Music is an essential part of my life, especially when I’m writing or otherwise pondering life. Lately, my writing soundtrack has included western artists such as Noeline Hofmann, Riddy Arman, and Ian Munsick. While listening to their music, I can feel the prairie wind blow across my face. My mind recalls the flight of a golden eagle across cirrus clouds, and I smell the pleasant fragrance of the prairie rose.
Please enjoy these tracks clipped from Spotify, my favorite streaming service.
Noeline Hofmann
Noeline Hofmann is so new to the music scene she has only recorded and released a few songs. However, you can find more of her music on her YouTube channel. Her song, Purple Gas, paints a picture of ranching life in Alberta, Canada. Farmers and ranchers there with special plates get a tax break on purple gas, which is used for off-road vehicles and equipment. She recorded another version of Purple Gas with Zach Bryan, which is on his latest album, The Great American Bar Scene. Noeline’s version is below:
Here is Lightning in July (Prairie Fire) by Noeline. If you have Spotify’s app, you can see Noeline riding a bucking bronco at a ranch rodeo.
Riddy Arman
Cowgirl and ranch hand, Riddy Arman, sings lonesome songs about the ranching life accompanied by acoustic and slide guitars. Barbed Wire, included below, is a mournful waltz about choosing wide open spaces over love. Riddy’s sound is pure, unpolished, and true western. Her authentic lyrics show she knows what she’s singing about.
Here is Barbed Wire.
Here is Old Maid’s Draw.
If you would like to learn more about Riddy Arman and her music, Ed Roberson had a great interview with her on his podcast, Mountain & Prairie. The episode was released on March 4, 2022. Click on the photo or the link below to listen:
Riddy Arman – Artistic Authenticity • Mountain & Prairie (mountainandprairie.com)
Ian Munsick
Wyoming native, Ian Munsick, writes and sings about ranching, cowboys, and cowgirls. His songs praise cowgirls and their contributions to every aspect of ranching life. Ian has a natural inclination towards creating music about ranching and cowboying. He was raised that way. Growing up, Ian and his family worked on their ranch by day and played music as a family band at night. In a recent interview with RFDTV, Ian said he has a spiritual connection to the land around his home in Sheridan, Wyoming. Ian believes the ranching and western way of life needs to be preserved, and he hopes that his music influences that.
Long Live Cowgirls (with Cody Johnson)
His song, Long Live Cowgirls, a duet with Cody Johnson, praises women who helped settle the west, and who work hard on ranches there today. Listen for the coyote that opens and closes the song.
Ian’s mournful song, Cheyenne, is about being left behind in Cheyenne by a rodeo cowgirl after the rodeo is over. It’s a flip on the standard ballads about women being left at home by rodeo cowboys.
I hope y’all enjoy these selections and they make it onto your own playlists! If you liked this blog, let me know. I love sharing music!
