Today, Rod Gator shares his new single “Chickenhawk,” a thought-provoking, guitar-driven war song delivered from a military man’s perspective. Gator recently spoke with The Austin Chronicle about what prompted him to write such a powerful, in-your-face track. “Chickenhawk” is the latest single off his forthcoming album, For Louisiana, which releases September 17. Listen to "Chickenhawk" here: http://rodgator.lnk.to/chickenhawk

"’Chickenhawk’ is about the vicious cycle of war and a generation that has been stuck in it longer than any other,” explains Gator. “It’s about the older generation taking advantage of the young. The younger ones do the older one’s dirty work."

Raised in the Louisiana backcountry, Rod Gator (aka Rod Melancon) doesn't just sing; he rasps, twangs, talks and howls, with a larger-than-life approach that's every bit as evocative as his songs' arrangements. With sharp storytelling inspired by the cadence, characters and charisma of his home state, For Louisiana is equal parts love letter to the motherland and rallying cry for cultural progress. The album’s title track has already garnered attention from The Boot and Rolling Stone, who praised its "muscular country-rock jangle and walking bassline” and said "it’s got enough verve to make everyone else long for a visit to the Pelican State.”

For Louisiana was co-produced by longtime collaborator (and son of Emmy-winning composer Snuffy Walden) Will Walden and GRAMMY-nominated producer and Black Pumas member, Adrian Quesada, with contributions from Gator’s longtime drummer, Adam Nurre, as well as Black Pumas' keyboardist, JaRon Marshall.