Since launching SUSTO in 2013, Justin Osborne has been crafting songs that blur the line between confessional indie rock & Southern storytelling. The name SUSTO – borrowed from the Spanish & loosely translated as “a deep, soul-shaking fear” – has always hinted at the project’s emotional depth. With SUSTO Stringband (Vol. 1), Osborne doesn’t just revisit his catalog; he reshapes it. This new release isn’t a side project – it’s an evolution. After relocating to Asheville, North Carolina, Osborne found himself immersed in a community steeped in bluegrass tradition. It was at a local open mic where he crossed paths with Holler Choir, a group whose lush bluegrass roots would become an imperative ingredient to this reimagined effort – & SUSTO Stringband was born.
Across nine tracks – seven reworked from earlier releases & two new compositions, Osborne’s songwriting takes on a new dimension. Holler Choir’s contributions are transformative: earthy harmonies & sweeping strings breathe fresh life into familiar melodies. Osborne’s stories – still good as gold. The songs feel both ancient & alive, piled in tradition but on a mission to explore new terrain.
Never Losing Me, one of the new songs, stands out as a tender highlight – a love letter to Osborne’s children.. It’s captures the album’s tone: intimate, nostalgic, loving & emotionally open. The other new track, Double Crown, is equally strong – and a Meanwhile favorite, a fun and calmly rambunctious sing-a-long.
Despite the shift in instrumentation, the emotional core remains. These songs still pulse with the themes that have defined SUSTO from the start: memories and love, joy & pain.. What’s changed is the way they’re delivered – less electric, more organic; less bombastic, more contemplative.
SUSTO Stringband (Vol. 1) not just a fad – it’s a bold reinterpretation of Osborne’s voice & vision. Looking back through a new lens & taking a meaningful step forward.
– @meanwhile_in_music
