dasha-debut-album

Dasha: ‘What Happens Now?’ – Debut Album Review

/in , , , /by

Dasha releases her debut album, What Happens Now?, out now, February 16th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

For rising star Dasha, her new album, What Happens Now?, is truly a return to her roots. While the singer-songwriter may have begun her career with viral pop tunes on TikTok, country music is always where her heart has been. 

When she chatted with Country Swag last November, she revealed, “I had this epiphany and was like ‘I have to go back to my roots and start making country music again’, so in the last nine months to a year, I’ve really dove into that […] I have never had such an amazing time making music before. Music has never come so effortlessly to me before as it has with this music. It’s the beginning of this new country era.”

Her passion for the music shines through on the eight song collection, which is lyrically much like a journal through her deepest thoughts and feelings. This is evident on songs like “Drown Me,” “42,” and “Even Cowboys Cry.”

Conversely, the album’s opening track is truly an outlier, a driving up-tempo that adeptly mixes electro pop beats with twangy guitar rhythms as she ponders the potential of a summer romance with a boy who “hurts so good.” 

“Austin” is a more straightforward country up-tempo, with its hand-clapping, two-stepping countrified rhythm about a guy who failed to keep his promises. “Did your boots stop workin’? Did your truck break down? Did you burn through the money? Did your ex find out?” She asks. “Where there’s a will then there’s a way and I’m damn sure you lost it // Didn’t even say goodbye // Just wish I knew what caused it.”

Of “Austin,” she revealed to Country Swag that it was one of her favorite songs she’s ever recorded.  “We started creating this whole story about this guy who kind of screws you over and you leave him at this bar, and I love how angry it is,” She shares. “It crawls under your skin, because it’s not that you’re mad – mad, it’s like you’re hurt – mad, and I feel like that emotion really comes through in that song. We wrote it in an hour, which is crazy fast for a song.”

Despite being a California native, Dasha embraces small town life on “Talk of the Town” and “Share this City,” musing that “the smallest towns have the biggest mouths” on the latter, as she deals with a relationship that’s at the root of a town’s gossip. Likewise, “Share this City” finds her trying to dodge an ex. “I’ve been avoiding all the places that we used to love, and heaven only knows I don’t get out enough,” She admits mournfully. “Maybe we should call it a truce and maybe I won’t run into you.”

Heartbreak weaves its way though many of the songs, including the incredible standout that is “Drown Me,” a sad guitar ballad that finds her sinking beneath the weight of her broken heart, powerful imagery finding her pleading with a former lover that she’s addicted to. “Empty all the air inside my lungs and shook me in the water, even when you think I’ve had enough, then hold on to me harder, Baby drown me, if you need me,” She sings. “I’m infatuated, baby, with the way you make me hate you.”

“Even Cowboys Cry” and “42” are also powerful ballads in their own ways, with the former encouraging a cowboy to open up and deal with his demons. Meanwhile, the latter is about counting down the days until you see someone again and longing to pick up where things left off, despite a year between.

“So tell all the girls you’ve been kissing that they had a good run // But it’s all over and through // Tell them that your little lady’s moving back to the city // And it’s not them, it’s that I finally get to have you // And your penthouse with the bad view // And my toothbrush in your bathroom // And you can tell I’m tryna act cool // But do I finally get to have you?”

While Dasha may have previously dabbled in pop music, it’s clear from What Happens Now? that country is truly where her heart lies… and where she belongs.

What Happens Now? Tracklist:

  1. What Happens Now?
  2. 42
  3. Austin
  4. King of California
  5. Drown Me
  6. Talk Of The Town
  7. Share this City
  8. Even Cowboys Cry

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Austin”
  2. “Even Cowboys Cry”
  3. “42”
dasha-debut-album

Dasha shares her debut album, ‘What Happens Now?,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Dasha releases.

To keep up with Dasha, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. 

What Happens Now? is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

dalton-dover-covers

Dalton Dover: ‘Take Me Home: Covers’ – EP Review

/in , , , /by

Dalton Dover releases his new EP, Take Me Home: Covers, out now, February 9th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

Country music rising artist, Dalton Dover continues to carve a path that is all his own. His debut single, “Giving Up On That” won the hearts of the country music fanbase everywhere. Now, Dover is sharing the songs that won his heart back when country music was just a pipe dream. His new project, Take Me Home: Covers showcases the power of music and pays homage to the greats that paved the way for the new artist in the genre.

