Exclusive Interview with MacKenzie Porter Talking All Things Music & More

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Country Swag recently chatted with MacKenzie Porter, almost exactly a year after we first introduced her in our Artist Spotlight Series. Read our exclusive interview as we caught up with the songstress below!

Mackenzie Porter

Mackenzie Porter, Photo Credit: Bree Marie Fish

MacKenzie Porter has had quite the year, so far. Between new music, receiving multiple nominations for a slew of awards, and joining a national tour with Jordan Davis, the budding star has showed no signs of slowing down. 

On the topic of tour, Porter shares, “My favorite part of tour so far is hearing people get excited and sing back every single lyric of Thinking ‘Bout You!” She adds, “So many people know that song, and it’s such a cool feeling.”

Earlier this year, Porter collaborated with Dustin Lynch on “Thinking ‘Bout You,” which is currently sitting in the Top 15 at Country Radio. The duet has already completely changed her career – it’s one of the biggest hits of the year – and it has also given Porter a new music friend to celebrate wins with. “Dustin is such a good guy,” she begins. “He is truly a beautiful human being. He’s been taking me out on the road with him and he’s included me in so much stuff. It’s been really cool,” Porter adds.

 

“Dustin & I were talking earlier today about getting to celebrate those wins together. Normally, as an artist, it’s just yourself and you’re like, ‘go me!’. But, when you have another person, you can kind of feed off of each other. Him and I go back and forth texting like, ‘it’s 16 this week, it’s 15 this week!'”

The incredibly infectious track is not the first big hit under Porter’s belt. Her Drinkin’ Songs project includes multiple singles that went #1 and top 5 in Canada. The project also includes deeper cuts that fans still really gravitate towards, like the cleverly catchy “Drive Thru”.

 

Porter shared the story behind that song with us during our conversation. “I wrote that with Natalie Hemby and Tommy English. We were in Tommy’s basement studio and Natalie, who’s one of my favorite writers, came in with the title,” she says. “’Drive-Thru what you’re talking about.’ Like how could we make this like a country, like a sassy, Lizzo thing? We were just thinking about what is that for girls? being like, ‘oh, hell no, you’re not going to call me whenever you want.’ It was a really fun day writing that.”

As for what’s next, Porter is currently working on her next project slated for release early next year. Hinting at what’s to come, Porter tells us, “It’s a whole new project, and one song ‘Unlonely Me’ is out now.” She added,  “I cut a new one yesterday called “Pickup” and I’m really, really excited for it. I just feel like it could be a special one.” 

 

It is safe to say that Porter is on her way to taking over country music in the United States. She already is back home in Canada and it’s only a matter of time before she makes her name a mainstay here too. To catch MacKenzie Porter on tour with Jordan Davis, visit her website here. 

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

To keep up with MacKenzie Porter follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

MacKenzie Porter’s music 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.

 

Who Is Cooper Alan? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Country music artist, Cooper Alan joins us to chat about tour, his viral success on TikTok, taking ownership of your music and more. Learn more in the interview below.

Cooper Alan

Cooper Alan

The Beginning:

Cooper Alan starts off our conversation with explaining how he came to love country music. “I’ve gone through all the phases of loving different genres. Country has always been the most dominant,” Alan began. “Music was always something my family enjoyed and liked, but I’m the only one that plays. We would always go to concerts and share music with each other – it was a way we bonded with each other.”

Alan attended his first concert, Tom Petty, when he was five years old. “I slept through the whole show,” he laughed. Even though he wasn’t awake, it ignited a spark. He learned his first instrument in elementary school and second in middle school – the trumpet and guitar respectively. “I started playing guitar in 6th grade because I figured girls probably thought it was cooler than a trumpet. I started my first band in 8th grade and played through all of high school and college. My music taste always comes back to country music.”

He started cultivating his songwriting when he was a teenager, but it’s really performing his music that is his true passion. “I’ve been most inspired by the entertainers that I’ve seen live. Live performing is my thing… so concerts have inspired me probably even more than music has.”

After high school, Alan went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad, and he received not only a college education, but he received a hands-on education in live performing and entertaining. “Some people can move to Nashville when they’re 16 or 18, and be totally fine, but I just kinda needed to learn how to entertain a little more and kind of cut my teeth – it was probably the most valuable part of college.”

The Turning Point:

When the world paused in March 2020, it gave Alan a moment to brainstorm new ways of reaching fans and being creative. “I couldn’t play shows, so I had to find something to do. My girlfriend mentioned that I should get on TikTok, and I thought it was just kids dancing!” Alan recalled laughing. “I started digging in and studying the app and had my first video go viral and that’s when it really hit me.”

