The tradition of singer-songwriters has always thrived off deep ties to regions and their natural essence. Countless albums have distilled the heart of the Deep South, the Northeast, and the Midwestern plains, but the Pacific Northwest has gone largely overlooked. Washington’s own Rocky Votolato, however, fills in this gap in the American tapestry of songwriters. After expressing a more Southern feel on his last album, The Brag and Cuss, he gets back to his Northwest roots on True Devotion.

Armed with a soothing croon and his acoustic guitar, Votolato draws out the essence of the evergreens and cool Pacific streams. On “Red River,” he seeks truth while escaping on a journey “from Spokane all the way across Montana.” True Devotion delivers a slice of Northwest that’s easy to take for granted, but Votolato’s heartfelt tunes reiterate its importance.

DOWNLOAD: “Red River”