Ramona and the Holy Smokes

In an era where authenticity in country music feels increasingly rare, Ramona and the Holy Smokes deliver a masterclass in genuine honky tonk with their EP Til It's Over, set for release on November 22, 2024. Fronted by Charlottesville, Virginia's Ramona Martinez, whose songwriting has earned her recognition from Wide Open Country as one of the "15 Latino Artists Shaping Country Music," the band crafts pre-1964 country that feels both classic and vitally current. Martinez channels the spirit of the golden-age country through a thoroughly modern lens. The Holy Smokes aren't playing dress-up – they're breathing new life into time-tested formulas with arrangements that showcase both technical mastery and emotional depth. Recorded at Richmond's legendary Spacebomb Studio, Til It's Over spans the breadth of classic country styles while maintaining a cohesive sound. The title track rounds out the collection with a heart-wrenching exploration of relationship limbo, transformed from a ballad into an infectious shuffle by the Holy Smokes' stellar lineup of Kyle Lawton Kilduff (guitars), Brooks Hefner (pedal steel), Jay Ouypron (bass), and Porter Bralley (drums).