Russell Dickerson’s new song, “Happen To Me” is out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new track below.
Russell Dickerson is truly one of the most underrated entertainers in the country music genre. He continues to crank out hit after hit, while simultaneously showing up for fans both on tour and on social media. Today, the singer-songwriter shares an infectious new song to add to his growing catalog. “Happen To Me” is out now.
Written by Dickerson with heavy hitters, Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Chris LaCorte, “Happen To Me” is mid-tempo jam! The song is a flirty, feel-good song all about lusting after a girl at a bar even if it is going to end in potential disaster. Dickerson is the perfect artist to bring this song to life. It feels reminiscent of some of his previously released tempo song and an awesome addition to his live show!
“I don’t know who broke up with who // But she’s in here chasin’ tequila with High Noon // Don’t know how long she’s been moving on // Maybe five weeks or five minutes but can’t be too long // We did that what’s your name thing // Where you from and what’s your favorite drink // She said shut up and come dance with me // And now she’s singing // Girls just wanna have fun // at the top of her lungs”
Dickerson can truly do no wrong in our book! “Happen To Me’ is truly one of the entertainer’s best songs to date, and we cannot wait to hear it live!
Russell Dickerson’s new song, “Happen To Me” is out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Russell Dickerson releases.
“Happen To Me” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/russell-dickerson-song-happen.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:14:302025-02-21 01:14:30Russell Dickerson Shares Catchy New Song “Happen To Me”
Kameron Marlowe shares new project, Sad Songs For The Soul, out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new record below.
With a soulful and gritty voice that hearkens back to country’s finest, Kameron Marlowe continues to position himself as a powerhouse of the genre. On Sad Songs for the Soul, out now, the Sony Music Nashville turns heartbreak into art, pouring himself into ten new songs.
For the North Carolina native, heartache and yearning seem etched into the DNA of his voice. On the LP, he runs the gamut of emotions that come with a breakup, from guilt to blame and from despair to ultimately, hope.
Produced by Ben West, Sad Songs For The Soul is the follow up to 2024’s Keepin’ The Lights On, and has been in the works for awhile. “I’ve had these songs for a while now, but I was never sure if I wanted to actually release them all. I kept coming back to the idea of doing a concept record of only sad songs but was honestly nervous that it might be too different from what fans are used to hearing from me,” Marlowe shared in a statement. “I wanted to push the boundaries a little and put out an unexpected, soulful, stripped project full of heartbreak at all stages in life.”
The album opens on a somewhat unexpected note: a cover of Cam’s 2015 hit, “Burning House.” It’s appropriate for the album, allowing Marlowe to put his own spin on it, while staying incredibly true to the original. His powerful voice tells the emotive tale from a male perspective that very few could pull off so effortlessly. “I’ve always been a fan of Cam’s music. I especially loved the song ‘Burning House’ because it’s one of those songs you hear and wish you had written yourself,” he shared. “Thank you to Cam for putting out such a great song – I really enjoyed covering it and hope I did it justice!”
Much of the album continues in a slow and reflective vein, pain weaving its way through songs like “Friend of Mine,” “Hungover You,” and “Here Lies the Fool.” “Friend” finds him in a permanent state of sadness, Marlowe musing that “heartache is a friend of mine, we go back a long time,” while “Here Lies the Fool” is a sparse and acoustic guitar-driven ballad that unwraps the demise of a relationship.
“When the empty whiskey sour’s become whithered graveyard flowers // When buzzin’ neon lights break the silent midnight rule // A memory I can’t let go, the last words she said, they echo I made this bed, this barstool was a headstone // Here lies the fool”
Marlowe shows off his impressive voice on the moody swamp romp, “Hello Whiskey,” and “The Basement,” both which find him at the bottom of a bottle. “We wanted to write a classic heartbreak song that talks about what it feels like when you’re trying your hardest to move on, but you truly cannot get over someone,” he shares of “Whiskey.” “The melody is a little unexpected but I think that’s what makes this song special.”
“How’s the Leaving Going,” co-written by Vince Gill, is truly a special moment, complete with mournful piano and slide guitars. Marlowe admits that the track just might be his favorite. “Sitting down to write with Vince Gill and Lee Thomas Miller was everything I could have hoped for, they both are extremely talented songwriters and have both written some of my favorite songs of all time,” he says. “It was an absolute honor.”
