A long time ago, in a land far away, I went to Texas to work at a summer camp. As with all great stories and country music songs, I followed a girl there. While that relationship didn’t work out, I fell in love with the place, the complexities of the people there and the music.

So I went back the next year to work on staff, where I met my wife and the rest, as they say, is history.

Last week, the family flew out to Austin, and we spent a few days in town before heading north up 35 to Bruceville for the camp reunion. The music we enjoyed on the road to camp — and around town — was a powerful reminder of our past.

But it was the song session, the camp tradition, during which song leaders with guitars help us all sing our songs together, that brought me to tears. It was impossible not to think about Camp Mystic and the loss of life as we celebrate the lives that have been created because of our camp.

Music and musical nostalgia are powerful. But it’s important to remember that you can’t return, you can only look behind from where you came.

So, here is some new music for future celebrations, remembrances and anniversaries of important events yet to come.

The Canadian-born, New Zealand-based country singer and songwriter opens her newest album with an absolute blast of forward-looking nostalgia. “Foolish Heart” leaves you feeling warm, if a bit sad and then drops you hard into the foot-stomping beat of “Salvation Mountain.” The title track is great; however, there isn’t a song on this album that couldn’t stand alone.

What the fuck, Dylan? Why you got to bring the clown into this? You had this great thing going, making strong, easy to define and hard to object to radical country music, and you bring in the face paint and terror? Srly. What the fuck? (I really liked this song until I had to change my sheets.)

An absolutely lovely mountain song supported by flawless harmonies and warm production. I also appreciate a subtle religious reference that doesn’t feel too heavy-handed.

I want my pop country to sound like this because people deserve better music, and this is better music than what is on the radio. It’s a lighter-hearted version of sad, love-lost music. More of this, please.