What We’re Listening To: November Picks

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NYCountry Swag’s “What We’re Listening To” playlist highlights the wide range of our team’s favorite songs and artists when it comes to the country music genre.  At the end of the day, we are all fans first with a passion for country music and are eager to share with you all what we’ve got on repeat each month.

Find below each of our team member’s favorite songs and why in our November picks. Then be sure to give our Spotify account a follow and listen to our favorite tracks!

 

NOVEMBER PICKS:

 

Stephanie Wagner, Founder

Pick: “Be A Bro” – Avenue Beat
Songwriters: Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet 

This month I chose Avenue Beat’s “Be A Bro”. The spunky, fun track is a refreshingly upbeat song reminding all girls of the ‘girl code’.

“Life is tough enough, ya gotta show a little love // sometimes I mess it up, but here’s what I know // If you hold a sister down, it’ll all come back around // so – be a bro, know the girl code”

An anthem for female empowerment, “Be A Bro” combines Avenue Beat’s unique sound and sassy flair making this the perfect track to bop along to.

 

Christina Bosch, Managing Editor 

Pick: “Craving California” – Jill and Kate
Songwriters: Jill Pickering, Kate Rapier

I truly feel like Jill and Kate speak to my soul with their music, their voices and harmonies always get me hooked no matter what they are singing about. In this case, they are missing a place (California) that I’ve never even been to, but their delivery and the lyrics make me miss it too.

What’s actually funny is the city they are singing about being lonely and rainy, Nashville, is a city that I am constantly craving to visit. They personify a state, by eliciting memories of a past relationship and mention the sunshine state’s most beautiful attributes, while reminiscing about the good in that relationship.

I’ve been listening to the song a ton since it was released last week and I will always love supporting Jill and Kate because they genuinely create music that I love.

 

Lucie Bernheim, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Time Machine” – Kelleigh Bannen
Songwriters: Kelleigh Bannem, Mark Trussell

Kelleigh Bannen does it all- she’s a singer, songwriter, podcast and radio host. She put on the singer/songwriter hat to release debut album Favorite Colors this fall, and one of the standout tracks is the reminiscent “Time Machine”.

The melody starts up simple but sweet. It almost sounds far away, like she’s cruising down an easy backroad. The chorus is when she really starts to drive. She picks the pace up a little, belting and almost pressing hard on the gas.

“It might be a melody/It might be a song on an old six-string” she sings on the chorus. “Who says there’s no such thing/ if you ask me/ There’s all kind of time machines”. It’s nostalgic, specific, and universal all at the same time. Her album is without a doubt one of the best releases of the year.

Dylan Bestler, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Hawaii On Me” – Chris Janson
Songwriters: Chris Janson, Kelly Roland, Will Nance

A lot of Chris Janson songs are upbeat and present the scene of a good time, like in songs “Power of Positive Drinkin’”, “Fix a Drink” and “Good Vibes”. However, we see him show his sensitive side in songs such as “Holdin’ Her”, “Drunk Girl” and this one, “Hawaii on Me”. In this track, Janson discusses what he wants his family to do with his money when he passes away.

My favorite lines in the song are: Now, don’t spend my money / on a box in a hole / That might be my body / but that ain’t my soul. It’s an interesting way to look at the situation. A dead corpse does not benefit from having a fancy casket. Watching their loved ones from the sky enjoy a nice trip to a tropical island in their memory is much more satisfying.

What appears to be his children join him for the final chorus to end this emotionally moving song. The track ends with an “I love you dad” from the kids and it’s super cute. I think I “aww”ed out loud after hearing it.

 

 

Kristina Callahan, Contributing Writer

Pick: “club” – Kelsea Ballerini
Songwriters: Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Kelsea Ballerini

When I first heard this song, my first thought was how it wasn’t what I expected at all. When you see the title, you assume it’ll be about going out to a club with your friends but it’s almost the exact opposite.