On the poignant “Highway Song” and the introspective, “Dear God,” Marlowe turns his eyes inward and upward, wondering what’s yet to come for him. On “Highway,” he sounds much like a young Chris Stapleton, pleading, “Tell me Heaven ain’t really that far away?” Meanwhile, “Dear God” sounds like a prayer to the Almighty, as he grapples with loss in his life and the mistakes that have led him there.
The album ends with “If You Stay,” arguably the most optimistic tune on Sad Songs for the Soul. Over a lush and ethereal arrangement filled with strings and building vocals, Marlowe promises to be a better man if she gives him another chance. Sonically, it’s more uplifting than much of the album, offering listeners a hint that everything will work out just fine.
“If you stay, I’m gonna make you glad you did,” Marlowe implores on the album’s final track, and it’s fitting of the entire LP. While Sad Songs for the Soul takes listeners on a journey through heartache, it’s a cathartic and impassioned experience that everyone can relate to.
Country Swag Picks:
Burning House
How’s the Leaving Going
Hello Whiskey
Sad Songs For The Soul Track List:
Burning House – Camaron Ochs (Cam), Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson
Friend of Mine – Kameron Marlowe, Trannie Anderson, Jonathan Smith
Hello Whiskey – Kameron Marlowe, Kendell Marvel, Phil O’Donnell
Here Lies The Fool – Kameron Marlowe, Laci Kaye Booth, Ben West
Hungover You – Bryan Martin and Ben Roberts
The Basement – Carson Chamberlain, Wyatt McCubbin, R. Anthony Smith
Highway Song – Kameron Marlowe
How’s The Leaving Going – Kameron Marlowe, Vince Gill, Lee Thomas Miller
Dear God – Kameron Marlowe, Kendell Marvel
If You Stay – Carson Chamberlain, Wyatt McCubbin, R. Anthony Smith
Kameron Marlowe shares new project, ‘Sad Songs For The Soul,’ out now on alls streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kameron Marlowe releases.
Sad Songs For The Soul 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/kameron-marlowe-song.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-21 01:13:302025-02-21 01:13:30Kameron Marlowe: ‘Sad Songs For The Soul’ – Project Review
Chase Matthew releases his third studio album, CHASE,out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
With a unique sound and an incredible story, Chase Matthew has quickly become one of Nashville’s fastest rising stars. On his third album, the simply titled CHASE, Matthew continues to perfect his own brand of country music.
For the Nashville native and Warner Music artist, CHASE represents the next logical step in his career, showing his growth as both a singer and songwriter. The album features thirteen new songs, nine of which Matthew wrote or co-wrote. Other writers on the album include some of the genre’s biggest names, including Brock Berryhill, Ashley Gorley, Michael Tyler, Parker Welling, and more.
Throughout CHASE, Matthew samples hip hop beats, rock guitars, country riffs, and radio-ready pop in a way that somehow works perfectly. Much like megastars Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, and Jason Aldean, Chase Matthew has crafted a uniquely single-ready sound.
The album opens with the earwormy “Drives My Truck,” a catchy and roaring ode to a girl who looks even more attractive behind the wheel of his favorite truck. It’s the perfect opening track, immediately grabbing a listener and setting up what’s to come.
“She’s burning that gas, smoking those tires // Setting this old boy’s heart on fire // She gets me just like it, all jacked up // My baby drives me crazy when she drives my truck”
“Waiting On You” and “No Name Roads” follow similar suit, catchy lyrics over radio-ready melodies that are sure to make Matthew a huge star. “Missin’ Me Missin’ You” is also pop-country perfection, finding him committed to being someone’s ex and not turning back to the relationship.
One of the album’s immediate standouts is “Heart Half Empty,” featuring Lauren Alaina. On the gorgeous breakup ballad, the pair channel some of the greatest duets of all time, trading verses over their broken hearts.
“Need you after one too many // Three shots to try forgetting // All the reasons we didn’t work out// Getting lost in the whiskey cloud// I’m sure I’ll be back tomorrow // Still drinking about what we used to be // With a glass half full // But a heart half empty “
Breakups are definitely a prevalent theme on CHASE, weaving through songs like “Backroads of my Mind,” “You Turn,” and “I Don’t Wanna Know.” While the latter is a hip-hop inspired dedication to ignorance being bliss, “Backroads” is a driving and catchy country-rock anthem.
