Derby Hill’s self-titled EP is a quietly powerful introduction to a songwriter who understands the weight of ordinary lives. Rooted in folk, country, and roots rock, the record feels lived-in from the first notes of “Restless and Forgiven,” a song that sets the tone with weary grace and hard-earned mercy. Released on the 27th January, 2026 and recorded in Chicago basements and hall closets, the EP carries a cinematic warmth that never feels overproduced. Instead, it sounds like truth captured where it was found—close, imperfect, and honest.
Across the project, Hill channels the storytelling lineage of Steve Earle, Leonard Cohen, and John Prine without imitation. “Red Honey Wine” drips with bittersweet reflection, its imagery evoking back-porch conversations and whiskey-bottle wisdom, while “Come Back Home” leans into longing and reconciliation with an emotional restraint that makes it hit harder. These are songs about family and fracture, about loving people who don’t always stay, and learning how to keep going anyway.
Hope flickers insistently through the second half of the EP. “Anything’s Possible Here” stands as a tentative affirmation, not naive optimism but a blue-collar belief that tomorrow can still surprise you. The arrangements swell subtly, giving the song a sense of forward motion without ever overshadowing Hill’s voice or message. It’s in moments like these that the EP’s commitment to neo-sincerity feels most tangible.
The closing track, “In a Matter of Moments,” ties the record together with quiet finality, reminding listeners how quickly life can change, and how connection is often all we have. Derby Hill doesn’t chase trends or cleverness. It tells stories, plainly and purposefully, from an unvarnished heart. In doing so, Derby Hill offers something increasingly rare: music that makes you feel a little less alone.
English