Pressing Strings

Who Are They?

Pressing Strings are a three-piece from Annapolis, Maryland, built around singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jordan Sokel. Their sound is a warm braid of American roots music: blues, soul, folk, R&B, and the occasional easy reggae lilt, all in service of the song.

Nothing about the band is flashy, and that is the point. The playing is unhurried, the grooves are deep, and Sokel's voice has a lived-in soulfulness that makes even a brand-new song sound like something you have known for years.

They are a regional treasure that keeps widening its circle, a fixture on the mid-Atlantic scene and the festival circuit, the kind of band you discover once and then follow for a decade.

The Story

A songwriter's project that grew into one of the mid-Atlantic's most reliable bands, one record at a time.

1. The Roots

   Jordan Sokel starts writing

   Pressing Strings grows out of Sokel's songwriting and a deep love of American roots music, from Bill Withers and Al Green to R.L. Burnside and Bob Dylan.

2. 2015

   Owe the Source

   An early full-length that lays out the band's blend of blues, soul, and folk, and its unhurried, groove-first feel.

3. 2016

   Most of Us

   A breakout record for the band regionally, with the title track becoming a signature and a radio favorite.

4. 2020

   Settle In

   A fuller, more produced record that widened the sound without losing the warmth, and drew a bigger circle of fans.

5. 2023

   And I For You

   A soul-forward, generous record, the sound of a band completely comfortable in its own skin.

6. 2024

   Minutes to Midnight

   The recent one: tight, grooving, and a reminder that the band keeps getting better the longer it stays at it.

Start Here

One official video, one intimate session, one recent single. This is a feel band, so let it settle in.

The Albums 5 to start with

A steady, unshowy catalog that rewards a full sit. Start with these five.

Playlists

One curated YouTube Music playlist of Pressing Strings essentials, the warm way in.

The Band

A true trio: three players, three voices, and no wasted motion.

• Jordan SokelVocals / GuitarThe founder, songwriter, and soulful lead voice; the center of everything
• Nick WelkerBass / VocalsThe deep, melodic low end that gives the grooves their weight
• Justin KrugerDrums / VocalsThe unhurried, in-the-pocket feel that lets the songs breathe

Influences

By the band's own account, Sokel traces the project back to a set of soul, blues, and songwriting greats. Here are five of them.

Interviews

Two conversations with Jordan Sokel on the songs and the roots.

Going Deeper

An unhurried band rewards an unhurried listen. A few directions.

• The live show. Catch them at a festival like Yarnival or on their mid-Atlantic home turf, where the grooves stretch out.
• The whole catalog. Past the five above, every record has a couple of quiet gems worth finding.
• The soul roots. Follow the thread back to Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley, two of the wells Sokel drinks from.
• Jordan solo. Sokel's solo and acoustic performances show the songs stripped to the frame.

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