NYCS First Impression: Skyline Motel ‘After Dark’

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Skyline Motel

It’s been over five years since Skyline Motel’s self-titled debut EP. Sarah Buxton, Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, and Kate York are four singer-songwriter-producers/best friends who come together every few years to create music not intended for commercial success. Simply put, they create art that’s meant to heal others and bring joy to people’s ears.

After Dark consists of five songs, all written and produced by the group. The opening is the airy, bright “Fields of Knowing” sung primarily by Buxton and York. If a song sounded like a Sunday drive, this would be it. The guitar and drum combo feels like sunshine, and their voices blend perfectly together. Lyrically and sonically, it feels like the light at the end of a tunnel. “The moon is in our house tonight/I wanna swim in your high tide/You and I, we will run/Through the fields knowing/That our love could never die/Like a wave rolling/You and I, we are one/Don’t it feel golden?”

“Fields of Knowing” is the most acoustic moment on the project, with songs like the Buxton-led “Danger” and the previously released Tashian-led “Do You Want Me” airing on the more indie/electronica side. “Danger” is 80s sounding and moody, with tasteful harmonies over Buxton’s sweet voice. “Do You Want Me” is a confessional and introspective song that feels very meditative. “One Night” and “Kiss And Tell” are the grooviest numbers. “One Night” has bossa nova undertones to it, and York’s soothing vocals match the mood perfectly. “Kiss And Tell” borrows sounds spanning from hip hop and reggae to make a smooth country jam.

The constant thread running through all five songs are the universal lyrics, stunning harmonies, and Fitchuk’s signature drums. Despite being a less singer-songwriter/triple-A sounding record than their last, they have a distinctive sound that is much needed now.

So what has the band been doing for the last five years? Besides creating this new collection of songs, Fitchuk and Tashian went on to produce the GRAMMY-winning Golden Hour for Kacey Musgraves, Buxton released new music for the first time in nine years and scored a #1 for writing Chris Lane’s “Fix”, and York released an array of stunning EPs and won several awards for “Glasgow (No Place Like Home)”, a song featured in the movie Wild Rose. All in all, the foursome has been busy.

In a world divided and scared, and unsure what life will look like in the future, Skyline Motel is a beacon of light in a dark time. Their music is effortless and calming, and they prove that there is a magic floating around out there somewhere; we just have to be patient.

NYCS Staff Picks:
Fields of Knowing
Kiss And Tell
Danger

To keep up with Skyline Motel, you can follow the band members on Instagram: Sarah Buxton, Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, and Kate York.

After Dark is now 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.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Dan Smalley ‘If I’m Being Honest’

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Dan Smalley - If I'm Being Honest

At NYCountry Swag, we pride ourselves on bringing you the freshest and newest voices in country music. Today, one of Big Machine Label Group’s newest signees, Dan Smalley released his debut EP entitled If I’m Being Honest. The singer has written songs for the likes of Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael, but today fans get to see exactly what Smalley is made of as a solo artist.

The four-song EP is an impressive collection of songs that truly gives fans and country lovers some insight into Smalley’s voice and style. The new EP is a confessional record that focuses on story-telling and song-writing, two qualities we look for in any country record.

The record opens up with “Till Country Comes Back.” The lyrics are accompanied by both banjos and steel guitar, making the song feel both familiar and nostalgic. Smalley’s smooth vocals are easy to listen to as he sings about love.

According to the singer, the song is about, “a guy who’s willing to put his life on hold and wait for the love of his life.” Happily married, Smalley admits that he would “wait [his] whole life” for his wife.

“Lucky” is next up. The song begins with an impactful vocal and simple instrumentation. Written by the singer with talented songwriter, Brian Kolb, the rising artist sings about going through hardships, only to find his way back to his love. The happenstances can only be attributed to one thing, luck. It is a true confession in song form.