“I already know it ain’t worth it in the morning / And yeah I like the high, I just don’t like payin’ for it / I’m stressin’ over conversations / But now that’s anxiety that I’m erasin’ /Cause lately / I don’t wanna go to the club / I don’t wanna watch everybody around me try to hook up / And say stuff they don’t mean / And get drunk and get cheap / So what’s wrong with me /Cause I don’t wanna go to the club”

I’d imagine deciding to go out on Saturday night or stay in is a battle almost everyone faces from time to time—it’s a weekly struggle for me so this song is literally my life in three minutes. Besides the catchy chorus, this song is just incredibly relatable. I’m just really enjoying Kelsea Ballerini’s new songs for her third studio album. She can go from singing about wanting to stay in on one song then about wanting to show your true self in another. I can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for us in 2020.

 

Erin Crosby, Contributing Writer

Pick: “I Don’t Love You” – Lindsay Ell
Songwriters: Adam Hambrick, Melissa Fuller, Neil Medley

This single checks all the boxes of any successful break-up song. It’s a conversational piece that narrates details of this relationship that is seemingly difficult to move on from. The chorus is where the melody picks up and Lindsay Ell showcases her musical ability; solidifying her place as an upcoming female country artist. The instrumental aspect of the song is soft, allowing the lyrics to stand out which allows the piece to act more like a story with the listeners on the edge of their seats, waiting for what will come next.

 

Alexa Ebner, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Wish For The World” – Ryan Hurd
Songwriters: Aaron Eshuis, Joe Clemmons, Ryan Hurd

I’ve been a huge fan of Ryan Hurd and could not wait to listen when he released his new EP, Platonic. One of my favorite songs on the EP is “Wish for the World”, which I have not stopped listening to this month! The song has an incredibly sweet message and can boost any mood. Hurd sings about how he wishes everyone would enjoy life’s moments and stop sweating the small stuff. He opens the song encouraging people to make more time for the simple pleasures in life.

“If I could make a wish for the world / There’d be one more cup of coffee / In the morning when you wake up / Just to soak the morning in”

The overarching message and spin that he puts on the song is that letting love into your life is what’s most important and leads to true joy.

“When it really comes down to it / If just one wish could come true / I wish everyone could find someone to love like I love you”

This song has a very ‘feel-good’ sound and I love hearing him sing about his wife, Maren Morris!

Julia Grubbs, Contributing Writer 

Pick: “Where You Are” – Tenille Townes
Songwriters: Daniel Tashian, Keelan Donovan, Tenille Townes

Tenille has been killing it recently, with her single, “Somebody’s Daughter” playing on so many playlists, and I came across this song again, not quite realizing it was her. With the raw emotion wringing through her voice, I think this melody is so interesting and catchy while remaining a strong, powerful, artistic song. Recently on tour with Dierks Bentley, this female powerhouse has everything you want out of country, with the essence and sound of an indie singer-songwriter. I definitely will continue to replay this song, especially when I feel the need to express some emotions.

 

Autumn Haile, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Damn You For Breaking My Heart” – Caitlyn Smith
Songwriters: Caitlyn Smith, Gordie Sampson, Rollie Gaalswyck

There’s nothing like a beautiful heartbreak song. On Caitlyn Smith’s “Damn You For Breaking My Heart,” the singer, songwriter, and musician continue a streak of emotionally intense tracks that make you want to weep. She combines the energy of Florence Welsh with the songwriting prowess of every great Nashville name for a single that rattles your bones and touches your heart on a soul level. For anyone that has ever experienced the reverberations of heartbreak, and the way it ripples through every moment of your life, this is a must-listen. For that reason alone, it’s on the top of my new release list.

 

Nicole Piering, Contributing Writer

Pick: “The Thing That Wrecks You” – Lady Antebellum feat. Little Big Town
Songwriters: Daniel Tashian, Kate York, Tenille Townes

My song of the month pick is “The Thing That Wrecks You” by Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town, from Lady A’s new album, Ocean. There’s just something ethereal and magical about the seven voices harmonizing together that I can’t get enough of. The track has been on repeat since I first heard it, and I’d love to see more collaborations between the two groups. I’ve always been a sucker for male and female harmonies, and both Lady A and Little Big Town are unmatched in that department, so it’s only fitting that together, “The Thing That Wrecks You” is pure magic.

