healing. The transformative nature of grief inspired her to find her way back to music. Pouring her heart and emotions out on paper, Townsend got back in the studio, determined to serve her drummer well and complete the album they always planned on making. Two years later, touching on heartache and renewal, her album Show Me Home was born. Her album has been described as “unimaginably relatable and honest.”
Fast forward to the present, Townsend is still taking the music scene by storm. In 2019, Townsend played at the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival and shared the spotlight with award-winning songwriters including Jeremy Bussey (Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Ashley McBryde), Brian White (Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins), Jerry Vandiver (Phil Vassar, Lonestar), Scott Southworth (Amanda Cook), Pete Sallis (Maddie & Tae, Ronnie Dunn), Troy Martin (George Strait), Tiffany Goss (Brett Young, Chris Janson, Clay Walker), Lance Carpenter (Kelsea Ballerini), among others. More recently, Townsend has received support from Fretmonkey Records, leading to an invitation to tour internationally. She also participated in the Cartagena International Guitar festival in Columbia. Along the way, she has gained several music industry endorsements, including the previously mentioned Fretmonkey Records, K&K Sound Systems, Mayson Guitars, and Elixir Strings. Additionally, as Townsend is passionate about giving back, she created a video raising awareness for mental health titled “You’re Not Alone.” The video made a profound impact, with countless fans reaching out to share their mental health stories, interest from community organizations Only Human and National Alliance on Mental Health Arkansas, and local media coverage in her home state of Arkansas.
Townsend is set to release a new track, “Stay,” on Oct. 22. “Stay” is the lead single off her upcoming EP, due out in November 2021. For more information on Townsend, visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
