There is something in the title The Scenic Route Sessions that tells you exactly what kind of artist Todd Sentilles is. Not the fastest way to get there. Not the most efficient. The long way, through the places that actually mean something. That philosophy runs through all five tracks of his debut EP, released May 1, 2026, and it is a better debut statement than most artists manage.
Sentilles is originally from New Orleans and now based on Florida’s Emerald Coast. His sound draws from country, rock, and singer-songwriter influences, with Jeff Buckley and 90s rock cited as touchstones. The acoustic guitar is the backbone of the record throughout, and his vocal delivery sits in the space between warmth and grit that Southern storytelling tends to occupy when it is done well.
The EP
Headstart opens the record and sets the tone immediately. There is a forward momentum to it, a sense of someone who has been through enough to know what they want and is ready to go after it without looking back. The acoustic guitar work that anchors the EP is present from the first note, and Sentilles’ vocal delivery is warm and direct. It is a confident opener that tells you right away what kind of record you are dealing with.
Gonna Be a Good Day shifts the energy in a way that feels earned rather than forced. It leans into the sunnier, more optimistic side of his Southern roots, and the melody is immediately memorable. The production has a relaxed, open-air quality that fits the coastal setting he calls home. It is one of the highlights of the EP and the kind of song that stays with you after the listen is over.
Walking Alone is the emotional core of the record. Sentilles is a storyteller at heart, and this track gives him the space to lean into that fully. The tone is more introspective, with the kind of quiet honesty that characterizes the best singer-songwriter work. The Jeff Buckley influence mentioned in his background is audible in the vocal phrasing here, a willingness to sit in the uncomfortable parts of a feeling rather than rush past them. It is a standout track.
Chasing Ghosts is the lead single and one of the most fully realized pieces on the EP. It deals with the pull of the past and the particular exhaustion that comes from trying to hold onto something that has already moved on. The production has a quality that nods toward the 90s country rock influences in his sound, the guitar work is sharp and purposeful, and the emotional payoff in the chorus lands hard. It is easy to hear why this one was chosen as the single.
Runaround closes the record with a road-worn quality that ties the whole thing together. There is a sense of someone who has been in motion long enough to know the difference between running away from something and running toward it. The production stays acoustic and intimate, which is the right call for a closing track on a record this personal. Sentilles finishes strong, and the quiet confidence of this closer makes you want to go back to the beginning and start again.
The Verdict
The Scenic Route Sessions is a focused, well-crafted debut from an artist who clearly has a lot more to say. Five tracks in twenty-one minutes is not a lot of real estate, but Sentilles uses every bit of it wisely. The country and rock influences are present throughout without ever dominating, and the singer-songwriter instinct at the heart of his sound keeps everything grounded and honest.
This is the kind of record that makes you want to follow where the artist goes next. Follow Todd Sentilles on Instagram at @todd_sentilles_music.
The Scenic Route Sessions is out now. Released May 1, 2026.
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