Brett Young: Weekends Look A Little Different These Days – Review

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Brett Young’s Weekends Look A Little Different These Days is available now, June 4th, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the collection of new music.

Reflecting on his own life and its recent changes, Young delivers some of his most authentic and honest music yet in his 8-track collection, Weekends Look A Little Different These Days. The project serves as the follow-up to his multi-platinum hitmaker’s gold-certified sophomore record Ticket to L.A. and his platinum self-titled debut album.

This new collection is appropriately titled for the recent life changes he has experienced both in his career and family life, as a rising country star and soon-to-be father of two. He explores the professional and personal life-changing moments that explain just why his Weekends Look A Little Different These Days. The entire project is co-written by Young and produced by Dann Huff. It includes his pre-released song, “You Got Away With It”, his most recent single, “Not Yet”, and his hit single and seventh consecutive No. 1, “Lady”.

Young perfectly portrays the widespread emotions that come with love, family, and loss in this self-reflective and honest collection. The authenticity of the album’s title track feels like a sequel to Young’s song “Chapters”, and sets the tone for the project. Acknowledging the growth that he’s made since his younger days and realizing that when he thought he knew and had it all, it was actually nothing compared to all he knows and has now. 

“I used to stay up late and sleep in all day long // Now it’s bed by nine and wake up with the dawn // I used to need the world to spin around me // Used to think that I had everything // Now I thank // God that everything has changed // My weekends look a little different these days”

Young reflects on all the highs and lows of a relationship in “This” in a very ‘everything happens for a reason’ take on life that makes you appreciate every moment good or bad that got you to exactly where you are now. “Dear Me” follows that same idea, wishing he could tell his 23-year old self not to worry about the girl he can’t move on from because she will end up with him in the end.

“Don’t even worry it’ll be alright // There’s a light at end of these lonely nights // And it’s worth all the hell you’re going through // What if I told you // This ain’t the end you’re just halfway // You’ll look back and you’ll thank God one day // When it’s clear in your rearview // Dear me // She ends up with you”

“Leave Me Alone” and “You Didn’t” are two different takes on a similar scenario of someone leaving you. “Leave Me Alone” has a classic Young sound and couples an upbeat tune with a ‘shake it off/move on’ attitude about someone leaving you and you not wanting them to come back around like they always do. While “You Didn’t” slows things down and offers a vulnerable yet realistic take on letting someone go because they didn’t fall in love like you did. 

“There’s nothing I could say // To make you wanna stay // Your heart made up its mind // I don’t want you to lie one more minute // You ain’t done nothing wrong // I’m not where you belong // Don’t let one teardrop fall // Girl you think it’s your fault but it isn’t // I fell in love and you didn’t”

“Not Yet” and “You Got Away With It” were both pre-released singles off the album and offer the familiar Young-sound and the kind of flirty love stories that we know and love from the singer-songwriter. 

“‘Cause you still got a lot of kisses left on your lips // Yeah you still got a lot of time to take away my breath // You still got a lot of driving me wild left // With that smile // With those eyes // I ain’t done loving you tonight // Not yet”

Brett Young's new song, "Weekends Look A Little Different These Days" is available now, June 4th, on all streaming platforms

Brett Young’s “Weekends Look A Little Different These Days” is available now, June 4th, on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Brett Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Chase Rice: The Album – Full Review | Country Swag

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Country singer-songwriter, Chase Rice released three new songs today, May 28th, officially completing his latest ongoing project simply titled, The Album. Rice co-wrote all three new tracks, and eleven of the fifteen total. His current single, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen” featuring Florida Georgia Line was also included and was placed as the album’s closer. Keep reading below as we dive deeper into these new tracks.

The Album started in January of 2020 when Rice surprised his fans with Part I of the project, which contained seven tracks, including the top-15 radio single “Lonely If You Are.” Part II was released last May– nearly a year ago to the date—and contained four tracks such as “Break. Up. Drunk.” and “Belong.” Today, we have the full collection, which includes “The Nights,” “Bedroom,” and “If I Didn’t Have You.”

