Hilary Cousins Releases New Single "Road To Corinth"

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Hilary Cousins has built a reputation for weaving Folk, Indie Rock, and Americana into thoughtful compositions that pair vivid storytelling with memorable melodies. Originally from New England, Cousins now performs regularly in Southern California while his music continues to find an international audience, with more than 75,000 streams over the past year. His latest single, "Road To Corinth", marks an important step in his catalog, bringing together sharp lyrical imagery, a dynamic arrangement, and top-tier collaborators.

While the single was written, produced, and arranged by Cousins, the final product took a cast of collaborators to help bring it all to life, including: Mark Needham (The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Pete Yorn) and Ben O’Neill (Moby, Chris Isaak, Lindsey Buckingham) handled the mix, while Sterling Sound’s Calbi/Fallone—known for their work with Arcade Fire, The War on Drugs, and Kacey Musgraves—took on mastering duties. Sessions were held in Brooklyn, New Haven, and Los Angeles, with Paul “Binzer” Brennan (The Waterboys, The Frames) on drums and Tony Ungaro (Joe Jackson, Marshall Crenshaw) on bass and guitar. The result is a polished yet organic recording that retains a sense of immediacy.

One of the most distinctive aspects of, "Road To Corinth", is its structure. Rather than relying on the conventional verse-chorus format, Cousins chose a strophic form, repeating a single musical section with evolving lyrics. This approach—used to great effect by songwriters like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Johnny Cash—focuses attention on the unfolding story while allowing the arrangement to intensify across each repetition. The track begins with a solitary guitar figure before expanding with acoustic layers, percussion, and eventually a fuller palette of drums, electronica loops, keyboards, and feedback-driven electric flourishes. By the final verses, the song swells into a powerful climax, Cousins’ vocals rising above crashing cymbals and intricate fills.

The lyricism is equally compelling. Though the title suggests a geographic reference, the road here is symbolic, drawing on language from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Cousins threads familiar phrases about faith, love, and truth into a contemporary journey, addressing charlatans, materialism, and division. Lines such as, “Knowledge without love is a lie”, and, “Some see all the world as a treasure / They measure their reflections in gold” cut to the heart of the song’s critique while emphasizing the timeless value of compassion. Rather than treating the biblical text as distant history, Cousins reframes it to comment on present-day struggles with greed, intolerance, and fear.

What makes the track resonate is the way the arrangement mirrors the message. As the verses progress, the musical build underscores the sense of movement along an uncertain road, reflecting both struggle and determination. Brennan’s drumming brings momentum that grows steadily, while Ungaro’s bass anchors the piece even as guitars and keys branch outward. Cousins’ voice guides the listener through the shifting textures, carrying both restraint in the quieter sections and intensity as the song peaks.

The release also feels particularly timely. Cousins acknowledges the darker atmosphere of American society in 2025, and this track responds with a message that prioritizes hope and persistence. The “road” in the song is not about reaching a fixed endpoint but about the act of walking a path grounded in values that resist cynicism. The narrator’s faith becomes a metaphor for resilience, offering listeners encouragement without leaning into platitudes.

Ultimately, "Road To Corinth", succeeds because it works on multiple levels: as a folk-rock single with strong performances, as a meditation on enduring wisdom, and as a commentary on present challenges. Cousins demonstrates not only technical skill in songwriting and production but also a willingness to engage with larger themes in ways that feel relevant and resonant.

With this release, Cousins shows he is an artist capable of bridging tradition and innovation, balancing lyrical depth with musical energy. "Road To Corinth", is more than just another addition to his catalog—it’s a statement of intent, one that confirms him as a songwriter unafraid to search for meaning in places where others might not look, and to share that journey with an audience eager for honesty and inspiration.