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Lauren Alaina: ‘UNLOCKED’ – EP Review

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Lauren Alaina releases her new EP, UNLOCKED, out now, June 9th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new EP below.

While Lauren Alaina has consistently released music since landing the runner up spot on American Idol back in 2010, the Georgia native promises to be her most authentic self yet on her new EP, out now. With the release of Unlocked, produced by super-hitmaker Joey Moi, Alaina marks her debut project with Big Loud Records.

Featuring songs co-written by the likes of Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Zach Crowell, Parker Welling, and more, the six song project features some of Alaina’s most personal music to date. “It’s been 13 years since we first met, and until a couple of years ago, I don’t know that I ever slowed down for more than a day or two at a time. I spent more time with the people that matter most to me – my family, my fiancé, my friends – during that period than I had in years,” she reveals in a statement. “This music comes from my heart and my hometown. I am who I am because of where and who I come from, and I’m more me today than I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to unlock this next chapter with you.”

On the follow up to 2021’s Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World, Alaina finds herself dealing with a breakup, moving on, attempting to be the bigger person, and looking inward. Her first offering comes in the form of “A Walk in the Bar,” which serves as the EP’s first single and first track. Here, she offers a piece of anthemic country pop that perfectly pairs twangy instrumentation with clever lyrics. For Alaina, moving on isn’t a walk in the park, but instead “A Walk in the Bar,” both literally and figuratively.

“Thicc as Thieves” pairs Alaina with Lainey Wilson on the tongue-in-cheek ode to their curvaceous figures that samples Luke Bryan’s classic “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” On the up-tempo duet, the pair trade verses on what is bound to be a surefire hit.

“We’re thicker than our accents // Thicker than our hair // Thicker than the Georgia and Louisiana air // Thicker than molasses from the patches to the seams // Stealing hearts is in our jeans // Us southern girls // We’re thicc as thieves // We’re thicc as thieves”

Both “Smaller Than this Town” and “Hangovers” find the singer moving on from a broken relationship, lamenting “Smaller the town, bigger the heartbreak.” Meanwhile, on “Hangovers,” Alaina explores the more raspy side of her voice, a juxtaposition of breezy music mixed with downtrodden lyrics. Here, she wishes that heartache was more like a hangover, easier to get over. 

Likewise, she’s moving on on “Like Her,” which finds her liking someone she was determined to hate. It’s an uber-relatable which finds her admitting, “If it weren’t for you, hell we’d be friends.”

Alaina slows things down on “Don’t Judge a Woman,” which is an immediate standout and poignant moment on the album, a necessary reminder not to judge a book by its cover or a “woman by her man.”

“Maybe he’s a phase // Maybe he’s a rebound // Might’ve been the one or a one night stand // Maybe he’s a nice guy but only on the inside // And she’s tried to leave him but maybe she can’t // You ain’t in the heels she’s walking in // So don’t judge a book by its cover or a woman by her man.”

The Grand Ole Opry member took to social media to share “My heart is completely Unlocked with this new project,” promising that “this is just the beginning.”If the EP is any indication of what is still to come, we can’t wait.

UNLOCKED Track List:
  1. A Walk In The Bar (Lauren Alaina, Casey Brown, Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling)
  2. Hangovers (John Byron, Greylan James, Josh Osborne, Matt Roy)
  3. Don’t Judge A Woman (Autumn McEntire, Joybeth Taylor, Sarah Allison Turner)
  4. Smaller The Town (Zach Crowell, Joel Hutsell, Cole Swindell, Hunter Phelps)
  5. Like Her (Trannie Anderson, Joe Fox, Emily Landis, Ella Langley)
  6. Thicc As Thieves (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Lauren Alaina, Rocky Block, Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Jacob Durrett, Parker Welling)
Lauren-alaina-unlocked-ep

Lauren Alaina’s new EP, UNLOCKED is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

Lauren Alaina will be hitting the road with Pentatonix this summer, with a stop at New Jersey’s PNC Bank Arts Center on August 20.

