Blog Archives

[Listen] Adam Doleac Releases “Famous” and “Puzzle of Us”

January 5, 2019/in Blog, New Music /by Shanna Vitaliano

One of our 2018 Artist to Watch alum, Adam Doleac gave country music fans a real treat by releasing two singles to kick off the new year. Followers were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the songs before they were released last night on his Instagram. It’s no surprise Doleac continues to establish himself and make a name in country music as “Famous” and “Puzzle of Us” are catchy, heartfelt songs that will undoubtedly be fan favorites.

“Famous” is showcasing the undeniable feeling about someone who you are utterly amazed by. With lyrics like “Girl, you look famous, like South Beach or Vegas,” Doleac is putting his love interest on a pedestal. The lyrics can make anyone fall in love with this easily relatable song which was co-written with Bobby Hamrick and Andy Skib.

“Puzzle Of Us” was inspired by a man Doleac met in a bar who had an entire sleeve tattooed on his arm with one piece missing. As he explained on his Instagram post, he asked why the piece was missing, and the man said: “Give me three minutes and I’ll show you.” When a woman came back and sat down, she had a tattoo right where he didn’t have his, it was her only tattoo. Needless to say, they completed each other through tattoos and Doleac and his co-writer Anthony Smith turned that story into a sentimental love song.

Doleac is proving he is here to stay and these two singles are just a snippet of what is to come from him. Be sure to check out both of these songs below and stay up to date on tour announcements and new music at https://www.adamdoleac.com.

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Ryan Hurd Drops New Song “Michigan for the Winter”

January 4, 2019/in Blog, New Music /by Danielle Tornatore

RCA recording artist, Ryan Hurd has released his first new song of the year entitled “Michigan for the Winter.” The mid-tempo ballad, penned by Hurd, Aaron Eshuis and Neil Mason of The Cadillac Three, illustrates the story of the singer-songwriter heading to his home state of Michigan to ward off a bad breakup without entirely giving up hope. He sings in the chorus, “But, just in case you wanna change your mind / I’m lettin’ you know where you can find me / 46th Street, that first right turn / Down a dirt road watching that wood stove burn / I’m either waiting out your memory / Or for you don’t wanna come back to me / Whichever comes first until it don’t hurt no more / I’ll be up North / I’m going to Michigan for the winter”

The track is currently featured on Spotify’s ‘New Boots’ playlist, while his previous single “To A T” is being featured on the ‘Hot Country’ playlist. Hurd will head out on his four-date sold-out headlining tour this month, which will stop in New York City on January 25th at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are sold-out but check back with NYCountry Swag for a full show review, as well as live videos on our Instagram Story.

“Michigan for the Winter” is now available everywhere you stream or purchase 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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Teddy Robb Releases Honest New Single “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You”

January 4, 2019/in Blog, New Music /by Danielle Tornatore

Country music newcomer and one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Teddy Robb has released his second single entitled “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You.” Robb recently signed with Monument Records and his debut single “Lead Me On” has already garnered over 4 million streams.

Written by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, and Trevor Rosen, the track is laid back and explains the decisions that are made when drinking around an ex, suggesting maybe it isn’t always the best idea. Not only does the track feature some of Nashville’s finest songwriters, but it was also produced by hit-making producers McAnally, Ben Fowler, and Matt McGinn.

Robb sings in the chorus, “I really shouldn’t drink around you / It’s a risk, it’s a gamble / Little more than I can handle / Just a touch of a buzz is enough to get me thinkin’ things / I really shouldn’t think about you / We end up on the fast track / Gettin’ back to where we left the past at / You think I would’ve learned my lesson by now but I never do / I really shouldn’t drink around you”

The singer-songwriter took to his Instagram to share his excitement for the song’s release, “I couldn’t be any more excited about choosing this as our second song to release. What I love about country music is the stories the songs tell and how they can take you to a certain place and time. Every time I sing this song I can’t help but smile and think about that certain someone that I REALLY shouldn’t drink around! I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.”

The song is currently being featured on Spotify’s ‘New Boots’ playlist and Apple Music’s ‘Breaking Country’ playlist.

Be sure to follow and keep up with Robb on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for future announcements and song releases. “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You” is now available everywhere you stream or purchase 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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Chris Young Debuts New Song “Raised on Country”

January 4, 2019/in Blog /by Erica Zisman

Photo credit: John Shearer

Country megastar, Chris Young brought the 2018 trend of name-dropping fellow country artists in songs with us to 2019 in his brand new track “Raised on Country.” The song’s debut, follows Young’s number 1 hit, “Hangin’ On.” The new track is the first of many new songs coming from the artist this year, and possibly, the first song off his next studio album.