“It’s crazy to look back now and see the journey this album has taken us on throughout writing and recording it,” Rice noted in a recent press release. “We shared so many of these songs with the fans as they were being written and got their input along the way – so it’s their journey and lives in these, too. I think this new music will always mean a bit more to me since it has carried us all through some strange and uncertain times.”

In “The Nights,” penned by Rice, Zach Kale, and James McNair, he acknowledges the difficulty of moving on from a former relationship. Rice toggles between singing and speaking over a mid-tempo, pop, snap-track beat, recollecting the vulnerable moments between himself and this girl, as it is ironically the only thing that gets him through these tough, lonely nights without her.

“Might run me off the tracks // might drown me in the waves // might make me lose my mind // might send me to the grave // But it gets through the nights, gets me through the days // gets me through the memories I can’t escape”

It’s not a true Chase Rice album without a steamy sex song. He is definitely not shy when it comes to discussing physical intimacy in his music. Ignite the Night had “Ride,” Lambs & Lions had “On Tonight,” and now The Album has “Bedroom,” where the singer confesses his desire for this woman is so strong and the temptation is so unbearable, that they probably won’t even make it to the bedroom, but if they do, it “doesn’t stand a chance.” Rice co-wrote this track with Jimmy Robbins and his good friend, Jon Nite.

“If I know you the way you’re looking at me that way // That we don’t even make it halfway down the hallway // Once you get me how you get me once I got you in my hands, girl // That bedroom don’t stand a chance”

Women often bring out the best qualities of their men. In “If I Didn’t Have You,” Rice praises a particular woman for vastly influencing the man he is today. He lists all the things he would be and wouldn’t have if she wasn’t around. Producers Jonathan Singelton and Robbins included a heavy dose of backing electric and acoustic guitar between the chorus and following verse.

If I didn’t have you I’d be lost on an old lonesome highway, no ride or die by my side // If I didn’t have you I’d be singing the same old truck songs in the same smokey old dives // I’d be red and white stripes with no blue // A drunk-dialing Johnny, no June // If I didn’t have you

After sixteen months, we finally have the complete album. It is easy to see that these tracks were written at different times, as each part represents a different time in Rice’s and our lives. Fans will have the chance to hear the new music live as Rice joins Kane Brown on the NBA arena Blessed & Free Tour at the top of 2022. For a full list of dates and to purchase tickets, click here.

Chase Rice's 'The Album' is out now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

Chase Rice’s ‘The Album’ is out now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

The Album Tracklist:

  1. American Nights(Kevin Griffin, Martin Johnson, Francois Tetaz; produced by Martin Johnson)
  2. Lonely If You Are(Chase Rice, Lindsay Rimes, Hunter Phelps)
  3. Everywhere(Chase Rice, Zachary Kale, James McNair; produced by Zachary Kale)
  4. Best Night Ever(Chase Rice, Chris DeStefano, Matt Jenkins)
  5. Messy(Seth Ennis, Kylie Sackley)
  6. In The Car(Chase Rice, Jesse Rice, Hunter Phelps, Mark Holman)
  7. Forever To Go(Jordan Minton, Casey Brown, Geoffrey Warburton; produced by Casey Brown)
  8. You (Chase Rice, Jon Nite, Zach Kale)
    9.   Break. Up. Drunk.(Chase Rice, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt)
    10. Down Home Runs Deep (Daniel Ross, Michael Hardy, Mike Walker, James McNair)
    11. Belong (Chase Rice, Chris DeStefano, Jon Nite)
    12. The Nights (Chase Rice, Zach Kale, James McNair; produced by Zach Kale)
  9. Bedroom (Chase Rice, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins; produced by Corey Crowder)
  10. If I Didn’t Have You (Chase Rice, Channing Wilson, Jonathan Singleton; produced by Jimmy Robbins & Jonathan Singleton)
  11. Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. featuring Florida Georgia Line(Chase Rice, Hunter Phelps, Cale Dodds, Corey Crowder; produced by Chase Rice, Florida Georgia Line & Corey Crowder)

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

To keep up with Chase Rice, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Ashley McBryde: ‘Never Will: Live From a Distance’ – Review

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Singer-songwriter, Ashley McBryde has been slowly releasing live tracks from her sophomore album Never Will since February. Today, she released a live recording of “Sparrow,” completing the 6-track EP.

