Release Date: Friday 22nd May 2026 

Artist: River East River West Label: 

Bitter Harvest Recordings

Overview

Bitter Harvest Recordings is delighted to announce the new single from River East River West, the AI‑driven studio project created by Liverpool songwriter John Jenkins to explore the meeting point between classic country songwriting and modern technology.

Their latest release, “Missed Calls Number 23”, is a bright, good‑humoured, foot‑tapping hillbilly romp — a world away from the reflective tone of their previous single, yet unmistakably stamped with Jenkins’ melodic instinct and storytelling charm.

Originally written as a playful live number, the song now springs to life through the fictional band designed to deliver Jenkins’ more traditional country material with the swagger, bounce, and mischief he always imagined for them.

About the Song

“Missed Calls Number 23” is an upbeat, tongue‑in‑cheek slice of modern country chaos. Driven by lively acoustic picking, a rollicking rhythm, and a wink‑and‑a‑grin vocal delivery, the track follows a hapless narrator who’s stayed out far too late, ignored a phone full of missed calls, and now faces the domestic consequences.

The lyrics paint the scene with comic precision:
– a night that “got away from him”
– a young woman perched on his knee
– clothes thrown across the garden
– a guitar stuck up a tree
– and a wife who’s heard every excuse before

It’s a classic country tale of trouble‑in‑the‑morning, told with warmth, wit, and a self‑deprecating charm that keeps the mood light even as the poor lad digs himself deeper. The result is a fast‑moving, good‑natured hillbilly tune built for dancing, laughing, and singing along.

About the Project

River East River West is an AI‑generated band conceived by John Jenkins as a creative vehicle for songs he has written but never felt suited to sing himself. Rather than letting these compositions gather dust, Jenkins uses emerging technology to bring them to life with the stylistic authenticity he always imagined — in this case, a lively, humorous, old‑school country sound.

The music and lyrics remain entirely authored by Jenkins. The project simply allows these songs to find their ideal voice, energy, and audience.

Artist Statement – John Jenkins

“I’ve written country songs for years — some serious, some playful, some downright daft — but I never quite had the voice or the resources to record them the way I heard them in my head. I once tried putting a session together with live musicians, but it didn’t quite click, and it cost more than I could realistically sustain.

So I turned to AI, not as a shortcut, but as a tool. Songwriters have always embraced new technology — from Mellotrons to drum machines to digital recording. This is simply the next chapter.

With River East River West, I imagine a band discovering one of my songs, interpreting it with their own energy, and sending it back to me. It’s still my melody, my words, my authorship — just filtered through a different lens.

‘Missed Calls Number 23’ is one of those songs that might never have seen daylight otherwise. If this approach helps it find listeners or even inspires another artist to cover it, then the experiment has been worthwhile.”

About John Jenkins

John Jenkins is a Liverpool‑born Americana and folk‑leaning songwriter known for his storytelling craft, emotional clarity, and melodic touch. His work has been covered by numerous artists across the UK, and he continues to write, perform, and collaborate widely.

With River East River West, Jenkins opens a new creative chapter — one that blends tradition with innovation while keeping the heart of the song front and centre. “Missed Calls Number 23” shows the playful side of his writing: humorous, lively, and irresistibly fun.

(Lyrics provided by the artist.)

Missed Calls Number 23

There’ll be trouble in the morning just you wait and see

There’ll be trouble in the morning because of me

I said I’d be home soon

But now it’s half past three

Where did that time go?

Wife’s gonna kill me

And it really wasn’t planned, time ran away from me

I guess it didn’t help with that young girl on my knee

Drinks were passed around, Missed calls number 23

There’ll be trouble in the morning you wait and see

Came home and I’ve been locked out

She’s not happy

Clothes all over the garden, guitar stuck up a tree

No point saying sorry – she enjoys laying into me

Likes it when I’m squirming, loves it when I’m on my knees

She don’t believe it wasn’t planned, it’s not the first time you see

I guess my Facebook page don’t help with several women on my knee

I should have realised after missed call 23

There’ll be trouble in the morning just for me

And it really wasn’t planned, time ran away from me

I guess it didn’t help with the barmaid on my knee

Liquor bottles passed around, Missed calls number 23

There’ll be trouble in the morning you wait and see

There’ll be trouble in the morning you wait and see