“Raised on Country” is an upbeat, head-bopping song, that is as country as country gets. Young name-drops some of his favorite old-school country singers, in the catchy chorus, including, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Joe Diffie. “I was raised on Merle / raised on Willie / Got my Honky Tonk attitude from Joe Diffie / Daddy daddy did it too / it’s a family tradition / IF someone cranks it up, you can’t help but listen / My upbringing sounds like George Strait singing / And I gotta give props to the radio, ‘cause if you know me / I was raised on country.”

The song, co-written, by Young, Corey Crowder, and Cary Barlowe is the perfect transition into the next phase of artistry for the singer, giving fans a song to jam out to all year long. On Twitter, the Grammy-nominated vocalist promoted his new song, calling “Raised on Country” one of his favorites. “Right now one of my favorite songs I have ever written drops… I remember listening to country music on the radio as I grew up and I fell in love with it. This is an anthem/a party/ and an ode to what I love. Enjoy!!! Here we go!.”

Young just wrapped up his 2018 headlining ‘Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour,’ with special guests Dan + Shay and Morgan Evans back in December. We were lucky enough to catch the singers last month, in the second to last show of the tour. Young does not currently have any United States scheduled shows for this year, but he will be performing in England in May. For more information head to chrisyoungcountry.com.

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New Country Music Friday – The Playlist 1/4

January 4, 2019/in Blog, New Music /by Christina Bosch

It’s officially the new year and our very first New Music Friday. Today, we see two brand new songs from Swag Session Alumn, Adam Doleac titled “Famous” and “Puzzle of Us”. One of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Teddy Robb released a brand new track “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You”. New tracks from Chris Young and Ryan Hurd. Aaron Watson released “Kiss That Girl Goodbye” the first single from his forthcoming album Red Bandana due out later this year. Additionally, Danielle Bradbery released another cover song, this time of Post Malone’s “Pyscho”, completely putting her own spin on the track.

Check out our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:

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NYCountry Swag’s 2019 Artists to Watch

January 3, 2019/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner and Christina Bosch

The New York Country Swag team loves to support rising artists and introduce our followers to the best new music in the genre. Since our inception three years ago we have named rising stars like Russell Dickerson, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Jordan Davis, and Jimmie Allen as our Artists to Watch. Check out our picks in 2017 and 2018 before checking out the 10 artists we picked to have a huge 2019 below.

10. Austin Burke – This Arizona native moved to Nashville when he was 19 years old and has been working towards putting independent music out ever since. His single “Whole Lot In Love” has garnered over 46 million streams on Spotify, making him one of the most successful independent artists on the platform. His latest single “Slower” is a smooth, love song written for his longtime girlfriend. Fans of Brett Young will love this rising singer-songwriter.

Listen: “Slower”
Stay Connected: @AustinBurkeMusic

9. Abby Anderson – One of our Swag Spotlights in 2018, Abby Anderson released her debut EP, “I’m Good” back in September with Black River Records and packed a whole lot of sass her five-song project. The first single released, “Make Him Wait” however teaches women of every age about the respect they deserve in a relationship. Her bubbly personality and powerful vocal ability made her a standout to our team right from the beginning.

Listen: “Make Him Wait”
Stay Connected: @abbyandersonmusic

8. Riley Green – During our Live Swag Session with Riley Green he sang his debut single “There Was a Girl” and explained how his life has changed over the past year. Signing with Big Machine Label Group and releasing his single along with a music video has gained him a huge fanbase. He released a four-song EP back in June keeping the traditional country sound while appealing to modern country fans as well.

Listen: “There Was This Girl”
Stay Connected: @rileyduckman

7. Brandon Ratcliff – Closing out 2018 with a huge announcement, Brandon Ratcliff will be touring with Brett Young and Kelsea Ballerini on the Miss Me More Tour. If you haven’t listened to his song “Rules of Breaking Up” (produced by Shane McAnally) you will love his blend of R&B and new wave country. Fans of Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown, Brandon Ratcliff is your next favorite artist.

Listen: “Rules of Breaking Up”
Stay Connected: @brandonratcliff

6. Seaforth – Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan make up the new duo Seaforth and are the latest Australian transplants to Nashville. Their friendship spans over the past two decades and these singer-songwriters just released two tracks that are already causing quite a buzz in the country music world. We featured “Talk To Me” as one of our December Picks and are loving their vibe. Time will tell if they can garner the same success as Keith Urban and more recently fellow Australian, Morgan Evans. If you love Dan + Shay you will certainly love Seaforth.

Listen: “Love That”
Stay Connected: @weareseaforth

5. Kassi Ashton – One of our most unique picks this year is Kassi Ashton, small-town native who busted out and is making huge waves not only in the country community but on music in general. Her distinct style, personality, and songwriting set her apart from the glitz and glam female country artists as she sings about her real-life experiences and doesn’t sugarcoat anything. As we anxiously await her debut project, take a listen to “Taxidermy” a hilarious threat to anyone who does her wrong.

