Welcome to the Hill Country Archives! We've recently launched our website and this is our first official post to the "Archives". The Archives were made to help preserve the hill country blues in its true, unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic form.
So, What is Hill Country Blues?
Hill country blues is a distinctive style of blues music that emerged from the rural communities of the Mississippi Hill Country, a region characterized by its rolling hills and dense forests. Unlike the more well-known Delta blues style, which originated in the flatlands of the Mississippi Delta, hill country blues has its own unique musical characteristics.
One of the defining features of hill country blues is its rhythmic structure. It typically employs a hypnotic, repetitive groove that is rooted in African musical traditions. The rhythm often consists of a steady, driving beat that creates a trance-like effect, with little variation or complexity. This simplicity of rhythm allows the music to evoke a primal and raw energy that resonates deeply with listeners.
In terms of instrumentation, the guitar takes center stage in hill country blues. The guitarists in this style often utilize open tunings, such as the popular "cross-note" tuning, which allows for rich, resonant tones and the ability to easily slide between notes. The slide technique, where a metal or glass slide (or sometimes a bottle neck!) is worn on one of the guitarist's fingers to glide along the strings, is a prominent feature of hill country blues. It adds a distinctive sliding sound, mimicking the vocal nuances of African-American singers, and gives the music its signature emotional expressiveness.
(Pictured on the left is Mississippi Fred McDowell, an influential and beloved figure in the hill country blues world.)
Lyrically, hill country blues typically addresses a range of topics, including personal experiences, rural life, and the struggles faced by African Americans in the region (and then of course the not-so-occasional songs about women). The lyrics often reflect a sense of yearning, hardship, and resilience, drawing from the deep well of the blues tradition.
Hill country blues has had a lasting impact on the development of American music. Its raw, unpolished sound and repetitive grooves have influenced numerous artists across different genres. Contemporary musicians like the North Mississippi Allstars and Cedric Burnside continue to carry the torch of hill country blues, blending it with modern sensibilities while honoring its roots. The enduring appeal of this style lies in its ability to captivate audiences with its primal rhythms, emotive slide guitar, and heartfelt storytelling, making it a cherished genre within the blues tradition.
If you enjoyed reading this article, there's a lot more! Consider listening to our "NMS Hill Country Archives" playlist on Spotify while you read.