Hear Brothers Osborne and Lee Ann Womack’s Sterling ‘Loving Me Back’
In a sneak peak from their highly anticipated debut album, Pawn Shop, T.J. Osborne, one half of Brothers Osborne, shows how deep his baritone vocals can go. The classic country track “Loving Me Back” also features guest vocals from Lee Ann Womack.
Though the song is Brothers Osborne’s most traditionally twangy to date, it’s still packed with flourishes that establish their unique perspective on the genre: a catchy chorus, smart lyricism and guitarist John Osborne’s mix of tasteful strumming and swirling Southern-rock flecked solos.
Written by T.J and John Osborne with Casey Beathard, the track is one of 11 songs on the Jay Joyce-produced Pawn Shop, a release that’s been in the works for years while the Grammy-nominated Brothers carefully cultivated their sound. “It’s taken forever, and we’ve been like, ‘Come on!'” T.J. tells Rolling Stone Country. “But it’s been nice to have taken the time. It’s given us time to come out with something we are really proud of.”
Perhaps most importantly in that process was the songwriting itself — something evident in the catchy craft and evocative metaphors of “Loving Me Back,” a tribute to the same “Mistress Named Music” that their mentor of sorts, Eric Church, sang about on Mr. Misunderstood.
“What makes an artist’s career is great songs,” says T.J. “If we don’t have them, we have nothing, whether it’s the relief from the everyday grind, or something that emotionally strikes a chord with someone. I would love to be known for being a good songwriter over being a performer or singer or being famous. If I could be known for that, it would be the highest honor. It’s the pinnacle of everything we do.”
Pawn Shop is out January 15th on EMI Nashville.