Listen: “California, Missouri”
Stay Connected: @kassiashton

4. Teddy Robb – One of the artists we are most excited about in 2019 is our Swag Spotlight Teddy Robb. Just recently signed to Monument Records, Robb is working with some of Nashville’s best songwriters to create his first project. Be on the lookout for a brand new song tomorrow but in the meantime check out “Lead Me On” which has been streamed over 4 million times and recaps from songwriter nights the rising star hosted in Nashville.

Listen: “Lead Me On”
Stay Connected: @teddyrobb

3. Filmore – At the end of 2018, Filmore released a brand new single “Heart’s Having a Hard Time”, a follow up to his biggest hit yet, “Slower”. Another Missouri native with undeniable swagger, Filmore has often been compared to Sam Hunt as he combines cool R&B vibes with country songwriting. He has been on the Nashville scene for a few years and we think 2019 will be his year to really break out.

Listen: “Love That About You”
Stay Connected: @filmoremusic

2. Tenille Townes – Straight from her small hometown in Canada, Tenille Townes has already experienced a ton of success since her move to Nashville. The thought-provoking singer-songwriter joined Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert on one of the best tours this past year (The Bandwagon Tour) and her unique voice is recognizable in the genre. In our Swag Spotlight interview back in April, Townes told us about Big Hearts for Big Kids, an organization she is involved with that has raised over 1.5 million dollars since its inception just under a decade ago. Between her love for philanthropy and her rare ability to convey stories, Townes is in for another successful year.

Listen: “Somebody’s Daughter”
Stay Connected: @tenilletownes

Mitchell Tenpenny – If you have been following NYCountry Swag you know our love for Mitchell Tenpenny. From the moment we recorded a Live Swag Session with him in Times Square back in 2017, we have been fans of his songwriting as well as his powerhouse voice. To close out 2018, Tenpenny released his debut album, Telling All My Secrets and hit the number one spot on the country charts with “Drunk Me”. We attended his very first sold-out NYC headlining show in August and it was incredible to hear the entire audience sing along to every song. We are looking forward to seeing even more success from the recording artist in 2019.

Listen: “Somebody’s Got Me”
Stay Connected: @m10penny

Let us know what other artists you think will have a big year and which new music you are looking forward to in the new year!

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Country Artists Perform on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

January 2, 2019/in Blog /by Kelly Cunningham

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve went from seeing country stars performing in the pouring rain in Times Square to staying dry in Hollywood and New Orleans. Ryan Seacrest, Jenny McCarthy, Lucy Hale, and Ciara were the hosts throughout the night from coast to coast keeping us on our toes with all the performers to come.

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

Early on Dan + Shay performed their track “All To Myself” and their smash hit “Tequila” braving it out in the rain during their performance. Confetti dropping and the wet conditions didn’t stop the duo from having the time of their lives in rainy Times Square. Next, with Florida Georgia Line’s anticipating album Can’t Say I Ain’t Country due out on Feb. 15th, the duo performed their single “Simple” and their hit “Cruise” in New Orleans just ten minutes before the ball dropped. Along with FGL in New Orleans, Maren Morris took the stage with her hit “The Middle” that was a massive part of her and radio’s 2018.

Photo Courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA (via ABC News Radio)

After the ball dropped and the clock struck midnight, Kelsea Ballerini came out singing her new sassy-single “Miss Me More.” Ballerini had an incredible year and dropping this girl power anthem was just a taste of what’s to come for her in 2019. Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina sang their no. 1 duet “What Ifs,” then later Brown performed his new single “Lose It.”

It was a night full of country music on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve which certainly leads us to believe that 2019 will be a successful and promising year to come for the genre!

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Danielle Bradbery Releases ‘Yours Truly: 2018’

January 2, 2019/in Blog /by Kelly Cunningham

Danielle Bradbery has a powerhouse of a voice and incredible range proves she can take on just about any song. She’s showcasing that with her latest project, Yours Truly: 2018. She’s ending the year with releasing covers of some of the biggest hits of 2018 and so far has not disappointed her fans.

Her first cover is an amazing delivery of Ariana Grande’s hit “God Is A Woman,” which was released on Friday, December 21st. The track shows off her soft, graceful voice. Her next cover released was Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn”, which came out on Friday, December 28th. Bradbery stayed true to the original beat of this track, but stripped it down acoustic and did it perfectly. You can take in every lyric she’s singing and soak in the beautiful renditions she created.

This project will be a series of 5 of her favorite songs of the year and the next cover of Post Malone’s “Psycho” will be released tomorrow, January 4th. She has two other tracks being released which should be compelling performances full of surprises. Therefore, Bradbery is just getting started. She’s heading into 2019 just as adventurous as she’s ending it.