 

Pick: “So Pretty” – Jenny Tolman
Songwriters: Jenny Tolman, Mark Sanders, Sophie Sanders
Woman to woman songs in country music are some of my favorites (think LBT’s “Girl Crush”) and “So Pretty” is my new obsession. The beautiful ballad tells the story of a girl who meets her ex’s new beau for the first time. We’ve all been there, and usually, you prepare by convincing yourself that she’s going to be horrible. If she’s ugly or rude then it’s easy to hate her, and not be jealous. But what happens when she’s the opposite? I dare you to listen to this chorus and not get chills!
“I wish you weren’t so pretty / Wish you weren’t so sweet / Wish he didn’t need you / Like he didn’t need me / I wish I hated you / Like I wanted to / But you turned out to be, so pretty”
Pick: “Blue Collar Boys” – Luke Combs
Songwriters: Derrick Moody, Erik Dylan, Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher
I chose this song because as a wife to a blue-collar worker it’s nice to see them get the recognition they deserve, especially for the long hours they endure. My husband works a different shift each week and while I may never get used to it, this song makes me appreciate what he does for us, even more than I already have.
Pick: “Every Little Bit Helps” – Luke Combs
Songwriters: Chase McGill, James McNair, Luke Combs
It would be an understatement to say I’m OBSESSED with Luke Combs’ new album, but then again who isn’t right now. When it first came out and I shamelessly listened to it on loop for the next few hours, “Every Little Bit Helps” really stuck out to me from the first listen.
This song reminds me so much of “When it Rains it Pours” and “Beer Never Broke my Heart” in the way that it’s the type of song that can instantly put you in a great mood every time you hear it and have the entire room singing along. I feel like it’s definitely a song everyone can relate to- not just strictly in relationships but broken friendships and different negative situations- for everyone there’s been a time where we can’t seem to get our mind off of something. This song makes me want to let go of all of the negative energy, have a great time with the people I love and let loose, because even though it may not make everything perfect, or get you all the way over it, as he says, “Every little bit helps!”

Shanna Vitaliano, Contributing Writer

Pick: “1, 2 Many” – Luke Combs
Songwriters: Dan Isbell, Drew Parker, Luke Combs, Tyler King

Just like the rest of the country music world, I can’t get enough of Luke Comb’s new albumWhat You See Is What You Get, so for my song of the month I had to go with one of my favorite tracks on the album, “1, 2 Many.”  Legends Brooks and Dunn join Combs for this honky tonkin’ good time drinking song that is incredibly fun to listen to. “1, 2 Many” could easily be the next bar anthem to get the crowd going, with the catchy and clever chorus, “About half-past 10, I’m half-past tipsy/ And quarter to 12, man I done had plenty/The countdown’s on when the first beer hits me/5-4-3-2-1, too many.”  You’ll definitely want to raise the volume when you hear this song!

Erica Zisman, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Better Together” – Luke Combs
Songwriters: Dan Isbell, Luke Combs, Randy Montana

I normally like to choose songs by rising artists for this feature, but this month I had to pick a song off Luke Combs’ sophomore record What You See Is What You Get. Each song is deserving of this playlist, but my current favorite is the heartfelt “Better Together.” As usual, I gravitate towards one of the more lyrically-driven, emotive song off the record. Although the track is simple in the nature, the expression of love is undeniable. It is always incredible to me, when an artist can string together words to express an emotion, especially one as pure as love for your partner.

“Some things just go better together and probably always will / Like a cup of coffee and a sunrise, Sunday drives and time to kill / What’s the point of this ol’ guitar if it ain’t got no strings / Or pourin’ your heart into a song that you ain’t gonna sing / It’s a match made up in heaven, like good ol’ boys and beer / And me, as long as you’re right here.”