“I grew up in a musical family, where we’d sing at church and then go home and keep singing,” shares Dover. Adding, “My grandpa would put on his favorite records, and I’d listen to the stories. Seeing my own life in those lyrics is what made me fall in love with country music, and I can’t think of a better way to honor that than sharing these songs,” says the singer in a recent press release.

On Take Me Home: Covers, Dover gives his rendition of iconic country songs, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” (Vince Gill), “Mountain Music” (Alabama), and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” (John Denver). Each of the three covers showcase the singer’s incredible talent, but more importantly, reintroduces newer country fans to the songs that are embedded in the DNA of country music.

Take Me Home: Covers EP Tracklist:

  1. Go Rest High On That Mountain (Vince Gill)
  2. Mountain Music (Alabama)
  3. Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)
dalton-dover-covers

Dalton Dover shares his new project, ‘Take Me Home: Covers,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Dalton Dover releases.

To keep up with Dalton Dover, follow him on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.

Take Me Home: Covers is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

the-castellows-ep

Here Is The Castellows’ Debut EP ‘A Little Goes A Long Way’

/in , , , /by

The Castellows release their new EP, A Little Goes A Long Way, out now, February 9th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

Warner Music Nashville signees, The Castellows are officially embarking on their musical journey. The country music sister trio are ready to make their debut with their new music. Their debut EP, A Little Goes A Long Way is officially out now, featuring seven new songs for fans to listen to.

“We are extremely excited to release our first project for the world to hear on Feb. 9!! This collection of seven songs mean so much to us and we hope everyone loves them as much as we do,” shared The Castellows in a recent press release.

A Little Goes A Long Way features songs like the title track, “The Part Where You Break My Heart” and “Cowboy Kind Of Love,” with all but one track co-written by the sisters. Listen and learn more about the record below!

A Little Goes A Long Way EP Tracklist:

  1. A Little Goes A Long Way (written by Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom, Powell Balkcom, Natalie Hemby)
  2. Heartline Hill (written by Eleanor Balkcom)
  3. The Part Where You Break My Heart (written by Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom, Powell Balkcom, Rhett Akins, Lydia Vaughan)
  4. No. 7 Road (written by Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom, Powell Balkcom, Hillary Lindsey)
  5. Cowboy Kind of Love (written by Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom, Powell Balkcom, Parker Welling, Chris LaCorte)
  6. Hurricane (written by Keith Stegall, Stewart Harris, Thom Schuyler)
  7. I Know It’ll Never End (written by Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom)
the-castellows-ep

The Castellows’ EP ‘A Little Goes A Long Way’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future The Castellows releases.

To keep up with The Castellows, follow him on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.

A Little Goes A Long Way is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

blanco-brown-sunshine-shine

Blanco Brown Announces New Project + Drops New Single “Sunshine Shine”

/in , , , /by

Blanco Brown announces new project and drops brand new single, “Sunshine Shine,” out now, February 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new song here.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Blanco Brown is happiness in human form. Everything Brown touches makes you feel, which is a true mark of a superstar in the making. Today, the artist announces that his next project, Heartache & Lemonade will be released on April 5th. To celebrate the exciting news, Brown is sharing a brand new song to set the tone for the record. “Sunshine Shine” is out now.

“Sunshine Shine” is a true, feel-good anthem. The song features an incredible blend of catchy melodies, good vibes, and a fun sound that will keep fans listening again and again. Brown draws on his resilience and life experience to create his music, and “Sunshine Shine” fits the bill, while also introducing the project that is to come.

“I’ve now traveled the world, looked death in the eyes and somehow made it back alive. Bitter moments never lasted, sweeter moments brought me back to purpose…“Heartache and Lemonade” brings about a new chapter. Try turning some of your worst moments into a smile every once in a while,” shared the singer in a recent press release. Stay tuned for the project, and make sure to add “Sunshine Shine” to your music library ASAP!

blanco-brown-heartache-and-lemonade-ep

Blanco Brown shares new song, “Sunshine Shine,” off forthcoming new project.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Blanco Brown releases.

