Meet Curtis Lovejoy, a rare kind of troubadour from Southern West Virginia who doesn’t just sing about the land; he bleeds for it. With roots tangled in country and folk traditions and a heart lit by justice, Curtis is part singer-songwriter, part truth-teller, and full-time mirror to the Appalachian experience. His latest single, “State of Emergency,” isn’t just a song—it’s a siren.
From the very first verse, Lovejoy walks boldly into the fire. He names what many won’t: the opioid crisis, the abandonment of rural communities, the struggles of LGBTQ+ youth in a culture slow to change. His lyrics are unflinching, but never preachy—delivered with a kind of solemn clarity that could only come from someone who’s lived the stories he tells.
The vocals are grounded, textured, and gripping—Lovejoy doesn’t aim for perfection; he aims for honesty, and hits it dead-on. There’s a rawness to his performance that can’t be faked. You hear the weariness. You hear the fight. When the chorus hits, it lands like a weight on your chest—an emotional climax that pulls no punches and offers no easy answers.
The production is wisely understated. A stripped-back arrangement of acoustic guitar, gentle percussion, and perhaps a touch of harmonica or fiddle leaves plenty of breathing room for the lyrics to do their work. There’s a kind of hush around the track that amplifies every word, like it’s being whispered across the hollers to anyone still listening.
“State of Emergency” is a protest song dressed in the skin of a confession. It’s a powerful reminder that real country music tells the truth—and Curtis Lovejoy is here to make sure we don’t forget it. Let’s welcome him with open ears, folks. His voice matters.
Listen to “State of Emergency” on Spotify
Follow Curtis Lovejoy here for more information
