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Chris Young Announces New Album + Releases New Song “Right Now”

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Chris Young revealed plans for a forthcoming album and released a brand new song, “Right Now,” out on all streaming platforms today, January 12th. Listen to the new music here and learn more.

Country music mainstay, Chris Young is giving fans what they want, more music. The singer-songwriter released a few songs last year, including a song called, “Young Love & Saturday Nights.” Today, he is announcing that his next studio album by the same name is slated for release on March 22nd. To celebrate the announcement, Young is giving fans a peak into the album’s track-list, and dropping another new song called “Right Now,” out today.

The upcoming new album boasts eighteen new songs, including fifteen tracks which Young is credited as a writer. The new single, “Right Now” was written by Young with long-time collaborator, Chris DeStefano and songwriter, Josh Hoge. “Right Now” is the story of being in that in-between phase of letting someone go and holding on. Throughout the song, Young does a convincing job at expressing the sentiment of the catchy tune.

“We can’t bring ourselves to burn a bridge // We might have to walk back across // When it’s late, and we’re lonely, don’t wanna move on // And our pride is the only cost // ‘Cause that fire’s still burning // And I don’t think you wanna let it go out // So, if you won’t say it girl, I’ll say it // What are you doin’ right now”

“Right Now” marks a new era of music for Young. Be on the lookout for pre-released songs and his ninth studio album coming soon!

Young Love & Saturday Nights Tracklist:

  1. Looking for You
  2. All Dogs Go to Heaven
  3. Young Love & Saturday Nights
  4. Don’t Call Me
  5. What She Sees in Me
  6. Country Boy’s Prayer
  7. Double Down
  8. Call It a Day
  9. Drink to Remember
  10. Don’t Stop Now
  11. Fall Out
  12. Fire
  13. Gettin’ Older
  14. Right Now
  15. Million Miles
  16. Everybody Grew Up
  17. Knee Deep in Neon
  18. Down
chris-young-right-now

Chris shares new song, “Right Now,” and announces new album.

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

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

“Right Now” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

2024 Country Artists to Watch

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Introducing our 2024 Country Artists to Watch!

Over the past 7+ years of Country Swag, we have always loved to support rising artists and introduce our followers to the best new music in the genre. Since our first Artists to Watch list back in 2017, we have pinned rising stars like Luke Combs, Brett Young, Russell Dickerson, Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, HARDY, Gabby Barrett, Ernest, and more. Each year we choose ten new artists that we believe are destined for killer careers, our only rule when choosing is the artist can NOT already have a number one song.

Check out our picks in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2o2o, 2021, 2022, and 2023 before checking out the 10 artists we picked to have a huge 2024 below.

 

Country Swag’s 2024 Artists to Watch

WYATT FLORES –

Wyatt Flores // Photo Credit: Matt Paskert

Listen: “Milwaukee”
Stay Connected: @officialwyattflores

From the moment Wyatt Flores came onto our radar, we were all in! Flores has the undeniable “it factor.” His songs are catchy, yet real and his songwriting is emotive, special, and personal. The singer-songwriter has garnered a loyal fanbase both on social media and live shows as he performed to packed out rooms during his sold-out headlining tour in 2023. Flores is primed for a huge 2024, and if you jump on his bandwagon now, you can say you were here from the beginning!

 

DYLAN SCHNEIDER –

Dylan Schneider // Photo Credit: Peyton Dollar

Listen: “Bad Decisions”
Stay Connected: @dylanschneidermusic

Dylan Schneider is one of the more exciting new artists in Nashville today. In 2023, he grew his fanbase, released new music, and grew his reach across the genre. Schneider continues to release songs that lean into his cool, yet country sound. The BBR recording artist appears to be working on new music, so we anticipate that 2024 will be his biggest year yet!

 

LAUREN WATKINS –

Lauren Watkins // Photo Credit: Brayln Kelly

Listen: “Anybody But You”
Stay Connected: @lauren.watkins

Lauren Watkins is the type of artist that makes you stop and listen, the second you hear her sing. Much like Megan Moroney, who made our list last year, Watkins has this undeniable poise and knack for songwriting that increases her staying power. The songstress released two EPs last year, which spoke to her talent as both a vocalist and a songwriter. We can only hope that more music is coming down the pipeline soon from the incredible rising artist.

