Directed by award-winning film and cinematographer TK McKamy, Thomas Rhett debuted an emotional video for his latest single “Marry Me” this morning. Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts!
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On our latest Spotify Playlist, we feature all of the songs that have been performed during our LIVE Swag Sessions with artists including Adam Doleac, Lucas Hoge, Scooter Brown Band, Jo Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Jimmie Allen and Brown and Gray. Check out the playlist below.
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Sometimes, the songs buried deep in an artists’ album are even better than the singles sent to radio. Here are our Top 15 favorite cuts from albums’ released this year (so far), in the order that they were released.
Lauren Alaina’s “Three”
On her sophomore album, Alaina has plenty of songs that are raw and honest but “Three”, a real look at what you miss when you follow your dreams, is definitely a standout on the record.
Key Lyrics: “A lot of miles, a lot of tears / You’ve given me some of my best years / There’s so much I had to miss out on / Six years of missing home for three minutes on the radio”
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Brett Young “Olivia Mae”
A smooth vocal and powerful lyrics, Brett Young delivers on this love song from his self-titled debut album.
Key Lyrics: “Olivia Mae I hope it ain’t just me / From where I’m standing I can see / Us finding our own kind of meant to be / Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m right / But I just had to try / Olivia may I?”
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Little Big Town “Lost in California”
This melody is addicting and this entire album is incredible, but this song blends harmonies with soft simple imagery.
Key Lyrics: “Whisper in my ear, dreamin’ disappear, say you’ll take me / Where the world unwinds / Lost in California / Let’s chase the waves and let ’em take us under / On some deserted piece of virgin sand, yeah / Hold on to the freedom and the wonder / While we can”
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Sunny Sweeney “Bottle by My Bed”
This song is meaningful and touches on a topic that is usually not talked about, Sunny Sweeney’s voice along with a beautiful cello make this song one of the best on the album.
Key Lyrics: “I’d rather be in a carpool lane than this big cold limousine / I’d trade every pair of high heel shoes for a high chair in the dining room / Don’t even know you yet but I know I love you”
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Steve Moakler “Siddle’s Saloon”
Based on his grandfather’s bar, this song perfectly describes a local spot to find a rowdy good time. Take a listen and let this great tune get stuck in your head.
Key Lyrics: “It’s been a long week, and we’re glad you came by / The stories and punch lines and cold icy Lite / Well if you’re not here, we’ll be asking ’bout you / Come Saturday night at Siddle’s Saloon / Hey, hey, hey”
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Charlie Worsham “Southern By the Grace of God”
We love this tune from Charlie Worsham, simply put it sheds light on living life in the south in the best possible ways.
Key Lyrics: “I’m tellin’ y’all this delta drawl / Is stuck to me like buzz on a honeybee / Country is as country does and look here ’cause / You can’t out-country me / Hound dog howlin’ in front porch blues / Kids run ’round outside with no shoes or socks / Southern by the grace of God”
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Brett Eldredge “Castaway”
Closing out his most recent self-titled album, “Castaway” highlights Eldredge’s perfect tone and the melody will pull at your heartstrings.
Key Lyrics: “I’d be naive to ever think / You’re at your door waiting for me / So why do I always try / To run away from you / Please don’t say a castaway / Is what I was born to do / I guess I’ll always be lost without you”
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Old Dominion “Still Writing Songs About You”
On an album full of potential singles and number one hits, this song which we first heard at a writers round last summer in NYC is a highlight on Happy Endings.
Key Lyrics: “You on the sunny Santa Monica freeway / You on a bed and a mini bar three-day haze / With your hair and my heart all a mess in the morning / I’ve gotten drunk on whiskey and women / Woke up in places that we’ve / never been in / Spending all night and all day trying to say something new / But I’m still writing songs about you”
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Midland “More Than A Fever”
One of our favorite new acts out of Nashville, this trio is bringing back traditional country music and “More Than A Fever” is a great mid-tempo jam that’s all about love makin’.
Key Lyrics: “Your hands all over me like they were velvet / There’s no way to temper this desire / I’m on fire tonight / More than a fever / Girl, you’ve got the red line on the rise / More than a fever / And I don’t wanna break it tonight”
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Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”
The title track of Thomas Rhett’s latest album features one of many different vibes on the record, this particular song is more of R&B and spoken word than country but Rhett narrates his life story featuring his wife Lauren and the changes they have experienced with their growing family.
Key Lyrics: “I remember the day I told my Daddy and Mama you’re gonna have a grandkid, yep from Uganda, that’s right, we’re adopting / And she is the cutest little girl that you’ve ever seen / Well I was wrapping my head around being a dad, a bigger wrench got thrown in the plans we thought we’d had / Now Lauren’s showin’ and got one on the way / Yeah that’s two under two, hey, what can I say? / Ain’t it funny how life changes / You wake up ain’t nothing the same and life changes”
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Carly Pearce “Color”
With her debut single “Every Little Thing” currently sitting in the top spot on the country charts, Carly Pearce’s debut self-titled album is filled with beautiful love songs. One of our favorites is “Color”.
