After interviewing over 500 artists, I have met some incredibly talented musicians. However, sometimes it can be overwhelming. Besides being a notable vocalist, you need to be unique, different, and especially memorable. Levi Foster fits that bill to a T.
While I am grateful that pop-country is fading a bit and 90s country has made a considerable comeback, there is still something about the music that built the Grand Ole Opry and the country music genre. Music that wasn’t autotuned or slickly produced, but songs made the heart ache. Foster’s debut album, We Made Fire, is such an album.
Levi Foster is from a small town outside Lynchburg, Virginia. The first country music he remembers hearing was that of the storyteller Marty Robbins. Bluegrass was also a big part of his upbringing. He attended Bluegrass festivals, and some of the musicians took him under their wings. He learned to sing and play the guitar under their tutelage. By the time he was 16, he was playing anywhere that would have him. This included nursing homes with gospel music and lots of festivals.
When Foster moved to Nashville in 2023, he wrote “Virginia Rain,” paying homage to his home state. It’s a story song with strong bluegrass overtones. It is his biggest hit to date and is a fan favorite, especially for those from Appalachia.
We Made Fire was produced at Cartoon Moon Recording by the studio’s owner, Ken Coomer, a native Nashvillian and three-time Grammy-nominated drummer and producer, who was an original founding member of Wilco, touring and recording with the band for eight years.
“I wanted the album to feel honest—like something familiar, but with a few surprises along the way,” Foster stated. “I got to explore the places and people that shaped me, blending heartache, hope, and a little grit. Putting out my first record feels like a huge step, and it’s been a long time in the making. I’m so proud of the work and patience that went into it, and it feels good to share it with the world finally!”
The first song on the album is “She’s in Richmond.” And while the songs that Foster writes aren’t particularly autobiographical, he gets ideas from his life experiences. He explained, “I got some friends who live in Richmond. I was living out of my van at one point and was talking about the hardships of living on the road, and I wanted to make a story about it.” The song is a mid-tempo country rock track about being on the road while trying to save money to buy his sweetheart a ring.
“Emerald Eyes,” featuring Gloria Anderson, is a country duet that is so palatable, I thought it was a cover of something from back in the 1960s that I hadn’t heard before. The poetic words Waking and wanting you every morning/ The more I try to fight it, the further I fall/ No, there won’t be a day where I won’t want you/ Till the day I don’t wake up at all could have easily been written by Kris Kristofferson, but is sung with the sincerity of Merle Haggard or Willie Nelson.
Accompanied by an acoustic guitar and mandolin, the title track, “We Made Fire,” captures the nostalgia of young love. The song recounts the story of first love in much the same way Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” does. Still, with Foster’s emotive vocals, the lyrics will sear your soul as they bring back your own memories.
“California Gold” is told from the perspective of a homeless veteran who is trying to find his way.
With “Olivia,” the protagonist is in hot pursuit, trying not to get killed.
At the same time, Foster’s baritone shines in the completely fabricated murder ballad, “St. Marie.”
The outlier on the record is “Josephine,” a song that begins with a muted trumpet and gives you an Eagles “Witchy Woman” vibe. It sounds completely different than the rest of the album, but with Foster’s expert storytelling skills, you still get his drift.
There is some serious mandolin picking in “Frost in the Field,” which tells the tale of a man finally getting sober a little too late.
A song that will be relatable to many is “You Can’t Look At Me That Way.” Foster shared, ‘It’s when you’ve been through this toxic relationship and then you see them out again, and then they say, ‘Stop.’ You can’t do that. I got my life together already.'”
The final song on the album is the only cover on the record. The song, “Tear-Stained Letter,” is a bluegrass staple and is a hat-tip to the genre where Foster got his start.
What makes Levi Foster stand out is that he isn’t like anyone else. On We Made Fire, his tunes are mostly story songs, like many bluegrass bands do, but his voice leans more toward classic country. When you add the former post-punk rocker/drummer, Ken Coomer, as your producer, you get a final product that is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. And in this crowded music scene, that is a very good thing.
Foster has been enjoying a remarkable career since signing a publishing and production deal with co-partners Banner Music and Middleground Music in October 2023. As an artist, he has opened shows for greats like Ashley McBride, Trace Adkins, John Conlee, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, The Time Jumpers, and, most recently, Oliver Anthony.
With a soulful, down-to-earth, and playful personality that bridges the divide between entertainer and audience, Foster is a natural showman. But even as he debuts his first album, We Made Fire, he is already in the studio in L.A. working on his sophomore record with Shooter Jennings. Levi Foster is one to keep on your radar as he is barely getting started.
You can follow Levi Foster on his website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.
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