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

UNLOCKED 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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Anne Wilson Releases Poignant New Song “Seventh of June”

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Anne Wilson releases new song “Seventh of June” out now, June 7th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, Anne Wilson is a true artist. Her music always tells a story and touches the lives of its listeners. Today, Wilson is sharing one of the most poignant and personal songs she could ever share, called “Seventh of June” in honor of her late brother.

Wilson has been open about suffering from the loss of her dear brother six years ago. His tragic passing inspired this song, which shares the emotions behind grief, loss, and heartbreak. If you have ever experienced profound loss, this song is certainly for you.

Written by the songstress with Jeff Pardo and Matthew West, the song showcases the internal ballad between grieving and healing. To make the song even more meaningful, the video accompaniment was filmed on the  Wilson family farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

“I go out walking // I ain’t much for talking // Just thinking and crying // And praying and trying // To make sense // Of what don’t make sense in this life // Like why you’re up there // And not here by my side // They say it’s gonna get easier // And I want to believe that’s true // It’s just harder on the seventh of June”

While Wilson may be known for creating Christian music, “Seventh of June” is a true country song that will make you cry and feel less alone. Hats off to Wilson to be able to create a song like this in honor of her brother.

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

To keep up with Anne Wilson follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.

“Seventh of June” 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 Luke Combs Songs We Wish We Heard on Country Radio

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With a killer catalog of songs to choose from, we are sharing our favorite Luke Combs songs that we wish we heard on country radio. Check it out below.

  1. “Memories Are Made Of” – This One’s For You

Combs does a lot well when writing music, but his ability to take listeners back to the good-old-days is second to none! In “Memories Are Made Of,” he describes the feeling of being free after high school graduation and the simplicity of how a good buzz and a few buds (the beer or friends) can create such a special memory—something most of us can relate to.

 

  1. “Beer Can” – This One’s For You

Another specialty of Combs’ is how he can take the basic lyric of drinking beer and make it so fun, catchy, and unique. Penned with James McNair and Ray Fulcher, the writing trio takes us through their weekend, rhyming nearly every line with the song’s title.  

 

  1. “Refrigerator Door” – What You See Is What You Get

We open our fridge every day but rarely stop and recognize all the history and memories it carries. In the nostalgic “Refrigerator Door,” Combs expresses how his Kenmore ’98 serves a dual purpose as a fridge and a photo album, explaining all the pictures and the memories behind them. 

 

  1. “Without You” – What You See Is What You Get

When we are kids, we do not realize just how much our friends, family, and loved ones do for us. Each verse in “Without You” highlights different people in Combs’ life that shaped the successful and down-to-earth man he is today. Combs shows his modesty, confessing that he owes everything to his parents, his wife, and his fans.

 

  1. “Where The Wild Things Are” – Gettin’ Old

“Where The Wild Things Are” is more of a creative writing story about two brothers who live different lives—one who stayed home and one who took off to Southern California. Its tragic ending and the dramatic production build from verse to chorus makes this a powerful track which could catch the attention of country music fans alike. 

 

How does our list match up to yours? Let us know and comment your favorites on social media!

To keep up with Luke Combs, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Who Is Greylan James? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Greylan James // Credit: Trea Allen

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Greylan James
Birthday – 06/18/1996
Hometown – Knoxville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Kenny Chesney, The Eagles, Brad Paisley, Waylon Jennings
Label – Big Machine Label Group
Current Single – “Undermine” (As of article date – 6/5/2023)

The Beginning:

The country music genre is full of rising talent that fans need to pay attention to. Singer-songwriter, Greylan James is definitely an artist, who should be on that list. The recording artist has dedicated his entire life to becoming a country music artist, and it truly shows in his songwriting and vocals.

“I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee,” began James. “You’ll find a bunch of country music artists going back hundreds of years, so growing up there it never felt like country music and moving to Nashville and doing the thing was a pipe dream. It felt something you could actually do like anything else.” According to the singer, he knew since he was five years old that country music was his calling.

