* photos: Bordeau Photo , Tony Drewrey Moved by both the tumultuous times in the world and his personal life, Shane Cooley's new album, Forest, delves into the shadows of his conceptual wilderness. The result is a hauntingly thoughtful blend of minimalist folk and American roots music. Cooley self-produced Forest in his river cottage in remote Mollusk, Virginia, and played all of the instruments. Most of the songs were conceived during moonlit walks in the woods, a place where Cooley has always felt at home. The album was mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering in Brooklyn, NY. Shane Cooley has been writing, recording and performing music for over 20 years, earning his reputation as a skilled and prolific songwriter. “He’s one hit away from radio stardom,” wrote Billboard critic Jeff Miller. Along his travels, he has shared the stage with Grammy-nominated artists Wood & Wire, along with Shakey Graves, Wild Child, and more. Cooley’s songs have found their way to the airwaves of television shows such as NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura,” and IBC’s “The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.” He also composed the music for the Amazon Book Trailer for bestselling author Lori Foster’s Tough Love. The CW television show Songwriters Across Texas recently aired a documentary episode about Cooley’s life as a singer/songwriter. The opening track to Forest, “Coyote,” releases as a single on April 8, followed by the full album on April 22 (Earth Day).