Born from a fevered haze, Mose Wilson’s track “That’s Love” captures the tangled emotions – and messy moments – of love that flow through the heart of his sophomore album.
Stream: “That’s Love” – Mose Wilson
In the fog of a fever, with nothing but a guitar and a dose of DayQuil, Mose Wilson stumbled onto the song that would become the heartbeat of his new album, That’s Love.
In January of last year, laid up in bed with a brutal cold – or maybe the flu – he found himself running on cold meds, sleep, and the occasional bowl of chicken noodle soup. On the fifth day, still groggy but finally upright, he took a few swigs of DayQuil, poured a cup of coffee, and picked up his guitar.
“I started playing this groove between D minor and A7,” Wilson recalls. “Then this melody just started coming out of me. I jammed for what felt like an hour – probably only 10 minutes – and I suddenly had this idea to write a love song.”
But it wouldn’t be the typical kind. Wilson didn’t want a happy love song, or even a sad one. He wanted something honest that doesn’t capture just the highs or lows, but everything in between.
He wrote as fast as he could, captured a single voice memo on his phone, and went back to sleep. Hours later, he listened. It felt complete. He never changed a word or chord. That fever-born song, “That’s Love,” became the heart of the album – and its title track, which drops July 17. Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering this song today ahead of its release!
That’s love
It’s good and it’s bad
That’s love
It’s happy and sad
You can’t do without it
And you can’t make it stop
That’s love
From the bottom to the top
That’s love
It’s pleasure and pain
That’s love
In truth and in vain
You can fight it
Or let it take control
But that’s love
Body and soul
The 11-track offering That’s Love marks Wilson’s long-awaited follow-up to his self-titled debut, released four years ago. This time, he stepped fully into the producer’s chair, shaping the sound from start to finish. The final version of “That’s Love” still carries the rawness of that original demo, just with a little extra magic, recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville.
Like much of his music, the album sits at the crossroads of roots, country and Americana, but it also blends in hints of soul, funk and rock and roll—an eclectic sound that reflects his life’s path and wide-ranging influences. From the catchy, two-stepping “Cajun Baby” to the sultry swagger of “Dance with You,” That’s Love showcases Wilson’s ability to move between moods and styles while staying true to his voice.
Wilson began playing guitar and leading hymns in church at the age of six, despite coming from a family with no prior musical tradition.
By the time he was old enough to write songs, he’d been raised on the sounds of country legends like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Over the years, Wilson’s songwriting has grown to explore everything from love and heartbreak to mortality, family, nightlife and the quiet moments that define a life. On That’s Love, those themes are especially front and center. The album doesn’t paint love as simple or idealized; instead, it leans into its contradictions, and sits with the beauty and the bruises.
Each track has a natural, no-frills quality, anchored by Wilson’s straightforward delivery. Whether he’s singing about holding on too long, letting go too soon, or finding something sacred in everyday messiness, what ties it all together is a deep sense of honesty.
His guitar work grounds the songs without ever stealing the spotlight. The analog atmosphere of The Bomb Shelter brings a richness to the recordings – everything feels close, like you’re in the room. The production is subtle but purposeful, designed to serve the storytelling.
Beyond his own records, Wilson has spent years collaborating with respected artists like Melissa Carper, Hannah Juanita, Sweet Megg and Eliza Thorn. Those musical friendships have shaped his sound, and you can hear the influence – a touch of jazz, a bit of swing, maybe a hint of bluegrass – but it still sounds entirely like Wilson.
That’s Love is more than a collection of songs – it’s a reflection of his point of view: That life, like love, is full of hard edges and hidden grace.
The album isn’t asking for sympathy or offering easy answers. It’s simply telling the truth.
And that truth will hit even harder on tour, when Wilson takes these stories on the road with a nationwide run that brings his down-to-earth intensity to stages across the country. For now, stream Mose Wilson’s “That’s Love” exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
It’s sunshine and rain
You need them both the same
Laughter and tears
It’s what makes up the years
That’s love
Lost and found
That’s love
In silence and sound
You can give it
Or take it all away
But that’s love
At the end of the day
— —
:: stream/purchase That’s Love here ::
:: connect with Mose Wilson here ::
— —
Stream: “That’s Love” – Mose Wilson
— — — —
Connect to Mose Wilson on
Facebook, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© Justin Hughes
© Justin Hughes:: Stream Mose Wilson ::
