Artist As Outlaw Presents: Cache & Hazel
Local musicians Cache & Hazel represent the essence of delta dreaming. Both have grown up in small Arkansas communities. Both took to music as a way to escape the monotony of rural living, picking up the proud musical heritage that runs in their blood.
Hazel: “I grew up in an extremely musical family. My uncle Terry was part of the Finley Brothers, and they actually opened for Peter Frampton! My Aunt is Georgi Baker and has sung with many big names. She was even offered the song “Cold Day in July” before the Dixie Chicks. So my childhood consisted of me constantly idolizing them and floating around humming like a little songbird.”
Nate got his musical gifts earlier in life as well, performing at his parents' “Home Bar”, that became his first live music venue. “It was a good way to ease into the public eye. They have their cabin set up to do fish fries, and bonfires with big crowds. I was awful in those early days, but I cut my teeth on that river bank.”
“I started playing guitar in Jr. High. I played in a metal band all the way through high school. Had a couple of bands that didn’t pan out in my 20s. Traveled the country for 5 years, playing acoustic solo. This was when I learned to sing folk songs, and the musical history that our region is steeped in.”
Hazel: “ Oh yeh, I cut my teeth on singing Bonnie Raitt and Etta James. I picked up playing guitar when I was 19 just so I could sing a tune. I still suck to this day! But I met Nate at a mutual friend’s house and they invited me to come sing, and it was love at first sound. Eventually, Nate and I sat down and he played a tune and I just started singing words. It was like songs just fell out of us like groceries out of a broken bag.”
Nate: “ Yeh, Sam and I started playing in 2018. We were in a full band together to start with. We would ride to practices together and became best friends. We realized quickly that we had great songwriting chemistry together. In the last year, we have written probably 20 songs and forgotten twice as many. I hope to have an album recorded by the end of the year, and to be on stage as much as possible.”
Hazel: “ We’ve written so many songs the past year, actually, to the point where it is almost like pulling teeth to focus on just one at practice. We just wanna play and sing and have a good time with no pressure! Definitely aiming to record within the year, and after that…who knows?”