Over a year after starting TikTok, Alan’s singles have racked up millions of streams, and he has even signed and created a publishing company with his mentor, legendary songwriter Victoria Shaw, called “Cooped Up” records. “‘New Normal’ started going viral on TikTok and people started to care about my original music. Victoria and I had an opportunity to treat this like a real business and record company and that’s what we decided to do. We’ve worked together since I’ve gotten to Nashville, so she’s been my champion this whole time, so it was a no-brainer.”

Today:

Alan has recently finished the first leg of his In Real Life tour with artists Alexandra Kay and Thomas Mac, as they’re currently making their way across the country. “It’s been so wild and awesome to be on tour. Before COVID, I couldn’t go play a show where people would come and be there for my original music and be there to see me… it was the first time I really experienced any of that. It’s a really special feeling.”

As for what’s next for Alan, new music and tour dates are already starting to come to fruition. He is coming to the New York area this Saturday night at Mulchay’s, grab tickets here, and will continue down the east coast before heading South to Texas and Louisiana. He’s an artist you won’t want to miss out on.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Cooper Alan, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Cooper Alan’s music 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.

Heath Sanders: Interview + ‘Common Ground’ – EP Review

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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.

Heath Sanders’ Debut EP 'Common Ground' is out now, January 29th

Heath Sanders’ Debut EP ‘Common Ground’ is out now, January 29th

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.

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

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

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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.

Exclusive: Chris Bandi Chats About “Would Have Loved Her” & Working with Nelly

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In our latest exclusive interview with one of our 2020 Artists to Watch, Chris Bandi, he chats about releasing an EP in the middle of a pandemic, how his new single “Would Have Loved Her” has touched fans across the country, and working with fellow St. Louis native, Nelly. Read the full interview below.

March 11th, 2020 was the last time we saw Chris Bandi, which also happened to be the very last show we attended before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After our Swag Session in New York City, Bandi played a show with Ray Fulcher and Matt Stell on the Everywhere But On Tour at Gramercy Theatre. Fans who were lucky enough to be in attendance that night got to hear some brand new music from the rising artist before anyone else.

Just moments after stepping off stage, Bandi, his band, and the rest of the venue were basically coming to the realization that things would be quite different at least for the foreseeable future as restrictions were put in place and all events going forward were canceled. Like so many other artists, he took to social media to continue to connect with fans and get his music out there. Performing on Facebook and Instagram Lives, he previewed his new music and watched as it began to strike a chord with fans.

“Music is one of those things where you can put your favorite album on and for 45 minutes you don’t have to think about anything other than that music,” he tells us in our recent interview. “You don’t have to worry about the world going on around you, the lack of the world going on around you, it was such a great escape for people.” His EP was originally slated for release in the summer of 2020, but since it was already written and recorded before the pandemic, Bandi, his label, and management team decided to bump up the release to May. Read our full review of his self titled debut here.

With the world on pause, fans were able to really connect differently and listen more intently to the music that was being released, something that was particularly true about Bandi’s next radio single, “Would Have Loved Her”. He tells us that the process of writing this song was important to him, and he knew it needed time and delicate songwriting to convey the emotions he felt. He sat down with Zach Kale one day in a write and brought the title to him, explaining that his grandfather had passed away just six months before he met his girlfriend. Kale shared that his father had passed away before he had met his wife and the connection to the story was solidified. “He and I just started sharing stories about his dad, my grandpa, my girlfriend, and his wife, and it was therapeutic. To air it out and talk about it, have someone who understands,” he tells us.

He sent the demo to his team and they immediately knew it had to be included on his project. Since its release, “Would Have Loved Her” has resonated with so many fans who have lost loved ones and Bandi explains how that has made the song mean that much more. “To see and read the stories, people sharing pictures of that person that meant so much to them, telling us their story. It’s been amazing and as a songwriter, it’s really all you can ask for, people are hearing your song and they are touched by it. “

One thing we were excited to discuss was the fact that Bandi recently had the opportunity to write with hip-hop superstar and country crossover extraordinaire, Nelly. Nelly announced that he will be releasing a “country-influenced” project, Heartland this year and as a fellow St. Louis native, Bandi being able to work professionally with someone who has inspired him for so many years was a dream come true. “It was a full-circle moment for me. Growing up in St. Louis, he was our guy, we had Nelly. Everybody idolized him. People would joke when I was in college and told them I was from St. Louis, they would always ask “Do you know Nelly?” and it’s kind of crazy because now I Do!” he laughs.