 

DYLAN GOSSETT –

Dylan Gossett // Photo Credit: William Basnett

Listen: “Coal”
Stay Connected:@dylangossett

Dylan Gossett is a bonafide superstar in Texas, but his talents are finally being introduced to the mainstream country genre. Gossett is unapologetically himself and releases music that fans flock to in droves. His folky and red-dirt songwriting appeal to the country music fanbase. At the top of this year, Gossett landed a record deal with Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records. Additionally, fans can catch the singer on the road this year as part of his ‘No Better Time Tour’!

 

GRAHAM BARHAM –

Graham Barham // Photo Credit: Jesse Deflorio

Listen: “BAYOU BOY”
Stay Connected: @grahambarham

Last year, Graham Barham bursted on to the country music scene with his debut project, North Of Hell, which featured six undeniably great songs. One of our favorites, “Preachers Need People” showed off his incredible songwriting prowess, while other songs showed off his personality and knack for performing live. Throughout 2023, Barham achieved viral success and began to be noticed by the country music industry. In 2024, we expect that the singer will continue to grow his fanbase and share even more music.

 

ELLA LANGLEY –

Ella Langley // Photo Credit: Caylee Robillard

Listen: “Paint The Town Blue”
Stay Connected: @ellalangleymusic

Columbia Records and Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter, Ella Langley is primed for stardom. Much like Lainey Wilson, Langley is rooted in traditional country; however, she still explores different aspects to her talent through her story-telling and production. While many of the singer’s songs deserve a pedestal, one of our favorites is her recent collaboration with Kameron Marlowe called “Strangers.” We suspect that Langley will have an even bigger 2024!

 

CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN –

Charles Wesley Godwin // Photo Credit: David McClister

Listen: “All Again”
Stay Connected: @charlesgodwin

Country-folk artist, Charles Wesley Godwin is a gem in country music right now. While Godwin has been on the scene for a few years, 2023 was a break-out year for the artist, with 2024, looking even brighter! Fans of artists like Zach Bryan are sure to garner a liking for Godwin too. While it is unclear exactly how 2024 will shape up for the artist, we can only hope that more new music is coming down the pipeline soon!

 

GREYLAN JAMES –

Greylan James // Photo Credit: Trea Allen

Listen: “Ain’t Thinkin’ About You”
Stay Connected: @greylanjames

Big Machine Label Group artist, Greylan James knows a thing or two about hard work and dedication. The budding singer-songwriter worked as a professional songwriter for two years, until he was fired for “not having what it takes”. Subsequently that hardship led him to delve even deeper into music, studying the craft and ultimately landing huge cuts like Kenny Chesney’s “Happy Does” and Jordan Davis’ “Next Thing You Know”. Like a snowball effect, soon after, James secured a record deal of his own. We believe the talented singer-songwriter is primed for a great future in country music.

 

ZACH TOP –

Zach Top // Photo Credit: Citizen Kane Wayne

Listen: “Sounds Like the Radio”
Stay Connected: @zach_top

Zach Top is revitalizing traditional, 90s-esque country music! The singer draws inspiration from artists like George Strait and Keith Whitley, which is appealing to country music lovers everywhere. In 2023, Top’s single “Sounds Like the Radio” speaks to his talent, as well as, the fun and good energy he brings to music. We are excited to see what 2024 looks like for the rising artist!

 

DASHA –

Dasha // Photo Credit: Adam Budd

Listen: “Austin”
Stay Connected: @officialwyattflores

If you are on social media even a little bit then you know who Dasha is. Her viral hit song, “Austin” became a fan-favorite almost overnight and continues to rapidly grow. While we love “Austin,” we have believed in Dasha even before the release of the single. Dasha has honed her talents as a singer and as a songwriter and with each release, we believe she has what it takes to keep her star rising!

 

What other new artists are you enjoying? Make sure to follow us on Instagram, @CountrySwag for the latest in new music. Fans can also join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming announcements and releases.

Check out the latest tunes in country music 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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Who is Hannah Ellis? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music (2024)

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Who is Hannah Ellis? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Hannah Ellis
Birthdate – 8/14/1990
Hometown – Campbellsville, KY
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, JoDee Messina
Label – Curb Records
Current Single – “Wine Country” // as of date of article: 01/08/2024

The Beginning:

Back in 2019, we first introduced you to one of our favorite rising artists, Hannah Ellis. Over the years, Ellis has continued to put out new music, building her catalog and audience one song at a time. Now, nearly five years since our first interview, Ellis has grown tremendously in her artistry and continuously proves her staying power in the genre. Recently, we caught up with Ellis to chat about her path thus far and, of course, her debut album, That Girl coming out this Friday, January 12th.

