Introducing King Calaway: Behind-the-Scenes of NYCountry Swag

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Wednesday (Jan 23.), New York Country Swag teamed up with BMG/BBR Music Group to promote their brand new artist, King Calaway. NYCS was tasked with filling up a New York City venue for an exclusive showcase and the first ever King Calaway show for fans. The real test of course was that at the time, the band had not yet released music nor had they played for a public audience. Normally, the NYCS team could share music or video clips and say ‘Hey, if you like this song, come to this show’… but this time that was not the case. NYCountry Swag had the confidence that the audience we have built over the past three years trusted our taste and judgment in music and in new artists and would come to the showcase unaware of what they would get to experience.

After ten days of promotions, New York Country Swag received over 500+ unique entries across all social media platforms from country music fans hoping to win their way in to our exclusive showcase event. A true testament to what we have built! We successfully filled the room at New York City’s Bowery Electric to max capacity with over 200+ people including both fans and guests from reputable outlets like Billboard, Rolling Stone, Vevo, Music Choice, TJ Martell Foundation, Nash FM and more.

From the show announcement to the night of the show, King Calaway saw a jump in socials gaining over 600+ followers. Two days after the show, King Calaway released their self-titled debut EP and received 20k+ streams in the first 24 hours.

Check out the video above for a fun look into some of the behind-the-scenes shots from the exclusive event.

Click Here for a full recap of the special night. For more information on King Calaway, please visit kingcalaway.com and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify.

Got something coming up and want to partner with NYCountry Swag? Contact us for all inquiries, advertising, and event requests at: [email protected].

 

King Calaway

King Calaway with NYCountry Swag’s Stephanie Wagner and Christina Bosch

 

 

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NYCS Swag Spotlight: Tiffany Woys

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“I want to be a vehicle right now at this point in my career for the songwriters that are writing great songs, and really showcase what this community and what Nashville was built on, and that’s songwriting. It all starts with a song.”

Tiffany Woys

 

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Tiffany Woys is our next Swag Spotlight.  Woys is proud of being another artist hailing from the west coast, understanding that not growing up in the typical southern household would give her a different vantage point when pursuing a career in country music. She recalls in a recent interview the very first time she remembers being enchanted by music when she was 5 years old was seeing Leann Rimes perform the National Anthem. From there she learned to love power vocalists such as Celine Dion, and she quickly decided she wanted to be a singer and perform on stage. As she got older, she started to fall in love with vocalists like Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Carrie Underwood.  “Country music is based on a story and so vulnerable, honest and truth-telling, that’s what brought me from pop music to country music, those are the songs that I related to more than ever,” Woys explains. “I am such a firm believer that a location or genre doesn’t determine anything, country music just felt like home.”

After making the decision to pursue music instead of becoming a criminal law attorney, she got a band together and started touring up and down the west coast.  She mentions how her parents have always been such strong supporters of her dream and during college, she would drive home each weekend to work with a vocal coach and really hone her craft. With idols like Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand and of course, Celine Dion, Woys knew she needed to work hard to become the vocalist she knew she could be.

After five years on the coast, learning the ins and outs of the music business and what she wanted to say, she built up her confidence as an artist, packed her bags and made the move to Music City.  She put out her very first collection of songs last Friday, a self-titled EP featuring four tracks. Although she did not write any of the songs, she is proud to champion songwriters and songs that otherwise wouldn’t have been recorded. “I just never wanted to put out my own music that I’ve written if it was just going to be okay, to me the best song wins,” Woys says. “There are so many amazing writers that aren’t getting their songs heard because they aren’t songwriter/artists. I want to showcase the songwriters, I don’t want to pretend or shy away from the fact that I haven’t written the songs.”

She tells us that she has listened to hundreds of songs since moving to Nashville, trying to come up with four that will cohesively introduce her and her story. “I am such an advocate of finding your love story, finding your love, my message with the EP is my story with starting,” she explains. “I’m not finished yet but I wanted to share my journey so far, of love and its ups and downs, the songs go in order of things that have happened to me.”  Some of the songwriters who have had huge success in Nashville have written this collection of songs including, Shane McAnally, Nicolle Gaylon, Trevor Rosen, Jason Saenz, and more. “Other than singing a big dream of mine is finding the perfect someone for me, I do believe in the fairytale, happy ending. This EP is sharing pieces of me and a big part of who I am.”
In 2019, she looks forward to getting back out and performing these new songs.  Be sure to follow Tiffany Woys on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for upcoming tour dates and announcements.

