Douglas Wayne - Saturn Burlesque EP (2025)

Dim the lights and cue up DW DeHart aka Douglas Wayne’s latest release, Saturn Burlesque, and settle in for a listen. The EP is five songs about love, life, rambling, and regrets, and is full of nostalgic and bittersweet memories of loves lost and won.

From the liner notes: Saturn, the slowest-moving planet, was named after the Roman God of time, renewal, and liberation. The Saturn Burlesque EP is a five-song cycle that ponders these same concepts. The record is about the passing of time and what we do with ours… from taking chances (“Casino”) to reconciling longstanding regret (“Bottle Rockets”) to realizing that no matter how far we roam, life has a way of bringing us full circle (“Freewheelin’”). The Saturn Burlesque EP comes three years after the LP Coyote. It is the product of two years spent following the muse and coming to terms with loss, love, and, ultimately, acceptance.

More contemplative than his 2022 release, which was more rockin’ and honky tonk, Saturn Burlesque opens with the beautiful “Bottle Rockets,” featuring New West Records’ Lilly Hiatt. The lyrics set the scene and tell a tale about traveling home to reconcile a lost love from two decades ago.

Douglas Wayne is a veteran East Nashville-based songwriter who has been writing songs for almost two decades. His songwriting on this EP is spare and beautiful, full of poignant memories looked at with the maturity of age.

“Every track on the EP, “Bottle Rockets” especially, is based on a true story,” says DW. “’Bottle Rockets’ is the most real song I’ve ever written.” Working with Lilly Hiatt was a pleasure, he said, “I can’t say enough good things about Lilly. She was great in the studio. And, I’m a fan — love her new record.”

The second track, “No One,” is an unapologetic love song without the sappiness. Turn the lights down low, grab your baby, and make out on the sofa or by the dashboard lights to this one.

“Casino,” is a nice, slow, mellow rocker, a little country sounding, DW’s voice taking on a hint of a rasp, and lyrics that compare life to a big casino.

“The Rings of Saturn” is another beautiful love song that somehow avoids sounding overly sentimental.

Track five, “Freewheelin’” is an upbeat, slow-ish rocker about rolling with the changes that life throws at you, with a shout out to Bob Dylan in the chorus.