I tend to be the resident country “expert” here at Lemonade. It could be because I was raised on a farm out in the boonies of Washington State. Perhaps it was the fact that it’s all I listened to until I reached my late teens and did what most people that age did. Okay, so maybe me buying Drops of Jupiter by Train was just a little bit lamer than your teenage rebellion, but this isn’t about me or you, it’s about a lovely young talent by the name of Katie Stump and her latest EP, Feels Like Home.

There has always been a small problem with country music. Many artists “think” they are country or try way too hard to sound country. I mean you can douse Ozzie Osbourne with as much steel guitar as you want, but it still isn’t country. Sadly though, it seems many artists feel like that is the case.

That however is not the story with Katie Stump. Stump was blessed with a natural country voice that could turn “Gin and Juice” into a square dance. The best part about her is that you can hear the fact that she is influenced by more than just country music as well. Whether it is a little bit of The Fray or even a sprinkle of Coldplay, Stump‘s sound is well-rounded while still being 100% country. Her unique breaks in her voice, as well as her flawless versatility between strong and delicate are just bonuses.

What is even more incredible is that I really do feel like the best is yet to come for Katie Stump. Standout tracks for me are “Stutter” and “It’s Alright”, but you’d be doing the five-song EP a disservice by not listening to every track. The Feels Like Home EP is just a preview of what Katie Stump can do and that, my friends, is pretty exciting.