Tift Merritt On 'Traveling Alone' In The Studio

The latest release from North Carolina native Tift Merritt has all the makings of a great New York album. The transplanted singer-songwriter wrote songs for Traveling Alone on a piano at City Winery, a downtown eatery and nightclub. She recorded the album in Brooklyn with vaunted indie rock producer Tucker Martine and local heroes like guitarist Marc Ribot pop up in guest spots.

But like Tift Merritt herself, Traveling Alone is rooted in sounds from back home, especially country music. 

"I think what comes out of you has a lot to do with your environment, and it's often a reaction to that environment," says Merritt, who lives in Manhattan. "Yes I wrote this in New York City, but you can probably hear in the way I talk, and certainly in the way I see the world, I'm Southern."

Writing songs on City Winery's piano -- often while the staff looked on -- left its mark. "I felt very free, yet really rooted in the daily setup of this restaurant. It's so important, having these small quotidian things that ground you while you're floating away. It meant a lot to me."

She adds: "It was the most at home I've felt in New York City." Possible runner up for comfy performances: Her session in the Soundcheck studio, located across the street from City Winery.

Hear Tift Merritt and guitarist Eric Heywood play three new songs from Traveling Alone.

Set List

• "Traveling Alone"
• "Sweet Spot"
• "Small Talk Relations"