The latest from Shawna Virago, “High Road No. 6” is a consuming alt-country track with poignant sentiments about “escaping the entrapments and negative forces wanting to take you down.” Virago, a pioneer transgender musician, wrote the track during a tumultuous year filled with legislative attacks against transgender people. The San Francisco-based artist, impressing previously with tracks “Tranimal” and “Heaven Sent Delinquent,” once again shines with “High Road No. 6.” Driving acoustics and suave vocals spin a consuming, wry wit — “I was broke and living in a haze, from my station in life / Trouble started when I slept with the mayor, then the mayor’s wife.” The “roll baby,” melodic twist also stands out.
Virago adds the following about the track’s background:
“I’d been a little depressed from the non-stop level of hate aimed at trans people, and needed to write something that gave me some hope and comfort. I needed something to supercharge my resilience. ‘High Road No. 6’ is that song, about escaping the entrapments and negative forces wanting to take you down. It’s a visual and cinematic song, plus you can shine up your boots and break out some the line-dancing.”
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“High Road No. 6” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of June 2021’ Spotify playlist.
