Billy Jeter finds strength in the blues with “Hard Times”

New and captivating track “Hard Times,” starring Grammy-winning blues veteran Bobby Rush, is out now from award-winning singer-songwriter Billy Jeter. The release has the emotional weight and sincerity long associated with the blues.

The title itself suggests a song about struggle, resilience, and the realities that shape people through tough times. “Hard Times” works well in that emotional space, where its blues base provides the perfect habitat for a story of resilience.

The existence of this track is especially impressive because of Billy Jeter's work with Bobby Rush. Rush’s involvement links the release to a beloved blues tradition, and the coupling further embeds the authenticity at the heart of the music. “Hard Times” embraces the fundamentals of the genre instead of shying away from them.

The song’s identity is rooted in the traditions of the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta. And the musical language that comes with those roots is so tied to raw emotion and lived experience that the blues is a particularly apt home for a song about hard times and the strength to get through them.