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Walker Hayes Challenge Raising Money for ‘Be A Craig Fund’

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Challenge

Photo Via @WalkerHayes on Instagram

Singer-songwriter, Walker Hayes posted a picture on Instagram showing off his muscles and captioned it “I traded drinking for working out three years ago. Feels good. My daily escape. Also @TheRock I am coming for you.” The photo quickly got thousands of likes and comments, proving his fans may not have known about his sobriety or how much effort he puts into his health.

Radio host Bobby Bones, caught wind of this picture and decided to recreate it himself with weights and all. He posted this picture to his Instagram Story and wrote “This is the Walker Hayes challenge” and on the next story he wrote “Hey @Ryanhurd. You’re up.” This turned into a challenge of showing off your muscles.

Challenge

Photo Via @Ryanhurd on Instagram

Ryan Hurd accepted the challenge and posted his picture while calling out Thomas Rhett next. Hayes also challenged fellow country music singer Lindsay Ell who accepted and then called out Maren Morris.

Challenge

Photo Via @LindsayEll on Instagram

The best part about the challenge is that each person that joins in is making a donation to the Be a Craig Fund. If you didn’t know, the Be a Craig Fund was started by Hayes as a tribute to a special man named Craig who gave a van to the Hayes family when they were struggling. This act of kindness meant that all of the Hayes children could fit in a car together, as well as have enough seatbelts for them all. Hayes hopes that the money raised by this fund will encourage others to seek out ways to help others and pay it forward.

Even if you don’t want to partake in the challenge by posting a photo and using the tag #BeACraigFund, consider donating to the Be a Craig fund and pay it forward helping someone in need. You can do that here.

Kassi Ashton’s Sassy Video For New Single “Violins”

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Kassi Ashton Violins

When it comes to sass, Kassi Ashton has it in spades, as evidenced by her new video for “Violins.” In what’s easily the most compelling high-school-themed video since Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” Ashton somehow manages to both put a suitor on blast and make marching bands incredibly cool.

Co-written by Ashton, Luke Dick, and Natalie Hemby, “Violins” serves as the perfect tell-off tune. When it comes to unfaithful exes begging for a second chance, Ashton has no time or sympathy for that. Playing off the old adage of someone playing the world’s tiniest violin, she sings, “Can’t hear the violins you’re playing/ There’s no symphony inside my head/ I got my own marching band/ Guess I lost my give a damn ’cause/ I can’t hear the violins you’re playing.”

In addition to shutting down the high school jock in a school’s gymnasium, Ashton dons her best sparkles and is easily the hottest drum major in town. Interestingly enough, she designed and created the video’s outfits by hand.

“Visuals are so important to me because that’s the way I understand and explain everything in my life,” Kassi reveals about the video in a recent press release. “It is no different with my music. When I allowed my brain to think of all the possibilities of what this video could look like, a million ideas soaked in red light came out. Kristin Barlowe, in all her magic, and her entire team perfectly translated my thoughts to the screen.”

Released in January, “Violins” shows a markedly different side of the rising star, who has previously created buzz with songs like “Taxidermy” and “California, Missouri.” The music video was shot in Nashville and was directed by Kristin Barlowe.

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Keith Urban Performs at NHL Stadium Series Hockey Game

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Keith Urban Hockey

Photo Via @KeithUrban on Twitter

Keith Urban performed during the first intermission at the NHL Stadium Series hockey game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Saturday night. The game was between the Flyers and their cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins; a game in which the Flyers won in overtime, 4-3.

After one period with the score tied at one, Urban took the stage, which was a replica of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, as made famous from the Rocky movie franchise. The first song he performed was “Blue Ain’t Your Color”, a ballad from his 2016 album Ripcord. This song has won numerous awards, including Video of the Year at the 2017 CMT awards and Favorite Country Song at the American Music Awards of the same year.

The cold rain and 40-degree weather did not seem to bother Urban as he took off his jacket and performed the rest of the show in his signature tight, short sleeve v-neck shirt. The lights went down as the next song began playing, his latest single “Never Comin Down” from his most recent studio album, Graffiti U. When the chorus came in, fire shot out from behind him and fireworks went off perfectly to the beat of the music. For fans watching the game on television, this was the song that was broadcasted in full. Urban used “Never Comin Down” as the opening song for nearly all of his shows on the Graffiti U World Tour.  His last song of the night was another hit from Ripcord, “Wasted Time”. Thirteen weeks after its release, the song hit number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making it Urban’s twentieth number one single.