“I’m from a small town in Kentucky,” began the entertainer. “My parents were both singers, so I saw them singing at weddings on the weekends all the time, and they constantly had me and my sister singing together all the time.” At such a young age, Ellis recalls having a passion for music and singing. She specifically loved country music and was inspired by the powerful female country artists of her youth.

“When you’re eleven, twelve, thirteen, you kind of have this idea that anyone can be famous, and anyone can be found at the local county fair. I mean, I had this huge passion for singing. I was always singing and specifically singing country music,” she shared. Adding, “I grew up in the 90s, and it was an incredible time for country music, specifically women in country music.”

Ellis found inspiration in artists like  Martina McBride and JoDee Messina, but also loved Taylor Swift too. “When Taylor Swift came on the scene, that was the first time I felt really connected to someone because her and I are the same age, and it made me feel that someone was finally speaking my language, speaking to me.”

With a supportive family and a desire to be a country music singer-songwriter known, Ellis had a drive to pursue her dream.“As I got older, I started singing in church and singing in the local contests, and stuff, but it wasn’t until I was eighteen, that I really realized that I wanted to pursue music as my life and as my job and career.”

The Turning Point:

Despite knowing ultimately the music was her calling, Ellis had secured a full-ride to the University of Kentucky for college. “I went on to college and just started making trips to Nashville, and kind of got my feet wet in that way. It was a really awesome experience to do the back and forth.” Within two months of graduating from college, the singer made the move to Music City. “As soon as I knew I wanted to pursue country music, I knew that I needed to be in Nashville.”

The second Ellis got to town, she was out networking and meeting as many people as she could in the industry. She wrote with artists around Nashville, connected with industry leaders, and went to every event she could to get her name and talent out there. “I am a person that kind of jumps in with both feet. I would just go to every event, every show, everything that I knew that people who were in the industry would be at. And I just started making connections that way.”

Eventually she landed her first publishing deal in 2015, which later turned into a record deal in 2020 with Curb Records, her current home base.“Being in the same building as a record label, they started to hear my music and go ‘“who is this girl?”’So it was a super organic kind of path into getting a record deal with Curb Records.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Ellis is finally on the brink of releasing her debut album. Her project, That Girl comes out on Friday, January 12th. It is a true conglomerate of her experiences over her incredible career and of course, her own personal experiences too.

“I always knew that this first record was kind of my introduction, my “nice to meet you,” and I really wanted to choose songs that told all the different parts of my story, not just where I am at right now, but how I got here,” she shared. Adding, “It covers a lot of ground. It covers the stories I was writing when I first moved to town and when I got here and when I met my now-husband, Nick and our relationship growing together, and also my growth as a person myself, my struggles, and also the things that I’m super confident and secure in.”

The record features incredibly introspective songs like “Someone Else’s Heartbreak” and “Too Much & Not Enough,” as well as, fun songs like “Wine Country” and “Karma On The Rocks.” It was important to Ellis to not get too precious about the songs sounding the same musically; it was more important to have the stories speak for themselves.

“We didn’t get too hung up on ‘does this go with that?’ or ‘is this sound identical?’ because I think just like my personality, there’s a lot of different facets to the music that I love and there’s a lot of music that was a part of my musical rising if you will, and we just leaned into all the different aspects of me as an artist and me as a person.”

While all the released songs are incredible in their own right, fans can look froward to even more songs off the record including a stand-out called “Still.” According to Ellis, this song was written for a friend. “I wrote it from the perspective of one friend to another, and I wrote it for my friend, whenever she kept kind of going back to the same guy every time he would apologize. […] It’s kind of a song of ‘hey loving someone is not always enough to constitute that person being right for you’, and I think it’s a unique song to me, because I am the person that my friends go to for advice. […] I don’t think there’s a ton of songs out there of one friend talking to another.”

Fans can anticipate that Ellis will be touring the album this year. Checkout her website here for all the information!

Connect:

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

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

Hannah Ellis music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Dan + Shay Earn 10th Number One at Country Radio with “Save Me The Trouble”

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Dan + Shay’s song, “Save Me The Trouble” marks their tenth number one single at country radio. Get all the details here!