“I was some kind of crazy, wild out, and out of my mind /
Til you came and saved me from spinning off the end of the line /
I was livin’ like I didn’t have nothin’ to lose /
‘Cause I only knew what livin’ was like without you /
Now here you are lovin’ on me / Yeah, talk about lucky”

Continuing to bare his heart through song, the title track is the stand-out tune off the project. Smalley reveals his truth and his demons in this story-telling song, which he shares was written as a confession to his wife, his confidant. With an Eric Church feel and honesty that feels instantly country, the singer nails it with this song.

“Truth is I’m most of the time just shootin’ from the hip / So I tell folks I’ve moved on from the bones locked in why closet / Truth is it’s just easier to lie / If I’m being honest”

Rounding out the project is the song “Rich and Famous.” Smalley shows off his funky, country-rock side in the mid-tempo jam. Once again, the singer’s wife remains his muse for this song, as well as for the overall project.

Smalley’s debut project is a smash. He delivers a little bit of everything to country fans, while showing country lovers exactly who he is, which is a hard feat to accomplish through only four songs. The singer is the full package, and we are excited to continue championing his career, as he navigates the ever-evolving country music industry.

To keep up with Dan Smalley, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

If I’m Being Honest 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.

If I’m Being Honest Track List:

  1. “Till Country Comes Back”
  2. “Lucky”
  3. “If I’m Being Honest”
  4. “Rich and Famous”

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Rob Bellamy & Ayla Brown ‘Make It Mean Something’

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Ayla Brown Rob Bellamy

The applicable time to prosecute a passion in music is straight away, regardless of what you have already consummated and your age. The flair between duo-group Rob Bellamy and Ayla Brown is beyond prodigious. Between the two, plentiful dreams have been made with more to come. In 2004, Bellamy was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers after college at The University of Maine in Orono and after transiting to Nottingham, England to play hockey overseas, decided to pursue music. Brown is a former NCAA Basketball Player and is a past American Idol contestant who landed in the Top 16. Now, she is the co-host of The Jonathan and Ayla Show on Country 102.5.

The pair recorded their first country-Americana debut EP Make it Mean Something in Portland, Oregon. The title track is a jovial, heavy-acoustic guitar-driven tune introducing the anatomy of the duo-group to the world. “Nothing Gonna Stop” trails off of the love skirt of the title track harboring the singer’s amicable harmonies singing: “I’m gonna find the sweetest honey, even if I’m getting stung by bees // I’m gonna sail across the ocean, even if I hit stormy seas // Hot dessert, I’ll cross it // Through fire, I’ll run it // A hole in the ground that I can’t get around // Ain’t a thing in the world gonna slow me down // Nothing gonna stop, nothing gonna stop, nothing gonna stop from getting me to you and me. //

“Always Have A Home” channels an elephantine folk-ambiance with the picking of the instrumentation. It escalates the love theme even further with the tag, “Your heart will always have a home.” The closer “Built That Way” is an emotional, well-constructed ballad where the duo confess what makes them who they are. They sing, “I plant my butt at an old wood pew on Sunday morning // I hit my knees every time I pray // I bow my head when I beg for forgiveness // And I damn sure stand every time Old Glory waves // Yeah, I’m just built that way.”

Bellamy communicated on his Instagram to express his gratitude for all their fellow co-writers and “Out TODAY on all platforms. @aylabrownofficial and I recorded this EP in Portland, Oregon @jackpotrecording. Big thanks to @gusberry for helping us bring these songs to life! Also a big thanks to a few of the co-writers on these songs. @bwhytecomedy who helped us write “Nothing Gonna Stop” “Love Me Like Hell” and “Built That Way.” @stevedeanmusic who helped us write “Make It Mean Something.” And @ellewine who helped us write “Thinking Of You.” If you like what you hear please help us share! Excited to see you at some of our next shows.”

