Los Angeles, CA — Natalie Del Carmen, one of Americana’s burgeoning stars, has released her long-anticipated sophomore album, Pastures. The roots-driven record blends tender, earnest storytelling with classic folk instrumentation such as organ, fiddle, and the subtle strum of an acoustic guitar to create a quintessential entry into her career, solidifying her impact on the modern Americana canon. Pastures is out now on all digital streaming platforms worldwide via Torrez Music Group.
Pastures, a patiently developed, well-crafted record, grapples with self-imposed expectations and the tension they create in an artist. The album follows Natalie Del Carmen, now 24, as she navigates the challenges of newfound adulthood and the wisdom that comes with it. Constantly evolving, Del Carmen began to carry a persistent, stinging trepidation that she must find her way or make sense of her career, relationships, and the ties that shape her daily patterns and rituals with urgency. Across many of the album’s tracks, Del Carmen imagines herself navigating different pathways in her life from entirely new perspectives, consistently returning to a familiar feeling: restlessness. That restlessness centers on the illusion that, with enough effort, any goal can be achieved, any relationship’s fire can be stoked, and any moment can be transformed into something lasting and powerful. In pursuing it, she finds chaos in quiet moments as they morph into cacophonous pressure points, pushing her to try and produce more potent realities for herself and others. But Pastures ultimately reflects a belief system’s foundation cracking, giving way to change. Rather than holding onto that familiar, youthful anxiety, Del Carmen learned how to let go of some weighty expectations she placed upon herself. “Pastures is about the strange, quiet in-between that defined my early twenties—where I constantly felt on the verge of something, but never quite anywhere. I’ve been in a long season of transition—nothing’s ever certain, except the pressure to keep moving and prove something along the way,” Del Carmen says. “I’ve always felt a kind of urgency, like whatever I’m after is still way ahead of me. I wanted to write about what it feels like to be drifting between who you are and who you’re becoming.” Tracks like “What Should’ve Been (By Now)” reflect the endless wondering of a perpetually moving mind, while “Plans Upon Plans” reiterates how life can unhinge steadfast ideas about oneself. Ultimately, the album navigates the growing pains of continuously searching for a sense of control over one’s life, loosening the leash and instead allowing moments to pass without every step defined and every milestone deeply known. Simultaneously, many of the record’s tracks take a moment to pause and understand deeply cathartic feelings that come and go. Beautifully enriched tracks like “El Cortez” reimagine previously established, cherished memories of loved ones, painting them with the newfound light of age and wisdom. In this case, a family trip with Del Carmen’s father to a Vegas casino reminded her of his presence and ability to continue making memories. “Good Morning From Magnolia,” with its rich mandolin, swirling fiddles, and strong vocal refrains, calls toward a deeper homecoming, vibrating with warmth and passion for family, friends, and the things that bind people together.
Pastures was recorded in just eight days in the backwoods of Kingston Springs, just outside of Nashville, with the help of Tennessee-based musical collective Brunjo. The album bridges Del Carmen’s metropolitan roots with her love for traditional country and small-town storytelling, blending acoustic instruments like mandolin, pedal steel, and her grandfather’s 1930s banjo with modern folk arrangements. The album features mixing from GRAMMY-award-winning producer Brandon Bell (Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, Allison Russell, Alison Krauss) and mastery by highly esteemed music professional Eric Conn (Neil Young, John Prine, Sheryl Crow).
Raised in Los Angeles and shaped by the city’s cultural diversity, Natalie Del Carmen began writing songs as a teenager and quickly developed a style that weaves vivid narratives with melodic warmth and standout vocals. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she honed her craft among a community of talented peers before releasing her 2023 debut album, Bloodline, which earned critical acclaim for its fusion of American roots music with a distinctive, youthful perspective, with maturity well beyond her years. Pastures singles, “El Cortez,” “Plans Upon Plans,” and “June, You’re On My Mind,” have garnered early praise from outlets like The Bluegrass Situation, CMA, Atwood Magazine, Ditty TV, Country Central, Holler, and Saving Country Music, and earned coveted spots on Sirius XM Outlaw Country and Spotify’s Emerging Americana editorial playlist. Following her Americanafest debut with performances at The Bluebird Cafe and Whiskey Jam, Del Carmen is initiating new listeners and inspiring fans as one of the genre’s brightest voices.
Pastures showcases Natalie Del Carmen’s most mature and expansive sonic vision, encapsulating both the stirring anxiety and memory-making of your 20s with brevity and grace. Pastures is out now on all streaming platforms. For updates, live dates, and more, follow Natalie Del Carmen on Instagram @NatalieDelCarmenn and TikTok @NatalieDelCarmen, and visit NatalieDelCarmen.com.
