Five Important Ways You Can Give Back

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In the wake of the tornado in Nashville and the global health crisis, no more than ever it is important to highlight organizations that aim to do good. For those of us that are fortunate to donate, lend our services or volunteer, here are reputable charities and organizations that benefit country music, our Nashville community, and the broader environment.

Nashville Give Back

  1. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

For those of you who don’t know St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the leading research hospital aimed to fight pediatric cancer and other deadly diseases. Our country music community has been participating in the Country Cares campaign for over 30 years. One of our Woman of the Month features, Jessica Turri is a main component in the “This Shirt Saves Lives” movement. It costs over a million dollars a DAY to run the hospital. Every little bit helps. To donate and get your own t-shirt, head to www.stjude.org or click here to volunteer at a chapter near you.

 

  1. Music City Gives Back

For just about ten years, country singer Rodney Atkins has hosted his ‘Music City Gives Back’ free concert in Nashville, Tennessee, in support of Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School. For those of you who believe in the power of music, this organization is for you. The W.O. Smith Music School gives low-income children and families the opportunity to connect and learn music. To learn more about the school, click here, and to learn more about Music City Gives back click here.

 

  1. Hands On Nashville

We highlighted this organization as one that you could donate to, to directly help the tornado victims; however, Hands On Nashville deserves even more recognition. Every day the charity aims to bring awareness, resources, and support to places and people in our community. It gives people the opportunity to directly volunteer for the betterment of the environment, something we can all do a little more of. Head to www.hon.org for more information.

 

  1. The Community Foundation for Middle Tennessee

This organization is another elite one to support. They have been vital in helping the families they were affected by the recent tornado, raising over $300,000 so far. The philanthropy group serves to assist all different causes in counties across Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. To learn more or to donate, head to www.cfmt.org.

 

  1. Support and Follow Your Local Musicians

By following your favorite singers, song-writers, influencers, companies, etc., on social media, you can learn about many different organizations and charities that you can donate or volunteer with. Many celebrities have opened up their own organizations supporting causes close to their hearts, such as Eric Church’s Chief Cares, Dierks Bentley’s Miles & Music for Kids, Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation, and Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids. Additionally, you can find out about ways to help out in your area through social media.

With all of the recent concert cancellations, the best way to support your favorite musicians is to head to their website and grab that t-shirt you were eyeing and would have grabbed at the merch booth or buy or stream their albums.

We hope that you decide to lend a hand to one of these incredible organizations or one that you deem close to your own heart. If you want to support law enforcement, firefighters, and the troops, remember that some of the proceeds for our Hero Collection go to those deserving groups.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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

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Throwback Thursday – Reba McEntire Songs You May Have Forgotten

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By Michal Pietrzak

Reba McEntire is a great singer, performer, and actress. She’s definitely one of the greatest female country singers and she might be even a Queen of Country Music. But we all can agree that behind every great man is a great woman and behind country music success there are a lot of great female artists.

Reba McEntire has 32 number one hits and many more great songs so picking ten songs you may have forgotten wasn’t an easy task. Warning: The main theme of the list is love.

 

  1. I Don’t Want To Be a One Night Stand Reba is such a good example for young women and this song is her great advice. Listen to it carefully and draw conclusions. “Well, I do not want to be a one night stand/ So if that’s what you got planned/ Baby before we go, you better let me know/ I don’t want to be a one night stand”

 

  1. Make Me Feel Like a Woman Wants to Feel – “I know you love me because you told me so/ But that isn’t enough because I want to be shown/ Make me feel like a woman wants to feel/ And let me know you miss me when I’m not around/ Go ahead and kiss me when I’m feeling down”

 

  1. I Can See Forever In Your Eyes – Seeing forever and love that never dies in someone’s eyes seems like a dream coming true. It’s such an amazing thing. “Give me all my heart can hold/ Hold me never let me go/ Love was mystery/ Until you touched me with sweet. sweet love/ Now it’s so clear to me/ This is what love is made of/ I can see forever in your eyes”

