Born & Bred is your source for music emanating from the hills of West Virginia. We are excited to showcase the enormous and diverse talent that has been bred here. Check out these new release from Charles Wesley Godwin, Samuel James and Brian Cottrill.
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Charles Wesley Godwin’s “Christian Name” is a statement: an album forged in heartbreak and rebuilt with grit, faith, and West Virginian resolve. In the wake of losing his infant son Samuel in 2024, Godwin turns toward the spiritual lineage of his family, drawing on the quiet strength of his grandfather, a Methodist preacher whose legacy shapes both the album’s title and its emotional spine. The result is his most vulnerable work yet: a collection of songs that move with the weight of lived grief and the stubborn hope that follows it.
Across 13 tracks, Godwin sharpens his storytelling alongside heavy-hitting collaborators, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Travis Meadows, Stephen Wilson Jr., with features from Luke Combs and Wyatt Flores adding muscle and warmth. Songs like “Try Again,” “Hey There Son,” and “Brand New” feel less like performances and more like confessions, each one tracing the long climb back toward light. Christian Name is Godwin at his rawest and most resonant, a record that doesn’t just document loss, it insists on redemption.
Samuel James released an uptempo country song about his desire not to be late for dinner. “Supper Time” could possibly be innuendo for something else but we don’t think that’s the case. Everyone eats diner with their clothes on the floor…right? The arrangement here is different than what we’ve seen from Samuel in the past. It has a throwback country sound that reminds us of a song Alan Jackson would’ve wrote during his “Chattahoochee” era. If you’ve not listened to Samuel James before this is a great jumping in point.
Brian Cottrill’s “If She Ever Decides” is a high‑energy, genre‑blending father‑daughter collaboration featuring drummer and vocalist Hannah Cottrill. The track moves between ballad warmth, acoustic pop brightness, and pop punk urgency, pulling influence from Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and All American Rejects.
At its core, the song tells the story of a guy desperate for commitment from someone who keeps him guessing, a playful and relatable look at indecision and longing. Hannah’s explosive drum work and tight harmonies give the track its spark, while Brian’s writing, recording, mixing, and production tie it all together into a dynamic, emotional ride.