Listen to our picks on our “What We’re Listening To” playlist on Spotify and be sure to give it a follow, so you can catch our monthly updates.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby 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:

Reba Announces New 2020 Arena Tour with Caylee Hammack

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Reba Live in Concert

Reba McIntire, one of the most iconic women in country music has announced that she will be hitting the road on her REBA: Live in Concert Tour in 2020. Fresh off of co-hosting the Country Music Awards alongside Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton, Reba proved she can co-host, entertain, and perform all in one night. The legendary star wowed the crowd and viewers back home with a show-stopping rendition of her classic hit “Fancy.” It was one of the most talked-about moments of the night, as she changed costumes several times during the fiery performance to reveal her iconic red sparkly dress from her original performance back in 1991.

 

Next year, Reba will deliver her charismatic sass and powerful vocals to over a dozen cities across the country. She will be bringing along rising singer-songwriter Caylee Hammack for support – kicking off the run March 20th, 2020, in Evansville, Indiana and finishing up on May 9th in Grand Rapids, MI.

Fans can expect to see pure timeless entertainment on the road with the one and only Reba. The talented Country Music Hall of Fame member has earned just about every award imaginable from multiple Grammy’s to CMA’s and there is no stopping her now. Tickets for REBA: Live in Concert Tour in 2020 will go on sale Friday, November 22nd, and for the first time ever Reba is offering VIP experience packages to her fans which include meet and greets and premium seating. For more information go to www.reba.com.

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

REBA: LIVE IN CONCERT 2020 Tour Dates:

3/20 – Evansville, IN: Ford Center

3/21 – Huntsville, AL: Von Braun Center Arena

3/26 – Pittsburgh, PA: PPG Paints Arena

3/28 – Toledo, OH: Huntington Center *

4/24 – Rosemont, IL: Allstate Arena

4/25 – Green Bay, WI: Resch Center *

4/26 – Sioux Falls, SD: Denny Sanford Premier Center *

5/1 – Biloxi, MS: Mississippi Coast Coliseum

5/2 – Duluth, GA: Infinite Energy Center

5/7 – St. Paul, MN: Xcel Energy Center

5/8 – Peoria, IL: Peoria Civic Center

5/9 – Grand Rapids, MI: Van Andel Arena

* Support act to be announced

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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:

NYCS Swag Session: Kelleigh Bannen

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The same day that Kelleigh Bannen made her national television debut on The Today Show, she stopped by NYCountry Swag to perform and chat about her new album, Favorite Colors. During our chat we talked about writing for her album, deciding the title and all about her performance that morning.

Watch the full interview and performance with Kelleigh Bannen below.

For more music from artists we’ve featured during our LIVE Swag Sessions, check out our Sessions Playlist below and give it a follow for updates.

 

To keep up with Kelleigh Bannen follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

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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:

NYCountry Swag Guests on Breaking Thru With Elaina Podcast

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NYCountry Swag Founder Stephanie Wagner, Elaina Smith & NYCountry Swag's Christina Bosch

NYCountry Swag Founder Stephanie Wagner, Elaina Smith & NYCountry Swag’s Christina Bosch

This past week while we were celebrating the CMA Awards in Nashville, we stopped by the Cumulus Nash Campus to sit down with our good friend, radio DJ and host, Elaina Smith as guests on her podcast, Breaking Thru With Elaina. In the past, Smith has interviewed artists like Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert and so many other influential women in the music industry.

She continues to shine a light on women making their own paths, following their dreams and fighting the stigma that women don’t want to hear women on the radio. In our episode, Stephanie (Founder & Operator of NYCountry Swag) and Christina (Managing Editor of NYCS) give some background on the start of NYCountry Swag, their journeys to finding each other, the way they ended up in the country music genre, and passionately discuss their company.

During the episode of Breaking Thru, Christina and Stephanie open up honestly about the struggles of owning and operating a small business, losing and refinding passion for their jobs and the music industry, and even discuss mental health. Highlighting high points in their careers as well as low ones, the ladies are real and raw about what they do.

Give it a listen using the link below or check it out on Spotify, Apple or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

 

 

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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.

