The sophomore effort from Beau Bayou & Sabine Connection will likely keep the momentum going from its 2019 debut, True to My Roots. Like True to My Roots, the band is fronted by accordionist and vocalist Brandon Arabi who returns to Maison Fou Studio to record Just Doin’ Me, where producer and engineer Chad Fouquier also lent a hand with fiery guitar solos and thick, rumbly bass.

This mostly original affair couldn’t kick off any better than with the uptempo “La Grand Nuit” with its catchy stops and starts and Arabi’s low-rider vocals. Lyrically, he takes you behind the scenes before the big show and its evaluation afterward. Therein lies a trademark of Arabi’s songwriting demeanor: short, straightforward personal insights, so you get a sense of who he is. He’s honest about his mixed heritage on “Cajun Creole Man” and humble about his place in life and zydeco on the title track. The reassuring “C’est Tout Bon” bounces blissfully along while “Zydeco” represents his refuge from the world “on a hot tamale day.”

While most tracks fall within the modern zydeco camp, Arabi digs at the roots on “La Vre Lamou Kreyol,” where he sings in Kouri Vini (Creole French) about love and cultural pride. Cedric Watson guests on Creole fiddle, and the feel is so authentic; the next thing you know, you’re looking for an octogenarian grandma to waltz with.

Arabi’s not one to play it totally safe either. He boldly steps out with a mainstream styled country tune, “Louisiana Country Home,” which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a testament to his penchant for rural living.

While his subwoofer vocals have been a challenge, through the tutelage of Madeline Magnon, who sings backup here, he learned what keys work best for him. Except for Richard Marx’s “Endless Summer Nights,” released last summer as a single, he’s steadier and easier to listen to this time out. He may not be as widely known as some of his contemporaries, but his game plan is a heartfelt one.