The collection features the funny, yet vulnerable “First Thing I Reach For;” “Shut Up Sheila;” the ukulele-driven “Velvet Red,” the fiery “Voodoo Doll,” the current single, “Martha Divine,” and the emotional “Sparrow.” The live recordings sound nearly identical to the studio versions, which is a testament to McBryde’s talent and authenticity.

Never Will: Live From A Distance Tracklist:

  1.  First Thing I Reach For (Ashley McBryde, Randall Clay, Mick Holland)
  2. Shut Up Sheila (Nicolette Hayford, Charles Chisholm)
  3. Velvet Red (Ashley McBryde, Patrick Savage, Daniel Smalley)
  4. Voodoo Doll (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Brandy Clark, Connie Harrington, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Raitiere)
  5. Martha Divine (Ashley McBryde, Jeremy Spillman)
  6. Sparrow (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Brandy Clark, Connie Harrington, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Raitiere)
Ashley McBryde's 'Never Will: Live From A Distance' is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

Ashley McBryde’s ‘Never Will: Live From A Distance’ is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

Never Will dropped last year on April 3rd, right at the start of the pandemic. It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and picked up CMA and GRAMMY nominations for Album of the Year and Best Country Album, respectively.

Fans can catch McBryde perform these songs in-person on her ‘This Town Talks’ Tour, and supporting Luke Combs on his ‘What You See Is What You Get’ Tour, both starting in June.

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

To keep up with Ashley McBryde follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Never Will: Live From A Distance is now 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.

Southerland: Boot Up – EP Review | Country Swag

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New country duo Southerland’s debut EP, Boot Up, featuring “Thing Is,” “Little Bit of You,” and “Along Those Lines” is out now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

After meeting in 2016, Matt Chase and Chris Rogers hit it off musically and began writing and playing small shows together. In 2019, they signed to River House Artists/Sony Music Nashville as Southerland, and today, May 28th, they released their debut EP, Boot Up. With traditional country sounds and smooth harmonies, the duo are poised for big things, and couldn’t be more excited about releasing new music.

“With the craziness of 2020, we kept our feet on the gas in the writers room and in the studio,” shared Southerland. “We’re always excited to release new music, but we’re especially excited about this EP. Some of our very favorite songs we have written are on this project.”

Produced by Greg Bates, all seven songs on the EP were co-written by Chase and Rogers, and feature an array of other writers, including the woman behind many of Blake Shelton’s biggest hits, Jessi Alexander.

The EP opens with the title track, “Boot Up,” and the EP’s tone is immediately set. It’s country, it’s harmonies, and it’s fun. “We wake up every morning before the rooster crows,” they begin over twangy steel guitar and banjo, and it’s clear that the duo is straight country. On this clever ode to cowboy boots, they celebrate the significance of their boots in country life. “We go to work in them // Sun up to sun down // Church in ‘em // Making mama real proud,” They sing. “All the people like me showed up // Boot up.”

On “Might As Well Be Us,” the duo celebrate the good ol’ days when things were better and built to last. However, this isn’t the typical track of longing for simpler times, as they flip it into a love song. “Some things gotta hold together // the kinda thing time can’t touch,” they sing. “Some things gotta last forever // Might as well be // Might as well be us.”

Vocally, Southerland settles comfortably into mid-tempo country, as evidenced on “Came Out of Nowhere” and “Along Those Lines.” On the latter, they celebrate hometowns, and how they’re all similar. “When we wrote this song, we realized that it doesn’t matter where you are from,” explained Chase in a recent interview with Taste of Country. “A lot of time, you grow up very similar to everyone else, and in this song, it’s as if Chris (Rogers) and I came up with our own little fictitious town, where we took a little bit of this and a little bit of that from each of our hometowns and put it together into a song.”

One of the EP’s highlights is “Dance,” a swinging up-tempo track about a girl who just wants to dance, and if the guy wants his chance, he just has to be prepared to dance. She may not be looking for a guy, but that’s all out the window when it comes to two-stepping. “When she wants to dance // Buddy that’s your chance,” They advise. “When her song comes on // No you can’t go wrong // When she wants to dance.”

