Time Sawyer is set to release its seventh studio album, “Dig a Little Deeper,” on March 10, 2023. The record explores the human failings that get in the way of finding true connection with one another and forging our authentic path in the world. The first single, “It’s What It Is” is out now (Listen/Share). Time Sawyer will support the album with a series of U.S. tour dates through the spring and summer, according to a press release.

On “Dig a Little Deeper,” the North Carolina-based quartet offers a poignant and well-balanced collection that melds their signature alt-country sound and breezy song craft into something wholly unique. Riding the heels of their 2019 release, “Mountain Howdy,” “Dig a Little Deeper” does exactly as the title suggests as it addresses important themes about self sabotage, bias and greed, again according to the release. 

“Little Black Cat” opens the listen with a clever tune about how attached we can be to superstition and how those feelings can keep us from seeing beyond our own experiences. Time Sawyer guitarist and songwriter Sam Tayloe shares “four-leaf clovers and throwing salt over our shoulder are crutches that let us keep on thinking the same selfish way, instead of digging to find a more universal truth.”

“Shame” tells the story of a man who chases status and ultimately loses his picture because he’s too worried about the frame. The chorus highlights how we all seem to focus on our differences over the many things that make us alike. 

Paying homage to the late Jim Croce is the cover “Speedball Trucker,” which calls to mind some of the same traveling woes and triumphs that Time Sawyer sees as a touring band. 

“It’s What It Is” is a driving anthem inspired by the “tough guy” role that Joe Pesci is often known for. As the song moves along, you discover how harmful the mindset of “it’s what it is” can be. “We like to find common ground between folks (conductors and pilots) but once we feel inferior, they’re our enemy, not someone who was seen as an ally,” adds Tayloe.

“Goodbye Forever, I Guess” is a look at modern dating and examines how quick we can be to write someone off, while “Wealth Of Greed” showcases how difficult it can be to show others how we care.

The finale, “210 (It’s Over)” is a reinvention of a Time Sawyer murder ballad recorded in 2014 after a night in Knoxville, Tennessee. The song was re-recorded to show the evolution of the song as Time Sawyer toured and played it together, and the life that it developed over time. A highlight of the song is Court Wynter’s jazz improvisation on bass, which is an audience favorite at live shows.

Dig a Little Deeper” by Time Sawyer will be released to all digital streaming platforms on Friday, March 10, 2023. For more information, visit www.timesawyer.com.