ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - Folk singer-songwriter Russell James Pyle is embracing his love of nature leading up to the release of his passionate 'Seasons' EP in December. Having  been selected by National Parks Arts Foundation as one of two centennial artists-in-resident at Big Bend National Park, Russell is celebrating the honor through releasing his charming “April Song.” Though it's named after the month of April, the tone of this song embodies the warmth and comfort of hot apple cider, making it perfect for the transition into fall.

“This is the first single from a sequence of songs reflecting certain times of the year. April is new beginnings, fresh starts, and early morning drives with the one you love that refuse to be ruined by rain. We should refuse to let any type of rain ruin us.” - Russell James Pyle

Stream “April Song” Here

About The Artist: Russell James Pyle was born into a Pennsylvanian family steeped in musical tradition. He was playing piano by age six and trumpet by age ten, all before settling into the guitar. Songwriting followed at age 14 as he immersed himself in the punk and hardcore scenes of Richmond, VA and Lancaster, PA. Towards the end of high school, Russell discovered traditional singer-songwriters and began almost a decade of honing his songwriting skills.

Russell migrated to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was 26 and quickly formed The Porter Draw with college friend Josh Gingerich. The Porter Draw was in a lot of ways an amalgam of Russell’s influences: the punk energy of his youth mixed in equal parts with the country songwriters he fell in love with in his early 20s. “Punk and hardcore really speak to the anger that comes along with adolescence, country music relates to the existentialism of adulthood,” Russell remarked in a radio interview in 2013. Russell recorded five albums with the band and although he no longer performs with them, they continue to create exciting music.

In May, 2016, Russell released his debut solo album, Rise. Backed by a talented lineup of Albuquerque musicians, Rise creates the sound of the desert where it was born. Influenced as much by Brian Eno and U2 as by Texas troubadours, Rise creates an uplifting mood amidst honest songs about struggle. Delivered in a trademark vibrato rasp and accompanied by an ethereal folk soundtrack, Russell's songs are poems and calls to action.

In September 2016, Russell was selected by the National Parks Arts Foundation as the centennial artist-in-resident at Big Bend National Park. Russell is passionate about our national park service and the outdoors in general and this shows throughout his music and social media presence. “I can relate to struggle more than any other experience. There is a lot of struggle in the natural world and I draw inspiration, hope and healing from it,” Russell stated in an interview in 2016. Not only drawn to environmental activism, Russell incorporates principles of ecopsychology, or healing mental health through interaction with nature into his songwriting. Russell has done extensive academic work on ecopsychology and ecowellness and continues to write about the topic on his blog, The River’s Bend.

Russell is an avid outdoors enthusiast and tours the country living out of his 2005 Honda Element. Between shows he is often found exploring streams with his fly rod, or hiking trails. He will be releasing a new EP, Seasons in December 2016.

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