“My Papaw got me a guitar when I was five, and I played that thing until my fingers bled the night that I got it,” he shared, adding later, “I never wavered with that all through school. I told everybody that ‘I was going to be a country music artist and when I graduate I’m going to move to Nashville.’ And that’s what I did.”

Armed with a dream to play music, James also listened to a ton of different artists and genres. “It was super diverse. I loved country music obviously and my brother who’s a year younger than me was a little bit more cultured growing up, as cultured as you can be, being from Knoxville. He was always listening to pop, top 40, and rap, so I’d hear that. […] For me it was always like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban.” The singer also credits his parents for introducing him to 70s and 80s rock and his grandfather for showing him classics like Johnny Cash.

James even drew inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift, who inspired him to start writing his own songs “When everyone talked about Taylor Swift and how she wrote all her songs, I was like alright, that’s what she’s doing and she’s crushing it, so that’s what I need to do too,” shared the singer, adding later, “I was always like I’m going to be a country music artist. Kenny Chesney is from Knoxville, Tennessee. […] I wanted to play stadiums like Kenny was and that’s just what I did even when I was playing at small, little restaurants patios, I acted as if I was playing in front of ten thousand people.”

The Turning Point:

After playing gigs across his hometown and the surrounding areas and a stint on The Voice, James found himself with a decision to make. “When I turned eighteen, I was kind of at a crossroads, ‘do I go to college now [or not.]’ I never thought I’d have to or ‘do I just keep doing it,’ and I chose Nashville. […] Luckily right in the nick of time, a publisher reached out and me and my dad drove to Nashville the next day, and I signed a publishing deal and started to write songs every single day with people I just met.”

The budding singer-songwriter worked as a professional songwriter for two years, until he was fired for “not having what it takes”. While some may have felt defeated, James took the let down as a sign to work even harder. “I started listening to a bunch of the new albums that were coming out and just studied them, trying to get better at songwriting,” he shared, crediting Old Dominion’s album Meat and Candy as a lightbulb moment for him.

“It kind of clicked for me what they were doing with writing songs. […] Since then, I started writing songs and became obsessed with it and songs kept getting better and people started to listen to them and Kenny Chesney cut my song and put it on the radio.” That song was Chesney’s smash hit “Happy Does”. James later had a hand in writing Jordan Davis’ current top ten hit, “Next Thing You Know” and several other notable tracks. Soon after, James went on to secure a record deal with a major label due to his new found confidence and incredible songs.

Today:

Flash forward to today, every song James has put out has been another notch in his belt. His most recent release, “Undermine” may be his best song to date.“It’s another one from the second I wrote it that I was like “I’m going to record this myself and put it out.” That was before I knew anything about a record label,” shared the singer-songwriter. “That was just a song from a cool title I had in my phone […] I felt like I could really try to flip the meaning of the word “undermine.”

“Undermine” is a creative song that truly speaks to James’ talent as a country music artist. It also is one of the songs that led the singer to ultimately sign his record deal. “I’m proud of it. I produced it in my bedroom, and it sounds bigger than that,” he shared.

This is just the beginning for James, who shared that more music is coming really soon. The singer is currently in studio working on his next batch of songs. We are hopeful that a record is in the works for later this year. Until then, fans can catch James on tour with Old Dominion, as well as, Jordan Davis and Cole Swindell in the fall. Get all the details here. 

Connect:

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

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

Greylan James’ 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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Corey Kent: ‘Blacktop – Album Review

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Corey Kent releases his newest album, Blacktop out now, June 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Country newcomer Corey Kent is ready to establish himself as a force in country music. Today, the Sony Music Nashville newcomer released his major-label debut project, Blacktop, featuring the Platinum #1 hit, “Wild as Her.” Produced by music royalty, Jay Joyce, the album features a collection of ten new songs, eight of which were co-written by Kent.