Platinum-selling duo Dan + Shay are one of the best group country acts out there. Their loyal fanbase and their knack for creating music that is unique to them continues to win them accolades. Today, Dan + Shay reach a monumental feat, earning their tenth number one single at country radio with their song, “Save Me The Trouble.”

The chart-topper is the first number one song off Dan + Shay’s most recent album, Bigger Houses. The single speaks to heartbreak in the most beautiful way. Both artists have shared that the single is one that they are specifically proud of off the project. “Save Me The Trouble” is both emotional and relatable, two qualities that country radio and country fans seem to love and reward.

“I can tell by the way // That you’re stirring your drink // Oh, we’re already playing with fire // Said that you had to go // ‘Bout an hour ago // Baby, you’re such a beautiful liar // It feels like a movie I’ve already seen // So right now I’m begging you please // Why don’t you save me the trouble // Keep those pretty blue eyes to yourself // Why don’t you save me the trouble // Give that heartache to somebody else”

Dan + Shay keep reinventing themselves as they grow in their artistry. “Save Me The Trouble” seems to be a step in a new and fresh direction, and it’s clearly working. Congratulations to Dan + Shay and their team!

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

To keep up with Dan + Shay, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

“Save Me The Trouble” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’  playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Here Are The 2024 Country Album Releases

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Check out the 2024 upcoming country albums and EP releases here. We will keep you posted on the latest updates right here all year long.

 

JANUARY

January 12th
Hannah Ellis – That Girl

January 19th
Brittney Spencer – My Stupid Life
Nico Moon – Better Days

January 26th
Charles Esten – Love Ain’t Pretty
Conner Smith – Smoky Mountains
Josh Abbott Band – Somewhere Down The Road
Randall King – Into the Neon

 

FEBRUARY

February 2nd
Gabby Barrett – Chapter & Verse

February 9th
The Castellows – A Little Goes A Long Way
Dalton Dover – Take Me Home: Covers

February 16th
Dasha – What Happens Now?
Chase Matthew – We All Grow Up EP
Drake Milligan – Jukebox Songs EP
Redferrin – Old No. 7  EP

 

MARCH

March 1st
Trey Lewis – Troublemaker
Anella Herim – Season 1: I Love You
Peytan Porter – Grown EP

March 15th
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

March 22nd
Chris Young – Young Love & Saturday Nights
Cody Jinks – Change The Game
The Frontmen – Self-titled Debut album

March 29th
HARDY & Friends – HIXTAPE VOL. 3: DIFFTAPE
Josh Ross – Complicated EP
Dylan Scott – Livin’ My Best Life (Still) Deluxe Album
Beyonce – Cowboy Carter

 

APRIL

April 5th
Sam Hunt – Locked Up EP
Chayce Beckham – Bad For Me
George Birge – Cowboy Songs EP

April 12th
Ernest – Nashville,Tennessee
Walker County – Painted Ponies
Tyler Hubbard – Strong
Riley Green – Way Out Here

April 19th
Anne Wilson – REBEL
Elvie Shane – Damascus
Wyatt Flores – Half Life

April 26th
MacKenzie Porter – Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart
Dylan Schneider – Bad Decisions EP

 

MAY

May 10th
Brian Kelly – Tennessee Truth
Scotty McCreery – Rise & Fall
Lily Rose – Runnin’ Outta Time EP

May 17th
Reid Haughton – Higher Than 9

May 24th
Travis Denning – Roads That Go Nowhere
Vincent Mason – Can’t Just Be Me EP

May 31st
Kameron Marlowe – Keepin’ The Lights On
Kelsey Hart – Life With You
Georgia Webster – Signs EP
Tiffany Woys – I’m Your Woman EP
Shaboozey – Where I’ve Been, isn’t Where I’m Going

 

JUNE

June 7th
Carly Pearce – hummingbird
HunterGirl – Tennessee Girl
Matt Stell – Born Lonely 
Tracy Lawrence – Out Here In It EP

June 21st
PETTY COUNTRY
Lauren Watkins – The Heartbroken Record

 

JULY

July 4th
Chase Matthew – Always Be Mine EP
Zach Bryan – The Great American Bar Scene

July 12th
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?
Hardy – Quit!!

