Sometimes a great song doesn’t need to be reinvented. It just needs to be viewed from another angle.
That’s been the philosophy behind CMH Records’ long-running Pickin’ On series, and the latest preview from the upcoming Pickin’ On Post Malone proves there’s still plenty of room to surprise listeners. Released today, JD Casper’s take on “Chemical” strips away the polished pop production and replaces it with fiddles, acoustic strings, and a front-porch warmth that somehow makes the song feel like it always belonged in the bluegrass world.
Fans can listen to “Chemical” here.
Originally marking one of Post Malone’s biggest steps away from hip-hop and toward melodic pop, “Chemical” already carried an acoustic heartbeat beneath its glossy production. Casper simply leans into that foundation, trading electronic textures for lively fiddle lines, crisp picking, and an easygoing vocal delivery that lets the songwriting shine in a completely different light.
It’s exactly the kind of creative reinterpretation that has kept the Pickin’ On series relevant for more than three decades.
JD Casper has built a reputation for blending Appalachian roots with the energy of the Texas live music circuit, creating performances that feel equally at home at a bluegrass festival or a rock venue. His version of “Chemical” captures that balance, respecting the original while confidently giving it its own identity.
Casper won’t stop there. He also appears twice more on Pickin’ On Post Malone, tackling the massive hit “Circles” and closing the album with another version of “Sunflower.”
The new single follows the album’s first release, Water Tower’s spirited interpretation of “Sunflower.” The Los Angeles-based bluegrass, old-time and punk outfit transformed the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse favorite into an energetic acoustic jam packed with banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and unmistakable roots swagger.
Fans can watch the “Sunflower” video here.
Scheduled for digital release on July 31, Pickin’ On Post Malone gathers an impressive lineup of bluegrass and Americana musicians who reinterpret songs spanning every era of Post Malone’s career. Alongside JD Casper and Water Tower are Iron Horse, Big Richard, Holler Choir, The Barefoot Movement, and special guests Sean Jacobs and MyVerse, each bringing their own musical personality to familiar hits.
Track Listing
- Sunflower – Water Tower
- Chemical – JD Casper
- I Had Some Help – Iron Horse
- Better Now – Holler Choir
- Lemon Tree – Big Richard
- White Iverson – Water Tower featuring Sean Jacobs
- Circles – JD Casper
- Guy For That – Iron Horse
- Wrapped Around Your Finger – The Barefoot Movement
- Congratulations – Holler Choir
- rockstar – Water Tower featuring MyVerse
- Sunflower – JD Casper
More than 30 years after launching with Pickin’ On the Movies, the series has evolved into one of bluegrass music’s most inventive crossover projects. Recent releases including Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pickin’ On The Doors, Pickin’ On Pearl Jam, and Pickin’ On Nirvana earned coverage from Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, Uproxx, and other major music outlets. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both landed on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart, while the series has also been spotlighted by the Los Angeles Times and No Depression in retrospective features celebrating its influence on roots music.
The music itself has found a life well beyond record collections. Songs from the Pickin’ On catalog have appeared in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood, introducing the acoustic reinterpretations to entirely new audiences. Along the way, the series has tackled an astonishing range of artists including Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers, and many more, proving that almost any great song can discover a second life when filtered through banjos, mandolins, fiddles, and the spirit of bluegrass.
CMH Records, the independent label founded in 1975 by Martin Haerle and now run by his son David Haerle. Long known for preserving American roots music through recordings by legends including Merle Travis, The Osborne Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, and Wanda Jackson, the label continues balancing tradition with experimentation through projects like Pickin’ On. It’s a combination that has kept CMH relevant for five decades while introducing bluegrass to entirely new audiences.
For anyone who thought Post Malone’s catalog couldn’t comfortably sit beside fiddles, banjos and mandolins, JD Casper’s “Chemical” makes a convincing argument otherwise.
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