The EP closes with “Thing Is,” a stomping up-tempo produced by Trent Wilmon. It’s remnant of the best 90s country with its toe-tapping beat and cute story. The wordplay here is exceptional, as they remark “Can’t put my finger on // Whatever made me fall in love like this // She’s got // Whatever that // Thing is.”

With an authentic country sound, Southerland’s debut EP is a welcomed breath of fresh air. We expect big things from this country duo, and in the meantime, Boot Up is a great introduction to the pair.

Boot Up Track Listing:

  1. “Boot Up” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers, Austin Taylor Smith)
  2. “Might As Well Be Us” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
  3. “Came Out of Nowhere” (Jessi Alexander, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
  4. “Dance” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
  5. “Along Those Lines” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers, Driver Williams)
  6. “Little Bit of You” (Greg Bates, Matt Chase, Chris Rogers)
  7. “Thing Is” (Matt Chase, Greg Bates, Chris Rogers)*

*produced by Trent Willmon

Southerland's debut EP, Boot Up, is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

Southerland’s debut EP, Boot Up, is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Southerland, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Spencer Crandall: Lost In The Wild – EP Review | Country Swag

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Spencer Crandall’s newest project, Lost In The Wild EP is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

We recently got to chat with rising singer-songwriter Spencer Crandall all about his journey in our Swag Spotlight feature. Crandall is a uniquely passionate artist in the industry. Today, he dropped his newest project, Lost In The Wild EP.

The collection was inspired by Crandall’s last album Wilderness. He decided to remix three of the songs from his last project in a new and fresh way. Additionally, the singer included two brand new songs suggesting that these songs are what was “lost in the wild.”

The record kicks off with arguably the most profound song on the project, “My Person” (Wedding Version). The original of this song catapulted Crandall’s notoriety, allowing him to create even more as an independent artist.

Firstly, “My Person has always been the song that people gravitate towards. It is something I don’t think really has been said, and people love to say it to other people that they love,” shares Crandall in our exclusive interview. The new version of the song is a piano-driven, slowed-down rendition of the hit. He gave the people what they wanted on this track.

Crandall also stripped down his song ‘Things I Can’t Say.” The track is a cheeky love song that we all will get butterflies listening to. With lyrics like “I love you is on the tip of my tongue” and “I want you to want me to be the one,” it’s hard not to smile along to the song. Julia Cole lends her voice to the second verse and chorus, adding an extra element to the already fun-loving song. 

Next up, the project transitions into the two brand new songs off the record. The first, “Apartments in LA”, is one of our personal favorites. Inspired by real-life events, the song conveys all the feelings one feels after a break-up in a new and innovative way. Crandall sings about it being too hard to live in Nashville after a break-up. During our interview, the singer even shared that he really did look on Zillow for apartments in LA, during this time in his life.

“So I’m looking at apartments in LA // Anything to get out of this place // Cause there are too many years, memories here that I just can’t erase”

Additionally, the other song that was ‘lost in the wild’ is a love song called “Nothing To Do With You.” This song proves that Crandall knows romance. The clever wordplay is enough to make every music lover swoon. The artist sings about wanting to spend a whole day doing nothing with his love. It reminds us all of the importance of slowing down and just existing, rather than participating in the everyday rat race.

“All I need is here and now // I want nothing to do with you // I want to waste Saturday in the living room”

Finally, the project ends with “Delete All” (The Nate Dodge Remix). Clearly influenced by his brother’s love of EDM music, the last song is unexpected but enticing. The new version has a vibe that is fresh, and hard not to love. The song transformed into a killer party song, proving that Crandall is a jack of all trades.

It is hard not to love the singer after listening to this project. Spencer Crandall’s Lost In The Wild EP is the real deal. The singer-songwriter is clearly in the right industry. We cannot wait to see his career blossom, as he garners more and more fans!