Urban is a huge hockey fan as he has attended and performed at many Nashville Predators games in the past. He was very excited to play this year’s Stadium Series and spoke with Tony Luftman from NHL Network about the atmosphere of this game. “That’s the thing I love about seeing the game outside; this is where the game started — on a frozen lake so it’s so awesome. You didn’t start in an arena, so this feels like the most organic way to see this game.”

The Flyers scored two goals within the last three minutes to tie the game at three and to send it to overtime; the second coming with 19 seconds remaining. After many missed opportunities by Pittsburgh in overtime, Flyers’ captain Claude Giroux took it up the ice and scored to give Philadelphia the win. This game was important for both teams as the two rivals currently stand out of the playoff race and look to make a late push in the final month and a half of the season.

Check out this awesome video recap of the game and his performance, posted on Keith Urban’s Twitter account.

Urban told former Flyer and NBCSN analyst, Jeremy Roenick that his wife sparked his love for hockey. He loves how fast and intense the games are, and hopes the Predators, who are currently second in the Central Division, can make another Stanley Cup run this year. As for now, the four-time Grammy award winner will continue the European leg of his Graffiti U World Tour. He will be in the New York area headlining the Hunter Mountain Taste of Country Music Festival Friday show on June 7th while also doing a show in Atlantic City, NJ on August 17th. For tickets, visit his website https://www.keithurban.net.

 

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NYCS First Impression: Tiffany Woys Debut Self-Titled EP

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Tiffany Woys

Tiffany Woys’ anticipated self-titled EP just dropped today. Her first single that was released last year “Priceless,” is penned by Emily Shackleton, Kelly Archer, and Mickey Guyton. It’s a sassy, fiery track about heartbreak and self-worth in a relationship. Woys’ EP consists of a four-song tracklist, which is over five years in the making. The EP features “Last Call Weakness,” “Spark,” “Love Has No Heart” and of course “Priceless.”

Woys’ EP includes tracks written by Nashville’s top songwriters including Todd Clark, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen, Sara Haze, Matt Bronlewee, Jason Saenz, Justin Halpin, Bobby Campbell, and Matthew Joseph Rogers. “Last Call Weakness” is a catchy way to start things off for her EP, lyrically talking about how the ups and downs of a relationship. Following

“Last Call Weakness” is her song “Spark”, a midtempo look back on a romantic relationship and the realization that it is slowly burning out. She describes it as “the beginning of the story.” It’s all about when you know a relationship is going to go bad, but you do it anyway.  “Love Has No Heart” was originally on hold for Brett Young, but this tender heartbreak ballad that fits her voice flawlessly. It fit Woys’ story perfectly at the time of moving to Nashville with one door closing and another one opening. The EP offers a cohesive look at the vocalist and puts incredible songs on full display.

Be sure to look for our exclusive Swag Spotlight interview with Tiffany Woys this Monday and until then, check out her self-titled debut EP below. You can also download and stream Tiffany Woys’ EP on all digital platforms today.

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Jennifer Nettles Opens Up on New Single “I Can Do Hard Things”

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Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles debuted her brand new single “I Can Do Hard Things,” and it is spoken directly from her heart, based upon life experiences and the ups and downs of womanhood. In an essay published on Medium, Nettles writes “This song for me is a truth-telling, a bloodletting, a real-life heart opening to what it means to be a grown woman. It is my offering to honor the reality that, as I like to say, “everything is everything.”

As she shares the trials and tribulations of what eventually led and encouraged her to write her first solo song since 2017, much of the inspiration was driven by reading the book “Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton. Nettles explained, “Within her story, she shared that while indeed life can be hard, we are “made for hard things” just as much as we are made for joyous, easy ones.”

Nettles gracefully sings about resilience unveiled in a beautifully written delicate ballad that can tug on one’s heartstrings. “I Can Do Hard Things” is an authentic gift as Nettles’ wows once again with her unbelievable vocals and words that illustrate the strength women often showcase and how we are strong enough to overcome the challenging times. She passionately sings, “It’s a lot to look at all that I got/It’s a lot to see who I am and am not/But I can laugh and I can love and I can dream/And I can do hard things,” and that is nothing short of moving.