July 19th
Brad Tursi – Parallel Love

July 26h
Tigirlily Gold – Blonde
Ryan and Rory – Self-titled debut EP

 

AUGUST

August 2nd
Ella Langley – hungover
Conner Smith – Smoky Mountain Sessions EP

August 16th
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion

August 23rd
Thomas Rhett – About A Woman
Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind
Colby Acuff – American Son

August 30th
Russell Dickerson – Bones The EP
Troy Cartwright – Bygones

 

September

September 6th
Corey Kent – Black Bandana
Jackson Dean – On The Back Of My Dreams

September 13th
Brantley Gilbert – Tattoos

September 20th
Mitchell Tenpenny – The 3rd
Drake White – Low Country High Road
Midland – Barely Blue
Chase Rice – Go Down Singin’

September 27th
Dylan Marlowe – Mid Twenties Crisis
Dylan Schneider – PUZZLED
Logan Crosby – 2019
Luke Bryan – Mind Of A Country Boy

 

October

October 4th
Nate Smith – California
Tucker Wetmore – Waves On A Sunset EP
Conner Smith – The Storyteller EP

October 11th
Justin Moore – This Is My Dirt
Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
Meghan Patrick – Golden Child
Erin Kinsey – Gettin’ Away With It EP
Madeline Merlo – One House Down EP

October 18th
Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do
Breland – Project 2024 EP
Wyatt Flores – Welcome To The Plains

October 24th
Kelsea Ballerini – PATTERNS
Lanie Gardner – A Songwriter’s Diary
Brian Kelley – Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son
Joe Nichols – Honky Tonks & Country Songs
Austin Snell – Still Bleeding (Deluxe)
Clever – Clever EP

 

November

November 1st
Sam Barber – Restless Mind
Ella Langley – still hungover
Cody Johnson – Leather Deluxe
Jenna Davis – SIKE EP

November 15th
Brooks & Dunn – REBOOT 2
Kevin Smiley – Hurts Worse EP

 

December

December 6th
Koe Wetzel – Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2
Not Leaving Sober – Almost Sober

 

Save this page and check back for more coming in 2024… Which album are you most looking forward to listening to? Follow us on Twitter and let us know.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming country music releases. 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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Drake Milligan Shares Brand New Song “Don’t Leave Me Loving You”

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Drake Milligan releases new song, “Don’t Leave Me Loving You,” out now, January 5th,  on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track here and learn more.

To kick off 2024, Drake Milligan is giving fans more to be excited about. The singer-songwriter is releasing an EP called, Jukebox Songs on February 16th. The new project will feature songs that stand the test of time and feel distinctly like the artist. Today, fans are getting to listen to a brand new song off the project called, “Don’t Leave Me Loving You.”

“Jukebox Songs is exactly what it sounds like,” shared Milligan in a recent press release. “My goal for this EP was to write and find songs that feel classic and memorable – the kinda tunes that would fit right in on some old Rock-Ola in the corner of a smoke-filled bar on the outskirts of nowhere Texas. It’s a continuation of the old-meets-new Country sound I’ve always gone for, and this time with my friend Trent Willmon at the reins as producer, I’m very excited to keep this honky tonk train rollin.’”

The new song is a true heartbreak anthem that fits in perfectly with the singer’s existing catalog. Throughout the countrified song, Milligan shares of heartbreak and sings about wanting to feel anything but love. “Don’t Leave Me Loving You” is relatable and catchy, two things that make a great country song.

Milligan proves his talent yet again with “Don’t Leave Me Loving You”. The song is the perfect addition to anyone’s music library.

drake-milligan-new-song

Drake Milligan shares new song, “Don’t Leave Me Loving You,” out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Drake Milligan, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

“Don’t Leave Me Loving You” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Kasey Tyndall Releases New Song “Bad For Me”

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Kasey Tyndall shares brand new song, “Bad For Me,” out now, January 5th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Kasey Tyndall is the type of artist who is unapologetically herself. As she continues to build her catalog of music, each song seems to get better and better. She recently made her Ryman debut and opened for Ashley McBryde right here in New York City. Now, Tyndall is releasing a brand new song called “Bad For Me”, officially out now.

The new single is a clever, mid-tempo song that may be one of Tyndall’s best songs to date. “Bad For Me” is an honest account of being into a guy that society may deem the “bad guy.” Tyndall shares all the ways that she needs someone to match her energy, even if it is a little “bad” for her. The song is both tongue and cheek, while simultaneously as honest as songs come.