“You’re tearing up the backroads of my mind // Your memory’s driving me crazy // And ever since the night we said goodbye // It’s all I think about baby // I see you at every turn, every light, Every inch of outskirt, red dirt, we’d ride // You cross my heart like a county line // You’re tearin’ up the backroads of my mind.”
While Matthew is definitely a superstar on uptempo tracks, his heart and talent are on full display on some of the album’s slower and more introspective moments. “Driving Through My Hometown” is a gorgeous piece of nostalgia that finds the young songwriter traveling through his hometown and musing over the memories there. Likewise, “If I Had Wings” finds him longing for wings to pay a special visit to Heaven.
Likewise, “Sunday Clothes” finds him sitting in a pew, heartbreakingly mourning the unexpected loss of a friend. Lyrically, it’s stunning, evoking images of a young man lost and filled with loss. “Here sitting in a front row pew, Tears raining on these old boots, Suffocating in a collared shirt, While I’m waiting to carry you out of this church,” He sings. “Man, we shouldn’t be here today, You got me cussing in and out of this place, You’ve been saying this is where I need to go, But Saturdays ain’t made for Sunday clothes.“
The album ends with “No Way Around It,” a driving uptempo about the struggle that comes with trying to move on after a breakup. “If there was a you fix, I woulda found it,” He growls, unable to find closure. “But I’m going through it, cause there ain’t no way around it.“ It’s the perfect bookend to “Drives My Truck,” ending the album on a high note similar to the way it began.
Country Swag Picks:
Heart Half Empty featuring Lauren Alaina
No Way Around It
No Name Roads
Drives My Truck
CHASE Tracklist:
Drives My Truck (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips)
Missin’ Me Missin’ You (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips, Lydia Vaughan)
CHASE is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/chase-matthew-chase-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-21 01:12:332025-02-21 01:12:33Chase Matthew: ‘CHASE’ – Album Review
Alexandra Kay shares new song, “Cupid’s A Cowgirl,” out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
It has been a long time coming, but singer-songwriter Alexandra Kay has finally signed her record deal! Kay took the industry by storm, garnering millions of fans and playing many shows, all while doing it independent. Now, she is has officially signed with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Today, the songstress is releasing her newest single, “Cupid’s A Cowgirl.”
Perfectly timed with Valentine’s Day, “Cupid’s A Cowgirl” is a certified anthem for women everywhere, all while bringing an insane amount of energy to the song. Kay absolutely lights the house on fire with this song! “Cupid’s A Cowgirl” is intriguing, fun, clever, and so catchy! Reminiscent of old-school Miranda Lambert, the new song feels like a 2025 version of something Lambert and even Dolly Parton would share with them world. “Cupid’s a Cowgirl” the perfect introduction to Kay for some and the perfect reintroduction for others!
“That bullet with your name on it is coming for ya son // like 1, cock-back watch this // 2, man down watch this // 3, look back, blow kiss // That girl don’t miss // It’s her pony show // Loves a rodeo // You’re lucky just to be bucking in it // Stealing hearts like Jesse James // Shoots like old John Wayne // She was raised by Willie, Hank, and Merle // Cupid’s a Cowgirl”
Alexandra Kay bleeds confidence on this song, and we are here for it! Keep her on your radar!
Alexandra Kay shares new song, “Cupid’s A Cowgirl,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Alexandra Kay releases.
“Cupid’s A Cowgirl” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/alexandra-kay-cupid.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:10:092025-02-21 01:10:09Alexandra Kay Shares New Song “Cupid’s A Cowgirl”
Tyler Farr shares new song, “Coming To A Bar Near You,” out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Tyler Farr has been a mainstay in country music for over a decade now with loyal fans that have been by his side since day one. While the singer-songwriter has had may iterations and lives over the course of his impressive career, he is currently embarking on a new journey with Droptine Records and reuniting with his original production team. Today, Farr is sharing his newest song to come from this era of music, a an emotive new song called, “Coming To A Bar Near You.”