NYCS Picks:

  1. “My Person” (Wedding Version)
  2. “Apartments in LA”

Lost In The Wild EP Tracklist:

  1. My Person (Wedding Version)
  2. Things I Can’t Say (Stripped)
  3. Apartments in LA (Demo)
  4. Nothing to Do with You
  5. Delete All (The Nate Dodge Remix)
Spencer-Crandall-EP

Spencer Crandall’s new EP Lost In The Wild is available now, May 28th, on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Spencer Crandall, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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

Adam-sanders-who-is-what-if-i'm-right

Adam Sanders: What If I’m Right – Album Review | Country Swag

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Adam Sanders’ new album, What If I’m Right is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

Rising singer-songwriter, Adam Sanders has released his new album What If I’m Right. The 13-track album, each song co-written by Sanders,  shows off not only his talent as a writer but shows his well-rounded talent as an artist.

The album starts out upbeat with the song “All About That”. Written by Sanders, Craig Campbell, and Jacob Rice, it’s a track about enjoying a night out outside and enjoying the moment with a significant other. With warmer weather on the horizon, this song is perfect for summer date night.

“Just One” and the title track “What if I’m Right” are written by Sanders, Rice, and Lynn Hutton. Each song has qualities that just about every listener can relate to. “Just One” is about not giving up on a relationship and asking for that one sign that it isn’t over.  “What If I’m Right”  shares a great dual message. At first listen, you may think it is about two people falling in love. However, the real message is don’t be afraid to put everything on the line and follow your dreams. You can do whatever you set your mind to, you just have to have the passion to get there which Sanders clearly has.

The singer-songwriter shows us who he is as a person throughout the album. Not only does he show us his fun, upbeat self, he lets us into his serious side as well as his connection with religion. “Bible Versus” is a great example. Written by Sanders, Ben Stennis, and Brice Long, this track is for anyone going through a tough time and for them to learn that it’s okay to handle situations in the wrong way as long as you learn from your mistakes.

Showing his love for Nascar, the song “Daddy Jesus and Earnhardt” is one to play before every race. Written by a bunch of collaborators including Sanders and Cole Swindell, the track shows how Nascar isn’t just a sport. It’s a bond that brings families together.

Overall, the album is a great listen and truly shows how hard-working, dedicated, and talented Sanders is. He has written numerous songs for artists including Cole Swindell’s number one “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and Dustin Lynch’s Hell of a Night”. Now it’s Sanders’ time to shine and boy does he! We can’t wait to see what’s next for his career.

Adam Sanders' new album, 'What If I'm Right' is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

Adam Sanders’ new album, ‘What If I’m Right’ is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Adam Sanders, follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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

Ross Copperman: Somewhere There’s A Light On – EP Review

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Ross Copperman’s new EP, Somewhere There’s A Light On is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, Ross Copperman has been one of Nashville’s biggest songwriters over the past eight years, accumulating 29 number-one hits for artists such as Brett Eldredge, Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and many more. These songs include “Lose My Mind,” “If I Told You,” “Get Along,” and “Living,” to name a few.

While songwriting has been his bread-and-butter, Copperman also has an extensive catalog of his own pop-heavy material. On this project, Copperman teamed up with other big-name writers in the business such as Shane McAnally, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, and even pop-star Ed Sheeran to create five brand new tracks.

“I’ve always liked to write songs to live in any world and not necessarily be too specific to genres,” Copperman shared in a recent press release. “It feels like pop has really been influenced by country writing in the last few years.”

The EP begins with the faith-based tune, “Not Believe.” Copperman admits that it can sometimes be hard to believe there’s something bigger than us out there, referencing God — especially when things are not going your way. However, he meets this wonderful woman who restores his faith and makes him believe. It starts off as a slow piano ballad, but has a large build-up in production when the chorus comes around.

“How can I hurt so long? Finally, come up to breathe // And see the best part of my life standing right in front of me // And not believe”

“Electricity” is a more fun, upbeat track in which Copperman praises this woman, calling her ‘electricity,’ as she lights up his love and his life. He compares her to a strike of lightning because they both rarely happen twice. In “Therapy,” the singer claims he doesn’t need doctors or pills to get him through dark days because this girl’s love is his form of therapy. His smooth, romantic vocals shine on these tracks. Both of these songs were co-written by Copperman, Johnny McDaid, and Ed Sheeran.

Copperman uses the title track as a PSA to what seems to be one particular individual. He is reassuring this person that when life gets you down or you are finished chasing your dream, come home to somewhere there’s a light on, aka, himself. This can be classified as EDM, as there is a bass drop after the chorus.