Since the reunion with Kristan Bush of Sugarland, Nettles has announced she will be joining music sensation Josh Groban on his Bridges 2019 tour which is coming to NYCB Live: Home Of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY on June 15th. Check out Nettles’ new song below along with her essay published on Medium.

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Morgan Wallen Gets Emotional at Sold-Out NYC Show

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Last night, singer-songwriter Morgan Wallen brought his headlining ‘If I Know Me Tour’ to New York City’s Irving Plaza, with special guests Lainey Wilson and HARDY. The sold-out show marks Wallen’s first headlining performance in NYC.

Morgan Wallen

Kicking off the night, Song Suffragettes singer and songwriter, Lainey Wilson opened up the show, getting the crowd pumped for HARDY and Wallen’s sets. She entertained the crowd with her songs “Dixie Hippies,” and “Middle Finger.” Keeping the audience involved throughout her set, the Louisiana native played a medley of some of her favorite cover songs, including “Fat Bottomed Girls.” Wilson impressed the crowd with her sassy lyrics, charming personality, and twangy vocals, sure to have garnered some new fans.

Morgan Wallen

Songwriter turned solo artist, HARDY took the stage next. With a permanent smile on his face and a ton of energy, HARDY began his set with some uptempo songs, including his track “4X4” off his This Ole Boy EP and “All She Left Was Me,” off his newest EP, Where to Find Me. HARDY had fans excited and singing along from the minute he walked on stage, sharing with the crowd “ New York, Y’all wanna be the wildest crowd we play for?!,” only to later call the audience “the loudest crowd so far.”

Although most of HARDY’s set was filled with catchy and uptempo party songs, the singer-songwriter took a moment to play one of his slower, lyrically-focused songs “Signed, Sober You.” The stripped down song truly showcased his artistry as both a vocalist and songwriter.

HARDY also made sure to honor his song-writing roots by singing a mash-up of some of the tracks he has penned for other artists, including Florida Georgia Line’s “Colorado”  and “Talk You Out of It,” as well as, Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You.” The entertainer also sang his second number one song as a songwriter, “Simple,” off Florida Georgia Line’s newest album Can’t Say I Ain’t Country. HARDY definitely won fans over with his unique set and presence on stage, ending his set with fan-favorite and current single “Rednecker.”

Making his NYC headlining debut, Morgan Wallen took the stage next, after a quick introduction by Nash FM’s Jesse Addy and Katie Neal. Wallen’s set started off with high-energy, as he immediately played two songs off his debut record If I Know Me, “Whatcha Know ‘Bout That” and “Happy Hour.” Fans couldn’t contain their excitement, as the singer jumped around on stage, getting the crowd excited for his full set. Next, Wallen played “the first song [he] ever put out,” “The Way I Talk,” encouraging the crowd to sing along with him. Fans did just that, as they belted the lyrics back to the singer, who took a moment to soak it all in.

Following the song, Wallen interacted with the crowd, sharing his journey to get to this point, “This is special for me- means a lot! […] We played for a couple of years to a lot of empty rooms. it’s really cool to see a full, packed out room. Ya know, we’ve been on this tour for a couple of months, every single room was packed. You guys make me feel like we’re doing the right thing, man. I really appreciate that cause of y’all we got to put our debut album last year, I’ll be singing a lot of songs off it tonight.” Wallen continued his set singing almost every song off his debut album.

After covering one of this favorite country artists, Eric Church’s song, “Smoke A Little Smoke” and then a song he said was a ‘sexy song’,  “Little “Rain, Wallen played his current radio single, “Whiskey Glasses.” The crowd was so loud, during his performance that it appeared every single person at the sold-out show was singing along. After the song, fans chanted ‘Morgan,’ bringing the rising country star to tears. It was truly a magical moment that both Wallen and fans will be sure to remember for a long time coming.

Continuing to connect with the audience on a deeper level, the artist shared a personal sentiment with the crowd, even introducing his parents, who were in the audience supporting their son. “I started writing songs in the garage in my parent’s house when  I was about 18- 19 years old, on a work out bench man. I didn’t think I’d ever have a chance to do this for a living […] I thought about those days. I think about my parents how they gave up everything, pretty much for me to be here doing this. They up there right now!” he revealed, as fans applauded his parents as loudly as they could, making it another emotional moment for the Wallen family.

