Soon after Amanda Shaw released her 2020 album, \u201cJoie,\u201d where the Louisiana fiddler and vocalist put an energetic, modern spin on Cajun classics<\/a>, a musician friend in Nashville introduced her to producer and Dolly Parton collaborator Kent Wells.<\/p>\n It was a \u201cfull circle moment\u201d for her, Shaw says. Parton has long been a musical hero for Shaw, and as \u201ca nerdy kid,\u201d Shaw would pore over the liner notes of her Parton CDs.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved studying who produced what and who the writers were,\u201d she says. \u201cWe can love an artist all we want, but it really does take a team to make an artist. And I remember reading Kent\u2019s name on the Dolly albums I had.\u201d<\/p>\n The two quickly hit it off, Shaw says, and she found that Wells had a love for Louisiana music and culture. So when Shaw began working on recording a new album<\/a>, she turned to Wells to produce what would become \u201cRhythm of My Roots.\u201d<\/p>\n Shaw\u2019s newest album will be released on May 15, but French Quarter Fest<\/a> attendees will hear many of those new songs during her Thursday set. She plays 5-6:10 p.m. on the Willow Dispensary Stage.<\/p>\n Find Amanda Shaw’s music: amandashaw.com<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Music<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis industry can be so unforgiving in a lot of ways. There are so many stories of people being told, \u2018Oh yeah, you\u2019re great. We just have to change everything about who you are,\u2019\u201d Shaw says. \u201cI knew that was a possibility, but instead not only did [Wells] not do that, but he appreciated the musical culture that I come from and was game to participate and work with me to elevate where I was already at.\u201d<\/p>\n