There's no mistaking the Southern roots of the Red Clay Strays, a band that straddles the line separating Americana and contemporary country. Hailing from Alabama, the quintet fuse Southern rock with an outlaw stance, anchoring their swagger with a heavy dose of soul and the sharp, brawny literary bent of Red Dirt country. All this was evident on their raw, picturesque 2022 debut album, Moment of Truth, which bore "Wondering Why," a slow-burning love song that became a viral hit. The track crossed over from the Internet to the Billboard charts in late 2023, by which time the band was cutting a second album with acclaimed Americana producer Dave Cobb.