Julien Baker and TORRES have reimagined country music with their collaborative album Send a Prayer My Way, which was released on April 18. Featuring traditional instruments like the pedal steel guitar, banjo, and fiddle, the album delves into themes of queer love, addiction, shame, and devotion. Both artists, who are queer and have faced homophobia and discrimination in the South, use the album to reshape Southern musical traditions, particularly country music.
The album feels like a dialogue between the two artists’ distinct styles. Baker’s lyrics are spiritual and introspective, while TORRES brings a bold, theatrical energy to her delivery. Their queer Southern identities are central to the album’s themes, and instead of distancing themselves from country traditions, they make the genre their own. Their songs focus on love, loss, and family, blending Southern motifs with deeply personal stories.
One standout track, “Tuesday,” tells the story of a doomed queer relationship affected by conservative family pressures. The song’s gentle melody and familiar twang contrast with the painful lyrics. “I took a knife / To the paper-thin skin on my arms … Tuesday, now I hardly think of you / But when I do, I only think of shame,” the artists sing. It’s a stark depiction of love suffocated by shame and the silence that follows.
In contrast, “No Desert Flower” is a slow, serious ballad about loyalty and commitment. The song’s steady rhythm and soft harmonies emphasize the message of standing by someone, even when it’s difficult. The lyrics challenge conventional ideas of romance, offering a gritty, realistic take on love. It’s a vow of devotion that feels raw and modern, defying traditional ideals of perfect love.
On the other hand, “Sugar in the Tank” brings a lighter tone to the album. Playful and irreverent, the song satirizes stereotypes and societal expectations. It’s a track that doesn’t shy away from pain, but instead laughs at it, offering a sense of catharsis without downplaying the struggles.
Overall, Send a Prayer My Way stands out because it feels authentic. This isn’t an album made for commercial success; it’s the result of years of lived experiences from two queer artists reflecting on the forces that shaped them.
Each track on the album has its own unique vibe, but they all share a sense of cohesion. Whether they’re melancholy, humorous, or introspective, each song feels genuine. There’s nothing overly polished, and the emotion in each track is real, never forced. By using country music as a lens through which to share their experiences as queer Southerners, Baker and TORRES make these songs feel personal and fresh.
With Send a Prayer My Way, the two artists show that country music has more room for experimentation than its traditional gatekeepers might believe. The album is both a homage to and a reinvention of the genre. It serves as a reminder that music genres are not rigid—traditions can be reclaimed and reimagined, and Baker and TORRES have done just that.
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