To keep up with Blanco Brown, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Sunshine Shine” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Conner-smith-debut-album

Conner Smith: ‘Smoky Mountains’ – Debut Album Review

/in , , , /by

Conner Smith releases his debut album, Smoky Mountains, out now, January 26th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

With a soulful voice and storytelling prowess far beyond his 23 years, Conner Smith’s debut album, Smoky Mountains, is sure to propel him to superstardom. With a mountain-infused type of 90’s-leaning modern country that pairs his old-soul drawl with a new-school lyrical breadth, Smith crafted his Valory Music debut alongside Nashville hitmakers like Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd, Jessi Alexander, Devin Dawson, and more.

As a songwriter for over fifteen years, the Nashville native admits that every year of his life truly contributed to this record. “It very much took 23 years to make these 12 songs,” Smith says. “I felt like I found my own lane I was able to drive down, and I’m really proud of what it has become. There’s not a wasted second on the record – every song matters. And I think it really shows all the different things that make me ‘me’ – as a songwriter, a vocalist and as a performer.” 

The album opens with the groove-laden titular track, as he opens the album growling, “Sing me a song of the smoky mountains and I’ll be home by the sun.” Here, he sets the tone for the project with a bluesy and gritty intro that’s ripe with fiddle and steel before leading directly into his breakout moment, “Creek Will Rise.” On the song, he combines bluegrass-tinged instrumentation with an uber catchy melody that’s rapidly climbing the charts. “With respect to true-hearted bluegrass fans, that sound really inspired me in this season of my artistry,” he explains of the tune. “I’ve been trying to discover what I wanted to say for the last five years since I signed a record deal, and now that I’m able to present that with this album. It might surprise some people on where it landed.”

For Smith, who co-wrote all but one of the album’s twelve tracks, the viral “I Hate Alabama,” his debut collection represents a labor of love. The tracks reflect that love, weaving its way in different forms through tracks like the “will they or won’t they?” “Roulette on the Heart,” the flirty “Trouble,” and  the ode to small town upbringing in the form of “Boots in the Bleachers.” Smith is also introspective on his desire to be more than a one night stand on “Regret in the Morning,” while he’s celebrating enjoying the simpler things on “Take It Slow.”

Smith enlists rising star Hailey Whitters to join him on “Roulette On The Heart,” a ballad about the push and pull of a possible relationship. “I wanted to keep the magic of that song intact,” He shares of enlisting Whitters. “And I love where it landed.” “Are you gonna break me? Are you gonna save me?” They sing over the simple and sparse instrumentation. “Every night with you is a shot in the dark… Holding somebody shouldn’t be this hard.”

“Meanwhile in Carolina” is another clear standout, beautifully telling the tale of two people living concurrent lives, unaware that fate will eventually bring them together. Inspired by Smith’s relationship with his now fiance, the song tells the story of their lives until they found each other, wondering if their other halves were out there. “You always imagine that person, you always think about ’em, wonder where they are, wonder what they’re doing,” he shares. “I was so proud of that song after we wrote it, because I knew it was one that mattered – it was a song that meant something.”

Another clear stand out is “Heatin’ Up,” which is a punchy and driving single-ready uptempo that is sure to set live shows ablaze. Here, Smith singsongs over the catch chorus that “Everything about this love is heatin’ up.”

Likewise, “I Hate Alabama” is sure to be a crowd pleaser, initially going viral on TikTok and launching Smith to his record deal. It’s a clever twist on regional dislike, as the Nashville native muses over his disdain for the “Roll Tide” state.

“I hate Alabama // I hate Crimson Red // And I hate how they yell “Roll Tide” // When I got a Braves hat on my head // And I love Lynyrd Skynyrd // But Lord I hate Sweet Home,” He sings. “’Cause when I hear it all I see Is a girl with houndstooth on // In the stands in Tuscaloosa // Might’ve lost by 22 // But I hate Alabama // ‘Cause that’s where I lost you.”

The album concludes with the stirring “God Moments,” which finds the singer-songwriter reflecting on the ways in which “God works in mysterious ways.” It’s akin in many ways to “Unanswered Prayers,” finding Smith accepting that there’s a bigger plan at work in his life than he could even imagine or understand.

On Smoky Mountains, Conner Smith establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. With his husky growl and introspective lyrics, the debut is only the beginning of things “Heatin’ Up” for the singer-songwriter.

