Cream Premiere: Mary Bragg Keeps Herself on 'The Right Track' [Fresh Track]

Ace songwriter Mary Bragg credits fans' and critics' enthusiastic response to her 2017 LP Lucky Strike with inspiring her to rely her instincts. Not only does she delve into more personal territory in her newest songs, but she also helmed the recording and production of her forthcoming LP Violets as Camouflage herself, tracking most of it in her home studio called Print Shop Baby.

"I Though You Were Somebody Else," the first cut to be released ahead of the album (out March 1), touches on our willingness to be fool and be fooled, while "Fixed" confronts the pressure on women to judge their own worth based on someone else's appraisal. Today, we're very pleased to premiere "Right Track," an upbeat shuffling tune in which Bragg reaffirms her trust in herself.

"It's absolutely a message I tell myself — usually subconsciously, but sometimes I'll come right out and say it if I need to shake my disbelief,” Bragg says in an email. “The small victories are easy to overlook when you feel like nothing's going anywhere, but it's never really as bleak as it can feel. When you're doing the work and taking chances on things that take a long time to come to fruition (whether in the music business or otherwise), there is such value in that, even if it doesn't feel like it at first. See — I'm a serial optimist."

Stream the track below, and preorder Violets as Camouflage via Bragg's website. (There are lots of special packages available, including signed copies, personalized recordings and homemade granola. The idea is to entice folks to buy early to help cover the cost of releasing the record, though the songs do a fine job of that themselves. You'll also get the record early if you preorder.)

You've also got a couple chances coming up to catch Bragg in person. She'll play as part of the writers' round at Douglas Corner Cafe that starts at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25, and she has a show booked at the Trimble House event space on March 21 — see her tour itinerary for more dates.