Front porches carry a lot of symbolism in country music – community, nostalgia, family, and the like. For MamaDear, though, the front porch became associated with the start of a new musical endeavor. The group formed when three solo singer-songwriters, Parker Bradway, Kelly Tillotson and Daniel Wilson joined “I Run To You” writer Tom Douglas for a mentoring session on a front porch in 2012. That day, the three realized that they had something special together. A year later, in 2013, Parker, Kelly and Daniel officially announced that they would be forming a trio.
Their sound is a unique balance between the Band Perry’s grittiness and Little Big Town’s smooth harmonies. Last November, they released a fantastic three-song EP, Life is Better on a River. The title track is our favorite, and is a sunny tune that captures the hope and bliss of falling in love. The second track, “Good Enough For Me,” is an uptempo song with has a bit of a rock edge that highlights Kelly’s vocal power. They slow things down for the final song, “Back on My Mind,” a sweet ballad about wanting to reconnect with a former love. Since the release of their EP, MamaDear has also posted a new song, “Boomerang,” to their website. This tune features a stronger beat and much fuller sound than do any of the songs on the EP, which showcases how the band is sonically versatile.
Although they’re a relatively new group, they’ve covered a lot of ground – and air – in this past year. Just a few weeks ago, they graced a Southwest Flight with their beautiful harmonies when they performed “Country Roads” for a lucky group of passengers. They have also opened up for a number of great acts including Thompson Square, Will Hodge, and Jason Michael Carroll. Along the road, they’ve been snapping pictures while posing on different porches in honor of how they got their start. It’s safe to say that MamaDear will be able to add quite a few more porch pictures to their collection as they continue to tour the country and win over fans. The group is packed with the potential and definitely one to watch as they begin to make a name for themselves.
Find more from MamaDear on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.