THE BLACK PEPPER BAND releases brand new single and music video
Thursday February 26, 2026
Through love, loss, and everything between... It Kissed Me Tenderly stays with you.
The Black Pepper Band return with It Kissed Me Tenderly, a deeply affecting new release that captures the full weight of lived experience through masterful songwriting and timeless musicianship. Led by Darwin mainstay Charlie Powling—whose career spans over a decade of richly narrative-driven work—the band once again draw from the well of folk, country, rock and blues to deliver a song of rare emotional resonance.
Written by Powling and brought to life by a cohesive, seasoned lineup, the track unfolds with quiet authority before expanding into a powerful, unforgettable chorus. Backing vocals from Melanie Macauley and Erin Conaghty add warmth and lift, while expressive guitar work— including contributions from James (Gravy) Brown and Lindsay Masters—grounds the song in a classic yet immediate sonic landscape.
Recorded and mastered by Ward Hancock, every element is captured with clarity and depth.
" Powling’s storytelling is unflinching yet compassionate, culminating in a chorus that affirms life’s worth despite its hardships. "
At its heart, It Kissed Me Tenderly is a reflection on a life marked by love, loss, mistakes and redemption. Powling’s storytelling is unflinching yet compassionate, culminating in a chorus that affirms life’s worth despite its hardships.
The song’s defining line—gifted serendipitously by his daughter-in-law Sarah—provides a poignant emotional anchor that lingers long after the final note.
This is The Black Pepper Band at their most compelling: unified, heartfelt and unapologetically authentic. It Kissed Me Tenderly stands as a testament to enduring songwriting—honest, human, and profoundly moving.
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