The album’s name holds a double meaning for Kent, who has pounded the pavement as a touring artist for years before achieving success, while he also picked up work at a pavement company after a publishing deal fell through. “I think my path has been so winding to get here, that if this would’ve happened five years ago, I wouldn’t have had the ability to appreciate it like I do now,” He reveals.

Throughout Blacktop, Kent focuses heavily on sounding uniquely himself, adhering to the mantra that “Nobody great ever sounded like anyone else.” It’s that attitude that has earned him a loyal following, as he’s always remained true to himself. That included leaving Nashville because it didn’t feel quite right and setting his roots in Texas, an influence which can be heard throughout the LP.

“We sound like us because that’s never happened before, and that’s what I feel like this record is,” the Oklahoma native reveals of the album that is punctuated by tracks like “Wild As Her,” “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” “Man of the House,” and “Once or Twice.”

While “Wild as Her” was Kent’s first foray into chart stardom, “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” is an immediate standout, a driving and radio-ready anthemic ode to seizing the day. Here, Kent proclaims, “Ain’t no way around it // One day I’m gonna die // If something’s gonna kill me might as well be // What makes me feel alive.”

“Life is not just surviving. It’s about creating experiences and feeling a rush and being exhilarated and making those memories you can’t ever forget,” He says of the song. “This record took me from working at a pavement company to being on the road full-time, and having one of the biggest songs of the year. It changed my life. I got kicked in the teeth by life, but I got up, spit out the blood and kept going. And now here we are.”

Similarly, “How You Know You Made It” and “Hood of That Car” both have that radio-ready anthemic feel, hooky choruses and feelgood melodies that are sure to continue Kent’s rise to superstardom. While “How You Know” celebrates the simple moments that mean success to Kent, “Hood” is a celebration of fooling around and falling in love on the hood of a car.

Likewise, “Bic Flame” is another heartfelt celebration of the simpler times, Kent realizing that despite his young age, he’s an old soul at heart. “You say I’m an old soul, But what’s so wrong with that?” He asks, musing “In a crowd full of cell phone lights, I guess I’m still a BiC flame guy.”

There’s love lost on tracks like “Gone As You” and “Long Story Short,” with the former finding him “gone” thanks to a bottle, while the latter finds him placing blame on the woman who cut their relationship a bit too short too soon. “You turned off the song right before that last chorus played,” he croons, voice laced with emotion on the catchy guitar-laden track. “Guess you and I just weren’t on the same page.”

“Man of the House” also shows Kent’s softer side, finding him at his most vulnerable as he tries to fill the shoes left behind by his father. On the stirring ballad, he struggles with the shadows of his past as well as how those things still affect him today. “Be strong when you ain’t// And hold on when you can’t // They can’t tell you but they need you // And you can’t let ‘em down // So hide those shakin’ hands // Be a rock when you feel like sand // It turns out all I was back then // Is all that I am now // Just a boy trying to be the man of the house.”

The album’s final track, “Once or Twice” closes out the album with a poignant touch, finding the singer-songwriter facing his demons. His voice is on full display over the lush ballad, his voice ripe with emotion. “I’ve never looked for trouble // But trouble’s found me all of my life // And there’s a time to walk away // And there’s a time to hold your ground and fight,” He declared. “I’ve never seen the face of God // But I’ve stared down the devil once or twice.”

It’s that kind of raw vulnerability mixed with catchy hooks that permeate Blacktop and are certain to establish Corey Kent as a future superstar in country music.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Hood of That Car
  2. Something’s Gonna Kill Me
  3. Man of the House
  4. How You Know You Made It

Blacktop Tracklist:

  1. Wild as Her (Kelly Archer/Brett Tyler/Morgan Wallen)
  2. Long Story Short (Corey Kent/Lydia Vaughan)
  3. Something’s Gonna Kill Me (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
  4. Man of the House (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
  5. Gone as You (Casey Brown/Matthew McGinn/Travis Wood)
  6. BiC Flame (Corey Kent/Jack Hummel/Jon Sherwood)
  7. Call It a Night (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd)
  8. How You Know You Made It (Corey Kent/AJ Pruis/Smith Ahnquist)
  9. Hood of That Car (Corey Kent/Blake Chaffin/Jack Hummel/Jacob Lutz)
  10. Once or Twice (Corey Kent/Lee Miller)
corey-kent-album

Corey Kent shares new album, ‘Blacktop,’ 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 Corey Kent releases.