Smoky Mountains Tracklist:

  1. Smoky Mountains | Conner Smith, Zach Crowell
  2. Creek Will Rise | Conner Smith, Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Parker Welling
  3. Roulette On The Heart (featuring Hailey Whitters) | Conner Smith, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill, Mark Trussell
  4. Heatin’ Up | Conner Smith, Chase McGill, Daniel Ross
  5. Baby, I | Conner Smith, Devin Dawson, Mark Trussell, Parker Welling
  6. Meanwhile In Carolina | Conner Smith, Blake Pendergrass
  7. Boots In The Bleachers | Conner Smith, Ben Hayslip, Jordan Walker
  8. Take It Slow | Conner Smith, Ryan Hurd, Mark Trussell
  9. Trouble | Conner Smith, Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Chase McGill, Mark Trussell
  10. I Hate Alabama | Nick Columbia, Drew Green, Hunter Phelps, Lee Starr
  11. Regret In The Morning | Conner Smith, Hunter Phelps, Daniel Ross
  12. God Moments | Conner Smith, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Blake Pendergrass

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Meanwhile in Carolina
  2. Heatin’ Up
  3. Creek Will Rise
  4. Smoky Mountains
  5. I Hate Alabama
Conner-smith-debut-album

Conner Smith shares his debut album, ‘Smoky Mountains,” out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Conner Smith releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here. 

To keep up with Conner Smith, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Smoky Mountains is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Charles Esten: ‘Love Ain’t Pretty’ – Debut Album Review

/in , , , /by

Charles Esten releases his debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, out now, January 26th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

American actor, singer, and songwriter, Charles Esten cultivated an incredible fanbase, when he played Deacon Claybourne on CMT’s ‘Nashville’ and as Ward Cameron on Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks.’ Now, the singer-songwriter is ready to share his other passion with the world, music. Today, Esten releases his debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty.

With fourteen songs that speak to Esten’s talent as both a singer and as a songwriter, Love Ain’t Pretty boast songs for all different types of country music lovers. Esten leant his songwriting prowess to each and every song off the impressive record. The album kicks off with the title track, a song that fans will surely love.

Next up, “A Little Right Now” and “One Good Move” take the listener on an emotional journey. The former track speaks to a wayward path, while “One Good Move” allows the listener to have an inside look into the past and now the present, which is much brighter. On songs like “I Ain’t” and “Make You Happy,” Esten shows off his traditional-country and more funky sounds, as well as, a more fun approach to music. Both songs make you want to dance and be in love without being too on the nose. Another standout moment comes later in the track list with a song called, “Maybe I’m Alright.” On the song, Esten finds peace in expression throughout the touching and relatable song.

Love Ain’t Pretty is an album that is blessed with both quiet moments of stardom and more fun-loving tunes. Esten does a great job showcasing all different sides of his musical ability and his journey thus far. The debut album is one to listen to!

Love Ain’t Pretty Tracklist:

  1. Love Ain’t Pretty (Charles Esten, Marshall Altman, Jimmy Yeary)
  2. A Little Right Now (Charles Esten, Jacob Lyda, Brian Maher)
  3. One Good Move (Charles Esten, Sam Backoff, Zarni deVette, Elise Hayes)
  4. In a Bar Somewhere (Charles Esten, Jason Gantt, Neil Medley)
  5. I Ain’t (Charles Esten, Brad Crisler, James LeBlanc)
  6. Another Song About You (Charles Esten, Colin Elmore)
  7. When Love Ain’t Love (Charles Esten, Jeffrey East)
  8. Candlelight (Charles Esten, Kenny Alphin, Eric Paslay)
  9. Back in My Life Again (Charles Esten, Marcus Hummon, Bryan Todd)
  10. Make You Happy (Charles Esten, Gary Burr, Jon D’Agostino)
  11. Willing to Try (Charles Esten, Gary Burr)
  12. Maybe I’m Alright (Charles Esten, Leslie Satcher)
  13. Down the Road (feat. Eric Paslay) (Charles Esten, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman)
  14. Somewhere in the Sunshine (Charles Esten, Jon Nite)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Maybe I”m Alright”
  2. “Love Ain’t Pretty”
  3. “One Good Move”
  4. “Make You Happy”
Charles-esten-debut-album

Charles Esten shares debut album, ‘Love Ain’t Pretty,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Charles Esten releases.

