Melissa Carper (performance and record signing)

Since leaning into her easy throwback twang with 2021’s Daddy’s Country Gold, Melissa Carper has been on a roll. New album Borned in Ya continues to mine her distinct retro country sound, but cut with a deeper soul influence that can swing from tongue-in-cheek humor to gut-wrenching yearning beauty. Co-writes with fellow Wonder Woman of Country Brennen Leigh and deft covers like Cole Porter’s “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” all drip in the upright bassist’s crooked drawl, simultaneously unique and timeless. Waterloo provides the preview of Carper’s official local release at 04 Center on Sept. 7. – Doug Freeman