 

 

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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:

Florida Georgia Line Duet with Tayla Parx on “Fight”

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Fight Tayla Parx FGL

Florida Georgia Line has done a number of collaborations throughout their career with top notch artists including the likes of Luke Bryan and Bebe Rexha and now they’ve added hit pop songwriter Tayla Parx to their collection.

“Fight”, co-written by FGL’s Tyler Hubbard, Nashville based songwriter Josh Miller,  and Parx is the first single since her album We Need To Talk which was released earlier in 2019. The song implicates the ideal balance of pop ambiances mixed with the country band’s signature spin on country stylistics. Parx told UpRoxx as apart of their Honda Backstage Series, “I wanted to find the perfect balance of urban and country. I took different patterns that you would typically find in urban music and played them with live instruments.”

The track has the singer + songwriters depicting the fight to keep a relationship; something we all must combat at least once in our lifetimes. They want to find simplicity because sometimes, you’re just too tired to fight anymore. They sing: “I’m not sayin’ I’m right // I’m not sayin’ you’re wrong // I’m just saying right now // I wanna get along, baby // I don’t wanna fight // I don’t wanna fight // Neither of us have to shoulder the blame // You could be mad as hell, I’d still love you the same // Baby, I don’t wanna fight // I don’t wanna fight, tonight

Tyler Hubbard of FGL told Kix 92.7, “We do love to collaborate. We love making new friends, writing with people outside of our genre and just kind of seeing where it goes. So we’ve been really fortunate . . . just to be on big songs with big artists and, you know, big opportunities for us, so, it’s awesome.”

Tayla Parx recently finished up touring with Lizzo while Florida Georgia Line just wrapped their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour and are looking ahead to their 2020 run opening for Kenny Chesney.

To keep up with Florida Georgia Line follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Tayla Parx follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Fight” 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.

—————————-

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:

NYCS Woman of the Month Jessica Turri St. Jude Country Cares

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We’re bringing you stories from women who are chasing their dreams and building a life that they love with New York Country Swag’s, “Woman of the Month”.

Each month, we highlight a different female pursuing her passions. Introducing you to women who are taking risks, working relentlessly and turning their dreams into reality. These are empowering women who serve as role models and should be celebrated.

Jessica Turri

“We’ve come a long way but St. Jude has vowed to keep going until no family hears those words, “you have cancer”. We are all trying to work ourselves out of a job, that would be the best-case scenario is have to figure something else out to do.”

Over the past two years, we have interviewed so many inspiring women for this feature, but Jessica Turri has touched our lives and our hearts in a special way. To tell her story, we must go back to when she was nine years old and after a bunch of tests, she heard the dreaded words, “you have cancer” and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “I remember the moment when I heard it was cancer, I asked that stupid question, ‘Why Me?’ I remember laying on my bathroom floor and everything as I knew it was gone forever,” Turri explains.  Her neighbor came over that night, who had struggled through childhood cancer herself, said “Why not you?” and that changed her outlook. “That was really monumental for me, so we started the next day, positive and I knew I had no choice but to make it through in the best way possible.”

Jessica Turri

125 weeks of chemotherapy absolutely put Turri and her entire family through ups and downs but St. Jude truly became a home, providing the best care and never sending her family, or any family for that matter a bill. She tells us about one special memory, about two years into her treatment during Country Cares, an event where Nashville’s biggest artists travel to Memphis to meet with patients and their families. “I was really sick, spending time by myself in the corner and this sweet little lady came to sit down with me and asked what where I was from and what I liked to do and she told me she was from Kansas, and long story short it ended up being Martina McBride.” After that day, she asked her dad if they could go to the library and check out her music, her favorite song being “Happy Girl”, a track that became her mantra and got her through those dark days. “St. Jude was the best thing that has ever happened to me, it’s strange to say that but the doctors and nurses became my family and we are still close to this day. It became a part of me and everything that I am,” she explains.