“When you’re lost, when you’re cold // When you can’t see the road // When the sky runs out of gold and you need a ride home // Take your time, feed your soul // If you ever find yourself alone // And you need a place that feels like home // Somewhere there’s a light on”

Copperman shows his flirty side in the final song, “Holdin’ You,” as it is about the physical aspect of love. The singer ignores the advice of others, who tell him they are moving too fast and that if they want this relationship to last, they have to wait. He responds with “we don’t know what tomorrow is holding. I just know I don’t wanna quit holding you.”

When Copperman writes hit songs, it may be expected of him to just pass them on to another artist. But these tunes were clearly so unique and personal to him that he had to keep them for himself. Although it leans pop, Copperman certainly has five very special tracks here.

“I’m so happy and filled with such a profound sense of joy and optimism for the future. I’ve always felt like my purpose in writing songs that I record would be to share joy and encourage somebody who’s down to know there’s a light on somewhere for them,” Copperman said. “I’m inspired and also, feeling a little vulnerable which feels good. I’m excited. It’s my next chapter.”

Somewhere There’s a Light On Tracklist: 
1.     “Not Believe” (Copperman, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband)
2.     “Electricity” (Copperman, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid)
3.     “Therapy” (Copperman, Sheeran, McDaid)
4.     “Somewhere There’s a Light On” (Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
5.     “Holdin’ You” (Copperman, Ashley Gorley, McAnally)

Ross Copperman's new EP, 'Somewhere There's A Light On' is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

Ross Copperman’s new EP, ‘Somewhere There’s A Light On’ is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Ross Copperman, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

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

Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts Releases First Solo Project: ‘One On One’

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Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts offers the first collection of his solo career, filled with incredible collaborations, breath-taking vocals, and an inspiring message. One on One is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

Gary LeVox is not only the frontman for one of the most influential and successful groups in country music history, Rascal Flatts, but he is also one of the most impressive vocalists and has one of the most identifiable voices in all of music. His name quite literally means, “The Voice” and it couldn’t be more deserving.

Founded in 2000 with bandmates Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, Rascal Flatts scored 17 No. 1 singles, earned 40+ award show trophies (making them the most awarded country group of the last decade), and sold over 23 million albums and more than 11 million concert tickets. The group celebrated its farewell with Twenty Years of Rascal Flatts: The Greatest Hits in 2020, along with their hit single “How They Remember You”. After a 20 year career with Rascal Flatts, LeVox is pursuing a solo career and has just released his first solo project: One on One.

One on One combines two of LeVox’s biggest passions – music and faith. LeVox’s debut song “The Distance” embodies that mission, expressing the power of belief which is tailor-made for the COVID-19 era. The song is about resilience and LeVox feels the timing of the song is perfect. He shares that, “‘The Distance’ was the first song written for (his) solo chapter… with the struggles and battles so many have gone through this past year and how they’ve taken over people’s everyday lives, it just felt like the true song of hope we need.” Made for fans of both country and contemporary Christian music, “The Distance” is one of five tracks featured on LeVox’s Christian collection.
On the remaining four tracks, LeVox leaned on help from his ‘congregation’ to explore the power of faith and the calling of a higher power. Contemporary Christian hitmakers MercyMe join LeVox for “A Little Love”, GRAMMY-winning gospel talent Jonathan McReynolds for “Never Forget”, LeVox’s daughter Brittany for “While I Wait”, and country-rap trailblazer BRELAND for “All I See”. 
On the collection, LeVox shares: “One On One is my passion project and I have wanted to do this body of work for as long as I can remember. I feel so honored to get to collaborate with such greatness throughout this project. BRELAND is a dream to work and sing with, as is the iconic MercyMe. Jonathon McReynolds, one of the greatest singers of our time and my dear friend, wrote a perfect song for us. And for my daughter Brittany and I to get to sing a song that Tauren Wells helped craft just completed the collection. I couldn’t be prouder of this project, and the songs that we recorded. This is gonna be an amazing new season and I just hope everybody enjoys it as much as we did making”
Gary LeVox's new EP, 'One on One' is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

Gary LeVox’s new EP, ‘One On One’ is available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Gary LeVox, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  

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

Jordan Davis Releases Brand New EP, ‘Buy Dirt’ – Full Review

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Jordan Davis returns with his latest release, a brand new EP titled, Buy Dirt. Available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms, check out our full review of the project below.