To keep up with Charles Esten, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Love Ain’t Pretty is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Hannah-ellis-debut-album-that-girl

Hannah Ellis: ‘That Girl’ – Debut Album Review

/in , , , /by

Hannah Ellis releases her debut album, That Girl, out now, January 12th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

With an introspective and relatable lyrical style similar to many of country music’s best female artists, Hannah Ellis’s debut album That Girl is the perfect foray for the songwriter to become an artist. Much like early Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini, or Maren Morris, Ellis takes traditional themes and country instrumentation to craft a perfect soundtrack for a night out, a breakup, a makeup, or anything in between.

Throughout her debut project, the acclaimed singer-songwriter crafts lyrics in a way that’s truly magical, painting a poetic picture with her unique phrasing and style. The album’s opener, “Country Can,” does just that with its mid-tempo celebration of all the things that country music can accomplish. Over banjo and slide guitar, she applauds all things country.

“Nothing makes you wanna raise one up // Makes you love where you come from // Makes you build a life on a piece of land like // Country can, country can // Get a cold one in my hand // Make these old boots wanna dance with somebody // Make my two lane, four wheels roll down a winding back road // Nothing turns my radio to gold like country can”

Likewise, “Wine Country” paints her as a walking contradiction, classy but country and putting the “boujee in the backroads.” “I have so much fun with “Wine Country,” the Kentucky native revealed to American Songwriter. “I wanna continue introducing all of these different facets of Hannah Ellis, because there’s a lot, there’s an onion there and that side of me is one of my favorites. I love a fancy night out, but also I’m totally fine if it ends in a dive bar. But I think it’s just such a fun song.”

For the Curb records artist, heartbreak weaves its way through the album, proving especially poignant on tracks like “Someone Else’s Heartbreak,” “Karma on the Rocks,” and “Still.” On the latter, Ellis uses the ballad to remind herself that he’s “still the same mess in a different box,” the one that isn’t right despite still having a hold on her heart. 

“Someone Else’s Heartbreak” provides a special moment of introspection, finding the singer-songwriter unable to take her own advice, knowing how she’d respond to someone else’s heartbreak, but unable to listen to her own tips. “I can’t take my own advice…To tell the truth, it’s for the best it didn’t last,” she admits. “I promise it’s a good thing, wouldn’t be so hard for me to say, if this was someone else’s heartbreak.”

Likewise, the album’s title track and its closing song take listeners through an emotional journey alongside Ellis, as she admits on “That Girl” that she’s “the kind of girl who wears her emotions like a T-shirt.” Meanwhile, the album’s final track, “Too Much and Not Enough” finds Ellis dealing with the types of thoughts that tend to plague women at all ages and stages. “I’m so sure of myself and so insecure,” she admits. “I wish I could care less, a little bit more. It’s confusing as hell being constantly stuck between too much and not enough.”

Moments of levity come on tracks like “Home and a Hometown,” “One of These Days,” and “Us.” “Us” in particular is a catchy celebration of a relationship that is as certain as things “that just fit perfectly, like old t-shirt and Levi jeans.” Likewise “Plans” finds her and that special someone looking towards the future and what’s to come. “From the church to the dress to the little bare feet,” She sings dreamily. “No we ain’t there yet, but we’re gonna be.”

While Hannah Ellis may be best known for writing songs for others, that’s all about to change with this release. With a mix of poignant lyrics and catchy hooks, Hannah Ellis’ That Girl is sure to establish her as an incredible artist and a future superstar.

That Girl Tracklist:

  1. Country Can
  2. Us
  3. That Girl
  4. Wine Country
  5. Someone Else’s Heartbreak
  6. Karma on the Rocks
  7. Still
  8. Replaceable
  9. Somebody Else
  10. Plans
  11. Home and a Hometown
  12. One of These Days
  13. Too Much and Not Enough

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Someone Else’s Heartbreak
  2. Us
  3. Karma on the Rocks
  4. Home and a Hometown
Hannah-ellis-that-girl-debut-album

Hannnah Ellis’s debut album, ‘That Girl,’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Hannah Ellis releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here

To keep up with Hannah Ellis, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

That Girl is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Tanner Usrey: ‘Crossing Lines’ – Album Review

/in , , , /by

Tanner Usrey releases his brand new album, Crossing Lines, out now, November 17th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

With a soulful voice and confessional lyrical style, country newcomer Tanner Usrey is sure to make a splash with his debut album, Crossing Lines. Out now, the singer-songwriter’s Atlantic Records debut combines country, southern rock, Americana, and hints of soul with an uncanny vulnerability to reveal an artist on the ride.