The reception from his self-titled EP has been incredible and with “Would Have Loved Her” heading to country radio, Chris Bandi is looking ahead to a better 2021 where he can finally get back to playing shows and meeting fans. “I can not wait to play shows. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last 10 years of my life, playing shows and getting out and traveling to the shows, meeting people and last year was just ripped away from us.” We couldn’t agree more that it is something we all can’t wait to go back to normal and we are looking forward to watching his career blossom even more.

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

To keep up with Chris Bandi follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Chris Bandi EP 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.

Morgan Wallen Interview: Up Close & Virtual with NYCountry Swag

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Smashing all sorts of streaming records and catapulting Morgan Wallen to the top of the charts, his highly anticipated sophomore record, Dangerous: The Double Album is available everywhere now. We spoke with the superstar about the process of writing the project, releasing it in 2021, and giving fans exactly what they want; a ton of new music.

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

Check out our full review of Dangerous: The Double Album here and watch the full interview above.

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

To keep up with Morgan Wallen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Dangerous: The Double Album 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.

Devin Dawson Interview: Up Close & Virtual with NYCountry Swag

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In our recent chat with songwriter and artist Devin Dawson, he updated us on his process of creating his latest project, The Pink Slip EP. Dawson specifically talks about the songs “I Got A Truck” which was inspired by Tim McGraw, as well as “He Loved Her”, the emotional tribute to his grandfather.

Check out our full review of The Pink Slip EP here and watch the full interview below.

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

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

To keep up with Devin Dawson, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Pink Slip EP 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.

Who Is Drew Parker? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Country music is full of talented artists that are on the brink of breaking through to the mainstream scene. Singer-songwriter and our Swag Spotlight this week, Drew Parker is one of  the talented writers behind hits for superstar Luke Combs and Jake Owen, but 2020 has been all about establishing himself as his own artist.

Drew Parker

Drew Parker

Growing up in Covington, Georgia, Parker found music in church at the age of six. That early love of music created a desire in him to sing even more. “Around the age of 12, I wanted to do more with it,” he shared, talking about emulating the gospel choirs in his church, “I kind of asked my parents how do I do what they do and travel around and sing at different churches.” With his parents support, the singer sang at different churches throughout his adolescence.

Parker’s love of music  continued to evolve as he got older. He decided that he really wanted to start singing country music, a genre he grew up on. “I had always been a fan of country music, I mean that’s all I listened to growing up was country music, but around the age of eighteen was when I stared wanting to sing country music myself.” Raised on 90s country music like Keith Whitley, Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, and Alan Jackson, Parker always found himself drawn to great singers and strong voices.

With a desire to sing in his heart, the entertainer started out a local pizza place. After singing at an open mic night, the owner asked him to come back and put together a full show for the audience. “I hired a guitar player and we learned three hours of country cover songs’ and that’s kind of where it all started for me,” he reminisced.

After taking a slight detour, heading off to college to follow a more “typical” track , Parker realized his heart was still in country music. “When I turned about 21, I realized ‘hey man, if you don’t pack up your stuff and move you’re not going to,’” he explained, “And I didn’t want to wake up in 30 years and ask myself what if I had done this.” This propelled the newcomer to find a job at a hospital at night and make the big move to Nashville.

Upon moving to music city, Parker’s goal was to be a singer, but he soon realized that song-writing was also a part of the fabric of his soul. “Songwriting wasn’t a gift I realized that I had until I had already moved to Nashville,” he shared, “I kind of found it once I got here. And to this day, I’m still learning and building on that craft and learning more about it each and every day.”

Parker now has been a Nashville resident for five years, and it is safe to say that his talent for singing and songwriting has not gone unnoticed. “It’s been awesome,” he exclaimed when asked about his journey so far, “When I write songs, I never go in with the intention of trying to write for myself or a specific artist, I just go in writing the best song I can write, whatever that may be.”

Clearly many of those songs have resonated with other artists, but Parker’s recently released debut EP While You’re Gone features the songs that have resonated the most with him. “It’s just a group of songs that I have been sitting on a while,” he began, “They were songs that never got old to me. They were songs that I always wanted to listen to. They stood the test of time from when I wrote them to when we went in to record them.” He later added that if he felt this way about his own music that hopefully fans would too.