Kent is set to hit the stage as part of Jason Aldean’s Highway Desperado Tour this summer. For tour dates and more, visit Kent’s official website here.

To keep up with Corey Kent, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

Dylan Scott Announces Tour + Releases Brand New Song

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Dylan Scott announces new tour and shares new song, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” out now, June 2nd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

2023 is shaping up to be a huge year for Dylan Scott both personally and professionally. The singer-songwriter earned himself an ACM nomination and recently announced that baby number three is on the way. This week, Scott shared the news of his upcoming headlining tour featuring special guests, Matt Schuster and Tayler Holder. Today, the singer shares the track that tour is named after, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us.”

Scott’s new song is pure nostalgia. We all grow up wanting to be anywhere but in our hometown, but as we get older, we realize that our hometown raised us. The new song personifies that perfectly. Scott shares his heart throughout the verses, reminiscing about all the memories. “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” is one of those songs that will stick with the listener for a long time coming.

“Yeah we sure painted it up // Tore down them old two lane roads // Yeah we stole every sign // Or left them in bullet holes // It wasn’t nowhere as bad, as we all said that it was // Yeah looking back at it now, this town’s been too good to us // Raise hell on the weekends”

If the new song is any inclination, fans can expect Scott’s upcoming tour to be authentic, vulnerable, and high-energy. Head to Scott’s website for tickets and more tour information here.

Dylan-scott-tour-song

Dylan Scott announces new tour and releases new song, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” out now.

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

To keep up with Dylan Scott, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” 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.

Jelly Roll: ‘Whitsitt Chapel’ – Debut Album Review

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Jelly Roll releases his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel, out now, June 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

There are some artists who spark the country scene as an ember, burning slowly and steadily until they finally reach stardom. Jelly Roll is not one of them.

Instead, the Nashville native is an immediate wildfire, burning up the charts and leaving nothing in his wake. The singer-songwriter spent 25 unprecedented, consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart, breaking the record for the most weeks spent at #1, and his debut country album exemplifies why.

With a background in hip-hop and rap, a transition to country may not have seemed the most logical step, until you hear his voice. With a talent that effortlessly transitions between poignant ballads and arena-ready rock anthems, Jelly Roll is the kind of artist who would have the coaches on The Voice shocked upon turning their chairs. Yet, without question, the BMG/Stoney Creek Records is a vocalist who would undoubtedly find a home in any genre. This is evident through Whitsitt Chapel, which finds the former convict dabbling in everything from pure country to anthemic rock to beat-laden hip-hop and rap.

Today, June 2, the musical enigma released his debut country LP, featuring thirteen new co-written tracks. Other contributors to the album include Miranda Lambert, Hardy, Brantley Gilbert, and Ashley McBryde, while he also trades verses with Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, and Lainey Wilson.

Throughout Whitsitt Chapel, named after the church Jelly grew up attending, there’s often a battle between faith and felony, Jelly musically struggling with both his past and his present, his angels and his demons. Yet, the singer-songwriter isn’t hiding who he is. “This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful,” He says in a statement. “I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems.”

While much of the album is autobiographical, it’s also very much a concept album, dealing with the battles of a man torn between heaven and hell, addiction and sobriety, falling and faith. These themes weave their way through almost all of the songs on Whitsitt Chapel, with Jelly Roll offering both lyrical and vocal brilliance through his delivery.

