The best road songs aren’t usually written in a fancy studio; they’re born out of long hauls and weird moments at 2 AM gas stations. Squirrel Flower’s (Ella Williams) new single, “Wheels” is exactly that kind of track.

Featuring the incredible voices of Babehoven and Billie Marten, the song feels less like a polished “pop” single and more like a late-night conversation between friends. It’s a sharp pivot from the heavy, distorted grunge of her last record, Tomorrow’s Fire, leaning instead into a warm, dusty Americana sound that feels like it’s been around forever.

The “Gas Station Blessing”

The inspiration for “Wheels” came from a simple, almost prophetic goodbye from a gas station attendant who told Williams, “May your wheels stay on the ground.” That line stuck. Williams actually started writing the song on her phone during a brutal February snowstorm while driving between Boston and the Hudson Valley. You can hear that tension in the track—the “sleepy and loose” rhythm of a car sliding through the slush, trying to stay upright.

A Modern Take on the ‘Trio’ Magic

Williams has been vocal about her love for the 1987 Trio album (the legendary collaboration between Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris). You can really feel that influence here.

• Maya Bon (Babehoven): Maya didn’t just sing; she actually wrote a pivotal stanza for the song while they were hanging out in Hudson.

• Billie Marten: Her harmonies add a shimmering, ghostly layer that makes the chorus feel massive yet fragile.

• The Vibe: Recorded at midnight in a makeshift studio in Wisconsin, they ended up keeping the “scratch” vocal—the rough first take—because it captured a level of raw emotion that a perfect re-record just couldn’t touch.

“I am always coming / Just as you go”

Lyrically, the song hits on that specific brand of loneliness that comes with touring. It’s about the push-and-pull of a relationship where someone is always leaving just as the other arrives. It’s patient, vulnerable, and a little bit heartbreaking.

If you’ve been spinning Big Thief, Waxahatchee, or Adrianne Lenker lately, this is going to be your new favorite track. It’s a reminder that even when things feel like they’re spinning out of control, there’s a quiet beauty in just trying to keep your wheels on the ground.

On the Road

Squirrel Flower is staying busy in 2026, hitting the road for solo sets with Billie Marten and joining forces with The Beths and Spoon later this summer.

Upcoming Highlights:

• April 4: Austin, TX – Brushy Street Commons

• April 10: Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle

• June 23: Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore (with Spoon)