After finishing chemotherapy in 2000, Turri has gone on to live a full, amazing life she says. She went to school for broadcast journalism and after graduating college was a producer at the NBC affiliate in Nashville. She loved her job but felt there was a part of her that wasn’t being fulfilled, she was missing a big calling in her life. After participating in a benefit for St. Jude the CEO asked if she would ever consider “coming home” to work at St. Jude, twelve years after she was a patient there. “The opportunity became available to be able to give back, work for St. Jude and to do it in this city that I am so crazy about,” she tells us. “My dream job, basically.”

Currently, Turri works on the Country Cares Team for St. Jude, she works closely with the radio partners who run events benefitting the hospital and their research. She was a main component in the “This Shirt Saves Lives” campaign which is about to kick off its 3rd year. The Country Cares initiative came about 30 years ago when Randy Owen of Alabama stood up during Country Radio Seminar and rallied the country music community to come together and support the children of St. Jude and the mission they hold so dear.

Turri tells us that one of the best parts of her job is experiencing the beautiful moments between patients and artists behind the curtain, seeing how big the hearts are in this industry. “I get to see Luke Bryan go sit with a patient and invite him to a special experience, just to make that kids day,” she emotes. “It’s a full-circle moment for sure because that did change me because that happened to me as a child and it is really cool to get to witness that and see what it does to just bring bright spots to these families who are going through the darkest of times.”

Jessica Turri

Artist Russell Dickerson poses for photos in Nashville, Tenn, on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

As usual, we ended our incredible conversation with any advice she has, for working towards a dream job or how to remain inspired in times of darkness. “Figuring out what your talents are and finding a way to do that for good, finding what your passions are, find a place where you can use your heart and bring good no matter where you end up working, I think that was key for finding my career path,” she explained.

Along with the wonderful team at St. Jude, Jessica Turri is working to change patient’s lives, the way her life was once changed. The money that is raised for St. Jude doesn’t only directly support the current patients and their families but also research labs that are constantly looking to not only cure cancer but other deadly diseases affecting our world. St. Jude shares their research freely with hospitals all over the country and has become a true resource for doctors who have run out of options and need extra help supporting children.

You can join the #ThisShirtSavesLives movement and get your own shirt at thisshirtsaveslives.org

To keep up with Jessica Turri follow along on 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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCountry Swag Attends The 53rd CMA Awards in Nashville

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In support of the 53rd Annual CMA Awards, Stephanie and Christina flew down to Nashville to attend and cover the show and all of the week’s festivities live from Nashville. Check out snaps and highlights from the trip on Instagram here. As always, we flew down on Southwest Airlines, making it easy to bring all of our luggage down since they offer two free checked bags. After a smooth flight, we headed directly to grab lunch with our friends at UMG and see their spacious beautiful new office on 2nd ave.

After lunch, we went to our apartment at the brand new Niido Powered by Air BNB. Their prime location (steps away from Bridgestone Arena where the awards were set to take place) was key for us New Yorkers, making their way to meetings and events the entire week.

Niido Nashville Powered by Air BNB

Niido Nashville Powered by Air BNB

After a delicious dinner at Bartaco in 12South, we headed back to our place where Kelsey from GoldenGlamm met us and her mobile spray tan kit, to help us get that perfect award show glow. The next morning we headed to Jon Alan Salons in The Gulch for incredible blowouts. Right from there we headed to The CMA Theater at The Country Music Hall of Fame for the CMT Next Women of Country event highlighting a bunch of new, fabulous women in the country genre. For more about that event click here. 

Before heading out for the night, we made sure to hydrate thanks to Liquid IV and slap on our Rally Patches to help us through the next two nights of being out late in Music City. Next up, we headed to the Cumulus Campus to sit with our friend, Nash Nights Live and With Elaina host Elaina D. Smith to be featured on an episode of her podcast, Breaking Thru with Elaina. For more about our honest and open conversation on the podcast, click here to listen.

After a quick stop at LA Jackson, the rooftop bar located in the Thompson Hotel to catch up with our friends at Monument Records, we went to the Broken Bow Records/BMG Pre-Party at Cambria which featured performances from so many of their insanely talented artists like King Calaway, Lindsay Ell, Jimmie Allen, LOCASH, Jason Aldean and many more.

