Just a few days after announcing her upcoming debut album, Shot in The Dark, live from the Grand Ole Opry stage, Big Loud rising star Ashley Cooke dropped three new songs from the project. “tastes like,” “mean girl (feat. Colbie Caillet),” and “shot in the dark” are available on all streaming platforms now.
The singles, all co-written by Cooke, reinforce her talent for penning conversational lyrics that immerse listeners in personal stories and experiences. In “tastes like,” a danceable track driven by a bluesy dobro lead and hip-hop drums, she sounds off on whiskey as an inebriating reminder of an ex. Good luck drinking to forget!
In “mean girl (feat. Colbie Caillat),” Cooke warns a newly-cuffed friend about her boyfriend’s cruel intentions. In the second verse, she trades lines with Caillat, who also contributes soaring background vocals that elevate the song’s massive chorus. Meanwhile, the LP’s titular track, “shot in the dark,” tells the story of a chance encounter that ends in true love. The hook says it all: “who knew two straight tequilas and a credit card would wind us up right where we are?” It’s a heart-stirring anthem that brilliantly captures the way love often feels like fate.
Shot in The Dark is slated for release on July 21st, but the good news doesn’t stop there. On Monday, Cooke announced her upcoming coast-to-cast headlining tour. The leg kicks off in Panama City, Florida, on August 23rd and wraps up with a show in Rome, Georgia, on November 10th. See the full tour dates here. Pre-save Shot in The Dark here.
Photo credit Robbie Klein.