Nashville-based singer/songwriter Nicki Bluhm soars on “Tumbleweed,” a sunshine-soaked celebration of life’s twists and turns that blends folk-rock, West Coast soul, and Western psychedelia into a timeless, feel-good reverie.
Stream: “Tumbleweed” – Nicki Bluhm
There’s a sunshine-soaked freedom to “Tumbleweed” that feels like closing your eyes, lifting your face to the sky, and letting the wind take you where it may.
Nashville’s Nicki Bluhm turns life’s uncertainty into a radiant embrace, singing not of fear or hesitation, but of release – of loosening the grip, living in the now, and finding joy in the ride. Soulful and seductive, cheerful and charming, the song glows with warmth and humanity – its big, bold guitar lines and glowing vocal harmonies carrying the same kind of golden energy that lingers in late afternoon light. At its heart, “Tumbleweed” is a song of sweet surrender, celebrating the beauty and wonder of being fully present.
Out of the shadows of the past
Feeling like a tumbleweed
The wind keeps blowing
I keep on going
A lifetime of looking for me
Every day just the same as yesterday
Hop on the carousel and ride
It’ll never stop so I jump off
Now I’m finally hitting my stride
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Tumbleweed,” the latest single off Nicki Bluhm’s forthcoming eighth studio album Rancho Deluxe, out October 3, 2025. Following recent singles “Cumberland Banks” and “Simple Side of Me,” the song furthers Bluhm’s vibrant patchwork of folk-rock, Western psychedelia, ‘60s West Coast soul, and country-soul. Inspired by a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, “Tumbleweed” embodies the adventurous, collaborative spirit that fuels Rancho Deluxe, which was recorded live at Bluhm’s Nashville home studio with her partner/producer Jesse Noah Wilson and an all-star cast of friends including Kai Welch, Jess Nolan, and Cameron Neal.
Bluhm lights up when she talks about “Tumbleweed,” a song that embodies both musical exhilaration and lyrical surrender.
“The guitar riff and tone by absolute shredder Shane Boeker (American Aquarium) kicks this song off and just puts a huge smile on my face, makes me wanna turn it up,” she tells Atwood Magazine.
“Lyrically, ‘Tumbleweed’ is about letting go and trusting in what you cannot see. When I was writing, I had strong images of my time floating down the Grand Canyon. The overhanging cliffs are so imposing and the blind bends in the river are so vast, all you can do is wait and see what is revealed around each turn. You are at the mercy of nature’s pace; the wind, the current, the weather. There is no use in worrying or trying to control the situation, you surrender and appreciate the ride.”
That ethos radiates throughout the song, especially in the chorus, where Bluhm sings:
If I could see around the bend
I would still close my eyes
Not looking back not looking ahead
I’m just along for the ride
Won’t waste my time on any regrets
It’s the mistakes that make you wise
Her voice soars above wah-wah guitars and astral keyboards, pulling us into a buoyant swirl of sound that feels at once timeless and brand new – part ‘70s singer/songwriter, part yacht rock, part Laurel Canyon daydream. It’s as much a song as it is a mantra: a reminder that life isn’t always about where we’re going, but about being present for the ride.
Nicki Bluhm has long carried the torch for roots music, and with Rancho Deluxe she arrives at her most settled and self-assured: Rooted in gratitude, resilience, and a love for the community around her.
“I’m forging ahead in a new way, but doing it on my own terms this time,” she smiles.
“Tumbleweed” captures that spirit in radiant color – a smile-inducing soundtrack to surrender, resilience, and the joy of not knowing what comes next. Rancho Deluxe is out October 3, 2025. For now, stream “Tumbleweed” exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
Stuck in the middle of the peak and the decline
But the trail is getting hard to find
If it’s all or nothing gotta give up something
I’m tired of giving up my time
If I could see around the bend
I would still close my eyes
Not looking back not looking ahead
I’m just along for the ride
Won’t waste my time on any regrets
It’s the mistakes that make you wise
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:: connect with Nicki Bluhm here ::
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Stream: “Tumbleweed” – Nicki Bluhm
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© Lauren Massie
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