Jobi Riccio

Some people may not know this about me – but I’m a huge fan of classic country. Some of my favorite music ever came from folks like Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, etc… With that comes a great appreciation for the incredible women of country history: Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, and more. And now, we all get a front row seat to witness the next classic country female start her ascension. In February, a three-song EP release, Strawberry Wine, introduced us to Jobi Riccio – one of the most exciting finds of the year so far.

Just like all good country, Riccio’s latest release came out of… Boston?! Regardless of geography though – the sound comes from her soul. Inspired by those legendary women of country past, Jobi Riccio’s voice is one they would certainly give the nod of approval. Take a listen to Strawberry Wine – the EP’s title track – and without a doubt, you’ll be able to hear the heritage in her folksy vocal trills.

I struggle on whether to call it bluegrass or country. It seems like she has one foot in each world. But, that’s one of the things I like most about it. Riccio embraces the twangy old school sound that hits on the very origins of country music, causing my definition crisis. The rambling mandolin on Strawberry Wine really gives you that more old-timey feel. Oh, I thought that sounded familiar… it’s none other than one of our favorites Thomas Cassel, whose album Voyager I took a look at when it came out (read here). So, if you’re making the case to call Riccio bluegrass, Working Girl Blues helps.

Both of these tracks are a fun and well crafted listen. I keep my own personal country playlist that I usually break out when the weather heats up, and those tracks will definitely be on there. But, what really grabbed my attention, and what drives me to categorize Jobi Riccio as one of the most exciting new musical acts out there, is her track Hangin’ the Moon. I almost want to label it NSFW because you’ll start crying in your cubicle. The intricate instrumentation paired with world class songwriting and mournful vocals really hit you hard. I would love to hear more heartbreak songs from Riccio. That could be her gold rush.

I could not be more excited to have come across the work of Jobi Riccio. She is really what Incubator is looking for: absolutely incredible musicians that deserve top notch exposure. In this case, however, I’m convinced Riccio will garner a national following sooner rather than later. She’s my top country/bluegrass artist to watch in 2019. Mark it down. - Incubator Music