Lawrence Rothman Embraces Americana and Live Connection on New Album
Lawrence Rothman’s new 13-track album, Here Lies Love / Sawdust to Stardust, arrived via KRO Records and completes a trilogy following The Plow That Broke the Plains and Good Morning, America. Rothman said Americana now feels like a broad home for their blend of soul, R&B, folk, country, rock, and punk influences. They also stressed that live performance and human connection matter more than ever in a digital era.
Rothman’s 13-track Here Lies Love / Sawdust to Stardust, issued through KRO Records, follows 2024’s The Plow That Broke the Plains and 2021’s Good Morning, America, forming a trilogy. The project took shape after Rothman moved to Nashville during the pandemic and became more involved with Americana.
The album includes writing collaborations with Madi Diaz, Katie Pruitt, and Amanda Shires. Shires and Rothman first duetted on “Thrash the West”; a new song, “Karmakaze,” written with Jillian Jaqueline, grew into that track’s second half. Rothman describes Americana as a broad blend of soul, R&B, folk, country, rock, and punk.
The album’s emphasis on live performance and human connection may resonate with touring artists, producers, and audiences navigating streaming and AI-driven music culture. Listeners seeking genre-blurring Americana could find a model for blending traditions. Its collaborative approach may also strengthen Nashville’s cross-genre networks. However, impact likely remains cultural and community-level rather than broad societal change.