 

  1. I’d Say You – Usually, men are the ones praising women so why not listen to Reba singing about what love looks like and how good men sometimes can be. “If I had to say what love feels like/ I’d say you/ If I had to say what love tastes like/ I’d say you”

 

  1. Poison Sugar – The song has a western movie vibe. Melody and lyrics create the impression of good ole gold rush times. Ladies, look out for that mysterious cowboy in the saloon. “Oh, they call him poison sugar/ Because there’s poison in his kiss/ Oh, you ladies warn your daughters/ About the stranger with the poison lips”

 

  1. Lookin’ For a New Love Story – Finding true love is the hardest quest in everyone’s life. The best advice is to never give up, eventually, he or she will come to your life when you least expect it. That’s the point of this song. “And I have searched the oceans of many man’s eyes/ But I have yet to feel like more than some deserted island/ I know a relationship will come for me in time/ And I can’t wait to see his face on my horizon/ Because one of these days he’ll sail into my life”

 

  1. Little Girl – Not being constantly in rush seems like an unspoken moral of this story. It sounds like a piece of great advice to not hurry in life. “Daddy used to tell me/ If I ran too fast I’d fall and hurt myself/ But the ice cream man would ring his bell/ And I’d get there before anyone else”

 

  1. He Wants to Get Married – Such an amazing song about important values and definition of a real man which is becoming an endangered species nowadays. Word to the wise, you should stop listening before four last words because they change completely the meaning of the tune and turn in into a sad song. “He’ll build a house in the country/ Where he’ll watch his children grow/ And teach them the values of something/ That most people never even know/ He wants to get married”

 

  1. Good Friends  – Good friends are the family you can choose. After all, they stayed with you despite your flaws. That makes good friends the greatest gift, of course beside true love. “Oh, people even new ones come/ You’re lucky if you find just one good friend/ And we say goodbye/ Knowing what we have will fade away/ We’ll meet another time/ Another day/ My friend”

 

  1. Moving Oleta – Love that lasts through good and bad times can be called true love. The song is about the struggles of being old. Beautiful piece of soft melody and compelling lyrics performed by the Queen of Country Music. “He woke up each morning and drove into town/ He stayed all day until her dinner came/ Then he took her to her room/ Leaned on her wheelchair like a walker/ And covered her with a quilt that she made/ Only God and a couple of nurses/ Helped the old man shoulder the road/ Love is a hard, hard road”

 Reba McEntire is one of the best-selling and beloved country artists of all time. She’s true Queen of Country Music. A list of 10 songs is just a drop in the ocean of Reba’s songs.

To keep up with Reba McEntire follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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

—————————-

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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Matt Stell, Chris Bandi & Ray Fulcher Perform in NYC

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Ray Fulcher

Having seen Ray Fulcher in this same venue opening for Josh Abbott a few months ago, we were excited to see what he brought this time around. We were instantly reminded again of his Eric Church vibe, both in look and sound. He told a story of going to see Church in 2006 in Athens, Georgia, and knowing it was a moment that changed his life. He knew then and there that he had to write songs that made people feel the way Eric Church made him feel. Fulcher co-wrote “Doe to Me” performed by Eric Church, and played his version of it, hoping to do his legend justice. He told the story of writing his “Somebody Like Me” hit, which resulted from kind of but not really dating someone, then her moving away to Austin, Texas on short notice, realizing he was never really dating her anyway. Fulcher finished with the classic, catchy “When It Rains It Pours” which he wrote for Luke Combs.

Chris Bandi NYC

Photo Credit: Kaiser Cunningham

Chris Bandi was up next, and he was so excited to play his first show in NYC. His almost raspy voice was incredibly addicting, and with the beard and sound, he was giving us Sam Hunt vibes. A definitely more pop-country vibe than the classic country of Fulcher, he’s got a fun edge to draw some non-traditional country fans. He sang a new song “Free” as well as covers of “Gives You Hell” by The All-American Rejects, and a few more rockin’ country songs he hasn’t released yet.