Towards the end of the show, Wallen switched gears and played some of his slower-paced, but heartfelt songs, including, “Redneck Love Song,” “Chasin’ You,” and “Talkin’ Tennesse.” The singer-songwriter even shared with the audience that if he had to guess, “Chasin’ You,” which he just put out a music video for, will probably be his next single to go to country radio. The crowd erupted into applause about that possibility.

After some more tender moments, Wallen and his band brought back the high-energy, involving the audience in an epic medley of some of his favorite rock songs, including Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” Linken Park’s “In the End,” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard. He then closed out the show with the song that put him on the map “Up Down”, with HARDY, who co-wrote the track, jamming with him.

Catch Wallen and HARDY again this summer on July 20th at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre on Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Can’t Say We Ain’t Country Tour.’

 

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Stephanie Quayle Releases New Single “If I Was A Cowboy”

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Newly inducted member of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Stephanie Quayle released her much anticipated single “If I Was A Cowboy” today.  The track penned by well-known songwriters Nicolle Gaylon, Ross Copperman, and Shane McAnally.

Quayle’s “If I Was A Cowboy,” tells a story of how she is dealing with a break-up compared to how a cowboy would handle it.  Her genuine southern roots and elegant vocals reel us into the compelling heartbreak comparison with opening lyrics, “If I was a cowboy / I’d be on my second beer / not staring at my cell phone stuck in the bathroom mirror…And if I was a cowboy / I’d just throw some blue jeans on / I’d be somewhere on the dance floor / I’d already be moved on.”  As much as one would wish to be strong and resemble a cowboy’s perspective towards the break-up, Quayle admits that it is not easy.

Utter confusion and betrayal are embodied in the second verse when she sings “Cowboys say they’ll never marry / so you go and set them free / Mr. ‘I ain’t getting married’ just didn’t wanna marry me.”  Quayle’s incredible storytelling paints a picture of pure desolation with lyrics “I’m just a girl closing her tab/can’t hide her hurt under her hat” all while Cowboy’s, “they don’t wait for their heart to unbreak/they just ride away.”

After listening to this song in its entirety and understanding the difficulty of coping with a breakup, it becomes empowering for women out there and to look at the end of a relationship with the perspective of a cowboy and to be strong and move on.  It is no surprise that Quayle was recently named one of Rolling Stone Country’s Top Artists You Need To Know, and is making her mark as one of Nashville’s newest talented female singer-songwriters.  Check out her latest single “If I Was A Cowboy” below and be sure to go to www.stephaniequayle.com for upcoming shows and information!

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What We’re Listening To: February 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 February picks. Then be sure to give our Spotify account a follow and listen to our favorite tracks!

 

FEBRUARY PICKS:

 

Stephanie Wagner, Founder

Pick: “Rockin’ All Night Long” – Adam Hambrick
Songwriters: Adam Hambrick, Kelly Archer, Pete Good 

“I am currently obsessively listening to Adam Hambrick’s “Rockin’ All Night Long”. Right from the get-go the song creates a nostalgic feeling referencing Don McLean’s “American Pie” in the opening lines. Setting the tone for the track, the first passage references the early days of young adulthood when life was all about chasing good times leading into the chorus: “Bloodshot eyes, watch the sunrise / Sleep when you die, phase of life / It’s a full heart falling hard / Singing songs to her in the dark / Drinking up every moment til it’s gone / Just rockin’ all night long.”

The song moves through the next phase telling the story of meeting the love of your life, “giving in to what your heart wants” and once again enjoying that time of your life of being in love and appreciating those late nights together. PLOT TWIST – the final chorus leads to Hambrick becoming a father, sitting in a rocking chair, rocking his sweet baby girl all night long. “She’s the best reason I’ve ever had…. For those bloodshot eyes…” I know, I know… CHILLS. The song is so sweet and unexpectedly emotional. The story it tells is what everybody wants and/or can relate to and that’s what country music is all about.”