Closing out the night, we went to celebrate our Woman of the Month, Nicolle Galyon after she took home the BMI Songwriter of the Year award. This lowkey house party was catered by Sonic, had milkshakes ready for the attendees when they walked in the door and even had a ‘check your shoes’ station where you could swap out those uncomfortable heels for the coziest, Barefoot Dreams socks.  After dancing to Spice Girls and taking way too many photo booth pictures, we headed back to our place to get a good night’s sleep before the big show day.

Wednesday morning we headed to The Sutler to catch three of Warner Music Nashville’s brightest rising talents, Ingrid Andress, Trea Landon, and Gabby Barrett. The three performed ‘in the round’ style, taking turns talking about the songs that they had written before performing them acoustically.

Then it was back to our place to get ready for the night ahead. Thanks to Rent the Runway, Stephanie and I literally were sparkling, rocking gorgeous dresses that we had rented from the convenience of our homes back in New York.  We walked down the block and grabbed our media passes from Will Call, realizing that we had AMAZING seats. A huge thank you to everyone at the Country Music Association for making our very first award show, truly memorable. The ushers escorted us to THE FIRST ROW of the bowl, the first row up from the floor. Our excitement was at an all-time high.

The award show did not disappoint. As a women-run business, being able to attend the night where the award show was dedicated to honoring the women of the genre was inspiring. As soon as the opening number, a tribute to females of the past and present started, we knew we were in for an epic night. From seeing some of our favorite artists win awards, (Old Dominion for Vocal Group of the Year) and (Maren Morris for Album of the Year) to watching outstanding performances, we were in country music heaven. Check out a full recap of the spectacular show here.

Immediately following the broadcast, we headed to the Sony After Party, where we got to catch up with a ton of our friends in the industry as well as Sony Music Nashville’s greatest artists. They even had Dry Bar and Sephora stations so award goers could freshen up their looks. We ended our award show week at Big Machine Labels after-party.

After a quick stop to change, we headed to the airport for an early morning Southwest flight, which proved to be a great decision, we each had an entire row to ourselves.

Thank you to each of the teams that invited us and welcomed us with open arms this past week, making Nashville feel even more like our second home and allowing us to experience a one of a kind CMA Awards week.

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Donovan Woods

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Donovan Woods

Photo Credit: Danielle Holbert

Continuing to shine a light on rising artists and singer-songwriters releasing compelling music, our Swag Spotlight this week is Donovan Woods. A native Canadian, Woods grew up in a working-class town, and what he calls a “country music town” but said at the time, it was what all the dads were listening to, so he was initially drawn to hip hop and artists like Another Bad Creation, Bell Biv Devoe, and Bobby Brown. As he matured, his musical tastes also evolved and the great singer-songwriters like Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and Traveling Wilburys became a staple as his influences.

I was eight years old when I picked up a guitar, my older sister told me to have a skill like that, she could tell I wasn’t hitting a home run in the looks department,” Woods laughs.  “She was preparing me for a life, that I was going to have to work for it, she told me I should develop a skill, and so I picked up a guitar that my mom used to play and kept in the house.”

At first, he released a bunch of records on his own in Canada, eventually making connections and moving down to Nashville to continue to pursue a career as a songwriter and artist. Writing songs that were cut by other artists, Woods is a master at crafting lyrics and stories that others felt the need to tell through music. Songs like “Portland, Maine” recorded by Tim McGraw on his 2014, Sundown Heaven Town album and “Leaving Nashville”, recorded and released by Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley’s solo project, The Driver. “Leaving Nashville” is one of the most honest, raw and real songs about the music industry and although we love Kelley’s version, listen to Woods sing it below.