For the Texas native, songwriting is his key to success. “I let the songs be what they’re going to be, and I pride myself on that,” he reveals in a statement. “Musically, it ranges from southern rock to country to Americana. When it comes to songwriting, I want to focus on what’s real – I don’t shy away from saying the hard things.”   

The album truly takes listeners on a journey, dealing with Usrey’s demons, self-acceptance, Texas upbringing, and love stories. “I hope you hear what you want to hear, enjoy it, resonate with it, and know it’s real,” he shares. “It’s been a wild ride. I’ve busted my ass. I started off doing all of this on my own, so it’s crazy to see how this and the team around me have grown. People are going after real music right now, and that’s great. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.”

The album opens with the swampy and stompy “Echo in the Holler,” full of banjos, bugs, howls and harmonicas. It’s reminiscent of Marc Broussard’s “Home,” and immediately sets the stage for the LP. It’s a one two-punch between “Echo” and the album’s second track, “Guns Drugs and Allergy Pills,” which finds him longing to “make it back to Texas before I go insane.” It’s a rousing uptempo with driving guitars and twinkling pianos that make it a full on rockabilly country jam that is sure to electrify live audiences.

Crossing Lines also includes two versions of Usrey’s breakout track, “Beautiful Lies,” with a new version reimagined as a duet with Ella Langley. On the stunning ballad, the pair trade verses about a relationship that has reached its end, but they’re still holding on. “So talk to me, tell me what I need to hear // Wrap me up with your beautiful lies // And I know you’re leavin’, yeah, you’re standing at that door // And I can see the heartbreak in your eyes // So keep on telling me those beautiful lies.”

The sparse “Make You Weep” and the bittersweet “Last Goodbye” with Gracie York are both powerful and heart wrenching moments, with the latter finding the pair knowing they shouldn’t be together, determined to end things, no matter how much it hurts. On the barebones ballad, they trade verses about spending one last night together before saying goodbye, singing “Let’s make the best of our last goodbye.”

“Take Me Home Tonight” is a single-ready midtempo, finding him “way too damn drunk to drive,” as he muses over how his relationship started and where it is currently. “Got a baby on the way and a dog in the yard // We started out small but we sure came far //Yeah I just wanna be where you are.”

Usrey deals with his own demons on tracks like “Down Here at the Bottom,” “Pick Up Your Phone,” “Who I Am,” and “Crossing Lines.” Each of the tracks address his struggles with alcohol, as he muses, “Down here at the bottom ain’t as bad as it seems” and confesses “I woke up on the floor again, sweating poison from my veins, I don’t know what I’ve become, but I know that it’s something that I hate.” On the title track, he finds himself an imposter in his own life, the cheerful music a stark contrast to the lyrics. “I’m getting tired of making excuses // While my mother keeps on praying to Jesus // That I make a change from my wicked ways // But I keep on doing all the same damn things.”

One thing Usrey does incredibly well is tint his music with various genres. For example, the biting “Black Widow” offers another stomping hint of rock and soul, as Usrey proclaims “I ain’t in your web no more, baby I ain’t your fool.” Meanwhile, “Destiny” hints at a Gospel revival, featuring female background vocals for a show stopping moment. “Give It Some Time” has notes of anthemic 90’s alternative, sounding akin to some of the best acts from that period as it builds to an emotionally charged guitar solo that’s as scorching as his delivery.

With an incredibly powerful voice that can be best likened to powerhouses like Chris Stapleton, Nate Smith or Larry Fleet, Tanner Usrey was bound to be a star. Pair that voice with incredible songwriting, unique stylistic choices and unparalleled musicianship, and Crossing Lines is an absolutely stellar debut album. 

