Emily Love - 90's Country inspired band from Portland, Oregon | Rugged Revival
Watch on YouTube
Subscribe for new episodes, Grit Sessions & more
Listen to this episode
In This Episode
High Energy and Unapologetically Twangy: Emily Love Brings 90s Country Spirit to Portland
There's something refreshingly honest about a band that refuses to apologize for what they love. Emily Love and The Highliners have built their sound on a foundation of 90s country—that golden era when twang was celebrated rather than sanitized, when the genre felt genuinely dangerous and alive. Speaking to The Rugged Revival, it's clear that this Portland-based outfit isn't chasing nostalgia for its own sake. Instead, they're channeling the unfiltered energy of that decade into music that feels both rooted in tradition and defiantly contemporary.
The 90s country revival has become something of a cultural moment in recent years, with younger listeners discovering the genre's greatest decade through streaming playlists and TikTok trends. But Emily Love was ahead of that curve. Before it became cool to love Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, before indie music types could ironically appreciate Dwight Yoakam, Love had already committed herself to this sound. That's not irony speaking—that's genuine passion. And that distinction matters enormously when you're making music in a genre that's been alternately dismissed and exploited by the mainstream.
Fuelled by a love of 90's country since before it was cool.
— Emily Love
What makes The Highliners' approach compelling is their refusal to treat 90s country as a museum exhibit. These aren't precious recreations of a sound that belongs to the past. Instead, the band takes those core elements—the high-energy arrangements, the unapologetic twang, the storytelling sensibility—and makes them feel vital and immediate. There's a lightness to their approach that prevents the music from ever becoming self-important. They're clearly having fun, and that joy is infectious. In an era where so much roots music gets weighted down by reverence for tradition, The Highliners remember that country music was always meant to entertain first.
Portland's underground music scene has long been a breeding ground for artists willing to work against the grain. It's a city where DIY ethos runs deep and where regional sounds are treated as legitimate art forms rather than quaint regional curiosities. For Emily Love and The Highliners, that environment has proven fertile ground. The Pacific Northwest's indie sensibility combined with an authentic love of country creates an interesting friction—not the kind that tears things apart, but the kind that generates creative energy and prevents the music from ever feeling like a novelty act.
High energy and unapologetically twangy without taking themselves too seriously.
— Emily Love
The band's commitment to high-energy performances and their unironic embrace of the twang is particularly noteworthy in a musical landscape where irony has often felt safer than sincerity. Country music, perhaps more than any other genre, has suffered from artists who seemed embarrassed by their own medium. They'd soften the edges, tame the twang, apologize for where they came from. Emily Love does none of this. Instead, she's staked her claim on the side of the genre that celebrates its own character. That takes a kind of courage that's worth respecting.
What comes through in The Highliners' work is the understanding that 90s country wasn't great because of some nostalgic magic. It was great because it combined genuine songwriting with unpolished charisma and a willingness to be heard in a particular way. That combination is rare enough now that bands like Emily Love's sound almost like they're introducing something new, even when they're fundamentally rooted in something old.
For anyone interested in how country music can thrive outside of Nashville's system, or how indie sensibilities can genuinely merge with country tradition, The Highliners represent something worth paying attention to. They're doing the work quietly, building a following one performance at a time in Portland, but their message is clear: good music, made with enthusiasm and integrity, doesn't need permission to exist.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about Emily Love's journey and what The Highliners have planned next. Their approach to country music—both reverent and irreverent in equal measure—deserves your attention.
Comments
Keep listening
Related Episodes
Pat Reedy on Busking, Nashville & Building a Country Music Career
Pat Reedy joins Camden to discuss leaving construction behind for country music, busking in New Orleans, life in Nashville, ...
