New Album ‘Luck’ by Jake Witt

REVIEW

Jake Witt performs at his “Luck” release show at Talisman Brewing in Ogden on May 2, 2026. Deann Armes

From the Midwest to northern Utah in 2020, Americana singer-songwriter Jake Witt’s gritty voice is resonating in the Beehive State. He released a debut full-length album, “Luck,” in May with a sold-out release show at Talisman Brewing in Ogden and a robust concert schedule across northern Utah. On Pioneer Day, he returns to his current city of Ogden on the Talisman stage. 

Witt’s original Red Dirt country style storytelling is a meaningful addition to the Mountain West music scene. What he’s done exceptionally well is join forces with an impressive batch of local musicians — many are featured on the album, which was produced by singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Daniel Young at Orchard Studios in Salt Lake City. 

This album is great at first listen from start to finish, but upon repetition it steals your heart; its honest stories land deep as lyrics come into focus.

Many tracks like “Luck,” “Borrowed Time” (gorgeous fiddle by Susie Brown), and “Holdin’ On” are loveable at the jump and full of lyrical gems: “A mess in the mirror, a ghost in my jeans / still dragging the scars of my twenty-something dreams” (“Holdin’ On) and “Back Row Baptist” — “...skipping stones, breaking the mold / a little bit holy and a whole lot wrong / raised on guilt but we made it our own.” 

“Misunderstood” is a quiet anthem not to miss. The wistful track is about Witt’s childhood best friend’s dad who was drafted in the Vietnam War, a man misunderstood by his community. It was discovered only after his passing that he was a two-time Purple Heart recipient. “Never said a damn thing and no one asked / swallowed his pain with pills, kept his foot on the gas.”

I want to hear more stories behind these songs. Each one seems to have a rich tale.

All songs are written by Jake Witt. Read the full credits list and more at jakewittmusic.com. “Luck” is available on all streaming platforms.