 

Christina Bosch, Managing Editor 

Pick: “Lady Like” – Ingrid Andress
Songwriters: Derrick Southerland, Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis

“I wasn’t sure which song to pick this month and then last night the NYCountry Swag team attended a showcase with a new songwriter artist, Ingrid Andress.  Andress was recently signed to Warner Music Nashville and released her very first song today.  She shared last night before singing her debut single, “Lady Like” that the song is about not fitting gender stereotypes. “Just because I never wear a dress and just because I never brush my hair, doesn’t mean I’m less of a woman,” she explained. Watching her sass and unapologetic way of telling her story, I fell in love with her as an artist and this debut single will absolutely be a fan favorite.

“Controversial, so outspoken, I’ve been told I’m not ladylike / but I’m a lady like woah / I could bring you to your knees / Get you kicked out the Garden of Eden / Untameable, unframeable Mona Lisa oh / Kiss you like a whiskey fire / Turn around leave your heart in a riot / Lipstick in a cigarette pack on the dash / I’m a lady like that.”

I’m so glad that she released this single so I can share the song with everyone that I know and I can’t wait to see how many people love it as much as I do.”

 

Dylan Bestler, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Living” – Dierks Bentley
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, Ashley Gorley, Dierks Bentley

“When I first got into country music, “Somewhere on a Beach” was on the radio constantly, so immediately Dierks Bentley was one of my favorite artists. His most recent album, The Mountain is great for all country fans because it has songs of the new style of country such as “Women Amen” and traditional, bluegrass type songs such as “Travelin’ Light” featuring Brandi Carlile.

One song that stands out to me on that album is “Living”. Its message, “just because you are alive and breathing doesn’t mean you’re truly living” speaks to me. It makes me want to do more with my life; be adventurous and take chances! Bentley describes how the world is a beautiful place and you should appreciate every moment this life gives you and make the most of it.”  

“Some days you just forget what all you’ve been given / Some days you just get by / Yeah some days you’re just alive / Some days you’re living”

 

Nicole Bochinis, Contributing Writer

Pick: “If My Heart Had a Heart” – Cassadee Pope
Songwriters: Hannah Ellis, Matthew McGinn, Josh Kerr 

“When I first heard “If My Heart Had A Heart” by Cassadee Pope, I instantly loved it. Singing about heartbreak is never easy but it’s such a relatable topic, that I myself can relate to. I have been a fan of Pope since her Hey Monday days and it has been an honor to watch her grow over the years. From Hey Monday to The Voice to her debut album and now to her sophomore album, it’s amazing to see the growth she’s had and how her voice has matured. There is something so special about her voice and it makes me so happy that the world gets to hear it. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for her.”

 

Jeremy Chua, Contributing Writer 

Pick: “These Walls Talk” – Josh Martin
Songwriters: Marla Cannon-Goodman, Reid Isbell, Josh Martin

“This smooth, country, blues-leaning song is pretty much unlike much you hear on the radio today. I remember it playing randomly on my Spotify shuffle and as soon as I heard the chorus, I had to check the title and singer of this song. That’s when you know the song you’re hearing is really good. It’s got the perfect instrumental storm to make it a compelling track that follows through the protagonist’s push-pull love and heartbreak, through the personification of the walls that surround the couple. Josh Martin is an independent artist, but with writing, vocals and the overall work of art like this song, it won’t be long till power players in Nashville take notice of him!”

 

Kelly Cunningham, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Keep It Simple” – James Barker Band
Songwriters: Gavin Slate, James Barker, Todd Clark, Travis Wood

“James Barker Band just released this new single in January and it’s their catchiest single yet. They pushed boundaries with this track but its one that’ll be stuck in your head for days. It’s an upbeat mood of the well-accomplished image of Friday night fun. This is certainly one of their future hits.”

 

Molly Holmberg, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Raised On Country” – Chris Young
Songwriters: Cary Barlow, Chris Young, Corey Crowder

“When I first heard “Raised On Country”, I thought it was going to be just another anthem to country music as many artists are releasing similar songs. Although, upon first listen, I was hooked. I love the references to such iconic country singers like Joe Diffie, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, and George Strait, that like Young, I grew up on. It certainly resonates well with listeners due to its nostalgic ’90s vibes and memories of the old days. The song is a celebration of the country music we were all raised on whether it was on our own or through our parents and the incredible lyrics that draw you in while the catchy beats will get stuck in your head. I believe that “Raised On Country” will continue climbing the charts and possibly be Young’s 12th number one song.”