Mike Tod
Keeping Traditional Folk Music Alive in Nashville | Mike Tod Podcast
Mike Tod joins Camden to discuss traditional folk music, Canadian roots, life in Nashville, forgotten songs, unusual instruments and why preserving musical history still matters today.Originally from Canada and now based in Nashville, Mike explores the stories behind traditional songs, the connections between folk music around the world and how old music continues to influence modern artists. We also discuss his unique "Crankenstein" instrument, musical curiosity, collecting songs from the past and the importance of keeping traditions alive for future generations.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:00:30 Growing Up in Canada00:02:20 Discovering Music & The Crankenstein00:04:10 The Story Behind The Crankenstein00:05:20 Drones, Folk Traditions & Ancient Music00:08:10 Learning Guitar & Performing Original Songs00:09:40 Accessing Traditional Music in the Digital Age00:11:20 Researching Music History00:12:10 Playing The Crankenstein Live00:14:00 Creating Atmospheric Sounds & Live Performance00:16:00 Traditional Songs & Musical Origins00:17:50 The Artists Influencing Mike Today00:19:20 Studying Philosophy & Creative Thinking00:22:00 Horror, Heavy Music & Folk Culture00:24:00 Scottish Heritage & Family History00:27:10 Final ThoughtsSubscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Joe Stamm
"I'd Still Make Music If Nobody Listened" | Joe Stamm on Touring, Songwriting & Country Music
Joe Stamm of the Joe Stamm Band joins the Rugged Revival Podcast for a conversation about songwriting, touring, independent country music, recording albums, and building a loyal fanbase from the ground up.In this episode, Joe discusses life on the road, the realities of being an independent artist, working on multiple recording projects at once, and why songwriting remains the driving force behind everything he does. He also shares insights into his creative process, growing up in Central Illinois, musical influences like Chris Knight, Eric Church, Blackberry Smoke, and Charles Wesley Godwin, and his thoughts on AI-generated music and the future of streaming platforms.Whether you're a fan of Americana, country rock, Red Dirt country, singer-songwriters, or independent artists carving their own path, this conversation offers a genuine look behind the curtain of modern country music.Chapters:00:00 Joe Stamm's Reality: No Sick Days & Why He Keeps Making Music00:42 Introduction to Joe Stamm & The Joe Stam Band01:35 Social Media, Humour & Connecting with Fans02:18 Touring, Illness & Cancelling Shows04:15 Touring Across America05:54 Why Joe Wants to Tour Europe06:43 Working on Three Albums at Once09:30 Recording Music & Finding a Creative Workflow12:20 Funding Records & Building a Fanbase14:50 The "Joe Stamm Man" Merch Idea16:20 Growing Up in Central Illinois18:55 The Midwest Music Scene20:55 Musical Influences & Discovering Country Music23:15 Napster, Streaming & Finding New Artists24:00 AI Music & Spotify's Challenges26:45 Defining the Joe Stam Band Sound30:10 Writing Lyrics That Matter32:55 Quick Fire Round37:20 Joe's Songwriting Process Explained40:25 Where Song Ideas Come From43:30 Perfectionism, Editing & Finishing Songs44:05 Songs Joe Is Most Proud Of47:55 What's Next for Joe Stamm?50:00 Where to Find Joe Online51:50 Final Toast & Closing ThoughtsSubscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Jacob Paul Allen
Virginia's Appalachian Red Dirt Country Voice | Jacob Paul Allen
Jacob Paul Allen is a Country Music and Appalachian Red Dirt artist from rural Virginia, known for his authentic storytelling and unique sound.Jacob Paul Allen's music is a blend of Country, rock, and Americana, inspired by artists such as Turnpike Troubadours and Randy Rogers. Growing up in a small town in Virginia, Allen's music is deeply rooted in his rural upbringing and personal experiences. In this episode, Allen shares his story of finding his voice as an artist and navigating the music industry as an independent musician. He also discusses the challenges of staying true to his authentic sound in a industry dominated by AI-generated music.Allen's music is a reflection of his genuine and down-to-earth personality, and his passion for storytelling is evident in every song. With a full band and a string of upcoming shows, Allen is an artist on the rise, and this episode is a must-listen for fans of Country and Americana music.Chapters:02:08 Introduction to Jacob Paul Allen12:11 Influences and early music experiences20:12 Navigating the music industry as an independent artist26:59 Staying true to his authentic sound33:41 Upcoming shows and projects41:35 The importance of storytelling in musichttps://jacobpaulallen.com/https://www.facebook.com/jacobpaulallenmusichttps://www.instagram.com/jacobpaulallen/Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com