Magnolia, the debut EP from Bonnie Stewart, introduced a lyric-driven singer/songwriter whose music bridges the gap between Americana's past and present. It's an ethereal sound rooted in the influence of her parents' timeless record collection — including Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, and other classic craftsmen — with arrangements whose lush, atmospheric sweep nods to the modern day. Gluing that mix together are Stewart's aching vocals and sharply-written insights of life, love, and lingering memories we all carry with us. Raised in South Carolina, Stewart moved across the state several times as a child, living in small towns and cities alike. Her environment was transient, but her love of music — from the iconic folksingers of her parents' generation to the rock artists her older brothers preferred — remained constant. That connection with music would soon become more than a hobby; it became a way to make sense of the changing world around her. "I started writing songs when I was 9, the same year my parents got divorced," she remembers. "You can imagine why those two things went together." That same year, she collected her birthday money and bought a cheap electric guitar at a pawn shop, using the instrument to funnel her frustration into songs about leaving her childhood home and accepting her new reality. As she became a teenager, Stewart continued writing songs, steadily laying the foundation for the career that would eventually take her to Nashville. Moving to Music City halfway through college, Stewart sharpened her songwriting skills by playing shows around town and taking courses at Belmont University. She also felt an affinity for locals like Kacey Musgraves, whose music blurred the lines between gauzy Americana, country, and modern pop. Stewart developed a unique sound that also shrunk the distance between genres, creating homemade demos on her own and eventually partnering with local producer/writer Oscar Charles to create Magnolia.