 

Nicole Piering, Contributing Writer

Pick: “I’ve Been Good” – Cassadee Pope
Songwriters:

“When Cassadee Pope released her new album Stages, it was clear that the singer-songwriter was showing a more personal and vulnerable side of herself. While the album is full of gems including “If My Heart Had a Heart,” it’s the closing track, “I’ve Been Good,” that’s truly a standout. The song paints the portrait of someone painting on a brave face, while they’re dying inside. “I’ve been good at looking people in the eye, saying ‘I’ve been good,'” Pope sings after revealing the heartbreaking truth that deep down she’s struggling. She reveals that she’s “been good at drinking whiskey” and “staying busy,” but doing everything except dealing with her own heartbreak. The song is somber yet realistic, the candor in its delivery breathtakingly refreshing, and I can’t get enough of this record.”

 

Olivia Reese, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Cool” – Rachel Reinert
Songwriters: Davis Naish, Melissa Fuller, Rachel Reinert

“Cool” by Rachel Reinert, has been a jam of mine since it was released last year. It is a laid back tune reminiscing of a relationship ending and coming back together again. “Never thought we’d get back to/The way we used to be when we were cool/We been love, we been hate/We’ve been hurt, but we made it” It has a one of a kind summer sound, perfect for when the winter blues hit and you want a taste of warmer weather. As a long time fan of Rachel Reinert, I was definitely very excited about this single and it didn’t disappoint.”

 

Nicole Sellati, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Speed of Love” – Florida Georgia Line
Songwriters: Brian Kelley, Jordan Schmidt, Tyler Hubbard

“Luckily last week I got the chance to attend two of Florida Georgia Line’s album release day events for Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, and ever since then I’ve had their album on repeat. One of my favorite songs on the album is “Speed Of Love,” because it is fast-paced while giving off the ultimate country vibe. It’s one of those songs that you just have to get up out of your seat to move around to. Though they did not play it at the iHeart Country Album Release Party last week, hopefully, it will be added to their upcoming tour setlist!”

 

Danielle Tornatore, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Swerve” – Florida Georgia Line
Songwriters: Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard, David Garcia, Josh Miller

“When I listened to FGL’s new album, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, this song stood out to me immediately. It’s one of those upbeat jams that the guys are known for, but there’s something a little different about this one. It has a little bit of rock n roll flair to it, with hints of other genres blended in which makes it one of my favorite songs ever from Tyler and BK. I was lucky enough to hear it live the very first time they played it at their iHeartRadio album release party last Friday and it made me love it a hundred times more. It’s such a feel-good song that you can’t help but dance to. I can’t wait to hear it live again this summer at Jones Beach!”

 

Shanna Vitaliano, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Die From A Broken Heart” – Maddie & Tae
Songwriters: Deric Ruttan, Jonathan David Singleton, Maddie Marlow, Taylor Dye

“For this month, I chose Maddie & Tae’s “Die From A Broken Heart” because it is real, raw, and heart-wrenching.  It is a song that can easily take us back to a time in our life when we’ve gone through a devastating breakup and you don’t think things will ever get better.  It is during that broken time when you lean upon those closest to you, especially your Mom and Dad. Lyrics such as “Hey Momma, how do you get a red wine stain out of your favorite dress? /Black mascara off a pillowcase?/Cure a one-too-many headache?” are just a few relatable things that remind us of a time where we couldn’t fathom being without a person you love.  “Die From A Broken Heart” expresses immense vulnerability and after listening all the way through, we are all reminded that things will eventually be okay because we can turn to prayer and to our loved ones for support!”

 

Erica Zisman, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Velvet Elvis” – Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Kacey Musgraves, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby

“With so many talented country artists and awesome songs being released daily, it has become harder and harder to pick my favorite song of the month. After all the buzz around the now Grammy winner, Kacey Musgraves, I decided to listen to her entire record, Golden Hour straight through just before the award show aired. I was truly captivated by her unique sound and lyrical ability, and completely understand why everyone is raving about her artistry. One of the songs that stood out to me off the album was my February song pick, “Velvet Elvis.”

The song is truly unique with its phrasing and rhythm, which I find refreshing and innovative. I was hooked from the first verse, “All I ever wanted / Was something classic / A kind of love song that goes on till the end of the time.” Additionally, she has gotten me more and more excited about all the wonderful female artists in the country genre. Musgraves is a one-of-a-kind talent that I encourage everyone to take a chance and listen to.”
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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