Undertow

DOSE is a new roots project based out of Black Mtn NC. Songwriter Jamie Dose announces the release of “Undertow,”a propulsive, up-tempo bluegrass original and the fourth release from this upcoming album.
“Undertow” is a song about unrequited love, the search for something better, and the constant pull of existential dread, that invisible force which can grip us all with unexpected strength. Thematically, the track traces what it looks like to live through a traumatic event and emerge on the other side, shaped but not broken. Dose tells us;
“Its origins come from the apocalyptic aftermath of Hurricane Helene — a glimpse inside the world of those struggling to meet basic needs. ‘Undertow’ meets the listener with medicine for the soul. A way to transcend the struggle. I hope that you find it helpful and reassuring on a dark day.”

Musically, the song showcases everything that makes North Carolina-style bluegrass distinctive: relentless drive, precise ensemble playing, and the kind of fire only a tight-knit regional scene can produce. Dose’s vocals are a compelling anomaly in this context, blues-rock-tinged, raw with desperation, and passionately intense, they bring a gritty authenticity rarely heard in the genre. Think a bluegrass-inflected Widespread Panic, where the instrument slinging is smooth and aggressive all at once.
Featured on This Old House
DOSE’s earlier singles — “Cavalry,” “Mercenary Wind,” and “Lean Into the Light” — have all been featured in recent episodes of This Old House as the long-running series documents the ongoing rebuilding of homes and lives across flood-stricken mountain communities in Western North Carolina. “Undertow” continues that powerful musical arc.
Recording & Personnel
Recorded in Asheville, NC by Mark Scearce at Shift Studios, “Undertow” draws on the deep musical well of the Southern Appalachian region. The track features a lineup of Western North Carolina musicians: Audie McGinnis on guitar, Zane McGinnis on banjo, Sav Sankaran on bass, Ty Gilpin on mandolin, and Lyndsay Pruitt on violin.
About the DOSE Project
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, life in the mountains was brought to a standstill. Power was out, roads were blocked, and clean water was scarce. Music seemed impossible — rehearsals, gigs, even gathering with friends. But as the community slowly reached out to check on one another, something new began to take shape. Old friends reconnected, Asheville and Black Mountain musicians found their way back together, and a picking party at Jamie Dose’s house lit the spark. Even Vince Herman showed up.
What began as a night of healing through music grew into a full musical project rooted in resilience, collaboration, and the unshakable spirit of Western North Carolina. With a circle of longtime friends and some of the region’s most gifted players, Jamie Dose is creating music that carries the weight of the storm — and the light that follows it.
DOSE is more than a band. It’s a reminder that from the ashes, something brighter can rise. As WNC continues to rebuild, this music is both a reflection of what the community has endured and a celebration of its strength — offering that needed dose of hope, healing, and joy.