"I draw a lot from my surroundings and the Southern atmosphere and attitude," Benjy Davis observes about his music, a comment that becomes easy to understand when you delve into Lost Souls Like Us, the latest from the the Baton Rouge, LA troubadour arriving March 2 (Ridge Rock). Whether playing as a duo -- with longtime collaborator Mic Capdevielle -- or as an expanded full band, Benjy Davis Project is steeped in a distinctive musical gumbo of unpretentious, soulful rural Louisiana roots-rock and modern, expressive singer/songwriter folk/pop.

With three studio albums and hundreds of club and college performances behind it, the Project's new Souls has, says Davis, "elements of growth and maturity" adding, "I like to use albums to keep a timeline of my life." Point in fact: lead track "Stay With Me", where strumming mandolins and countrified harmonies meet an electric twang and solid backbeat kick. Lyrically, Davis keeps things mostly earnest and observational except when he decides to inject some party atmosphere into the proceedings. You can practically hear feet hitting the dance floor as tempos pitch forward, choruses tumble faster and suddenly the mood shifts from introspective to celebratory.

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Benjy Davis Project - "Stay With Me" (from the album Lost Souls Like Us)

Benjy Davis Project - "Green and Blue" (from the 2008 album Dust)