“In the Mexican Sun” arrives at a pivotal moment in Red Camel Collective’s rapidly ascending career, serving not only as their first new release following their 2025 IBMA New Artist of the Year win, but also as the lead single for a highly anticipated sophomore album. What’s immediately striking is how confidently the band navigates the delicate balance between tradition and innovation. This track is unmistakably bluegrass—rooted in acoustic authenticity and ensemble precision—yet its emotional pacing, arrangement, and melodic architecture signal a group eager to expand the expressive possibilities of the genre.
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The song, written by Malcolm Pulley, is built on a deceptively simple narrative: a woman whose lifelong struggles have led her to seek solace in two enduring companions—her guitar and the warm, affirming clarity of the Mexican sun. But the simplicity is part of its emotional efficiency. There’s an elegance in how the lyrics leave space for interpretation, for imagination, for personal resonance. The band takes this lyrical framework and constructs a sonic environment that enhances, rather than overshadows, the narrative.
Heather Berry Mabe’s vocal performance is the keystone of the entire composition. Her delivery is technically superb—clean phrasing, precise intonation, and a natural control over dynamic shading. But more importantly, it is expressive without ever crossing into exaggeration. Heather understands the core emotional tone of the lyric: introspective, humbled, quietly triumphant. She inhabits the space between melancholy and contentment, creating a vocal performance that feels as warm and steady as the sun referenced in the title.
The instrumental arrangement reflects an ensemble operating with near-telepathic cohesion. Tony Mabe’s banjo is understated yet integral, providing a subtle rhythmic lattice that guides the listener through the track’s contemplative pacing. The banjo never dominates; instead, it functions as a structural element, offering just enough movement to keep the arrangement buoyant. Johnathan Dillon’s mandolin is equally restrained, serving as a textural highlight—punctuating transitions, adding sparkle, and filling in the harmonic edges with measured precision.
Curt Love’s bass work deserves special mention: his playing is the definition of supportive musicianship. There’s a roundness to his tone and a clarity in his timing that give the track its grounding presence. His lines are economical but effective, the kind of bass contributions that reveal their craftsmanship the more you listen.
Then there is the fiddle work from special guest Stephen Burwell, whose performance elevates the track in subtle but essential ways. Rather than taking a spotlight soloistic approach, Burwell weaves the fiddle lines into the emotional substructure of the song—sometimes echoing Heather’s phrasing, sometimes answering the mandolin, sometimes adding gentle melodic lifts that mirror the arc of the lyric. His presence enriches the harmonic and emotional contour of the track without crowding the arrangement.
Musically, “In the Mexican Sun” stands out for its pacing and restraint. Many contemporary bluegrass singles aim for immediacy—fast tempos, virtuosic breaks, and arrangements designed for radio punch. Red Camel Collective moves in the opposite direction here, trusting the slow burn. The song’s mid-tempo groove creates space for attention, space for reflection, space for the listener to inhabit the emotional world being built. It’s a bold choice, and it pays off.
From an industry perspective, the single also reinforces Red Camel Collective’s growing identity as a group able to translate traditional bluegrass elements into a modern acoustic aesthetic with wide appeal. Their chart-topping debut proved their radio potential; this single proves their artistic longevity. If the upcoming album continues in this direction—leaner, more emotionally driven production choices, and narratives with deeper psychological resonance—they may solidify themselves not just as rising stars but as enduring contributors to the evolution of the genre.
“In the Mexican Sun” is a refined, confident, and beautifully executed piece of contemporary bluegrass. It showcases a band at the height of its interpretive powers and hints at a sophomore chapter rich with possibility.
Claire Uebelacker