In this new break-up anthem, Farr laments about wanting to run away from the broken heart, so he finds himself at a bar. An all too relatable story of trying to drown out the pain, “Coming To A Bar Near You” is raw, honest, and emotional. The new song paints a picture of a broken-heart in a way that is almost palpable, while Farr’s raspy vocals bring the song and its imagery to life.
“Coming To A Bar Near You” will also be featured on the upcoming season of Duck Dynasty on A&E. Stay tuned for that, and make sure to go stream the new single!
Tyler Farr shares new song, “Coming To A Bar Near You,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Tyler Farr releases.
“Coming To A Bar Near You” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/tyler-farr-coming.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:09:142025-02-21 01:09:14Tyler Farr Shares New Song “Coming To A Bar Near You”
Parmalee releases new song, “Feels Like Home,” out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Platinum-selling country group, Parmalee are making their best music right now. While fans gear up for their next studio album, Fell In Love With A Cowgirl, Parmalee gives us even more to be excited about. They have yet to miss with each new release, and their newest song, “Feels Like Home” is just as good!
Catchy, infectious, and honesty, “Feels Like Home” feels like nostalgia and love wrapped together in a bow. The song is anthem for finding the person that feels familiar and safe. Interestingly enough, Parmalee’s sound on “Feels Like Home” also feels familiar and reminiscent of their old school hit “Carolina,” which feels like the best gift for long-time fans.
“The night I met you that’s when I knew you were the one // Outta’ my league, no question // Never one second guessin’ // All that it took was just a look and I was done // And all my days led me straight, straight to you // You’re everywhere I’ve never been // Kind like a place I grew up in // The answer to all my amens // like I’ve known you all my life // One kiss and forever to go // You’re small town turnin’ down streets of gold // Easy on the eyes, good for my soul // You look like heaven and you feel like home”
Over the years, the country group has really found their sound, and “Feels Like Home” fits the bill. The single is the perfect addition to their impressive catalog of music and seems to have catapulted the band into an even more impressive realm. We are getting more and more exited about Fell In Love With A Cowgirl, and you should be too!
Parmalee shares new song, “Feels Like Home,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Parmalee releases.
“Feels Like Home” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/parmalee-feels-like-home-song.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:07:142025-02-21 01:07:14Parmalee Shares New Song “Feels Like Home” Ahead of Album
Preston Cooper shares new song, “One More Place I’ve Never Been”, out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Country newcomer, Preston Cooper is one to look out for. The memorizing new artist has the grit, the showmanship, and the talent to go far. While his first release, “Weak,” Cooper showed his powerhouse vocals, songwriting prowess, and his vulnerability as an artist. Today, the singer-songwriter is following up his debut release with equally as impressive song called “One More Place I’ve Never Been”
The new song is nothing short of hypnotizing. It draws you in from the first lyrics that are sung. Haunting, yet impressive, “One More Place I’ve Never Been” tells an incredible story captivating the listener as it unfolds.
“In your heart, in your soul // In your car tomorrow morning // ‘Cause you ain’t never coming home // Where you go in your mind when he pulls you close // And you look that way at him // Is one more place I’ve never been”
Cooper shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. The singer is already slated for select dates with established artists like Kameron Marlowe and Riley Green. The talented twenty-one year old will play shows with Marlowe on the Keeping’ The Lights On Tour, starting March 28th, and he will join Riley Green on select dates of the Damn Country Music Tour starting June 12th. Stay tuned!
Preston Cooper shares new song, “One More Place I’ve Never Been,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Preston Cooper releases.
“One More Place I’ve Never Been” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/preston-cooper.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:05:272025-02-21 01:05:27Preston Cooper Drops New Song “One More Place I’ve Never Been”
Zach John King shares new song, “Cold Shoulder”, out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Rising artist, Zach John King is making waves with his music and impressing fans and industry alike. His song “Slow Down” showcased his incredible talent; however, King is proving to up the ante with his latest release. Today, the singer-songwriter shares his newest song, “Cold Shoulder.”
In a recent press release King shared, “I wrote Cold Shoulder to paint a vivid picture of what it feels like to lose someone you love. I wanted it to be incredibly visual—so that when you listen, you feel like you’re right there in the moment. At its core, it’s a simple story about one of the hardest nights of my life. We recorded it in a single take, which is a really special detail. It’s the most stripped-down song I’ve ever released, and I’m excited for people to hear a different side of me.”
