“We all fell under the spell of a guttural melancholy love song,” says Australia-raised, Nashville-based songwriter and guitarist, Jedd Hughes. In this instance, the “we” in question was comprised of Hughes and his writing partners, the great Sarah Buxton and Rodney Crowell, and the trio were penning a tune that would end up recorded multiple times over the next decade, “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly.” “I had always wanted to record this for myself after multiple recordings by others,” says Hughes, most notably Crowell’s own version from 2023’s The Chicago Sessions and a fan-favorite duet from the hit television series Nashville. So, when it came time to get into the studio to record Hughes’s latest album, the heartachingly beautiful “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” was a no-brainer for the long-favored session musician making a no-rules album of original material.
A reverb-drenched piano sets the scene before Hughes delivers the song’s opening line over his fingerstyle guitar arrangement: “I should have moved on long ago / Why I still want you, I don’t know.” The monotone cadence of the verse reinforces the melancholy realization of the song’s narrator, wrapped in a simple but strong rhythm section performance. The melody lifts into a quietly soaring pre-chorus before giving way to the ultimate realization of the refrain: “Loving you is the only way to fly.” Hughes delivers a Jeff Tweedy-inspired acoustic guitar solo before the final verse, adding a subtle dissonance to the gorgeous arrangement.
“Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” is the latest single from Hughes’s upcoming album, Night Shades—out May 2nd on Truly Handmade Records. A testament to not settling for anything less than his truest form of self-expression, Night Shades finds Hughes’s technicolor musical world blossoming into its fullest potential. Combining mesmerizingly deep and inspiring songwriting with heartbreakingly beautiful guitar playing, carrying listeners to a multitude of unique sonic landscapes, full of witty yet introspective lyrics and lilting, poignant tales of life—not unlike some of his lauded songwriter collaborators, the aforementioned Rodney Crowell, Jim Lauderdale, and Guy Clark, to name a few.
Fans can listen to “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” today on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube. Be sure to check out Hughes’s previously-released single, “Stay, Don’t Be Cruel,” here and pre-order or pre-save Night Shades ahead of its May release right here. Recently nominated by the Academy of Country Music for the Electric Guitarist of the Year award, Hughes will take the stage at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on May 4th to celebrate the release of Night Shades and will be hitting the road as a member of Vince Gill’s band throughout 2025. For more information on Night Shades, Jedd Hughes’s tour dates, guitar courses, and more, please visit jeddhughes.com.
Night Shades Tracklist:
Meet Me In the Dark
Underground
Night Shades
Stay, Don’t Be Cruel
Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly
Nothing’s Gonna Bring Me Down
Kill My Blues
Day After Day
Riff Raff
Aftermath
About Jedd Hughes: Hughes is an artist and sonic painter of the highest order, with a sensual grace on the fretboard rarely seen. His ability to combine mesmerizingly deep and inspiring songwriting with heartbreakingly beautiful guitar playing carries listeners to a multitude of unique landscapes, full of witty yet introspective lyrics and lilting, poignant tales of life. When Hughes has a guitar in his hands and is in front of a microphone, hearts find wings for those lucky enough to hear him weave his magic.
A heady list of musical giants spanning generations and artistic styles have long-since counted him as a trusted collaborator and inspiration, including Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Sarah Jarosz, Ryan Bingham, the late Guy Clark, Jim Lauderdale, Brandy Clark, and more. His recent work has found him being one of the most talked about and revered guitarists in the world, and this is all beyond merited, according to the many magazine features and heaps of endless critical acclaim. With his new album, Night Shades—due out on May 2nd on Truly Handmade Records, a division of Guy Clark records formed by his children to honor his legacy—a landmark follow-up chapter unfolds for an artist's artist who continues to awe and mystify the rest of us.
About Truly Handmade Records: Truly Handmade Records is a division of Guy Clark LLC. The company was formed by Guy’s grandchildren, Dylan and Ellie, to amplify and honor the legacy, cultivate and manage the intellectual property of Guy and Susanna Clark, and to support songwriters who live in the spirit of Guy Clark. Guy Clark LLC is managed by a board of directors, which includes Dylan Clark, longtime friends Rodney Crowell and Verlon Thompson, record label executive Scott Robinson, and biographer and producer Tamara Saviano. Saviano is the president and creative manager of Guy Clark, LLC and Truly Handmade Records. Truly Handmade Records inaugural artists include Sam Baker, Jedd Hughes, Lindi Ortega, Jack Barksdale and Mike Delevante.