Bradbery released the remarkable music video for her powerful single “Worth It” in 2018, also a hit duet with Thomas Rhett on “Goodbye Summer.” She’ll be on the road with Kane Brown on his 2019 Live Forever Tour that is starting off January 10th. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for her additions to Yours Truly: 2018 coming out in the next few weeks.

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Popular Cross-Genre Collaborations that Happened in 2018

December 31, 2018/in Blog /by Erica Zisman

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

In 2018, country musicians have garnered many new fans as the genre continues to evolve and become more mainstream, even getting recognition on the Top 40 charts. One of the coolest parts of 2018 has been the inter-genre song collaborations between country music stars and other musicians, including pop-stars, rappers, and other talented artists. Below is New York Country Swag’s list of some of our favorite cross-genre musical collaborations of 2018.

“The Feeling”- The Chainsmokers & Kelsea Ballerini

Grammy-nominated country artist, Kelsea Ballerini teamed up with EDM-pop super-duo, comprised of Andrew Taggert and Alex Pall for their new track, “The Feeling.” The song continues to climb the charts, while Ballerini, Taggert, and Pall continue to perform the song live to fans, during Monday Night Football, on Ellen, and on 2018’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

“Meant to Be”- Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha

We can’t have a list of the best collaborations of 2018 without mentioning Florida Georgia Line’s smash hit “Meant to Be” with superstar Bebe Rexha. (Even though the music video was technically released in 2017). The pop-country song held it’s number 1 spot for “Hot Country Songs” for 50 weeks, as well as, breaking the top 5 across the all-genre Billboard charts. Additionally, the track earned FGL and Rexha a 2019 Grammy nomination.

“The Middle”- Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

Another EDM-country crossover, “The Middle” catapulted to the top of the charts, as country songstress Maren Morris combined her vocals with Zedd and Grey’s musical talent. The song converted many fans to Morris’ music, and showcased her versatility. Not to mention, the song is super catchy!

“Babe”- Sugarland & Taylor Swift

Gone are the days where superstar Taylor Swift is just thought of as a country artist. After making the switch to pop-star, Swift lent her voice to the country powerhouses of Sugarland in their hit “Babe” which was a big part of the duo’s comeback in 2018.

“Say Something”- Justin Timberlake & Chris Stapleton

Pop music icon Justin Timberlake and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year winner, Chris Stapleton combined their beautiful voices for “Say Something” off Timberlake’s most recent album. The duo has worked together in the past, performing Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” at the 2015 CMA Awards. Both artists prove that their talents resonate across multiple genres.

“The Champion”- Carrie Underwood & Ludacris

Fans of the NFL may recognize Carrie Underwood’s song “The Champion” with Ludacris, as the anthem for Sunday Night Football. The collaboration showcases Underwood’s powerhouse vocals with Ludacris’ hip-hop skills. The duo delivers a fresh and unique sound with this track.

“Never Be the Same”- Camila Cabello & Kane Brown

This year, Camila Cabello remixed her smash hit “Never Be The Same” with country star, Kane Brown, giving the song an equally-amazing, but different feel. Brown, who is already known for his talent in blurring genre lines, delivers impressive vocals in this cool duet.

We can’t wait to see how the genre lines will be blurred in 2019 and how country music continues to evolve. Don’t forget to follow our Spotify playlist to listen to our full list of songs.

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Ten of Our Favorite Recent Country Music Duets

December 31, 2018/in Blog /by Erica Zisman

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS

Just this last year, so many country musicians have combined their talents into epic anthems, heartfelt songs, and straight-up jams. After the release of Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell’s vocal collaboration in Gilbert’s new song, “What Happens in a Small Town,” we were inspired to compile a list of some of our favorite country duets over the last few years.

1. “We Were Us”- Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert (2013)

1. “Drowns the Whiskey”- Jason Aldean & Miranda Lambert (2018)

“Somethin’ Bad”- Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood (2014)

“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”- David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney (2018)

“Take Back Home Girl”- Chris Lane & Tori Kelly (2017)

“What Ifs”- Kane Brown & Lauren Alaina (2017)

“Goodbye Summer”- Danielle Bradbery & Thomas Rhett (2018)

“The Fighter”- Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood (2017)

“Dear Hate”- Maren Morris & Vince Gill (2017)

“Craving You”- Thomas Rhett & Maren Morris (2017)

Although technically not a duet, we couldn’t leave Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne’s 2018 hit, “Burning Man” off our list, so consider it a bonus!

We look forward to the great country duets to come in 2019 and wonder who will collaborate next. To listen to the songs listed above, make sure to follow NYCountry Swag on our Spotify playlist.

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