Struggle Buds is a Wilmington, NC–based duo featuring songwriters Monica Jane Hoelscher
and Joel Lamb.
Monica, a Michigan native, has been performing across the Carolinas for over 15 years. A
seasoned vocalist and guitarist, she spent several years entertaining on cruise ships before
recording her 2019 solo album Wildfire in Nashville with Reba McEntire’s guitarist Jim Kimball.
Joel, originally from rural Washington State, has performed for more than two decades across
Seattle, Los Angeles, and Austin before settling in Wilmington in 2016. He is the principal
songwriter and keys player for Brown Dirt Cowboys, whose albums Golden in the Moonlight
(2022) and Weary of the Maze (2024) were recorded at Hourglass Studios with producer Trent
Harrison.
Together as Struggle Buds, Monica and Joel blend heartfelt songwriting with rich harmonies and
a grounded, soulful sound rooted in shared experience.
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