His brand new EP comes out this summer, but until then he is promoting his current country radio single “Man Enough Now”. Bandi moved to Nashville 7 years ago, with the idea of writing a song that can take you back to a memory in 3 minutes, saying, “Nothing else can do that.”

Photo Credit: Kaiser Cunningham

 

Matt Stell was ready to rock the night, with his full band jamming as he opened with “Sex, Drugs, and Country Music”. You can hear the country influence, but the crowd definitely felt like they were at a rock concert with his show. He kept thanking everyone in the audience and expressing how happy he was to be playing a show in New York City, and that none of this is possible without his fans. He played a cover of Rhett Akins’ “That Ain’t My Truck” which definitely has an old school country vibe, but contrasted it with his version of Ariana Grande’s “God is A Woman”. Stell played a few new songs, “Chase it Down” and “Love You Too”, that definitely got everyone excited for his new music. A cover of Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” was in the mix, with another contrasting of John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)”, an awesome display of his ability to slide between pop/rock and country so seamlessly. His last song was what he explained changed his life last year, “Prayed For You”, his single that went number one, and expresses his true emotions.

What an awesome night for male country artists in New York City, and the fans were there for it all.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

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

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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

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#WeTheFANS: Your Country Music Tailgate Essentials

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We believe that the country music genre has the best fans in the world. Being a New York based outlet, we love representing all things country music in the big apple, but last week, we asked YOU, the fans, what are your top tailgate essentials are for the summer concert season.

1. Your Crew.
We always say that country music brings people together, and that could not be any more true with this answer! Matthew W. and Marvin W. agreed that getting your friends together is essential for having a fun tailgate.

2. Iced Cold Beer (or White Claw).
You can’t have a successful tailgate without some good drinks. Beer. White Claw. Drinks galore for all! Also, for good measure, make sure you have some water on hand too for those scorching hot summer days too. Jane E. recommends you bring an ice cooler to keep all your drinks ready to go at a moment’s notice!

3. Sunshine.
We might not have control of the weather, and a little rain is not going to keep tailgaters away, but sunshine is always preferred! A little bit of sunshine, and an ocean breeze at Jones Beach is always our favorite way to tailgate. Head to our calendar to check out all of the incredible shows hitting the beach this summer.

4. Good music.
Good music is sure to keep the good vibes coming all day and night! So turn up the stereo, bring some speakers, and jam to some country music before the show. Dina N. has “Friends in Low Places” and “Tennessee Whiskey” on her playlist. Head to our Spotify for more playlists to keep you pumped for the night to come.

5. A Good Attitude.
Leave your worries and your stressors at the door, and bring all the good vibes to the tailgate. A good attitude will help you make friends, get some free beers, and maybe even bring you some upgraded concert tickets from the concert gods. A tailgate is what you make of it, and we know that our NYCS fans have the best time!

Want more suggestions? Head to our list from last year here!

Keep on the look-out for our next question this week on our social media platforms, and let us know what you think! You just might be featured in our next post!

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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:

4 Important Things That Grief Will Teach You

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Grief

Grief is an inevident component of humanity and there isn’t any sugar-coating the ache that materializes with it. It doesn’t wait until you are prepared; it doesn’t wait until you are introspectively equipped. It’s proficient to hit unexpectedly out of the blue during a low point in your life, as it normally does. Life does hurt, but it is also a delicate, beauteous concept. It’s best to remember that you cannot experience the greatness of the highs without the lowest of the lows.

All happiness you thought you could ever have, any glom of control can evaporate in just one phone call.