Opening with “Halfway to Hell,” Jelly Roll immediately sets the stage for what’s to come in the form of a blazing uptempo which finds him a walking contradiction, struggling with where he stands. Over roaring guitars, he proclaims, “I don’t know if I’m halfway to heaven or halfway to hell // My angels and demons at war with myself // One foot in the fire and I still can’t tell // Am I halfway to heaven, halfway to heaven or hell?”

Likewise, “The Lost,” “Church,” “Dancing with the Devil,” and “Nail Me” explore similar themes. The Lambert co-penned “The Lost” is a rock laden ode to being a misfit, the country star proclaiming “I’m better with the lost than the found,” musing “You’d be surprised at the places I find Jesus.” Alternatively, both “Church” and “Nail Me” find the Tennessee native leaning more into his country roots, as “Church” finds him finding God in a truck, while “Nail” shines a light on hypocrisy among those who proclaim their Christianity, but turn their back on him. “Nail me to the cross outside of your ivory tower // Where you sit so high on that horse you rode // As I sit here alone, So hit me with the stones you cast, your shadow looks back while you stare through glass,” He sings. “You don’t think I know I’m the jester before your throne.”

Jelly’s background in hip hop weaves its way through songs like “Behind Bars” and “Unlive,” two of the more unique tracks on the LP. While “Behind Bars” has him trading verses with Gilbert and Jennings, lamenting that “most my friends are behind bars,” “Unlive” finds him accompanied by rapper Yelawolf as they admit “you can’t unlive where you’re from.”

One of the album’s most poignant moments comes in the form of “She,” a song penned to shine a light on addiction. “‘She’ is about the struggle of addiction. ‘She’ is talking about the elephant in the room and addressing head on the heroin and fentanyl epidemic that is sweeping the nation; the pharmaceutical pill problem that is sweeping the nation, and has been for a long time,” Jelly revealed in a statement. “And I feel like it’s the artist’s responsibility to speak for those who sometimes can’t always speak for themselves.”

Other songs that touch on relationships threatened by addiction include “Kill a Man” and “Hold On Me,” where he can’t escape the holds of addiction that prevent him from love (“I know you’re all I need, but I just can’t break free”). “Kill A Man” is punctuated with angsty female background vocals, Jelly admitting that “I was bulletproof, but baby loving you could kill a man.”

On “Save Me,” Jelly Roll joins vocal forces with Lainey Wilson, creating a power ballad for the broken. “All of this drinkin’ and smokin’ is hopeless// But feel like it’s all that I need // Somethin’ inside of me’s broken,” They sing. “I hold on to anything that sets me free // I’m a lost cause // Baby, don’t waste your time on me // I’m so damaged beyond repair // Life has shattered my hopes and my dreams.”

“Need a Favor” finds Jelly Roll admitting that, like many people, he only looks to God when he needs something, while the album’s final track, “Hungover in a Church Pew” is a sparse country tune that finds him sweating off the night before in the chapel. “This ain’t the first, won’t be the last time// I’m hungover in a church pew, Girl I hurt you but I hurt me too,” He sings. “I’m coming down on a Sunday morning // Hands shakin’ my forehead pouring // Lord knows all the hell you put me through // I bet the devil never thought this is what I’d do // I’m hungover in a church pew.”

There’s a reason why Jelly Roll has become an almost immediate country superstar, and this is on full display on Whitsitt Chapel. Here, he manages to take listeners back to his hometown church, lyrically dancing with the devil and battling his demons in the shadow of his faith. The resulting LP is a raw and autobiographical look at a man who falls and gets back up again, not afraid to discuss both his failures and his faith.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Halfway to Hell
  2. Nail Me
  3. Church
  4. Save Me

Whitsitt Chapel Tracklist:

