Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell have recently been announced for the Way Out West 2015 Festival in the unusual company of Alt-J, Flying Lotus and Future Islands. Now, they have released a title song “The Traveling Kind” off their future eponymous joint album, due to be released May 12th on Nonesuch Records. The legends of folk sound even better as a duo, giving an impression of a long-time performing folk band.

The song itself tells the story of love, struggle and the very special art of confessing to both through lyrics and country-infused folk ballads.

Emmylou Harris, who honored legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples in a tribute concert a few months ago, and Rodney Crowell, who released an album last year, have been friends and music peers for more than 30 years, from 1974, and only now they have grown into performing as a duo. As mentioned by Rolling Stone, Harris first covered Crowell’s “Bluebird Wine” on her 1975 album Pieces of the Sky; he played guitar in her band and she backed him on his first solo LP.

“I finally grew into my voice,” said Cowell, “and got comfortable with the sound of it, and when we made [Old Yellow Moon – Grammy-winning Harris and Crowell debut collaboration of 2013], I went in and said, ‘OK, I’m ready. I can deliver on my end of this duet partnership.'”

As for Harris, she said in a statement,

“In the words of Willie Nelson, ‘The life I love is making music with my friends,’ and there’s no better friend for me to make music with than Rodney.”

Feel the calm and energy of the countryside in the new Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell collaboration on “The Traveling Kind” below.