Last month, I lost my grandmother. She had been ill and although it wasn’t unexpected, it wasn’t something that I expected to happen to my childhood role model. My first best friend, inherent from birth. I hold so much gratitude for the patience and humility she had with me. My grandmother sat through 27 rounds of homemade American Idol – each performance by mini-me, and my incessant, world crumbling doubts which in retrospect, were fruitless. She held no ounce of judgement when it came to my devotion to music and hardships. However, when it came to the color of my hair or the rips in my jeans, the judgment remained substantial. I will miss all of that.

I knew she loved me and I hope she knows she was loved by me.

These are the truths I have come to understand these last few weeks.

You Learn To See Perspective

It was difficult for me to fathom anything past the internal sadness I was feeling. I was penny-pitching for the benevolence of others to assure me that every little thing was going to come out peachy when I wasn’t sure of myself.

Insignificant things were torrenting my mind when in reality, the minuscule things you sweat about day in and day out essentially are meaningless looking at them beyond the microscope. Perhaps you’ve consumed too much time on your work or on school. Take the grieving process as a time to refocus your priorities. Are you living how you want to be?

Focus on YOU and your self-care. You are significant. You are important.

Life Will Always Be Short, No Matter How Long You Live

There’s a reason why the saying “Life is Short” is cliche. It’s true. Live your life to the fullest, the way you want it, and be true to yourself. Don’t dwell on the promotion you didn’t receive, the grade you didn’t pocket, the discontinuation of your favorite coping ice cream. It’s. Not. Worth. It. I’m going to leave this with wise words from Abe Lincoln, “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.”

Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds

Hearts never comprehensively mend their heartbreak to the fullest. They scar, they become robust, they endure. Getting “over” a loved one is not a healthy, idealistic perception, and truth be told, it’s best to reminisce and welcome the feelings memories will produce. The intangibility is what keeps memories alive. Although your loved one will no longer physically be with you, their presence lives on within you and nothing will ever diminish that.

Visit while you can, take every phone call, be alert. Cherish the times you can spend with your loved ones.

You Are Stronger Than You Know

Your own strength will surprise you. You don’t realize the strength that lives inside of you until you need it. Life will always bring adversity, but with each passing one, you learn more about yourself than you thought was feasible.

This too shall pass. Grieving takes time and it will hurt. But it is within these times that we learn life’s greatest lessons and understand our strength.

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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:

10 Television Shows We Wish Were Still On Air

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There are just some television shows we still find ourselves yearning for, years later. Here are 10 television shows we wish were still on air.

Television Shows

Warning! There might be some spoilers.

 

1. Friends
It’s a little known fact that our founder, managing editor, and some of our writers, LOVE Friends. Although the cast is working on a reunion special, there will never be anything that compares to the original. Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Ross, Monica, and Phoebe continue to make us laugh, normalize our feelings and experiences, and make us feel understood, even over fifteen years since the show ended. Now if only Netflix would get the show back…

2. One Tree Hill
We cannot help but reminisce sometimes about this teenage drama that ruled our highschool days. OTH was truly one of a kind. The transition of the characters from high school to adulthood originally seemed like the doom of the show, but it somehow made it even better. The character development made it easy to root for and fall in love with the actors and actresses and let’s be honest, we still want to know what they’re all up to. Like what is Jamie, Nathan and Haley’s son doing nowadays?!

3. 8 Simple Rules
This sitcom might have only been on air for three seasons, but it was a good three seasons! Unfortunately, John Ritter, the actor that played the father, Paul Hennessy, unexpectedly passed away, leading show-writers to recreate the premise of the show. We will always wonder what the show was meant to be with Ritter in the lead role, but honestly, it was perfect the way it was, and we’d love to see a reboot!

4. House
Somehow sarcastic, brash, and brutally honest, Dr. Gregory House won the hearts of people everywhere. The medical-drama was on air for eight seasons, and honestly, it could have kept going. We’re sure House has more crazy, but correct diagnoses to give out to all his patients. However, we must admit, the show did get the ending both House and Wilson deserved.