He explains that he loves modern country music, such as HARDY and Morgan Wallen. “I love anything that feels good, that stuff feels good to me,” he says. “Country music is funny, as soon as we get backlash from that other type of sound, someone like Morgan comes along and doubles down on it, it’s such a strange genre.” We discuss at length the fluidity of music, bending genres and putting labels on music. “Country music, Americana, Folk Music, Singer-songwriter, I take it all as a compliment. I just don’t really pay much attention to it. Kids pay a lot less attention to genres these days. They live in a playlist world rather than an album world.”

Recently, he released a duet with one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Tenille Townes, an acoustic version of his song “I Ain’t Ever Loved No One”. Townes’ unique and evocative voice particularly shines and complements the bittersweet sentiment of a love story that will never be matched.

His latest release, “Way Way Back” was a solo write, a song Woods knew would work with the right production, working with Todd Clark in Nashville, it was released this fall. His gentle voice along with the most powerful, beautiful lyrics make Donovan Woods one of the most talented writers in Nashville. His dry sense of humor and witty remarks also make him one of the funniest to interview and to see live.

We caught his opening set on the Brightly Burst Tour with Ruston Kelly earlier this fall at Bowery Ballroom and he is now playing shows in Canada as he wraps up 2019. He looks ahead to new music in December and getting into the studio to record at the top of the new year.

To keep up with Donovan Woods follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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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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Madison Kozak Releases Infectious “OMG ILY”

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OMG ILY

CMT Next Women of Country 2020 Inductee Madison Kozak released a new song on Friday, November 15th titled “OMG ILY”. The infectious tune was written by Kozak, along with Claire Douglas and Mark Trussell, and it was produced by Big Loud writer/producer Joey Moi.

“OMG ILY” continues the narrative that one of her most recent releases, “Click” started. This time around, Kozak is more comfortable in her relationship, but not as comfortable at the party she and her significant other are at. It’s “serving up straight ear candy”, as described in a press release, and the perfect bop that’s catchy and relatable at the same time.

This is the third new song Kozak has released in just a few weeks, following the vulnerable “Household” and jam ”Click”. In a recent interview with People Magazine, she described the song as the one she’s “most excited about”. It’s clear after this release that Kozak has really developed her sound, which is the perfect meld of 90s country, singer-songwriter, and modern pop. She always has infections hooks and harmonies, and her songs are instantly likable.

Seeing that Kozak is releasing great song after great song, it’s clear that she’s one of the hottest new country acts. Make sure to catch her on tour with Morgan Evans this fall and Chase Rice in 2020. New York City fans can catch her at Bowery Ballroom with Evans on December 7th. 

To keep up with Madison Kozak, you can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“OMG ILY” 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.

—————

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:

 

[Listen] Jill and Kate Are “Craving California”

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Craving California

Professional lyricists, Jill and Kate are two of the most underrated singer-songwriters in the industry. The female duo are as humble as they are talented, and continue to release tunes that tug at our heartstrings, including their song “Nashville,” one of our favorites. Today, their new track “Craving California” made its debut.

For those who may not know, the songstresses use to live in California, but the track goes beyond craving the state and its sunshine. The two lament about missing a past relationship, and how all the spots in California remind them of that time in their lives. It’s interesting how we can all relate to a place reminding us of a person or an experience that we once had.

“I’m craving California and I don’t know why / Maybe I miss seeing you in that light / Even on the day that we said goodbye / There were blue skies / And Tennessee just ain’t the same / There’s no ocean here, just a lot of rain / And a lonely street called Broadway / Where the sad songs are playing all day / And I’m craving California / I’m craving California.”

Just before its release, Jill and Kate took to Instagram to share this sentiment under a picture of the cover art for the new single: “Songs take us back. Isn’t it funny how a place can cause you to miss someone because you have so many memories with them? The person and the place are tied together. Our new song, ‘Craving California,’ is a true story about leaving someone in California and feeling very far away.” The duo creates songs that connect us all, and that’s what makes them such powerful songwriters.

While you’re discovering more songs from the ladies, make sure to check out their podcast ‘Girls Just Pod To Have Fun’ and do not forget to check out the episode NY Country Swag’s own Christina Bosch and Stephanie Wagner were featured in.

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

“Craving California” 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.

—————

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: