Heath Sanders: Interview + ‘Common Ground’ – EP Review
Rising artist and songwriter, Heath Sanders’ debut EP, Common Ground is officially available now, January 29th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new record and take a look below as we dive a little deeper into the new music.
Almost two years ago to the day, an aspiring singer-songwriter, Heath Sanders shared a video of himself covering Chris Stapleton’s “Either Way.” The video went viral, garnering over a million views, and ultimately opening doors for him in Nashville. Flash forward to today, the singer signed a record deal with Big Machine Label Group’s Valory Music Co. imprint, home to artists like Thomas Rhett, Tyler Rich, and Justin Moore. Now, his debut EP Common Ground is officially available everywhere you listen to music.
In just four songs, Sanders evokes such talent, charisma, and story-telling that it’s instantly captivating. With a style similar to our favorite ’90s country artists, as well as, Luke Combs and even Stapleton himself, Sanders is one to look out for. According to Sanders in our exclusive interview, “Common Ground is really a big feeler to see what everybody is drawn to, and which side of me they love, and want to hear more of. […] We just want to give people a sample of what I have on deck.”
The EP is bookended by two incredibly touching slow-jams. Beginning with our personal favorite, the title track, “Common Ground,” the singer puts his vocals on display with heartfelt lyrics. Written with his friends and fellow songwriters, Jay Brunswick and Jeremy Bussey, Sanders felt that this was a message that had to be heard, especially due to the climate of the world. Moreover, the song depicts his personal journey of learning and growing as an artist.
“I’ve got to see a lot of the world and interact with a lot of different people, and it’s really woken me up to how similar we all are at the end of the day,” he shared with us, “I think at the end of the day, we all want happiness, peace, and we want to work hard, and raise our kids.”
“We’re all on a different journey / We’re all finding our own way / We’re all living, we’re all learning”
Sanders continues to share his vulnerable side with fans on the closing track “Can’t Undo I Do.” The song paints a picture of going through hard times in a relationship, but ultimately remembering that things will not unravel so quickly. Singing, “I know it stings right now, but we both know the truth / You can’t undo I do,” Sanders quietly, but profoundly states a universal truth.
The other two songs off the record, “Old School’s In” and “Love Needs Makin’” are just as special, but lean more into the singer’s upbeat and rock side. The former is slated to be Sanders’ first single to country radio. “That song is representative of who I am and where I come from, and how proud I am to be from a place like that,” exclaims Sanders. The song is fun, electric, and sure to be hit on the stage and on the airwaves.
Finally, “Love Needs Makin’” is that comforting, familiar everyday-man song that you just cannot get enough of. Uptempo and lyrically-sublime, the track is everything you want a country song to be. Sanders truly knocks it out of the park with this blue-collar tune that country fans are sure to go crazy for.
With only four songs, Sanders proves that he is one to look out for. When he is able to get back on the road, we are sure that these tracks are going to blow up even more. Despite his natural talent and hardworking nature, the singer-songwriter reminds us that he does it all for the fans. “My goal is to get back out there, so I can start hugging necks because I owe a lot of people a debt of gratitude,” he shares, ending our interview on a hopeful note that live music will prevail.
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Common Ground EP 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 the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.