There is an interesting distinction between learning to play the blues and finding a personal reason to play it. For Alex Kilroy, that process has taken him from a childhood in Transylvania to the clubs of Nashville and beyond. His new seven-track EP, New Shade of Blue, released October 23, brings that journey full circle, returning to the traditional blues music that first inspired him while drawing on the experiences that have shaped his life.
The follow-up to May’s Break My Chains represents a deliberate change in direction. Where his debut album explored blues-rock, Southern grooves, gospel, pop, and melodic songwriting, New Shade of Blue takes a more concentrated approach. Guitar-led arrangements, traditional blues phrasing, and an emphasis on feel provide the foundation for a record that seems particularly concerned with artistic identity.
The EP’s opening track, “Crossroads On My Mind,” establishes that perspective through a song rooted in Kilroy’s own history. Its lyrics revisit his childhood in Romania, his determination to reach America, the years he spent playing local bars, and the visa difficulties that complicated his plans. The crossroads of the title become a reflection of the difficult choices involved in pursuing a life in music.
That autobiographical approach gives the collection an important sense of purpose. Traditional blues has always provided musicians with a language for expressing struggle, perseverance, and hope. Kilroy approaches those ideas through experiences that are distinctly his own, bringing an unusual geographic and cultural background to an American musical tradition he has studied since childhood.
The EP’s title track, “New Shade Of Blue,” reinforces the project’s central idea of finding something individual within an established form. The inclusion of “Sacred Ground” and its accompanying reprise also suggests an interest in developing musical ideas across multiple tracks rather than treating each composition as an entirely separate statement.
Kilroy’s choice of covers provides another revealing element. His rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Living For The City” places a soul classic within the context of a roots-oriented blues project. The decision is consistent with the broader musical interests he demonstrated on Break My Chains, even as the new EP moves toward a more traditional sound.
The closing interpretation of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Life By The Drop” carries particular significance. Recorded on August 27, 2026, in memory of Vaughan’s life and legacy, the performance acknowledges the musician whose work first convinced Kilroy to abandon classical piano for guitar. It also gives the EP a connection to the earliest stages of his musical development.
That connection feels especially meaningful following the death of Kilroy’s father, Iulian, earlier this year. A guitarist and former artist manager, Iulian encouraged his son’s ambitions while challenging him to develop an identity beyond simply reproducing his influences. His guidance remains an important part of the story behind this record.
New Shade of Blue is compelling in its intention to connect musical tradition with lived experience. Its seven tracks bring together original songwriting, personal history, and interpretations of influential material without losing sight of the relationship between them. For Kilroy, returning to the blues is also a way of understanding how far his own journey has taken him.
More information about New Shade of Blue is available through Alex Kilroy’s official website, while his music can be found on Spotify.
