I first discovered Amanda Shires, or as I know her, Pearl, when she was playing with the Thrift Store Cowboys out of Lubbock, Texas. Seeing how far she has come is absolutely mind-blowing. She is a true example of how a woman who sets her mind on something can truly do anything. Some people may know her as an incredible musician and songwriter, but she is also a powerful member of The Highwomen, which includes Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Shires herself. Shires has brought deep thought and emotion to her songwriting, not only for the supergroup but also in her own music and in collaborations with her former husband, Jason Isbell.
Beyond her own projects, Shires pours passion into the work of others. She has been a driving creative force in Jason Isbell’s music, helping to shape the sound of his career-defining records. At the same time, she has championed women in country and Americana, not only through her role in The Highwomen but also by collaborating with and lifting up fellow artists she believes in. Whether it’s adding her haunting fiddle lines to a friend’s song or lending her voice to a cause she cares about, Shires brings the same level of heart and artistry. That willingness to invest in other people’s stories is part of what makes her stand out in today’s music scene.
Her album Nobody’s Girl feels like a letter to herself: it reflects the hurt she’s endured and the healing she has begun over the last few years. Going through a public divorce has to be an incredibly difficult thing to navigate. Music can either heal you or hurt you; it just depends on how you choose to digest it. The sound of this record brings back echoes of earlier works, such as Down Fell the Doves, while also introducing new textures that feel like the healing process itself, with wounds transforming into scars. Some might say this is the kind of album Taylor Swift would write about an ex, but here Shires tells her story in raw detail.
Listening to the first few songs, you can hear the pain in her voice. In her track Details, she breaks it all down. The chorus makes you wonder: how could someone do this to a person they love? Maybe the real question is, do we hurt the ones we love because we believe they’ll always be there?
“You erase the details and I’m history
No matter how clear I keep the memories
You rewrite them so you can sleep.” —Shires
Shires is saying the quiet part out loud. In a world where so many are afraid to express how they truly feel, her music is refreshing. It makes me ask: if we were more honest about what we really feel and want, would we end up in the same predicaments we so often do?
Another standout is Lately. In this song, I feel like she’s sitting on the couch with me, sharing how life has been (almost like a girl chat). She reflects on her career, the leaps and bounds she has made, and the joy that is slowly returning to her voice. That brings me joy too, because we all deserve that kind of renewal.
Shires is truly standing out in the haze that has clouded the music scene lately. I’ve enjoyed all of her records, but Nobody’s Girl feels like a standout in her catalog. I highly recommend setting aside an hour, stepping outside, and listening to it. Bring some tissues, though; it’s a tearjerker.