To keep up with Rob Bellamy follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Ayla Brown follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Make It Mean Something is now 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.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Rachel Reinert ‘Into the Blue’

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By Michal Pietrzak

Into the Blue Rachel Reinert

Into the Blue is Rachel Reinert’s solo debut album and it’s simply amazing. If things could have souls this album would definitely have one.  Reinert moved to Nashville in 2005 to pursue the dream of being a solo artist but became a part of Gloriana, a band that was together creating music for 8 years. 15 years after moving to Music City, she can finally say she is a solo artist and the country music family gained another member. It was an incredible journey with a happy ending as she admits on Instagram –  “I truly did not know if I was ever going to be able to get to do this-to actually hold my album and be able to share myself with whoever is willing to listen. It truly is the greatest gift. To my incredible team and collaborators who helped make this dream a reality, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”

Before we get to an evaluation of the album here’s an important message posted on social media: “Hey guys. When I imagined finally getting to release my album, this is not the image I had in mind. Promoting it has certainly not been the happy event I was dreaming of given the chaos and tragedy surrounding my city and our world right now. I was supposed to be having a listening party tonight, but unfortunately, my team had to make the difficult decision to postpone. I talked with my team about what the right move is, whether to put my album out tomorrow or not, and I’ve decided that I have to press on with this release. My hope is these songs will bring comfort and joy and relief to everyone who needs it right now. These are some extremely heavy and unprecedented times but music is healing, and I believe it’s what we all need most in trying moments like these.”

Into the Blue is 43 minutes long and consists of 11 amazing songs that were co-written by Reinert. It doesn’t get better than that. Sonically the tunes are relaxing and easy-going while the lyrics are full of hope, determination, courage, feelings, and passion. The first song that stands out from the rest is “Cool” which also is a first song on the album. It showcases the way that you feel when you find your first love and what makes that relationship special and different. It’s a story which went from intense love, through intense hate to being pretty good friends. “Cool/ Me and you/ I never thought we’d get back to/ The way we used to be when we were cool”.

“Here” is another prime example of how Reinert is a spectacular storyteller through her music. The track is about love, hope, dreams, and determination. “I’ve got seven tattoos minus one that I had removed / Blame it all on mistakes of my youth / ‘Cause I do, I do/ I’ve been a grown-up since I was 16 / Left home to chase a dream / California couldn’t hold on to me/ ‘Cause I knew, I knew/ Somewhere up ahead / You’ll be waiting for me with flowers in your hand”.

“King of Hearts” is reminiscent of a song that Reba McEntire would have recorded back in the 90s about boy/man every lady should look out for because he can break your heart and leave you sad.  The next song really makes you think who your friends are as “All We Have” shines a spotlight on the meaning of friendship. You find out true friends when you’re in need. The lesson is: Don’t be fooled by people when you’re on top because when you’re down, only close and true people stay with you. “So I sold everything I had owned/ From the clothes to the big blue home/ It was just stuff keeping me stuck in rewind/ Now I’m filling the new place up with pictures frames/ Of the people that stayed when nothing remained/ But the love they gave made me realize/ All we have is who we are”

“Some Kind Of Angel” is a cream del a cream of the album. It’s the greatest and prettiest diamond in a crown. It’s a song for hopeless romantics. It doesn’t get better than a woman appreciating her man. Usually, women are called angels and that’s justified but every once in awhile there’s a man that can be called an angel. “You just let me be exactly who I need to be/ You make me feel like I’m living my wildest dream/ Sometimes I can’t believe, how you love me so endlessly/ It’s just who you are, you hold my heart like no one else on earth/ It’s such a mystery how you never give up on me/ With all we’ve been through/ Darling you are some kind of angel”  

 With such a great debut album Reinert’s star is on the rise. She delivers each of the tracks with passion and authenticity and that makes her really special. If you have 43 minutes of free time spend them wisely and listen to her album Into the Blue. It’s really worth it.

 To keep up with Rachel Reinert follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Into the Blue 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.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Jaden Hamilton Self Titled EP

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Jaden Hamilton

Louisiana native, country newcomer Jaden Hamilton is unveiling himself to the world with his newly released self-titled EP Jaden Hamilton. This is the singer’s first mainstream release coming a long way from solely posting covers on social media.

“Ride it Out” is the introduction to the singer + songwriter’s country music birth. A full resonant instrumentation inaugurates the track before the vocal line takes over. It’s recognizable from the start that this track seizes the presentation of a perfect, night of lust underneath the stars. As the chorus begins, he sings: “I just want to take it real slow // Let these old wheels roll // Baby we can ride it out // After when the moon hangs high // And the stars catch fire // And the whole world is burning on down // Yeah we got a good thing, don’t wanna rush it // And girl your mood ring is saying you love it // And where the blacktop ends and the night begins // Baby, we can ride it, Baby we can ride it out”

“Thing About Me” begins with temperamental, labyrinthine fretwork as Hamilton institutes statements about his personality, comparing himself to an outlaw rebel on the run and reckless like a loaded gun. He admits that he never did think he was going to find someone. “Slip On Back” broadcasts feel-good summer vibes applicable for rolling-down-the-highway or chillin’ on a backroad.

Prior to the EP, Hamilton has been releasing reduced clips of his songs via Tik Tok. Hamilton announced the exciting news on his socials on February 26th affirming, “March 6th I’m releasing 3 songs on all platforms!! Super excited to get y’all some music, can’t wait for y’all to hear it. Y’all be sure to share the news with your friends! Thank y’all!”

To keep up with Jaden Hamilton follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Jaden Hamilton 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.

NYCS Picks:

  1. “Ride It Out”
  2. “Slip On Back”

 

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Brandy Clark ‘Your Life Is A Record’

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Brandy Clark Your LIfe Is A Record

In 2014, singer-songwriter Brandy Clark burst onto the music scene with the release of her incredible debut album, 12 Stories. Since then, she has been one of the genre’s most critically lauded, yet commercially underappreciated artists. Clark is seemingly the type of artist who thrives on making art, rather than seeking the approval of the mainstream. She makes music because she has to, and nowhere is this more evident than on Your Life Is A Record, out today (March 6). It’s truly a work of art that we, as music fans, should be thankful for.

What Clark has always done best, as both a writer and an artist, is tell stories, and Your Life Is A Record is truly a collection of those such stories. Unfortunately for Clark, most of the stories here tell the tale of a breakup. Speaking to NPR, Clark revealed that much of the album was inspired by the ending of her own long-term relationship, a case of art imitating life. “I went through a breakup of a 15-year relationship. And my therapy on an everyday basis is to go in and write songs, so I couldn’t help but write songs about that, even if they were somebody else’s idea.”

The album was produced by super-producer Jay Joyce and veers far away from the trappings of the trendy bombastic Nashville sound. Instead, the record has an organic, acoustic sound. With only a handful of musicians joined occasionally by the Memphis Strings & Horns, the songs have the freedom to breathe within the music, taking on a life of their own as they’re stripped bare to the listeners.

As mentioned, the album is very much a breakup album, ebbing and flowing through the different emotions that accompany the dissolution of a relationship. On the heartbreaking “Can We Be Strangers,” Clark laments, “I don’t want to want you/ I don’t want to love you/ I don’t want to hate you/ Or even care enough to/ We struck out as lovers/ We struck out as friends/ Is it too much to ask/ Could we be strangers again?”

There’s “Pawn Shop,” which hooks you immediately, as Clark opens with, “She pushed her wedding ring across the counter/ And said, ‘tell me it’s worth more than I think?'” The song then tells the tale of a wedding ring pawned at a shop, in order for its previous owner to begin her new life.

“Bigger Boat” featuring Randy Newman offers a moment of levity on the album, tackling politics, the news, and the constant scares that seem to infiltrate daily life. “You can’t eat this/ You can’t eat that,” They muse. “Is there anything that ain’t giving cancer to rats?” Of the song, Clark told NPR, “I think you can get away with a lot with humor. I think you can say a lot of really serious things. If you do it with a little bit of humor, I think, at least for me, I can often get the point across better and not divide.” And as the 2020 election nears closer, this song couldn’t be more timely, as the pair snarkily sings, “We can’t agree on who should be captain, so we can’t keep this thing afloat.”

Offering a similar levity is “Long Walk,” telling the tale of a “middle age mean girl” who Clark would like to see “take a long walk off a real short pier.” The song is the perfect kiss-off song to that annoying busybody who just can’t seem to mind her own business. The lyrics here are brilliant, as Clark remarks, “I hear it’s cold as you/ At the bottom of the ocean.”

Other highlights include the album’s first single, “I’ll Be The Sad Song,” “Bad Car,” and “Who You Thought I Was.” On the latter, Clark tells of all the things she wants to be now that she’s no longer in a relationship, in comparison to the things she wanted before. “I used to want to be Elvis,” She admits longingly as the song segues through the protagonist’s character growth. “Now I want to be honest/ I want to be better/ Now I want to be the me I should’ve been when we were together/ I want to be at least almost close to worth your love/ I want to be who you thought I was.”

Meanwhile, “Bad Car” tells the sad story of a car that’s bound for the junkyard. “I know it’s a bad car, I know it’s a piece of junk,” Clark sings before recalling the car’s finer moments and its role as a trusty companion through the harder moments of life. “It witnessed all those tears nobody ever saw me cry/ When I broke the law through Arkansas to tell my dad goodbye/ Didn’t get there pretty, but it got me there that day/ So I’m a little sad to see it roll away.”

That bittersweet emotion found on “Bad Car” is a theme that truly permeates this album, and no one does bittersweet better than Brandy Clark. While each of her records have truly been masterful, there’s something truly next level on Your Life Is A Record.

Clark will hit the road in support of Your Life is a Record, with a stop at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on April 28. See a full list of tour dates here.

To keep up with Brandy Clark, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

NYCS Picks:

1. Pawn Shop
2. Can We Be Strangers
3. Who You Thought I Was

Your Life Is A Record 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.

 

 

Your Life Is A Record Track List
1. I’ll Be the Sad Song
2. Long Walk
3. Love is a Fire
4. Pawn Shop
5. Who You Thought I Was
6. Apologies
7. Bigger Boat (feat. Randy Newman)
8. Bad Car
9. Who Broke Whose Heart
10. Can We Be Strangers
11. The Past is the Past

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Lauren Alaina ‘Getting Good’ EP

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Lauren Alaina Getting Good

Fans of Lauren Alaina have been waiting three long years for the follow-up project to the talented songstress’ elite record Road Less Traveled. The wait is finally over! Today Alaina released her EP, Getting Good featuring six well-rounded songs to hold fans over until a full-length project is announced.

The EP begins with a daring ode to her country roots. The song is entitled “In My Veins.” Alaina, a Georgia native, is proud to be a country singer but is even prouder of how she grew up and how she was raised. The first track embodies that sentiment. The singer reminds fans of her country roots, yet again in “Country In Me,” but in this case, Alaina is singing about a new love interest, rather than her hometown. The fun and flirty song depicts a relationship, where somehow the guy brings out the down-home, countryside out of her.

Of course, Alaina included three previously released songs on her project, including “Getting Good” and “Ladies In The ‘90s.” The first is her current radio single. It is an honest song about trying to slow time down and stay in the present. Alaina opens up about anxious feelings in this song, which is a feeling many people can relate to in this day and age. She sings the impactful sentiment, “I’m thinking once I learn to grow right where I’m planted / Maybe that’s when life starts getting good.”