“If he don’t scare the hell out of me // If he ain’t been around seen some things // If he don’t bleed tattoos // If he don’t got a few loose screws // If his demons don’t haunt him a little // His favorite finger ain’t the one in the middle // If his heart ain’t kinda made of steal // Then my love will send him running for the hills // Cause I’m so messed up, I need someone, shakes me up, but makes me feel alive // If he ain’t a little bad for me, bad for me”

“Bad For Me” is one of our favorite songs from Tyndall so far. The song showcases her star power. We are excited for what else the songstress has coming down the pipeline in 2024.

kasey-tyndall

Kasey Tyndall releases new song, “Bad For Me,” out now on all streaming platforms.

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

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

“Bad For Me” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Elvie Shane Kicks Off 2024 with New Track “What Do I Know”

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Elvie Shane shares brand new track “What Do I Know,” out now, January 5th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

As fans gear up for the release of Elvie Shane’s sophomore album, Damascus, the singer is plugging away at releasing new music. To kick off 2024, Shane is adding to his impressive catalog of tunes with a head-turning, new song called “What Do I Know.”

In true Elvie Shane fashion, “What Do I Know” is full of truth-telling and personal lyrics. Much like the singer-songwriter’s previous releases, the song highlights Shanes’ hard-working and country upbringing. Once again, the singer expresses how proud he is of his roots and being a son of an average Joe. The song portrays an effortless confidence without trying too hard, something we have come to love from Shane’s music.

“I think red lipstick on a woman’s lips look sexy // I think coke’s okay, but it’s way damn better with jack // I think the outlaws, Waylon and Johnny are gone forever // I think Jesus // He’s coming back // Oh, but what do I know // what do I know // I’m just a hard-working, beer-working, son of an average Joe // Like to think there ain’t nothing that I can’t fix with a hammer and crescent wrench, oh, but what do I know // what do I know // what do I know”

Shane continues to showcase his staying power, song after song. “What Do I Know” is a perfect addition to the singer’s repertoire.

elvie-shane-what-do-i-know

Elvie Shane shares new song, “What Do I Know,” out now, on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Elvie Shane, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

“What Do I Know” 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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5 Things to Expect from Hannah Ellis’ Debut Album ‘That Girl’

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We chatted with country songstress, Hannah Ellis about her debut album, That Girl, out Friday, January 12th. Here are five things to expect from the upcoming project.

  1. That Girl features stories from many different times and phases in Ellis’ life and career.

“It covers a lot of ground. It covers the stories I was writing when I first moved to town and when I got here and when I met Nick [Wayne] and our relationship growing together, and also my growth as a person myself, my struggles, and also the things that I’m super confident and secure in.”

  1. The debut project encapsulates a true one-of-a-kind introduction to the songstress.

“I always knew that this first record was kind of my introduction, my “nice to meet you,” and I really wanted to choose songs that told all the different parts of my story, not just where I am at right now, but how I got here.”

  1. For Ellis, it was important to share different stories and musical arrangements that felt like “her” rather than to stick to a theme or specific sound.

“We didn’t get too hung up on ‘does this go with that or is this sound identical’ because I think – just like my personality, there’s a lot of different facets to the music that I love and there’s a lot of music that was a part of my musical raising if you will, and we just leaned into all the different aspects of me as an artist and me as a person.”

  1. The single, “Too Much & Not Enough” was inspired in the writing room by the experiences of being a woman in today’s landscape, something any woman can relate to.

“We started talking about what it feels like as a woman in the industry and just as a woman in general, and sometimes the things you love the most about yourself, the things you do really well, somehow also end up being the things you’re insecure about. […] It’s exactly how I feel all the time. I love these big sides of my personality, but they also feel like something I am constantly fighting or trying to put in their right place.”

  1. There is a special song on the record called “Still” that embodies the relationship between friends. It reads as a conversation between two friends too.

“I wrote it from the perspective of one friend to another, and I wrote it for my friend, whenever she kept kind of going back to the same guy every time he would apologize. […] It’s kind of a song of ‘hey loving someone is not always enough to constitute that person being right for you’, and I think it’s a unique song to me, because I am the person that my friends go to for advice. […] I don’t think there’s a ton of songs out there of one friend talking to another.”

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Hannah Ellis’ debut album, ‘That Girl’ will be released on January 12th.

Check back on January 12th for our full album review of Hannah Ellis’ record That Girl.