The way the artist described this song is exactly what we felt upon first listen. “Cold Shoulder” is clever, raw, and heartbreaking in all of the best ways. The song personifies how it feels to lose the person you love in a single moment. Anyone who has every been through a tough moment like that is sure to relate. Additionally, the fact that King paints the picture with his own life experience makes the song that much more special!
“Cold front, worst one of the season // The red clay and pines were both freezing // Hell of a time to be standing in your driveway // Wasn’t much to say but we said it // Both knew it’d hurt and we let it // Burned in my mind // As you walked away // I saw your breath in the flood lights // Hanging up in the air with a goodbye // I know it wasn’t the wind // Putting tears in your ears // That night // Those pretty hands were half frozen // It was killing me I couldn’t hold’ em // Didn’t think December could get any colder // That than last look over your shoulder”
Zach John King is the real deal! “Cold Shoulder” is the start of more to come.
Zach John King shares new song, “Cold Shoulder”, out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Zach John King releases.
“Cold Shoulder” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/zach-john-king-cold-shoulder.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-21 01:04:262025-02-21 01:04:26Zach John King Releases Brand New Song “Cold Shoulder”
Dierks Bentley shares new song, “She Hates Me,” available now, February 14th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Dierks Bentley is basically synonymous with country music at this point in his long-lasting career. He has given fans songs to catalog their lives to; however, Bentley has a cheeky, funny quality to him and to his music that we just cannot get enough of. Today, in honor of Valentine’s Day, the entertainer shares a new song called, “She Hates Me.”
The new song is a light-hearted break-up song that is perfectly timed for the holiday. The new track features Bentley’s patented style of country with a mischievous edge. His country-boy charm is in full effect, as he tries to win the affection of a girl who, well, hates him.
“She’s an angel like if L.A. was a town in Tennessee // And she’d be mine except for just one little thing // She hates me // My hair, my truck, my dog, my music makes her crazy // She done been there, done that, ain’t coming back, no maybes // Thought one day we’d be on some acres raising babies // She should be falling, only problem is // She hates me”
Dierks Bentley is one of the most clever and creative artists of our generation. “She Hates Me” and the accompanied music video are awesome representations of that.
Dierks Bentley shares new song, “She Hates Me,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Dierks Bentley releases.
“She Hates Me” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dierks-bentley-new-song-she-hates-me.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-02-14 14:28:122025-02-14 14:29:23Dierks Bentley Shares New Song “She Hates Me”
The War And Treaty share brand new album Plus One, officially out now, February 14th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
There is no one like The War And Treaty. Composed of husband and wife duo, Michael and Tanya Trotter, the band effortlessly blends uncanny soul with country instrumentation, stunning harmonies, and unique sounds.
On Plus One, out now, the Michigan natives share eighteen new tracks that are uniquely them. Produced primarily by Michael and released via Mercury Nashville, the album offers listeners a blend of passion and pain, hope and heartbreak.
“We see this record as an open invitation to be a part of what we’re doing—it came from wanting to be the hope we believe people need right now, as well as the hope that we need for ourselves,” shares Tanya in a statement. “Too often we feel all alone in this world, and when we feel alone it can be easy to succumb to despair,” Michael adds. “One of our main intentions with this album is to inspire people to share themselves with others, and open themselves up to the possibility of being loved.”
There’s no lead singer in the duo, with each taking lead throughout the album, trading verses like a well-rehearsed dance and harmonizing effortlessly over music that takes listeners on a true aural journey.
The album’s first track, “Love and Whiskey” is an immediate attention grabber, its opening horns and Gospel-tinted harmonies informing listeners that they’re in for something truly special. Co-written with Miranda Lambert, they explore a love that runs both hot and cold. “We’ve been friends with Miranda for a while, and we all got together and decided to write a song about how Michael and I work through those times when we’re not getting along,” Tanya explains. “In the past we’ve been told our sound wasn’t radio-friendly, but over time we started getting attention from country radio,” says Michael. “We’ve been seeing a lot of new artists pushing the envelope as far as what country music can be, so we decided, ‘Why not join them, and push it our own way?’”