5. Game of Thrones
Whether you liked the ending or not, Game of Thrones was an iconic show. The HBO series aired for eight years, and even though it ended, people are still talking about it and just as obsessed with it. There are so many spinoffs that are possible from the show, and quite honestly, we just have so many more questions that need answers!

6. Sex and the City
Sex and the City is a classic that we will never get tired of watching over and over again! The show is an absolute cult classic, and honestly, we think it would even be popular now if it were to reboot. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda will always remain four of the most iconic female characters to ever grace our television (and movie) screens. We cannot help but wonder what the characters would be up to now, as older and wiser women.

7. Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls was that feel-good show that just seems to not exist anymore. It was pure, fun-loving, sassy, and relatable, all wrapped up with sincere acting and interesting storylines. Although Netflix recently rebooted the show, giving an alternate ending to the series, it somehow feels like we always want to go back home to Stars Hollow.

8. Nashville
The musical drama, Nashville, aired for six seasons, both on ABC and CMT. The show gave fans an inside look into what the lives of musicians working to make it in Nashville really look like. The intricacy of the characters and the plot made the show so interesting and enticing to watch. Not to mention, the score for the show was catchy and ethereal all at once. With the popularity of the city of Nashville, we think the show would garner even more fans if it were to come back on the air!

9. Gossip Girl
Love it or hate it, Gossip Girl is a guilty pleasure! We wish they would reboot the show, and explain to us how the hell Dan Humphrey ended up being ‘Gossip Girl.’ Truth be told, the show was completely difficult to relate to for most, but yet it garnered more award nominations throughout its reign than we can even count. We wouldn’t mind stepping back in time, and watching the series all over again.

10. The Office
We would be remiss if we left the iconic show, The Office off our list. For nine seasons, the cast made us hysterically laugh and fall in love with the characters and the relationships all at once. The plot for the show was nothing short of brilliant, and we miss it every day. It’s no wonder that the show ended with over five million fans watching the finale!

What television shows do you wish were still on air? Let us know!

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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

Carrie Underwood ‘Find Your Path’ Book Review

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Find Your Path

Carrie Underwood is an international country music superstar but she’ll tell anyone that her two other jobs, mother and wife, are just as, if not more, important. And to excel in all of those roles, she has to be the strongest, best version of herself. For Underwood, that means taking control of her life by committing to health and wellness. After fifteen years in the spotlight she is finally sharing what works for her in her new book, “Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life”.

The project is autobiographical (fans will enjoy the stories from childhood, her time on American Idol, and a peek into her homelife with husband Mike Fisher, and two sons, Isaiah, age 5 and Jacob, 1), inspirational (it’s impossible not be motivated listening to the Queen of Country’s mindset and habits), and practical (complete with journal templates, mindfulness exercises, ideas for full workouts and recipes galore).

In a world of crash diets, exercise fads, and social media influencers claiming they know best, Underwood’s approach to health and wellness is refreshingly simple: eat well and move your body 52 weeks of the year.

The singer, who explicitly states that she is writing not as the global performer, but as “just Carrie”, writes from a place that is honest, upbeat, and accessible. While she has perfected what works for her, she never claims to be an expert on anything. In fact, the author collaborated with professional trainer Eve Overland and nutritionist Cara Clark throughout the project to offer their insight when appropriate. Instead, Carrie offers readers a look into her habits, both good and not so good, and explains how being conscious of her choices has positively impacted her career and her life. 

Find Your Path

Carrie is the definition of practice what you preach. Even with her demanding work schedule, being a devoted wife, and raising two little boys she is committed to making time for her workouts, preparing (mostly) healthy food for her family, and holding herself accountable to her goals. 

Throughout the book, Carrie offers practical tips anyone can use, like sticking to simple meals full of what she calls “foods that God made” (aka those eaten in their natural form like veggies, fruits, and whole grains), making healthy swaps when you can, finding ways to stay active (whether that’s formal exercise, chasing the kiddos on the playground, or turning household chores into a workout), and not depriving yourself of the things you love. 