Parker’s lead single from the EP, the title track, “When You’re Gone,” is just one of the several songs that speaks volumes to his talent as a vocalist and as a songwriter. Written with fellow singer-songwriter Jameson Rodgers, the single pays homage to the 90s country music that the two grew up on, reminding us all of the great story-telling in the genre. “I think that day, we both talked about, let’s write something to kind of tip our hats to our folks back in the 90s and those songs. Let’s write a story song,” Parker declared.

Fans can expect more music coming down the pipeline from Parker soon. He continues to hone his craft and wants to deliver content as quick as he can to his growing audience. Of course, when shows come back, the singer-songwriter will also get back on the road with Luke Combs. The future is looking bright for the rising artist!

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

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

While You’re Gone EP 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.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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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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Who is CB30? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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CB30

Nashville is filled with talented artists and songwriters, but it is always exciting when a promising new act can call Nashville their hometown. Brothers, Christian and Brody Clementi make up a duo called CB30, who just so happens to fit the bill! We interviewed the talented brothers about growing up in the Nashville music scene, taking social media by storm, and of course their new music and growing fanbase.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Christian and Brody grew up in a musical household. Their father, Jay Clementi, is a musician and hit songwriter, so it is safe to say music is in their blood. “Music was our priority, our biggest thing growing up. We didn’t really think it would be anything else,” shared the brothers, when asked about their upbringing.

Despite that fact, the singers found themselves interested in sports and other activities, it was not until they performed at a charity function and saw the reactions of their fans that they decided to take their talent seriously. “They loved the harmonies, and we realized how special it was- just singing as brothers.” The duo began to make more connections in the industry, including their now friend and one of their musical influences, Luke Bryan, with who they performed a cover of “Cover Me Up” on Instagram, during the quarantine.

CB30 also identified country stars like Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt as some of their inspirations. Interestingly enough, the duo also gravitates towards the Pop world, emulating artists like Justin Bieber, Ed Sheehan, and Bruno Mars.

Fittingly, CB30 is entering a music world, where genre-bending and collaborations are a part of the fabric of country music. “I think the borders are expanding,” the brothers explained, “We love all kinds of stuff. I love when Pop people do acoustic stuff because it’s almost country, but it’s still considered Pop. It’s an acoustic guitar and a well-written song, that’s what country music is.”

Their latest single “We Are Right Now” is a great example of that philosophy. The song was originally released as an upbeat jam, featuring layers of vocals and creative harmonies by the two men, but could easily be stripped-down acoustically. Christian and Brody use their voices to convey moments in time that feel as close to perfect as possible. Singing lyrics like “I can spend forever just feeling it together like we are right now,” they definitely give a new meaning to appreciating the moment.

CB30 even transformed that same song, remixing it with Black Caviar, and creating an even newer vibe and sound. “It is just a different spin on it,” they began, “The remix is like a party song. It turned it into a whole different vibe, which is really cool.” The song continues to be a fan-favorite across social media, and especially on TikTok, a place where CB30 has grown in popularity.

Fans can expect even more content on social media, as the duo is dedicated to getting content out to fans any way they can. As far as new music goes, CB30 is headed back into the studio soon! “We actually just recently picked the songs that we are going to record, and it should be here pretty soon, so that’s exciting,” they shared. As soon as recording gets underway, they hope to continue to put at music at a fast pace and keep the momentum going.  CB30 is also hopeful for touring to start again in 2021 and anticipate opening for some headlining artists in the future. Regardless, it is safe to say that CB30 has a bright future ahead of them!

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future CB30 releases.

To keep up with CB30 follow them on  Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“We Are Right Now” 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. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

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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:

Up Close & Virtual With Gabby Barrett

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Gabby Barrett Interview

In anticipation of her debut album being released, we hopped on a virtual interview with singer-songwriter Gabby Barrett to chat about the album and all of the incredible milestones she has hit so far in her career. During our chat, Barrett tells us the great story of writing her debut single and number one hit, “I Hope” as well as the importance of being such a big part of writing 12 of the 13 songs on Goldmine.

The Pennslyvania native and NYCountry Swag 2020 Artist to Watch was the first-ever female country artist to hit 10 million streams in one week, an incredible feat that she celebrated back in May. Watch the full interview below and be sure to check out our full First Impression Review of Goldmine, which is available everywhere you buy and stream music now. 