While The War And Treaty stick to common themes of love and heartbreak, they venture into sounds and styles rarely heard convincingly in country music. Yet, for the duo, they each sound more authentic than the next. While “Stealing a Kiss” has hints of old school R&B, “Teardrops in the Rain” is a gorgeous piano ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on a John Legend album. “Lead Me Home” pays homage to the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” while “I Can’t Let You Go” finds Michael absolutely spitting fire on a rapped verse.
“Skyscraper” is a hip-hop inspired breakup anthem that immediately stands out. The track, which features vocals from both their daughter, Courtney, and Michael’s mother, Deborah, takes a huge musical risk that absolutely pays off. “When you look up at all those skyscrapers in New York City, you don’t usually think about what it took to build them,” says Michael. “We know that sometimes it takes a lot of pain and struggle and loneliness to get to where you’re meant to be, so we wrote that song to remind everyone that we’re all beautiful skyscrapers with a story to tell.”
Alternatively, “Can I Get An Amen?” is a stomping and soulful Muscle Shoals-inspired romp that takes listeners to church. Here, their relationship is on full display as they trade verses over horns and fiddles in a way that is impassioned and inspired. “The whole song came from being thankful for the seven days a week I get to spend with Tanya, and all the good that can come when I really open up and let her in,” Michael shared.
“Carried Away” follows in a similar vein as they slide from pedal steel to groovy R&B, looking at their marriage and the strong foundation upon which it’s been built. “The most important part about nailing that song was making sure that Tanya and I were in the same room, vibing off each other,” Michael recalls in a statement. “We put our foreheads together and left that space between our lips, and then just moved together like the ocean.”
“Save Me,” “Home,” and “Love Light” are all gorgeous ballads, celebrating the different aspects of a relationship. While “Love Light” is sparse and lyrically simple, their harmonies are truly unmatched as they proclaim endless and enduring love. Alternatively, “Home” offers a poignant confession that allows MIchael to shine vocally.
“I was in a place // Where only Heaven speaks // And the Angels there // They all notice me // That’s when I knew // I’m right where I belong // ‘Cause aren’t we all just trying to // Find our way back // Home”
“Drink From Me” finds the pair collaborating with legendary bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings, while “Reminisce” is a clever spin on a breakup song. It tells the tale of the family members who become collateral damage when a relationship falls apart.
“There’s no room in your life // For me right now so I’ll fly // Away in the dead of night // Starry skies in the summertime // I will pray for you // Hope someday when I see you // You’ll have happiness // And we can sit down on a park bench and reminisce”
While The War And Treaty shines on ballads, they are also incredible on the more rousing tunes, as evidenced on “Mr. Fun,” “Love Is On Fire” and “Tunnel Vision.” While “Mr. Fun” is almost haunting with its circus-like pianos, the song truly allows Tanya’s vocals to shine. Meanwhile, “Tunnel Vision” allows them to celebrate what they do best. “I started writing that song during the pandemic, which reminded us how we need to stay focused on doing what brings us joy,” says Michael. “It’s about coming out of that experience with a victorious mindset and telling the world, ‘We’ve got a goal in mind, and we’re not going to let anyone or anything get in our way.’”
Plus One ends with “Glorious Ones,” a stirring and poignant look at life, both in the moment and at the end “Do you see // How far we’ve come // Two broken hearts // Become one // Like a screaming eagle // Soars in the sun // I have found love // In a glorious one“
For The War And Treaty, Plus One is truly a labor of love, showing off their love for each other and the music they get to make together.
Country Swag Picks:
Skyscraper
Love Like Whiskey
Can I Get An Amen
Reminisce
Call You By Your Name
Plus One Track List:
Love Like Whiskey (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter, Jesse Frasure and Miranda Lambert)
Skyscraper (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Can I Get An Amen (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
Called You By Your Name (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Stealing A Kiss (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Teardrops In The Rain (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Leads Me Home (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Carried Away (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Drink From Me ft. Billy Strings (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Reminisce (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Save Me (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Love Is On Fire (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
I Can’t Let You Go (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Home (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Love Light (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Mr. Fun (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Tunnel Vision (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
The Glorious Ones (Michael Trotter Jr.)
The War And Treaty share new album, ‘Plus One’ on all streaming platforms.
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Plus One 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/the-war-and-treaty-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-14 13:33:322025-02-14 13:33:32The War And Treaty: ‘Plus One’ – Album Review
