Slip in Mules by Sweet Megg

My first full album review from 2025 was Sweet Megg's brilliant Never Been Home. Slip in Mules marks the first of a new batch of jazz covers and re-interpretations that is every bit as good.

Sweet Megg has been touring the world and recording songs for several years. Her 2025 album Never Been Home was one of my highlights of last year. When I heard she was returning to her jazz roots for her next release cycle, I was naturally excited to get my hands on the new sounds.

If there is a way to describe Megg in a single word then chameleon might do the job. She never sounds the same from one album to the next, and she also varies her appearance in each photo shoot.

Photo Credit: Ntia Cinco

There are themes and traits that transfer between her albums, not least her distinctive voice. She often sings about travel, notably for British audiences in Piccadilly Line from 2025. But this year’s offering, Massive Negroni, reflects another theme: cocktails, or booze more widely.

This week’s song was popularised in the ‘60s by Sugar Pie DeSanto and is a fun, if not funny, study of the humble mule shoe. A selection of lyrics below:-

Baby, my red dress in the cleaner
But my shoes will steal the show…
Ain’t wearing no high-heel sneaker
Cause they hurt my toes so bad

All the tunes in the new album were recorded at Old Soul Studios by a quartet that includes guitarist Thor Jensen (Ashley Campbell, Hazmat Modine, Postmodern Jukebox), bassist Dylan Perillo (Hot Club of Saratoga), and drummer Chris Gelb (JD McPherson, Jessica Simpson, Margo Price, Asleep at the Wheel) in addition to Megg.

This song is close to Megg’s heart too, and she has been singing it for years. Here’s her explanation:-

“Slip In Mules” is a blues I’ve sung for years, and I wanted one song on this record where we could really let go and channel those memories of growing up in Brooklyn’s DIY jazz scene. I think we captured that raw energy… what do you think?”

Sweet Megg is by now a truly international artist. Originally from Brooklyn, her relocation to Nashville allowed her to explore a form of jazz-country, but jazz is surely her roots. She learned from the best in Paris, France, and British fans will be treated next month to Sweet Megg live in person as she tours here, not only in and around London (including the brilliant Green Note) but as far north as Lancashire too. Grab your chance while you can!

You might even know Megg from her touring with Postmodern Jukebox, a connection which brought her into contact with Ronnie Scott’s legend, Emma Smith, who is as London as they come but looked equally at home last month with her show at Birdland Theater in NYC.

Sweet Megg is on tour now in the USA and will be coming to the UK in March and Paris in May. All tour details here. You can stream Slip in Mules here. The full album will release on 17 April. Megg is also on Patreon where you can even do live Yoga with her. You can also buy real things on Bandcamp.