Crossing Lines Tracklist:

  1. Echo In The Holler
  2. Guns Drugs & Allergy Pills
  3. Take Me Home
  4. Pick Up Your Phone
  5. Crossing Lines
  6. Who I Am
  7. Give It Some Time
  8. Beautiful Lies (feat. Ella Langley)
  9. Last Goodbye
  10. Black Widow
  11. Make You Weep
  12. Destiny
  13. Evelyn’s Eyes (feat. Jessi England)
  14. Down Here At The Bottom
  15. Beautiful Lies

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Beautiful Lies
  2. Take Me Home
  3. Give It Some Time
  4. Who I Am
  5. Last Goodbye
tanner-usrey-new-album

Tanner Usrey’s debut album, ‘Crossing Lines,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Tanner Usrey releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Tanner Usrey, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Crossing Lines is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Wyatt-flores-ep

Wyatt Flores: ‘Life Lessons’ – Review

/in , , , /by

Wyatt Flores releases his brand new project, Life Lessons, out now, November 17th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music here.

With a voice and style way beyond his 22 years, country newcomer Wyatt Flores is garnering quite a buzz for his country-folk stylings. Much like Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan, Flores uses an emotive voice, poetic lyrics, and his guitar to fill his songs with the type of magical X-factor that’s not quite describable. 

Today, the Oklahoma native released his latest project, Life Lessons. On the seven song collection, the young singer-songwriter sounds like a seasoned vet, telling tales of life in Stillwater, OK. He manages to add an uncanny maturity to his youthful take on life, while still sharing the trappings of his life thus far.

”I’m so excited to put these stories of my life into y’all’s hands. I hope that this project helps others choose a different path and one that only you can choose,” He shares in a statement. “It’s never gonna be easy and life isn’t fair but never let this world tell you how to live.”

The lyrics on the EP sum up the fact that life isn’t easy or fair, but do so in a way that’s incredibly poetic and enrapturing. “Orange Bottles” offers an especially poignant moment, beginning with a voicemail from Flores’ mother checking in, as he lyrically documents life on the road as a touring artist. “I’m so numb I can’t tell if I’m alive,” He admits. “Yeah who am I kidding? Who have I become?”

Meanwhile, “3/13” finds him apologetic and remorseful, too drunk to keep his promises as he apologizes to someone who’s always his go-to, even as he crawls from a wrecked car. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me after all,” He growls, voice full of emotion. “I’m sorry you’re always my last call”

“Wildcat” is somewhat of a departure for the singer, a swinging and toe-tapping uptempo that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Here he plants his tongue firmly in cheek as he recounts life in a “Friday Night Lights” sort of town adding a twist as not being a player on the team, but the team’s mascot. “I never was a macho man, but I made the folks laugh in the stands,” He sings playfully over the swinging melody.

On the previously-released “West of Tulsa” and “Holes,” Flores continues his confessional style with “West” finding him waking up in a new town, another face in the crowd. “’Cause I’ve been a girl’s last call when the bar’s closin’ down // I’ve been a guy on stage to the face in the crowd,” He sings. “Somethin’ ’bout wakin’ up in a cheap hotel // Makes me wanna be somebody to somebody else.”

Likewise “Life Lessons” and the project’s closing track “Astronaut” are relatively sparse, finding him looking inwards at his life, where he’s been and where he’s going. “Grandpa dropped out of school in the fifth grade // Grandma barely made it past the eighth // So maybe it’s alright if I only made it two weeks at Oklahoma state,” He muses, voice simultaneously laced with sarcasm and sincerity. “The kind of learning that I’m looking for // Ain’t written out on a whiteboard//I’m taking life lessons.”

On Life Lessons, Wyatt Flores proves that he’s one of music’s most promising young stars. With a poetic writing style and a passionate emotive voice, it’s only a matter of time before he’s a household name. Life Lessons is just the first chapter of what is sure to be an incredible journey for the young artist.

Life Lessons EP Tracklist:

  1. Orange Bottles
  2. Life Lessons
  3. Wildcat
  4. 3/13
  5. West of Tulsa
  6. Holes
  7. Astronaut

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Astronaut
  2. Wildcat
  3. Life Lessons
Wyatt-flores-ep

Wyatt Flores shares brand new EP, ‘Life Lessons,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Wyatt Flores releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Wyatt Flores, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Life Lessons EP is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Lauren-watkins-ep

Lauren Watkins: ‘Introducing: The Heartbreak’ – EP Review

/in , , , /by

Lauren Watkins releases her new EP, Introducing: The Heartbreak, out now, November 17th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

For country singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins, her personal highs and lows have inspired her newest release, Introducing: The Heartbreak. On her Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters sophomore project, the follow up to April’s Introducing: Lauren Watkins, she offers a clever continuation of that debut project.