 

 

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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:

Exclusive Interview: Nicolle Galyon & Landyn Hutchinson “All The Things”

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All The Things Landyn and Nicolle

Earlier this week we spoke with lifestyle influencer Landyn Hutchinson and songwriter extraordinaire Nicolle Galyon about the theme song to Landyn’s new podcast being released this Monday, being working moms and how important it is to follow your dreams. The two business owners, mothers, friends, and creatives met in 2011 in Nashville before either of their businesses had really taken off. “Landyn has been my ambition twin…you have different things in common with different friends and my overlap with Landyn is that I feel like, we are equally ambitious and go about our dreams and curiosity in the same way,” Nicolle explains. “I think that is one thing about us, we both know what it takes behind the scenes and we do kind of, know what one another is thinking, ” Landyn echos the sentiment.

Many country music fans know of Nicolle Galyon and or at least, know the incredible songs she has written and we have highlighted her career as one of our Women of the Month last year but for those who don’t follow Living with Landyn, you are missing out. She uses her platform of social media to connect with women, and men, across the country and makes you truly feel like you are her best friend. She has built a following of over 200k people on Instagram who look forward to her hilarious banter, her delicious recipes, her adorable dog Jack, and hearing about her loving 8th grade sweetheart turned husband Steve, and her two beautiful children, Lily and Luke. Whether she is sharing the best skin care products or a Target steal, you always know that if she loves it, you will love it too. She is real with her followers, there is no facade or filters to make her life look perfect, you feel like you want to share her victories and when she bares her soul and cries about something, you feel her pain too. After pursuing and opening her own brick and mortar store right in her hometown of Nashville last year, Landyn is ready to make another career dream come true, a podcast.

Landyn All The Things

Photo Credit: Mary Craven

 

“I only deliver authenticity, it’s me, it’s raw, it’s what I’m talking about, what I’m thinking about. I want people to walk away with something that can make them think,” Landyn says of the podcast. “Whether its a recipe, an easy entertaining idea, something about marriage or raising kids. I’ll have people on like my husband, my mom, my daughter, my esthetician, my gynecologist, to my dermatologist, I think things we are all curious about and real-life honest conversations.”

The first Living with Landyn podcast will be available each Monday and on Fridays, she will release a short Q&A, similar to her popular ‘Hey Landyn’ segment from Instagram where she will answer specific questions that her followers submit.

The theme song, “All The Things” was written before the podcast even came to fruition by Nicolle along with Grammy award-winning songwriter Lori McKenna.”Lori is a Landyn groupie, I was calling her like ‘I’m a Landyn fan, you’re a Landyn fan, we should just do this to surprise her’,” Nicolle reveals about writing the song. “What do you get the girl that tells everyone what to get, you write her a song because that’s really is all there is left to give.”

The track, also sung by Nicolle, is a true testament to not only their unwavering friendship but every girl with a best friend can relate to these lyrics. “I love all the things you are, all the good and bad, all the happy, sad /  all the real, real life parts /  you’re a mess, perfect, take a breath, make it work, it ain’t that hard / cause I love all the things you are”.

Nicolle All The Things

Photo Credit: Blythe Thomas

 

Showcasing the real, real life is what Landyn does best and so the lyrics to this cheerful theme song fit her brand perfectly. “We just really tried to write something that makes you feel how you feel when you go to Landyn’s page, or when she gives you the morning announcements, ‘bright-eyed, sun, and whimsical, like anything is possible, quick thinking so hard about everything and just enjoy your life’ feeling,” Nicolle continues.

Finally, with Mother’s Day approaching this weekend we spoke about the importance of being a mother as well as making the decision to pursue and follow a dream while their daughters get to see and experience life’s failures and victories right alongside them. “Being a mother has shown me who I am, it’s just like a giant mirror up to my face every day and if I am a creative person and I want to be as authentic as possible and motherhood keeps you grounded and authentic, you can not be a faker and be a mom,” Nicolle reveals. “I feel like I have the opportunity, I think my North Star is trying to live the life that I would want for my daughter, by doing that I somehow give myself permission to dream bigger than I would if I was just thinking about it for myself.

Landyn’s daughter Lily who just started high school takes an active role in all things Living with Landyn, supporting her mom, and even taking the initiative to write her own blog posts and take over her Instagram for a week. “It’s been really neat to watch, I’ve even watched her put more into things that she is been doing just because she sees the passion in it and the hard work,” Landyn tells us. “I am very open about failing and feeling down and feeling defeated and having fear, getting back up again I can certainly hide her from those things but I think it’s important for her to go through all of it,  experience it with me and for her to see that you can do hard things.”

Be sure to catch Living with Landyn the podcast this Monday and to keep up with Landyn follow her on Instagram and to keep up with Nicolle Galyon follow her on Instagram.

“All The Things” 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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