On the other hand, “Ladies In The ‘90s,” the first single to go to country radio off this record, is a complete jam. Co-written by Alaina, with Amy Wadge and Jesse Frasure, the nostalgic track celebrates female artists of the ‘90s across all genres of music and the time where female artists ruled the country genre. She is the perfect vocalist to deliver this sassy and fun song.

Track number three off the EP, “Somebody Else’s Problem,” is a brand new song that fans have gravitated towards, during live shows. The song is an empowering breakup anthem, similar to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” Alaina declares that a man is now “somebody else’s problem,” after dealing with his baggage for far too long. The song adds some dimension topically, as well as, to Alaina’s typical sound.

Finally, the record closes with arguably the best song on the whole project, “The Other Side.” Written for her late stepfather, Sam, Alaina poetically expresses the great loss she endured and the story of her stepfather seeing heaven before he passed away. Watch the tearful clip from her NYC headlining show below. “The Other Side” goes out to anyone who has ever experienced a loss, and although emotional, the song is spiritual, profound, and impactful. Ultimately, it was the perfect way to end the record.

The record as a whole embodies Alaina. She sings her truth in each and every song on the EP. From nostalgia to heartbreak to empowerment, the singer covers the gamut of experiences we all go through in such a way that is personal for her, but yet relatable to fans.

Getting Good Track List:
1. “In My Veins”
2. “Getting Good”
3. “Somebody Else’s Problem”
4. “Ladies In The ‘90s”
5. “Country In Me”
6. “The Other Side”

To keep up with Lauren Alaina follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

NYCountry Swag Picks:
1. “The Other Side”
2. “Ladies In The ‘90s”

Getting Good is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take 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.

 

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Restless Road EP

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Restless Road

The comeback for country band, Restless Road starts right now. The trio of Zach Beeken, Colton Pack and Garrett Nichols released their self-titled, debut EP on Friday including the soon-to-be smash hit “Take Me Home” featuring country superstar, Kane Brown. This band’s journey has been a long and winding road (fitting with their name) that, at one point, looked like it was coming to an end. But with the help of Brown, Restless Road was given a new life with the likelihood of more success than they ever could have imagined.

The first track, titled “One Step Ahead”, was written by Beeken, Nichols, Jim Beavers, Lindsay Rimes and former band member, Jared Keim. Using their mixed vocal ranges in harmony, the guys inform the girl in the song that whatever she wants, it has already been taken care of.

“If you need your kisses to last a little longer/ If you need your heartbeat to beat a little stronger / Don’t worry that pretty little mind, I’m already ready / Yeah baby, I’m one step ahead”

The second track, “Take Me Home” will most likely be the biggest hit off the EP. Featuring Brown, the song puts a more modern spin on John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads”. Instead of West Virginia being home, home is where this girl is. The song’s protagonist cites the reason for his band’s little success on the road was due to them not being together. Watch the music video below:

“Take me home, take me home / To a place, I belong / Cause I miss ya, and I wish ya / would take me home, take me home”

Penned by Beeken, Nichols, Keim, Kyle Fishman, and Michael Whitworth, the third track, “All the Girls” is dedicated to, you guessed it, all the girls. The modern sound of this song is complimented by steel guitar in the background and a fiddle solo during the bridge.

“Why ya think that we been working all week / Who ya think we going out to meet / Why ya think we got a shotgun seat / All the girls”

The final track, “It Ain’t Easy” is their most vulnerable one. Written by Beeken, Nichols, Keim, Justin Wilson, Jacob Durrett, and Steve Bogard, it discusses how difficult life can be when you are starting to look for jobs, move out of your parents’ house and date seriously. This song can relate to almost any young adult beginning to go through this process. The final chorus is more personal to them and their journey to becoming a band.

“Learn to strum this old guitar / Pay the rent from a tip jar / Write a 3-chord country song that’s got some feelin’ / Sounds simple, but it ain’t easy”

Beeken, Pack and Brown all auditioned for the X-Factor in 2013 but got eliminated before making the top-40. However, the judges liked Beeken and Pack so much that they decided to bring them back for season three and have them audition as a trio with another contestant, Andrew Scholz. They finished in fourth place.

