Christopher Denny is no stranger to battling demons, being a Southern choirboy who attended the church of alcohol, drugs and self-destruction in a failed attempt to deal with his inner pain and conflicts. He says, “There was a lot of poverty, insanity and self-destruction. I was never taught how to take care of myself. I barely lived through my childhood.”

Addiction followed, drugs and alcohol dominated, and it looked as though his undeniable talent was never going to truly get a chance to shine. Then Marlboro Cigarettes licensed two of his older songs, Roller Coaster and God’s Height, for their website. “They sent me a check for 20,000 dollars. I told my wife we could use the money to get clean or die. We got clean.”

The result is a stunning new album If The Roses Don’t Kill Us, a blend of pre-country Southern music, folk, rock, gospel and singer/songwriter impulses that recalls the Big O, 60s Memphis and New Orleans soul amongst other things.

Listen to the wonderful Our Kind Of Love, which also features Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards fame. The album is out on the 5th August on Partisan Records.

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