Nathan Evans Fox reminds us to lead with intention on ‘Heirloom’

Recommended Tracks: Racecar, Landlords Bill Lee Etc, Hillbilly Hymn (Okra & Cigarettes)
Artists You Might Like: John Prine, Joseph Terrell, Tyler Childers

It’s kind of a bummer when people give you things that you don’t want. A shirt that isn’t your style, the flu, a family tradition that is dated and time-consuming… I mean, you can’t choose everything that comes your way, but you can do something to make sure it doesn’t happen again. There is so much value in breaking an already broken cycle, and Nathan Evans Fox wants to inspire others to do their part. On Heirloom, the Nashville-based indie country artist takes a look at what’s around him, what he’s been taught, and tries to find a way to lead with intention so that the next generation will be in a better place.

Heirloom is a reflective album, with Fox making observations about society and the important things in life. On “Racecar,” he views the track loop as a metaphor for the daily grind of life. Against the country-rock sound is a disappointed spirit and a “What is this all for?” attitude that highlights the escapist lyrics. We also have “Hillbilly Hymn (Okra & Cigarettes),” which embodies the “comrade country” quality of Fox’s music. Everyone is encouraged to sing along to this one, given its chant-like verses and acapella style. All the while are lines like, “When Kingdom come, we’ll want for nothing / Just a long table, a mess of beans and honey buns,” reminding listeners that family and love are most important. These songs offer much to think about, especially “Jesus and the Buck.” Here, Fox realizes, “Well, the difference ain’t much between Jesus and the buck / That both hang on the wall,” challenging faith and humanity. It’s a controversial song, as it also calls out societal norms and expectations, but it does so in a way that makes people wonder.

There are times when Fox also reflects on his own needs and desires. There are probably times in your work day when you think about how your life would be if you had a different career, and this comes across on “Little Bit of Shine.” The banjo we hear emphasizes the warm yet moody sound of the song as Fox contemplates his dues in the music business and where his choices have led. Some of these choices have led to the dark circles under his eyes, which Fox describes on “Thinking About Quitting No. 5.” On this downhearted anthem, Fox knows that he is doing tiresome work, but it doesn’t mean that he would give it up any time soon. There’s also “Meanness,” a deliberately vague track that has Fox searching for meaning. Even though he sings, “Tell me where do I keep catching these feelings / Mapping my exits and detouring off deep-ends / I know the last things that I’ll name are all of my reasons / Until then, I’m content with the meanness of a meaning,” there is a rejoiceful quality that arises, making it a song that would go over well in a live setting.

An album about cycles and what we pass on would not be complete without family and relationships. Fox compares the strain of conditional love to a pesticide on “Sevindust.” Here, he notices how someone’s love can feed and fester on others around it, much like the way Sevindust protects the plant but hurts the other plants nearby. A loneliness comes through in lines like, “Your love’s a bad drug / It hurts something awful to sober up,” summarizing the point of the track. On “Landlords Bill Lee Etc,” the tone becomes cheeky and unapologetic. This is a vengeful, karma-centered song for adults looking to get back at their bullies. Throughout, Fox drops digs like, “I hope your dog don’t ever love you,” “I hope your AC’s hot, your heat is cold,” and “I hope there ain’t no bait when you go fishing,” leading up to probably the most insulting line of “Bless your heart.” You can’t help but laugh along, but on “Negative Space,” you might shed a tear or two. This serves as an ode to Fox’s father, with Fox commenting on the people and feelings that his father left behind. Meanwhile, we hear Fox’s mom playing the piano in her living room as a tribute—the father loved it when she played.

There is a story that plays out in the beginning, middle, and end of Heirloom, and this story pertains to new life. The first track is, fittingly, “Lots of Beginnings.” Filled with twangy vocals, steady drums, and meandering guitar, the track takes on a rustic feel that complements Fox’s “comrade country” vibe. Fox establishes rules while filling his newborn daughter in on the family she’ll be with for the rest of her life. The story continues with the title track, found near the middle of the album. The strings and acoustic guitar guide Fox as he thinks about the months leading up to his daughter’s birth. With slow and resonant vocals, he shares, “Lord, if there’s forgiveness / I’ll need convincing” and “I’m sure content / Skin-to-skin / To show you the whole of it,” both fearful yet ready for this new family member. The story then comes to a close with the final song on the album, “I Know the End.” Fox’s daughter was born the same week he lost his dad, and he notes this in, “The week my daddy died / I saw him hiding in her smile / And I swore I’d repay to him in her the love / He was owed as a child.” From there, Fox gives us twangy melodies, bittersweet strings, sustained lines, and wistful piano from his mother to tie the song back to all we have heard. In the end, he claims, “I’ll be the end of things / ‘Cause there’s lots of beginnings, babe,” bringing this story full-circle.

Overall, Heirloom touches on societal expectations, needs and wants, family ties, and legacy. It is an album that asks listeners to look at who they are or what they’re doing and decide if their beliefs, connections, and cycles should be passed down to the next generation. To do so, Fox provides working-class storytelling with Appalachian-inspired textures. The sound he creates is the “comrade country” sound that Fox has built over time, a sound that invites everyone in and remembers where it came from while leaning into where it can go. Heirloom definitely lives up to its name, and if we have learned anything from this project, it’s that we need to lead with intention in all we say, do, and give.