“Introducing: The Heartbreak is basically the next step in introducing myself and my music to the world,” shares Watkins in a statement. “First, I released Introducing: Lauren Watkins, which was just saying, ‘Here’s me, here’s where I came from, what I’m influenced by.’ This is the next step, going even deeper into who I am, what I’ve gone through, how I think about things. It’s truly introducing the heartbreak I’ve experienced, which will eventually roll out into something much bigger.” 

Featuring six new tracks, all of which she co-wrote with heavy hitters like Nicolle Galyon, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Monroe, Rodney Clawson, and more, the EP takes listeners on a journey through the end of a relationship. Produced by Joey Moi, the project takes listeners through the emotions of a heartbreak, ranging from jealousy, acceptance, denial, and blame.

The Nashville native kicks things off with “Fine County Line,” a catchy and twangy pop country tune about a will-they-won’t-they relationship. “It’s a real fine county line In between your lips and mine // This kiss I know you want it // But that fence we’re stuck here on it,” She sings. “Halfway off the map // Falling hard and walking that // Real fine county line // I think it’s ‘bout time We crossed it.”

Likewise, the uncertainty continues on “The Table,” offering a unique spin on an old phrase, as a couple ponder all of the options on the table before them. On the stirring ballad, she sings, “The way he looked at me // Halfway held my hand // Didn’t have to say a thing // For us to understand // What was on the table.”

Jealousy pairs with confusion on tracks like “Jealous of Jane” and “Fly on the Wall,” both which find the singer grappling with her emotions over not wanting someone in her life, but not completely accepting that he’s moved on. On “Fly,” she trades verses with Jake Worthington, whose pristine baritone perfectly complements her emotive twang. Meanwhile, on “Jealous of Jane,” she muses that she “don’t want him back, but I don’t want him to want her.” The track is a quintessential mid-tempo country song, full of  fiddle and steel for an especially special moment.

The Ole Miss grad joins forces with Carter Faith on “Cowboys on Music Row,” which is an immediate highlight of the project. Here, the pair muse over the sorry state of today’s cowboys and country singers, longing for the days of the “redheaded stranger” or a “real rodeo man.” It’s a modern take on Paula Cole’s “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?,” as they lament “Where oh, where oh, where did they go, There ain’t no cowboys on music row”

“We wrote ‘Cowboys On Music Row’ with our friends. Sitting around a tv, watching old videos of our old favorites. We looked at each other and thought “they really don’t make ‘em like they used to,” and this song is what followed,” Watkins shared on Instagram. “Although I’m proudly in the era of *new country* I’ll forever keep trying to make the old *Cowboys On Music Row* proud.” 

Lastly, “Stuck In My Ways” finds Watkins embracing who she is. It’s a 90’s tinted celebration of all of her best qualities, take ‘em or leave ‘em. “I keep a six pack in the Fridge // And a rocking chair out back // I keep a light on, on the porch // And a key under the mat // I don’t park in that spot where you parked your Chevrolet // I ain’t sitting ‘round hoping you’ll come back someday // I’m just stuck in my ways // Yeah I’m stuck in my ways.”

For Lauren Watkins, Introducing: The Heartbreak shows that the singer-songwriter has no plans of slowing down. In fact, she’s taken a heartbreak and translated it into art.

Introducing: The Heartbreak EP Tracklist:

  1. Fine County Line (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
  2. Jealous of Jane (Lauren Watkins, Caroline Watkins, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
  3. Fly On The Wall (Lauren Watkins, Andy Sheridan, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)*
  4. Stuck In My Ways (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, David Garcia, Emily Landis)
  5. Cowboys on Music Row (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)**
  6. The Table (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Cowboys on Music Row
  2. Stuck in My Ways
  3. The Table
Lauren-watkins-ep

Lauren Watkins shares brand new EP, ‘Introducing: The Heartbreak,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lauren Watkins releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Introducing: The Heartbreak EP is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.