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

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

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Who is George Birge? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – George Birge
Birthdate – November 28th
Hometown – Austin, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Gary Allan, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Eli Young Band
Label – RECORDS Nashville
Current Single – “Mind On You” // as of date of article: 01/02/2024

The Beginning:

In our first spotlight of the 2024, we are highlighting the incredible career of singer-songwriter, George Birge. Birge has been a Nashville-transplant for about nine years, and his career is one of determination, grit, and integrity.

“I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and country music is kind of in your blood down there,” shared the singer. “I fell in love with it literally listening to the radio in my dad’s truck. It was the genre to me that told stories and made you feel something, and was like real life.” At a young age, Birge recalls appreciating country music and its knack for storytelling.

“I grew up idolizing George Strait and Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and all the classic guys,” he shared. Adding, “For more modern, Eli Young Band were a huge influence on me. They were the first guys I saw make it out of Texas on a National scene.”

Birge took his love of country music to heart, even learning to pen lyrics at an early age and playing live gigs just a few years later. “I started writing songs in middle school, started playing guitar by high school, and then started a band at 14,” he shared.

“I started playing live music on 6th street at 14 or 15 years old. We would play downtown Austin with x’s on our hands. We always played original music, which I felt like was different than any other city. […] They were terrible songs, but it was a really cool way to learn how to write music, learn how to connect with other people, and learn what resonated with people. I was instantly hooked to the collaborative culture.”

The Turning Point:

After graduating high school, Birge played music through college. “I played music through college. I went to University of Texas, played golf there briefly. Then I ended up chasing the music thing. By the time I graduated, I had a job, but I was playing every night and weekend in little bars around Austin.”

Because of his hard work and dedication to his craft, the singer grew a following in the Texas music scene. “I never toured before, but we started to get a pretty big following to where we were selling out every Friday and Saturday night, little 300-400 people club. We started to make some noise, which was something I always dreamed about but never thought I could do it professionally.”

This led to Birge catching the ear of some people in Nashville, who came out to see him play, and ultimately offered him his first record deal in 2015. The singer and his new wife moved to Music City upon landing his first deal. Birge started a duo called Waterloo Revival, who achieved a moderate amount of success including touring and radio songs.

Despite the early success, the singer started to feel burnt out on the path he was heading down. “In 2020, when the world shut down, I had kind of run out of steam, and honestly had given up on the artist thing. I asked out of my record deal. I had decided for about an 8-month window there that I was just going to be a songwriter.”

With a plan to just be a songwriter moving forward, Birge began writing songs and getting cuts by bigger artists in town, which would eventually lead him to a new record deal with RECORDS Nashville. “I had written some songs for some bigger artists in town and had some folks start believing in me, supporting my songs, and started putting them on the radio, and then just through the motivation of some family and friends, I got talked into sneaking some of my solo stuff into social media that ended up blowing up and getting me my own record deal.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Birge is finally making music the way he always dreamed of. “This iteration as a solo artist, I promised myself that if I was going to do this again, I was going to do it this my way and I was going to write and record songs that I believed in, and I was going to pick producers, players, and direction, and I was lucky enough to find a label that believed in that with me. It’s taken off faster than anything I’ve done in my career and I think that’s probably because I was able to really believe in myself, be authentic, and write music that’s honest and comes from a real place for me. It’s the most exciting time in my life right now, and  it has definitely been a long journey to get here.”

His current radio single, “Mind On You” has been a huge success both according to fans and radio. It is hard to believe that the song almost went to another artist. “I wrote it at the end of 2020, when I was kind of between the artist thing. At the time, I was under the influence that I was just going to be a songwriter. […] I knew it was special, but I had no intentions of putting it out because I wasn’t doing the artist thing, so we originally pitched it to Jason Aldean and 24 hours later, I get an email back from Aldean’s team, saying don’t play this for anybody, Jason loved it and he wants it for his new record and that was the biggest thing to ever happen to me.”

Eventually after a call from his label head, who said “That song that you’re going to give away to Aldean, I think it was a mistake, you need to call and ask for it back because it’s going to be your first single, and it’s going to change your life,” and some prayer and guts, Birge decided to ask for it back.

“Mind On You” is the first of many incredible songs to come from Birge. He is already working on his album and more new music is slated to come out early this year. “Making and writing music is my favorite thing in the world to do, so we are going to put out as much music as we can next year, and I’m really excited about that.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with George Birge, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

George Birge’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.