This led them to move to Nashville with the goal of becoming singer/songwriters and maybe even getting signed to a record deal. With a little luck, the band was on the verge of calling it quits before Brown came across Pack’s cover of “Good As You.” He then pitched the trio a song he saved and never recorded, “Take Me Home.” You can watch more of their story in this video below:

Brown invited Restless Road to join him on his Worldwide Beautiful Tour with special guests Chris Lane and Russell Dickerson which kicked off in Atlantic City on February 29th. Check out a full recap of the night here.  For more tour dates, head to their website.

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

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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NYCS First Impression: Trea Landon ‘Dirt Road Dancin’ EP

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Trea Landon Dirt Road Dancin

Back in November when we were in Nashville for the CMA Awards during the Warner Music Nashville showcase, we got a little taste of up and coming country artist Trea Landon but now his full EP Dirt Road Dancin’ is here, and we can’t get enough.

This EP takes you on an emotional relationship journey starting from the very beginning. “Get the Girl” is figuring out how to make that first move when that special person you’re into isn’t a fan of flowers or the standard pickup lines. We then move on to the singer-songwriter showcasing the unique way you will feel if you are ever loved by a country boy and why it’s one of the best choices you’ll ever make. Next up is heading out on that first date dancing the night away, ending unfortunately with a breakup with “Wrong Truck.”

Two songs that really stand out are “Dirt Road Dancin’” and “What Feelin’ Good Feels Like.” Written by Landon, Rob Hatch, Justin Wilson, and Blake Bollinger, the title track will have you up and moving as soon as you turn it on. “What Feelin’ Good Feels Like” is the perfect song to turn on when you need a minute to relax. Written by Landon, Danny Myrick, and Bryan West, this track shares the message that it’s okay to take a break from all the noise and take a minute for ourselves.

Dirt Road Dancin’ is Landon’s first Warner Music Nashville EP. The singer-songwriter co-wrote four of the five tracks. In a recent press release, Landon expressed his excitement of showing the listeners who he is, “Dirt Road Dancin’ is a pretty good sample of everything that makes me who I am. It’s everything that makes a country boy, a country boy. Long drives, late nights, field parties, and falling in love. I’m excited for fans to get to know me better and have fun doing it.”

This may be the Georgia native’s first EP produced by a label but he is certainly making a name for himself in the industry. He was recently named a ‘MusicRow’ “Next Big Thing” and one of ‘Sounds Like Nashville’s’ “20 New Country Artists to Watch in 2020.” Recently touring with Riley Green and Jon Langston, building up his fanbase across the country. In just a few days he will be heading on the Down to Earth Tour with Hardy and Cole Swindell. To find out if they are coming to a city near you, check out his website.

To keep up with Trea Landon follow him on Instagram,  Twitter, and Facebook.

Dirt Road Dancin’ is now 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.

NYCountry Swag Picks:

  1. Dirt Road Dancin’
  2. What Feelin Good Feels Like
DIRT ROAD DANCIN’ TRACKLISTING
1. Loved By a Country Boy (Trea Landon, Kyle Fishman, Dallas Davidson, Justin Wilson)
2. Get The Girl (Justin Wilson, Paul Jenkins, Brandon Ratcliff, Pete Good)
3. Dirt Road Dancin’ (Trea Landon, Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman)
4. What Feelin’ Good Feels Like (Trea Landon, Danny Myrick, Bryan West)
5. Wrong Truck (Trea Landon, Rob Hatch, Justin Wilson, Blake Bollinger)

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Carly Pearce’s Self Titled Album

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Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce is giving her fans a special gift this Valentine’s Day with the release of her self-titled sophomore album. The thirteen song collection shows Pearce expanding her sound, showing off a variety of sides, including flirty, empowering, and more.