  1. Halfway to Hell (Jason DeFord, Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, Jessie Jo Dillon*)
  2. Church (Jason DeFord, Michael Hardy, David Garcia**)
  3. The Lost (Jason DeFord, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert*)
  4. Behind Bars (with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings) (Jason DeFord, Brantley Gilbert, Michael Whitworth, Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Austin Nivarel***)
  5. Nail Me (Jason DeFord, Kevin Gruft, Austin Nivarel^)
  6. Hold on Me (Jason DeFord, Hillary Lindsey, Alysa Vanderheym, Michael Whitworth^)
  7. Kill a Man (Jason DeFord, Riley Thomas, Andrew Baylis, Michael Whitworth^)
  8. Unlive (with Yelawolf) (Jason DeFord, Ashley McBryde, Andrew Baylis, Zach Crowell, Michael Wayne Atha^)
  9. Save Me (with Lainey Wilson) (Jason DeFord, David Ray Stevens^^)
  10. She (Jason DeFord, Austin Nivarel, Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft^^^)
  11. Need a Favor (Jason DeFord, Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta*^)
  12. Dancing With the Devil (Jason DeFord, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell^)
  13. Hungover in a Church Pew (Jason DeFord, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell^)
jelly-roll-debut-album

Jelly Roll’s debut country album, ‘Whitsitt Chapel’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

Jelly Roll will be headlining his 44- date Backroad Baptism tour, with tour dates listed on his official website here.

To keep up with Jelly Roll, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

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Who Is Austin Snell? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Who is Austin Snell? 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 – Scott Austin Snell
Birthday – 11/05/1997
Hometown – Dublin, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Nickelback, Creed, Alan Jackson
Label – Riverhouse // Warner Nashville
Current Single – “Pray All The Way Home” (As of article date – 5/29/2023)

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist truly has found his sound as a singer-songwriter. Austin Snell always loved music, but did not recognize it as a career path until later on in life. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, Snell recalls living that typical “small-town” lifestyle.

“As you can imagine, small-town life is pretty cliche,” he shared. “We grew up outside, playing in the woods, and before I could drive, I had a little golf cart I would drive around the town.” While growing up, Snell recalls taking trips with his dad, where listening to music was a part of the experience.

“Back when I was a kid, my dad had four CDs in the truck, and we would alternate through the four,” he began. “He had a 3 Doors Down CD, a Nickelback CD, a Creed CD, and an Alan Jackson CD and I think we added a Journey CD somewhere along the ride.” These artists were not only the soundtrack for his life then, but eventually would inspire him to write his own music. “It’s mainly rock music from that influence and it’s got that country lyric. […] When I was starting to write music, I was listening to everything. I was listening to rap music too.”

Upon graduating high school, Snell served in the Air Force, which was when music started to really take shape. “I was in South Carolina, I’ve always been kind of a night owl, and I was up really late, and I was watching videos of Ed Sheeran playing his little, loop pedal live show, and I thought that was really cool,” shared the singer. “I went and spent my last $400 on a Martin guitar, and I taught myself how to play covers and was just kind of doing it for myself.”

The Turning Point:

During his enlistment in the Air Force, Snell spent most of his free time learning to play covers on guitar, which eventually led him to write his own music.

“I wasn’t really planning on doing anything professionally at all, but my mom convinced me to start posting some of my covers online,” he shared. “It slowly grew into my hobby outside of work and it grew into me writing my own songs.”

Around that same time, TikTok became a big platform, and Snell noticed that people were consuming his content. “I’m definitely not the kind of center of attention kind of guy, but that’s how I get my emotions out, through my songwriting,” he shared.

Despite knowing that he was going to move to Nashville after his enlistment, Snell moved back home to Georgia for a year to spend time with his family first. After about a year, the singer had finally saved up enough money to move to Nashville and secured two roommates and a lease. He was about to move to Nashville, when something unexpected happened.

“A week to the day after I signed my lease […] I went to the doctor and they found a tumor in my spine, and so obviously I wasn’t going to move to Nashville as soon as I thought I was because I had to have surgery. […] Totally thought they were going to kick me off the lease […] They instead told me they would cover my side of the rent until I could make it out there,” shared the singer.