Almost a year ago to the day, Jordan Davis released his six-track, self-titled EP which contained the fun “Cool Anymore” featuring Julia Michaels, “Detours”, and the current chart-climbing hit “Almost Maybes.” His new project, Buy Dirt is a pandemic-inspired compilation of songs in which Davis got the chance to rediscover his love for songwriting. He admits in his EP announcement video that upon arriving in Nashville, he lost sight of the type of music he wanted to write.

“I’ve always loved artists who take risks. I’m in a different spot in my life than I was when I released Home State. We all are!” he acknowledged in a recent press release. “2020 was a tough time for everyone. I was able to use that time to re-center some things in my world, and I didn’t want those lessons to go to waste. I wanted to create something special. The best way to do that was to write honestly, and we did a lot of that on this record.”

The record starts off with a short cover of John Prine’s “Spanish Pipedream (Blow Up Your TV),” which is not only a nice tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter who passed away last April, it complements the theme of this EP and the world the past fourteen months. It describes the benefit of disconnecting and going off the map for a little while. It allows one to live carefree in the moment and take in all of life’s little pleasures. Davis slowed down the track immensely to emphasize the current meaning of the song.

The title track is the centerpiece of the project and features country superstar Luke Bryan. The song’s narrator is sitting on a back porch with his grandfather, listening to the old man dispense pearls of wisdom between sips of hot coffee. Over a light, string melody, Davis and Bryan summarize the man’s advice in one quote: “you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy dirt.” Life moves fast and you have to appreciate and take advantage of your short time here on Earth. Finding the person of your dreams, doing something you love for a living, practicing your faith, and raising a family are the keys to happiness. Davis talked about working with the singer who he grew up listening to on the radio:

“We sat around the fire after a golf tournament one day, smoking cigars and talking about everything but music,” he recalled. “That conversation always stuck with me. Luke isn’t just a great entertainer; he’s a great Dad, a great husband, and a great friend, too. That’s what ‘Buy Dirt’ embodies. When I wrote ‘Buy Dirt,’ I knew he could relate to the song’s message.”

“Need To Not” and “Lose You” were both previously released. The former is similar to Dan + Shay’s number-one hit “How Not To,” as they both express the singer’s struggle with letting his former lover go. He knows he should just go home and watch TV, but driving past her block tests his temptation and brings back old, unwelcomed feelings. The latter sprinkles small amounts of steel-guitar over a pop production. The man in the song sees a couple at a restaurant that seems to have had better days. This makes him fear that maybe someday he and his partner will slowly grow apart as well. He confesses he is in this relationship for the long haul and even the thought of losing her is too difficult to process.

“I Still Smoked” tells the story of young love. The singer reminisces on the time when he and his now-wife met. He remembers all the details of that night from the weather, the drink in her cup, and the artist playing on the radio. People doubted their relationship, including her mom, but that only made their love stronger.

“We were runway flames in a backseat fire // Growing up fast on Renegade tires // Didn’t worry about tomorrow and sure didn’t worry about us // Every time I kiss you it feels the same //  I still remember us that way // Don’t it feel just like yesterday you drove that old jeep and I still smoked?”

“Drink Had Me,” is the most upbeat tune on the project, as Davis uses clever word-play to describe how a night out with his buddies ended up. His plans of staying home got interrupted by several messages from his friends and they finally got him to agree to have one drink, but we all know how that story goes. Instead of having the drink, the drink had him calling his ex and spending the night at her place, leading to problematic and undefined feelings. With a catalog containing plenty of slow and mid-tempo songs, this fun track will serve nicely during his live sets.

“The drink had me want one more // Won’t be forgetting what we broke up for // and doing the make-up, wake-up thing // I just went in there to have one drink but the drink had me”

Throughout the record, Davis shows that he has a lot to be grateful for. By combining elements of country, pop, rock, and R&B, yet preserving the southern storytelling and timeless melodies that make country music so profound, Davis creates a sound unique to himself. He has matured so much during his young career and it is shining through his music.