Carrie’s “pleasure principle” challenges all of us to “find that line between sensible restriction and sensitive indulgence” so we can enjoy life while staying on track. For her, that means doing her best to fuel her body with healthy food so that she can appreciate a glass of red wine with her husband, or some pizza with friends (she really loves pizza). Carrie is mostly vegan but insists that we should make our own decisions when it comes to food because only you know your body best.

Most people accept that eating better can improve your life, but starting or ramping up a fitness routine can feel daunting. Carrie has a plan for that too. The book includes numerous examples of real workouts that can be done anywhere, anytime with limited, if any equipment. There is even a new mobile app for iOs users called Fit52, that provides anyone with a smartphone a simple and automated way to do the exact workouts done by Carrie herself on and off the road.

As Carrie says at the conclusion of her book, “we are all growing and changing all the time” and part of that means you have to find what works for you and adjust it as life happens. Each one of us is capable of making positive changes in our lives, and picking up a copy of “Find Your Path” is a perfect place to start.

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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

Who Is Matt Ferranti? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Who is Matt Ferranti? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

Matt Ferranti

The Beginning:

This week’s Swag Spotlight might be a new solo-artist, but Matt Ferranti has been performing and grinding in the music industry for over a decade. The singer-songwriter has been a staple in superstar, Brett Young’s band, as his guitarist, for a few years now but he is finally embracing stepping out on his own. We spoke with Ferranti about everything from how he got his start in the music industry to where he hopes his solo-career will take him over the next year, and everything in between.

Growing up in Bay City, Michigan, music was a huge part of his upbringing. Ferranti’s father worked as a minister and his mother was a worship leader, so contemporary Christian music was his first introduction to music. As his taste developed, the singer became interested in all different types of artistry from John Mayer to Steven Curtis Chapman to Warped Tour bands, and even boy bands. “I am a hell of boy band fan,” laughed Ferranti, “Justin Timberlake is my jam. I grew up singing that all the time too.” Early fans of Ferranti might know that he often throws an *NSYNC cover into his longer sets.

After playing in many bands all through school, Ferranti found himself in a band that leaned more towards the contemporary country sound. The Detroit-based band found success, opening up for groups like Thompson Square and Gloriana. On a whim and a suggestion from Gloriana, Ferranti and his band finally picked up and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with hopes of furthering their careers.

The Turning Point:

Knowing virtually no one in Music City, the rising artist found himself humbly working as a bar-back in downtown Nashville and working on improving his songwriting skills. He soaked up as much of the Nashville scene as he could, all while trying to hone his craft.

“I just kinda loved being in Music City. I just like being around it. It’s always kinda popping around. It’s crazy I use to want to be a writer at first,” he explained, “ Nashville humbles you real quick […] I had to bust my tail to really improve so that, basically it’s what they say when preparation meets opportunity […] realizing how damn prepared I have to be.”

For the next five years, Ferranti worked playing every gig and writer’s round that he could, even adding that he would write over 125 songs a year at times. Recognizing his talent and passion for music, his friend and bandmate, Brett Young told him that he was going to help him introduce fans to his own music.

Today:

This catapulted Ferranti into writing five songs he called “the best songs I’ve written in my life,” all in one weekend, and getting to work with Jimmie Robbins to help produce his debut self-titled EP. Out of the six songs on the project, “Make It to the Bedroom,” featuring Hannah Ellis is the only song he didn’t write. According to the singer, it was written by Ellis, with Nick Wayne and Josh Kerr. Ferranti loved the song so much that he knew he had to put it on his EP almost instantly; despite, almost losing it to another artist.

When it comes to the other five songs, he shared, “…I just wrote love songs about my wife. We’ve been together nine years and basically, it’s like, when I wrote these songs, I finally had a vibe.” Ferranti went on to conclude, “I feel like the whole record has a vibe and once we kinda curated that vibe, the lyrics just start coming. We had a story to tell, we had something to say.”

