Mark Morton’s collaboration with The Cadillac Three singer Jaren Johnston inspired his first solo album in 6 years.
“Had a blast writing and recording ‘Hell & Back’ with Jaren,” Morton wrote in his tweet. “This was the first song Jaren & I wrote together and it set the tone for the material that followed. The batch of tunes that ‘Hell & Back’ led to all eventually evolved into my upcoming solo album. Much more to come.”
Morton recently released a new single, ‘Hell & Back,’ with Johnston. The song mixes rock and blues, referring to his Southern Rock roots. The guitarist said in a statement, “‘Hell & Back’ was so much fun to cook up! We found just the right balance of Southern rock swagger, bluesy grooves, and Outlaw vibes. Jaren is a dear friend of mine and such an incredibly talented songwriter and performer. Our whole process was as laid back and natural as the song sounds.”
Jaren added, “I was so stoked when Mark and his team reached out and said he was coming to town to work. I jumped at the chance to write with him and in the process made a great friend. I love the unforced mixture of our individual vibes in ‘Hell & Back’ and I was really happy we snuck a kick-a** breakdown in there!”
This is Mark’s first original solo song since 2020 and a preview of what’s coming in 2025, following his recent Lynyrd Skynyrd cover, ‘The Needle and the Spoon’ with Neil Fallon. The track mixes genres in a way that appeals to both old and new fans.
On his first solo album, ‘Anesthetic,’ Mark stepped away from heavy metal. The record arrived in 2019 and featured names like Jacoby Shaddix, Myles Kennedy, Chuck Billy, Mark Lanegan, and Josh Todd.
Had a blast writing and recording “Hell & Back” with @thejaren. This was the first song Jaren & I wrote together and it set the tone for the material that followed. The batch of tunes that Hell & Back led to all eventually evolved into my upcoming solo album. Much more to come. pic.twitter.com/5AFHrMKkJT
— Mark Morton 🇺🇸 (@MarkDuaneMorton) January 17, 2025
