Southern Avenue looks back at their roots traversing the Memphis club scene on “Rum Boogie,” a new single released today. The band’s “love letter” to their hometown is the second single from Southern Avenue’s highly anticipated Alligator Records debut album, Family, which is due on April 25.
At the band’s core are three sisters who honed their vocals in Memphis church pews: powerhouse lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, supported by the harmonies of her siblings Tikyra (TK) on drums and Ava on percussion and violin. Southern Avenue’s distinctive sound is completed by Tierinii’s husband, Israeli-born guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly, whose raw Memphis-steeped guitar work and funky rhythms help fuel their message-driven originals.
Last September, Southern Avenue shared the first single from Family, “Found A Friend In You,” which features Luther Dickinson bass. The band joined Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival tour that same month and also made their Farm Aid debut.
“‘Rum Boogie’ is our love letter to Memphis, the city that shaped our sound and our story,” explained Teirinii Jackson of Southern Avenue’s new single. “It reflects the places where we played nonstop in our first two years as a band—from the Rum Boogie on Beale Street to the old Buccaneer and DKDC clubs. This song captures the friendships and experiences that made us who we are today.”
“In the early days, playing together in Memphis felt electric—like we were creating something bigger than ourselves. Those moments shaped our sound and strengthened our bond. ‘Rum Boogie’ is a tribute to that time and the city that brought us to life,” added Ori Naftaly.
Watch the official lyric video for Southern Avenue’s “Rum Boogie” below:
