Kacey Musgraves has once again refocused on her Texas hometown roots, turning toward them with the standout project Middle Of Nowhere this year. A key aspect of that exploration has been embracing Tex-Mex influences, including a foray into the Norteño subgenre on the Willie Nelson collaboration “Uncertain, TX” and gigs alongside young mariachi players. She now dives deeper into that same sound, expanding it on a companion release to Middle Of Nowhere.
Slated for January, Middle Of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes presents sixteen fresh songs that examine the ties between Texas and Mexico. Musgraves performs four of them in Spanish, including a new Spanish take on “Uncertain, TX” with Intocable stepping in for Nelson. Today she unveils two preview tracks, “Weekend In Texas” and “Mi Tesoro.”
“Weekend In Texas” marries Musgraves’ witty, brisk pop-country writing with persistent organ hits and mariachi horn textures, underscoring the Texas/Tennessee rivalry that underpins this year’s breakout track, “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with her former rival-turned-friend Miranda Lambert. In the song she conveys the line about leaving Tennessee behind to spend a weekend in Texas, soaking up the dance-floor action with playboys and the spirit of Bob Wills, tequila for breakfast, and a carefree mindset.
“Mi Tesoro,” on the other hand, is a Norteño number sung in Spanish. Not a native speaker, Musgraves still holds her own here, delivering the performance with confidence. Read on below to hear both tracks.
TRACKLIST:
01 “Pretty Horses”
02 “Weekend In Texas”
03 “Hard Conversations”
04 “Denim On Denim”
05 “Figure Out My Life”
06 “Caballero”
07 “The Vacation Song”
08 “(Hey Baby) Qué Pasó?”
09 “Uncertain, TX (Spanish Version)” (Feat. Intocable)
10 “Mi Tesoro”
11 “Rodeo”
12 “”Tú Solo Tú [Live in Mexico City]” (Feat. Mariachi Oro De América)
13 “All My Exes (Kacey’s Version)”
14 “Desert Eyes”
15 “Pity Party”
16 “Before The Next Teardrop Falls”
Middle Of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes lands January 15 on Lost Highway. Pre-order it here.
