Joe Middleton’s “Blue Daffodils”

Joe Middleton: “Blue Daffodils”
and other hopeful things
photos & words: Siri Patterson

Blue daffodils do not exist — at least not in the natural world. However, with misinformation, artificial intelligence, and social media running rampant, blue daffodils could easily be the next TikTok trending, artificially advancing, 24-hour news cycling development in the horticultural world. Luckily, this is not the case. “Blue Daffodils” is the latest self-produced album from Charlotte-based musician Joe Middleton, and his artistic endeavors are nothing short of a labor of love. This neatly wrapped 45-minute package of 11 songs lets listeners experience love, loss, joy, pain, injustice, and gratitude for life’s simple joys.

This is Middleton’s second self-produced collection, following his debut album in 2019, “Highway Tremolo.” While most of the songs featured in “Blue Daffodils” were recorded in the last five years, the versatility in Middleton’s lyricism and composition in the country/folk style can be attributed to a lifelong dedication to music. From opener to closer, he blends acoustic southern gothic descants, energetic heartland rock anthems, and soulful protest folk vocals. Middleton’s grounding tone, unfeigned lyricism, and Americana style reverberate throughout the record, with qualities reminiscent of John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, artists Middleton said he has been inspired by throughout his career. From track to track, he dips in and out of reality, weaving spun tales with tongue-in-cheek observations of modern society. “This new album, this is probably — it is the best thing I’ve ever done,” Middleton said. “You know, I’m not a bragger, but it’s coming together really well. It’s kind of everything I’ve ever wanted to do with recording.”

The album was recorded and mixed at Traffic Sound Studio in Denver, North Carolina. Middleton said working with studio owner David Rhyne, alongside the many local musicians featured on the record, was game-changing. Staying true to his roots, he often draws inspiration from his local peers like recent NC Music Hall of Fame Inductee David Childers. Middleton reimagines one of Childers’ classics in the opening track, “Lonely Beauty,” in which Childers accentuates Middleton’s full-bodied approach on the harmonica. The melancholic, nostalgic lyrics paired with lively acoustics and harmonious back-ups set the tone for the album in its entirety. The bridge, “Oh, the sound of thunder off in the distance/And the rain that never fell,” is immediately followed by a jubilant harmonica solo from Childers, illustrating the irony deeply embedded in the record: Life is hard, so choose your battles wisely and be grateful for the little things.

Inspiration strikes Middleton from every direction: becoming a grandfather, caring for his wife through sickness and celebrating her recovery, losing close friends, turning on the TV, reading the comments on Facebook. The title track, “Blue Daffodils,” originated from a post Middleton made online, asking people to comment about things that give them hope or joy when they’re feeling down. Songwriter Zach Meadows commented, saying his grandmother called every flower a daffodil, and she loved “the blue ones.” “To her, it was a symbol of new beginnings, new life, when the flowers bloom in the springtime,” Middleton said. “It’s kind of like a contrast between the bad and the good, so when things are bad — the news is bad, the world’s crap — you can look out your window and see the flowers blooming.”

Calling for listeners to find their own Blue Daffodils, the stripped-down, raw acoustic track serves as a soothing lullaby for a world filled with strife. “A strike of a match is a spark to a flame/is a hand in a hand and an ease to the pain,” sings Middleton. Supported by the ethereal vocals of Texas singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, the message is uplifting and hopeful, something Middleton said he often struggles to write without sounding disingenuous, but felt he needed to include on the album. One of the more distinctive songs featured on the album is a raw, spoken-word track that tells the story of a one-off encounter with a hauntingly beautiful woman outside of the bar. “Anna (Brown Eyes)” is told from the perspective of a folk singer leaving a gig and narrated with a gruff, even-tempered tone, captivating a tale told after a long night of drinking. Middleton’s skill as a storyteller is on full display, ensnaring listeners with simple dialogue and a monotonous backing of steel guitar, violin, and piano. Once again, Sidelinker twists the final knife with delicate vocal pads that serve as an eerie “the end” to a tragic tale.

Closing out the album, Middleton leaves listeners with a hard-hitting final message. “My Own Eyes” honors the late Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman murdered by ICE agents in January, 2026.“It’s not the kind of song you want to write; it’s just something you have to write, ‘cause it just really makes me angry,” Middleton said.

This is not the first protest folk song in Middleton’s portfolio; he has written about Emmitt Till, a 14-year-old boy who was lynched in 1955, and the nine victims of the Mother Emanuel AME Church mass shooting in 2015. “My Own Eyes” was released earlier this year, with all the proceeds benefiting a Minnesota charity. “Another bullsh*t story/Makes me sick and f*cking tired/And don’t tell me what it is/When I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” he sings, with a unique fire behind his steady voice. With a simple, driving piano backing him, Middleton is a preacher at the pulpit, demanding the world pay recompense for a tragic death by refuting slanderous claims lobbied against Good, the victim. The song is heartbreaking but empowering, a balance Middleton displays mastery of throughout “Blue Daffodils.” It’s a record you could sing along with in the car, play to soothe the rapid-fires of your mind, or put on as a backing track for a good long cry. The lifelong dedication Middleton has to cultivating his craft is laid bare.

I’ve been looking for “Blue Daffodils” in my life since I listened to this album: When I am the first car stopped at the train tracks, and I can look at all the graffiti; Falling asleep to low rumblings of thunder; Folding my laundry and matching every last sock with its pair. Maybe it’s because the song can easily get stuck in your head, but Middleton’s message seems to stick with you. Life is hard, but there will always be good if you look for it.

“Blue Daffodils” will officially be released on September 18th. Listeners can find Joe Middleton on most music streaming sites, as well as Bandcamp, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.