Snell went on to have surgery in February, 2022, and moved in May that year, where he quickly fell in with a buzzing crowd of songwriters and friends. “I  wasn’t really planning on putting any kind of music out, I was just planning on being in Nashville to learn the ropes of the industry, write, and find my sound.”

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Today:

Flash forward to today, Snell’s song “Excuse The Mess” is one of the most popular songs on TikTok. It went viral and allowed him to truly live out his dream as an artist. “We took an idea into the room. […] We wrote “Excuse The Mess” that day, and like always, I took it out of the room, and posted it on TIkTok to see what people thought of it, and it blew up.” As fate would have it, Snell worked hard and earned both a publishing deal and then a record deal because of the risk he took with that song.

Most recently, Snell shared his song, “Pray All The Way Home” with fans. The country-rock song is lyrically-impressive, allowing listeners to truly feel what Snell is feeling. The song is also catchy and heartfelt.

“We didn’t really know what it meant, but we sat there a little while, and I think I sang the first voice pretty fluently, after sitting there for 30 or so minutes,” shared Snell when reflecting on the writing process for the single. “The song hits super close to home. All of us can relate to expecting things to change when you continue to make the same mistakes.”

It is safe to say that this is only the beginning for Snell and his growing artistry. The singer has more songs coming down the pipeline soon, and fans can catch him playing gigs and the festival circuit all season long!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Austin Snell, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

Austin Snell’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.

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Morgan Wallen’s Song “Last Night” is His Fastest Number One Single

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Morgan Wallen continues his streak of number ones with his eighth song to top the country charts, “Last Night.” Get all the details here.

Morgan Wallen is proving that he is an absolute superstar! Despite having to reschedule some dates of his tour, due to being put on vocal rest, Wallen is still at the top of his game. Following his song “You Proof,” his latest radio single, “Last Night” officially marks his ninth number one single at country radio. “Last Night” is Wallen’s fastest rising single on country radio so far.

From the second it was released, “Last Night” quickly became a fan-favorite. From viral social media videos to buzz-worthy lyrics, the single is Wallen’s most universally liked song to date. The track features all the ingredients we have grown to enjoy in the singer-songwriter’s music.

“You, you know you love to fight // And I say shit I don’t mean // But I’m still gon’ wake up wantin’ you and me // I know that last night we let the liquor talk // I can’t remember everything we said but we said it all // You told me that you wish I was somebody you never met // But baby, baby somethin’s tellin’ me this ain’t over yet // No way it was our last night // No way it was our last night”

There is truly no stopping Wallen! His career continues to catapult him to superstardom. The singer is sure to earn his tenth number one single soon with his song, “One Thing At A Time” sitting pretty in the top ten! Congrats to Wallen and his team on their ninth number one!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Morgan Wallen announcements and releases.

To keep up with Morgan Wallen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Last Night” 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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Tyler Farr Drops New Song “Rednecks Like Me” for Memorial Day Weekend

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Tyler Farr shares new song, “Rednecks Like Me,” out now, May 26th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

As we gear up for Memorial Day weekend, Tyler Farr is making sure we do not forget the real meaning of the holiday and the three-day vacation. Farr releases a touching new song called, “Rednecks Like Me,” out today.

While country music can truly be about anything, at its core it is all about being proud of where you come from and having fun with your buddies. “Rednecks Like Me” is a song that reminds us all to celebrate being American, our roots, and those who serve our country each and every day. Farr using the term “rednecks” to describe all who are patriotic, no matter where they reside.

“I’m red, white and blue // How ‘bout you? // Country to the bone // from my hat down to my boots // It’s in my roots to take a stand // ‘Cause freedom isn’t free // Take a look around and you’ll see // There’s a lot more rednecks like me”

In the perfectly timed song, Farr sheds light on the beauty of being an American. “Rednecks Like Me” is an anthem that we can all turn up a little louder on the speakers any time we need a reminder.

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Tyler Farr shares new song, “Rednecks Like 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 Tyler Farr releases.

To keep up with Tyler Farr follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Rednecks Like 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.