5 Things Expect Russell Dickerson's Album 'Famous Back Home'

We chatted with country singer-songwriter, Russell Dickerson about his new album, Famous Back Home, out Friday, August 22nd. Here are five things to expect from the upcoming project.

Dickerson methodically picked out where he wanted each song to land in the track list. He wants Famous Back Home to draw fans and listeners in, while keeping with the charm of RD’s catalog.

“This is the album I’ve spent the most on sequencing the songs. […] I always sequenced them before like a live concert, but it’s not that. For me, it’s more of a keep the energy up front was a different way I looked at […] I feel like that’s more like drawing in rather than taking one or two songs to come down. I hope people put this record in and their heart rate kicks up, and then also hear “Bones” and reinvigorate love and joy and the joys of the everyday family life that can seem so monotonous and overbearing, but hearing “Famous Back Home” is what it’s all about.”

“Worth Your Wild,” one of Dickerson’s sons’ favorite songs off the project was inspired by RD’s wide array of influences like the 1975 and Blink 182.

“It’s heavy guitars, the super chorus-y stuff, that’s what I think is awesome, and then mixing that in with the country sauce and the Friday night, we’re not reinventing the wheel here with this song, but sonically, we pushed boundaries. I haven’t heard country songs that sound like that.”

Although Dickerson is a prolific writer, there are two outside cuts on this album including, “Sippin On Top of the World” and “Never Leave.”

“”Sippin’ On Top of the World” was the first one I got in this batch. It could have gone on my third album, but I think just living with it. It’s the guitars and goo vibes, and then it also ties in the lovey-dovey piece, and has a brilliant hook. I didn’t even want to try to beat the song, so that’s when it makes the cut pile. [“Never Leave”] It’s just one that lines up with my story with me and my wife. It came back to an idea that I did in real life, and I felt like I couldn’t’ write a better song describing that.”

Dickerson is at a place in his life and career, where he is trusting his own instincts and forging his own path in music, rather than chasing number one hits and the accolades that come with entertainment. Famous Back Home embodies that.

“The back half of the record is the more sentimental songs, so really taking the time to look at the flow. That’ why I feel like I do have a wide range of genre influences , and that’s what I didn’t really hold back on, on this album. Yeah, I’m not the most country dude, and that’s okay. I don’t have to have an album that sounds like xyz. That’’s the full circle moment that I felt I came back to.”

While each and every song could be a hit or a special song to someone, the real message behind Famous Back Home rings true to Dickerson, and the project is perfectly named that for a multitde of reasons.

“Without reverting to the “I just want to be famous back home” PR answer, which is every true, that’ is my priority and in some ways it’s easier to prioritize that now that I’m at a point where “no” is an acceptable answer for once. […] In a career mode, I think success is enjoyment. Am I enjoying it or am I striving too hard? […] I really think prior to “Happen With Me,” I think I was struggling with that. It’s just been a fun place to push through those emotions and keep fighting and knowing that something is going to happen. It’ just cool to be in a place where I can just chill and enjoy this.”