Buy Dirt Track Listing:

  1. Blow Up Your TV (Written by John Prine and Jeffrey Bradford Kent)
  2. Buy Dirt (feat. Luke Bryan) (Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins)
  3. Need To Not (Written by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins)
  4. Drink Had Me (Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni)
  5. Lose You (Written by Jordan Davis, Paul DiGiovanni, Josh Kerr, Josh Dorr)
  6. Almost Maybes (Written by Jordan Davis, Jesse Frasure, Hillary Lindsey)
  7. I Still Smoked (Written by Jordan Davis, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
  8. Trying (Written by Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Paul DiGiovanni)
Jordan Davis' new EP, 'Buy Dirt' is available now, May 21st on all streaming platforms

Jordan Davis’ new EP, ‘Buy Dirt’ is available now, May 21st on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Jordan Davis, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Alexander Ludwig Releases Debut Self-titled EP

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Alexander Ludwig, the Vikings and The Hunger Games star, makes his entrance to country music with a new self-titled EP, available now, May 21st, on all streaming platforms. Read our full review of the project below.

Alexander Ludwig may be best known for his roles as Bjorn on Vikings or Cato in The Hunger Games, but the multi-talented Canadian is now making a foray into country music with his self-titled EP. For his debut project, Ludwig signed with BBR Music Group and joined forces with Jason Aldean’s bandmates, Tully Kennedy and Kurt Allison, who produced the project. The EP also features songs co-written by other Nashville heavy hitters including David Lee Murphy, Jonathan Singleton, and Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi.

Although it may seem like a stretch for a Canadian actor to jump into country music, Ludwig grew up on the genre, first picking up the guitar at age nine. Inspired by the likes of Alan Jackson, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Aldean, those influences can be heard throughout the five-song project.

The EP opens with “Love Today,” which shows Ludwig channeling his inner Kenny Chesney on the summery anthem. “I’m moving on // yesterday’s gone, I’ve been waiting on // Chin up, drink up, call an old friend up, It’s good to be alive, kinda smile on my face, yeah it’s gonna be okay,” He sings over the infectious melody and driving guitars. “I love today.” The song is the perfect introduction to Ludwig, the artist, as it’s a catchy country anthem, perfect for summer beach days and Instagram captions.

On “Sunset Town,” Ludwig paints a portrait of moving on from a failed relationship in a beachside town of open-air bars, boats, and happy hours. On the power ballad, Ludwig muses that he’ll “probably end up in some sunset town,” and it’s impossible not to picture him on a beach somewhere.

Of the album’s third track, co-written by Eric Arjes and Tursi, Ludwig reveals that,””How It Rolls” is everything I love about country music. It takes you away and leaves you flying high for three minutes. It teleports you to a feeling, where you’re so enamored by a person that everything in your world appears to be rolling the right way. That’s what all of these songs are — they’re moments in time. We’re just trying to capture those moments properly.”

Of the album’s fourth track, “Malibu Blue,” Ludwig says he played it for his now-wife on their first date. For that reason, the song holds a special place in his heart. “We focused on songs that really resonate,” Ludwig said. “A ‘hit’ isn’t necessarily a No. 1. It’s a song that sticks in your head for years. I remember when I first listened to our recording of ‘Malibu Blue.’ My now-wife and I were on one of our first date together, and I played it for her…I’ll never forget hearing it for the first time.”

The EP closes with “Summer Crazy,” the only track on this project co-written by Ludwig. It celebrates all of the great things that make summertime so magical. The song is akin to a modern version of Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime,” and we can’t wait to blast it at a tailgate.

While many actors try to transition into country music, for some it seems like they’re simply taking on another role. However, for Alexander Ludwig, the EP is truly a passion project. “I’m here for the long haul,” he says. “This isn’t some actor who comes to Nashville and expects the world to be handed to him. That’s not who I am. My heart and soul are in this music, and I’ll do whatever it takes to continue earning my spot in this community.”

Alexander Ludwig's new self-titled debut EP is available now, May 21st on all streaming platforms

Alexander Ludwig’s new self-titled debut EP is available now, May 21st on all streaming platforms

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

To keep up with Alexander Ludwig, follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

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