New Country trio Next of Kin flex their queerness storytelling on debut EP, ‘Homemaker’

One collaborative session. That's all it took for Madison, Lilli, and Caelin to envision a future together. What started out as co-op for Lilli's "Jekyll and Hyde" single soon gave birth to Austin based country trio, Next of Kin. With their own respective solo musical careers, Next of Kin is a breath of southern air in a genre yearning for new sounds. Gone are the days of stale country as Next of Kin looks to inject a little of queerness country. On their debut EP, Homemaker, the trio focuses on heartfelt poetry, wholesome sounds and themes of romance.

"Jekyll and Hyde," the lead single, showcases the origin of the group. Despite the slowed tempo of the track, the vocals punch through with a powerful theme. Addiction and bittersweet love take center stage as the act of letting go something dangerous and beautiful. The trio does a great job of trading visions in a seamless way.

Next of Kin doesn't shy away from their identity and uses it to craft stellar country twang. Country is a male dominated and competitive space. Getting airplay seems like a hopeless dream if not of the standard criteria. In recent years, there has been push for artists of various backgrounds to redefine the next era of country music. Next of Kin is one that can lead the charge and showcase a different side of the genre.

The trio's highlight on Homemaker comes in "Mean Streak." Outside of the other songs, "Mean Streak" is the more upbeat country. Catchy and infused with that Austin sound, the track is a delight that wiggles its way into your eardrums. By the song's end, the well-intentioned lyrics have done their job.

Homemaker is full of bold social commentary on love, loss and the messy stuff in between. Next of Kin put their soul into the very fabric of the songs. They don't hark on the past of their own relationships but encourage themselves to move forward. Despite the heartbreak shown through the project, the very lessons spoken on the EP more than make up for the tearjerker moments. As Next of Kin sets their sights on their new EP and spot at 2025 Austin City Limits Festival, their rise in a long stale space will bring with it a community ready to rock out.