Currently, Ferranti is not only playing in Young’s band still, but he is also the opening act for him on ‘The Chapters Tour.’ We caught the singer last month in New York City, and it’s safe to say that fans resonated with him and his sound. As he continues to garner more and more fans, the artist hopes to work his way towards earning a record deal and hopefully playing shows with other artists or his own shows, in between shows with Young. He even mentioned that he would love to play with his good buddy and fellow singer-songwriter, Filmore.

Additionally, Ferranti hopes to deliver a full-length project sometime in 2020. “I felt like that was the perfect little click before the record comes out of who I am and what I have to say,” he says about the EP, “ And I can’t wait to finish the record. I think the whole story is going to be dope,” he added mentioning that he has seven more songs to record.

It’s clear from his debut record that Ferranti is the real deal. With just six songs, he has cultivated a clear voice and message for fans to get on board with. The passion that he has for music simply rivals that of any established artists in the industry, and we’re excited to see where that passion and talent takes him.

To keep up with Matt Ferranti follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Matt Ferranti 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.

 

Mickey Guyton Releases Emotional Single “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?”

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Mickey Guyton

“What are you gonna tell her when she figures out that all this time you built her up just so the world could let her down / Yeah what do you tell her? / What are you gonna tell her?”

That’s a question Mickey Guyton implores and beckons we question ourselves in this fast-paced environment and sometimes, a society of unequal opportunities. It’s all good when we get comfortable with what’s not supposed to be comfortable, and it’s her harsh invitation to move out of the status quo that makes this a standout song.

If you’re an avid country music fan, you probably did not miss the hype in the genre surrounding her performance at this year’s Country Radio Seminar(CRS), an annual three-day gathering of industry members across all sectors in the business to learn about best practices, career development and, for the labels— to showcase new music and their emerging young artists. Guyton took the stage at her label home’s annual #TeamUMG Luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium.

With the song having been written less than three weeks ago and unrecorded, she graced the Mother Church of Country Music and wowed an entire room of industry members to their feet with a stirring live rendition of “What Are You Gonna Tell Her.” In fact, with a stellar lineup of performances from label mates Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt and more, she was the only artist that got that roaring applause and a standing ovation. It was back in 2015, that the singer got a standing ovation for her performance of debut single “Better Than You Left Me.”

2 weeks later, today, the Texas native has released the studio cut of this vulnerable song. Still very much piano-driven and stripped down, the studio version doesn’t lose the one thing Guyton was able to convey at CRS: the emotion in her voice. With songs getting so easily overproduced sometimes, producer Karen Kosowski really nailed it in capturing the essence of her aching plea in this narrative.

“This song came from the very depths of my heart. Every word is all of our story,” shared Guyton on a social media post. She later thanked fellow writers Kosowski, Victoria Banks and Emma-Lee for going to that emotional and raw place with her, and for “pouring out [their] hearts with [her] and creating a song that represents so many. ✊🏾💜”

This song’s future on country radio is promising too, with several Program Directors and DJs requesting for the studio cut on the day of her CRS performance. Over the last two weeks, too, some started to add it to their station’s playlist, long before the song goes for official radio adds. All this is despite the fact that it is a ballad and song by women; what some may think of as ’two strikes’ and two reasons why it probably won’t work on radio — whatever that means. But with all the positive reactions and buzz surrounding this gut-wrenching tune, we at NYCountry Swag are hopeful and very optimistic about the doors it’ll knockdown. (Hey, Song Of The Year contender too, maybe?!)

Country fans, men and women alike, let’s rise up and support this tune. Show your local stations you want it. Request, tweet, download, stream. This song deserves a spot in the country charts, and needless to say, the “Best of” list at the end of 2020.

Guyton’s debut record is expected to drop this summer.

To keep up with Mickey Guyton, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“What Are You Gonna Tell Her” is available now 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.

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