Key Lyrics: “Well, you’re the rock, you’re the steady / You need someone to push you in before you’re ready / Well, I’m the rush, I’m the crazy / But I’ll be circling the moon without you, baby / You be the lines, I’ll be the color”
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Russell Dickerson “Would You Love Me”
Russell Dickerson has said that his debut album Yours, is a 12 song love letter to his wife Kailey and “Would You Love Me” is no exception. This reggae infused jam will definitely be stuck in your head.
Key Lyrics: “Cause I’ma love you til the sun burns out / Love you til my heart breaks down / Listen baby ain’t no doubt that / I’ma love you, I’ma love you, I’ma love you / I’ma love you til we’re old and grey / Love you til we’re running out of days / Hear me, baby, when I say that / I’ma love you, I’ma love you, I’ma love you”
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Lee Ann Womack “Hollywood”
Off of her latest full-length LP, The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone, “Hollywood” has an ominous tone about a relationship falling apart.
Key Lyrics: “Like the silver screen, it’s a technicolor dream / We pretend it’s real, but it’s only make-believe / Lying in our bed in the middle of Act Two, We say, “goodnight, I love you” / We never miss our cue / I ask you if you mean it, you say, “Yes”, I knew you would / Well, either I’m a fool for asking, or you belong in Hollywood”
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Kelsea Ballerini “In Between”
Right in the middle of her sophomore album is this remarkable song about growing up and feeling stuck between a girl and a woman.
Key Lyrics: “Sometimes I’m my mother’s daughter, sometimes I’m her friend / Sometimes I play grown up and sometimes I play pretend / Sometimes I’m a princess dressed all curves / And sometimes I just wanna scream “I’m not a little girl!“ / Dumb enough to think I know it all / Smart enough to know I don’t / Young enough to think I’ll live forever / Old enough to know I won’t”
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Lee Brice “Songs in the Kitchen”
Also released earlier this month, Lee Brice’s self-titled album features his most vulnerable and personal songs. “Songs in the Kitchen” even mentions Lee and his brother Lewis (who is also an artist) singing in the car when they were kids.
Key Lyrics: “All my dreams came true, my songs took me far away / Now I’m singing them every night in these bright lights up on this stage / If you catch me, close my eyes every now and then, to tell you the truth / I’m probably just missing, songs in the kitchen”
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For the full list of 15 songs, follow our Spotify Playlist here.
Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!
Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
+ Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
– Team NYCountry Swag
Brent Cobb
In collaboration with Ram Trucks, singer-songwriter Brent Cobb released his latest single today, “Ain’t A Road Too Long”. The official video (below) is the final installment in a four part video series titled Long Live the Storytellers. The partnership with Ram Trucks highlights the journey a songwriter takes to write the perfect song. Brent explains in a press release, “[Being a part of Ram’s ‘Long Live the Storytellers’] campaign is important to me because I’ve been writing songs my whole life. I was born into it. Professionally, I’ve been making a living at it for over a decade and any breaks I’ve had along the way have been because of the songs I’ve written.”
Click here to watch parts 1-3 of the mini documentary. Cobb is currently in the middle of a huge U.S. tour including over 35 dates as part of “Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show” as well as several shows with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their 2017 SOUL2SOUL Tour.
There is no doubt about it, country music is making a rise in the New York City and its surrounding metro areas but with only the most well-known artists heading to our big venues, it might be hard to find your next favorite up and coming country act. New York Country Swag is here to help with a list of some new music we think you should have on your radar. Whether you love pop-country acts or something a little more traditional, check out these five rising stars…
Russell Dickerson
1. Russell Dickerson – If you have been a fan of New York Country Swag and our events you know that Russell Dickerson will obviously be our number one pick. Dickerson released his debut single “Yours” into the world back in 2015 and has been on tour with some of country’s biggest acts since then. After closing out his opening set with Thomas Rhett’s Home Team Tour, he then transitioned to open for Florida Georgia Line’s Smooth Tour which is hitting the west coast over the next two weeks. His energetic live performance along with catchy lyrics and unique genre-bending melodies has led to huge success, all before his debut album hits shelves. Yours available for pre-order here, features 12 tracks including his latest smash single “Billions”.
For Fans Of: Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley
Our Favorite Songs: “Yours”, “Blue Tacoma”
Stay Connected: @Russelled
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Ashley McBryde
2. Ashley McBryde – Ashley McBryde charms with a haunting voice and brings life to honest stories. The Arkansas native moved to Nashville 10 years ago and has played her fair share of dive bars and biker hangouts perfecting her craft. Country music fans are starting to see what a kick-ass singer and songwriter she is, having the incredible opportunity to open for Eric Church this weekend in Alabama. McBryde sings her heart out on her latest single “Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega”, the story of perseverance and chance meetings. Sirius XM The Highway has also been playing the singles off her forthcoming debut LP and has recently announced she will be a part of the 2nd Highway Finds Tour which will make its NYC stop at Gramercy Theatre on October 21st.
For Fans Of: Chris Stapleton, Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert
Our Favorite Songs: “Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega”, “Girl Goin’ Nowhere”
Stay Connected: @AshleyMcBryde
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Steve Moakler
3. Steve Moakler – A refreshing change from most artists who grew up in the south, Pennslyvania native Steve Moakler takes pride in his northeast roots, highlighting the people who helped shape him as an artist in his latest album Steel Town. The album presents a cohesive look into Moakler’s life and the lead single “Suitcase” gives off a “Die a Happy Man” vibe, just compelling listeners about a simple love story. Fun fact, Moakler co-wrote Dierks Bentley’s smash hit “Riser”.
For Fans Of: Brett Eldredge, Blake Shelton
Our Favorite Songs: “Suitcase”, “Wheels”
Stay Connected: @SteveMoakler
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Carly Pearce
4. Carly Pearce – With debut single, “Every Little Thing”, currently sitting in the 8th spot on the country charts, Carly Pearce is headed for stardom. In a genre where female artists aren’t always given their fair shot, Pearce has a secret weapon, her tenacity and determination to make it in this business. One listen to the heartbreak ballad and you can understand why fans are quickly opening their eyes to the young songstress. Just like our top artist to listen to Russell Dickerson, Pearce’s debut album hits shelves everywhere on October 13th.
For Fans Of: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles
Our Favorite Songs: “Every Little Thing”, “If My Name Was Whiskey”
Stay Connected: @CarlyPearce
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Morgan Evans
5. Morgan Evans – Moving to the Nashville to pursue his music career further, a native of New Castle, Australia, Morgan Evans just released his first U.S single “Kiss Somebody”. The track is light, the perfect combination of pop-country and Evans’ smooth voice serenades his listeners. After seeing Keith Urban perform back in 2004, he knew that was the path he wanted to follow. Back in Australia, Evans’ band consisted of his brother and his best friend. When heading to the states, he found it was hard to find that chemistry, so he taught himself how to use a loop pedal and acquired the ability to tour alone. Along with his Australian accent, and his ability to create a backup band all on his own, he is a standout in the country genre.
For Fans Of: Keith Urban, Brad Paisley
Our Favorite Songs: “Kiss Somebody”, “Everything Changes”
Stay Connected: @MorganEvansMusic
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Do you have a favorite new artist your listening to on repeat? Tweet us and let us know! @nycountryswag
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Back in May, Lee Brice released “Boy” the first single off his forthcoming album and fans and critics alike were touched by the incredible ode to his sons. If “Boy” was any indication of what is to come from the artist, his next single released Friday takes Brice to a whole new level. “What Keeps You Up at Night” kicks off the 15-track record which is slated for release November 3rd. With a brand new baby daughter, Trulee Nanette, and two growing boys, Brice is obviously aware that the important things in life are his family. Not only does the mid tempo song showcase Brice’s amazing range but the lyrics encapsulate maintaining priorities in a crazy world. Brice co-wrote the song with Jessi Alexander and Ross Copperman.
What keeps you up at night? / What makes your heart beat wild? / what weighs on your mind, leaves you paralyzed what keeps you up at night? / what makes you take a stand, wanna get up and dance / what makes you laugh til you cry, raise your hands to the sky, what keeps you up at night?”
“Lyrically, personally and musically it’s one of my favorite songs on this album — it was the beginning, the foundation and the bare soul of this album,” he tells People Country. “I didn’t want it to lull anyone to sleep — I wanted it to rock. Now, maybe, just maybe, it’ll cause someone out there to consider what keeps them up at night.”
The self-titled record promises to be some of Brice’s best work yet. Lee Brice is hitting the road with opening Morgan Evans, one of our 5 Rising Country Artists You Should Be Listening To. The tour stops at Playstation Theatre in NYC on October 19th and Starland Ballroom in NJ on October 20th. Grab your tickets here. Check out the track listing below.
Track Listing:
• What Keeps You Up At Night
• Little Things
• American Nights
• Boy
• They Won’t Forget Us
• I Don’t Smoke
• You Can’t Help Who You Love
• Rumor
• The Locals
• Songs In The Kitchen
• Story To Tell
• Have a Good Day
• Eyes Closed
• Dixie Highway
• The Best Part of Me