For Pearce, this album is a personal one, as it was produced by late songwriter/producer, Busbee, and marks his final full work. Pearce revealed to PopCulture.com about Busbee’s contributions to her career. “I feel like we both felt like this album would be the one that really put my flag in the ground, and hopefully took me to the next level. And we had so much fun making this one. I would just tell him, in the last two records, and since the beginning of Every Little Thing, he helped me find my voice. He helped me find my artistry. He helped me get my dream and I’m just forever grateful to that and really, really proud of what we did.”

The album opens with a pair of fun up-tempo tracks, drawing listeners in immediately with the catchy one-two punch of “Closer to You” and “Call Me.” However, it’s tracks four and five that show Pearce at her best. On the twangy “Dashboard Jesus,” written by Victoria Banks, Sara Haze, and Emily Shackelton, Pearce is a girl who leaves home in search of something bigger. “As long as she’s going somewhere/ It doesn’t matter to her anyway/ Everybody says she’s dreamin’/ Call her crazy for believin’/ Sometimes all you really need is/ Fifty dollars and a dashboard Jesus.”

Track five is the emotive “Halfway Home,” written by Pearce, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz. “You can try to tell a heart/ To feel somethin’ that it don’t,” She sings, her voice practically breaking. “But halfway to heaven isn’t heaven/ And halfway home just ain’t home.”

“I Hope You’re Happy Now,” Pearce’s chart-climbing duet with Lee Brice, is another of the album’s highlights, putting an optimistic spin on a broken relationship. “I hope you find what you were looking for/ I hope your heart ain’t hurting anymore/ And you get moving on, all figured out/ And you don’t hate me somehow/ ‘Cause I hope you’re happy now.”

While Pearce’s duet with Brice is bittersweet, her collaboration with husband, Michael Ray, is 100% saccharine. On the R&B tinged mid-tempo, co-written by Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Ashley Gorley, and Jesse Frasure, they sing of knowing each other so well that they know what the other’s thinking.

Pearce shines on empowering songs, as evidenced by “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” which she co-wrote with Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby. Another of the album’s highlights is the ode to women and their strength, titled “Woman Down.” Here she sings, “She can make a mountain move/ And do it in her high heeled shoes/ If she ain’t back up yet, just stick around/ You can’t keep a woman down.”

For Pearce, this album is the perfect follow up to 2017’s Every Little Thing. With the variety of songs and stories here, she continues to prove that she’s one of country music’s most exciting new female voices.

CARLY PEARCE TRACKLIST:
1. “Closer To You” | Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges
2. “Call Me” | busbee, Emily Shackelton, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook
3. “I Hope You’re Happy Now (Carly Pearce and Lee Brice)” | Carly Pearce, Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
4. “Dashboard Jesus” | Victoria Banks, Sara Haze, Emily Shackelton
5. “Halfway Home” | Carly Pearce, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
6. “Heart’s Going Out Of Its Mind” | Carly Pearce, Joe Ginsberg, Laura Veltz
7. “Finish Your Sentences (Carly Pearce and Michael Ray)” | Kelsea Ballerini, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett
8. “It Won’t Always Be Like This” | Carly Pearce, Sam Ellis, Natalie Hemby
9. “Lightning In A Bottle” | Hannah Ellis, Anna Vaus
10. “Love Has No Heart” | Sara Haze, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen
11. “Woman Down” | Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
12. “You Kissed Me First” | Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson
13. “Greener Grass” | Hillary Lindsey, Jonny Price, Ben West

To keep up with Carly Pearce follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Pearce will play at Joe’s Pub in NYC on March 10 as part of the Songs for a Cause concert along with Michael Ray, Ryan Griffin, and Luke Laird. For more tour dates and tickets, visit her official website.

NYCountry Swag Picks:
1. Woman Down
2. Halfway Home
3. Dashboard Jesus
4. I Hope You’re Happy Now

Carly Pearce is now 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.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: