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Jimmie Allen: ‘Tulip Drive’ – Album Review

June 24, 2022/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Jimmie Allen’s brand new album, Tulip Drive, is out now, June 24th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Within the first 30 seconds of Tulip Drive, Jimmie Allen issues a challenge: “If haters gonna hate, let ‘em hate me.” For Allen, it’s clearly something he’s dealt with throughout his career, from the struggles he’s faced as a black man in the country genre to being an also-ran on American Idol. Yet, also on the first track, the aptly titled “be alright,” he promises just that: “It’s gonna be alright.”

“This is the first [album] where I chose to write songs about my own personal experiences, thoughts and hopes,” Allen revealed on Instagram of Tulip Drive. The new collection features 11 tracks co-written by the rising star, as well as contributions from the likes of Seth Ennis, HARDY, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi, Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, and many of Nashville’s other biggest names.

With 17 new tracks, Jimmie Allen’s Tulip Drive is a celebration of what makes him one of the genre’s fastest-rising stars. On many a-tracks, he stays true to the sounds that endeared him to country fans while also exploring collaborations with the likes of Jennifer Lopez (“on my way”), CeeLo Green and T-Pain (“pesos”), and Katie Ohh (“broken hearted”). While each track may not be traditionally country, they’re each completely Allen.

The Delaware native titled the album after the street his late grandmother grew up on, much like his debut album, Mercury Lane, was named for the street he grew up on. That dedication to his family and roots can be heard throughout the project, including on “down home,” an ode to his late father, and the album’s closing track, “you won’t be alone,” which includes a special moment from Allen’s young son. Another such moment is “settle on back,” a clear album highlight that’s a nostalgic ode to finding solace where you grew up.

In addition to “be alright,” one of the album’s most single-worthy tracks is “kissin you,” a simple summer song about the best parts of a relationship. Here he celebrates someone special and his favorite pastime of locking lips with her. “It’s your call how we kick it off // As long as it ends // With me kissin you.” Likewise, Allen slows things down for some sexytime with “love in the living room,” a sultry song where the title tells the full story.

Other highlights include “wouldn’t feel like summer” and “right now,” a driving guitar-filled song where Allen longs to have someone back. On the former, things like the beach, boardwalks, and road trips just don’t feel the way he remembers without that someone special. Meanwhile, on the former, he’s pleading for his lost love to come back.

“If I had you back right know // I wouldn’t have ever let you let go // I need you so bad right now // And I ain’t afraid to say so // ‘Cause right now // I wouldn’t be falling to pieces // Wishing we could forget everything that went down // I made that mistake somehow…I’d make it right, now.”

Allen shows his incredibly vulnerable and personal side on “habits & hearts,” as he struggles with both addiction and the possibility of lost love. The piano-driven ballad tells the heartbreaking tale of someone battling addiction, and the risks to a relationship that come with it.

“It tears you up // It wears you down // You want to quit // But you can’t get out // Habits are harder than hearts to break // Habits are harder than hearts to break // Back on the track // You brace yourself // ‘Cause it doesn’t take much to come off the rails // So tired of seeing tears rolling down your face // ‘Cause habits are harder than hearts to break.”

It’s not uncommon to hear that albums have something for everything, but that is truly the case on Jimmie Allen’s Tulip Drive. While there are plenty of the driving guitars and twang that endeared him to country fans, there are a handful of out-of-the-box tracks that continue to prove Allen a crossover star in the making.

Jimmie Allen – Tulip Drive Track List:

be alright (Jimmie Allen, Jason Evigan, Gian Stone, Castle)
what i’m talkin bout (Zach Abend, Michael Hardy, Seth Ennis)
kissin you (Jimmie Allen, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
down home (Jimmie Allen, Rian Ball, Cameron Bedell, Tate Howell)
settle on back (Jimmie Allen, Tate Howell, Trip Howell, David Pramik)
pesos (feat. CeeLo Green & T-Pain) (Jimmie Allen, Edward Martin, Vincent Venditto, T-Pain, Thomas Callaway, Yannique DeLisle Barker, Chris Doyle, J. ”Lonny” Bereal)
love in the living room (Jimmie Allen, Jesse Frasure, Brandon Day, Alysa Vanderheym, Cary Barlowe)
on my way (Jimmie Allen & Jennifer Lopez) (Ivy Adara, Leroy Clampitt, Michael Pollack)
broken hearted (feat. Katie Ohh) (Jimmie Allen, Ashley Gorley, Will Weatherly)
habits & hearts (Steven McMorran, Derrick Southerland, Jess Cates)
right now (Jimmie Allen, Matt Rogers, Jordan Schmidt)
wouldn’t feel like summer (Alysa Vandereheym, Matthew McGinn, Jimmie Deeghan)
undo (Matt Rogers, Matt McVaney, Daniel Breland)
get you a girl (Jimmie Allen, Justin Ebach, Matt Jenkins)
keep em coming (Jimmie Allen, Brad Tursi, Will Weatherly)
every time i say amen (Travis Hill, Jon Nite, Ross Copperman)
you won’t be alone (feat. Aadyn) (Jimmie Allen, Justin Ebach)

Our Top Picks:

settle on back
kissin you
habits & hearts
right now
be alright

Jimmie Allen’s new album ‘Tulip Drive’ is out now.

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

To keep up with Jimmie Allen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Tulip Drive 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.

Tyler Dial: ‘Way Back When’ – EP Review

June 24, 2022/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Tyler Dial’s brand new EP, Way Back When, is out now, June 24th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our full review.

We always get excited when a rising artist comes on to the music scene with a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Tyler Dial fits that bill! The singer-songwriter released his brand new EP, Way Back When today, and the record is full of songs that fulfill that sentiment. With just six tracks, Dial manages to share a part of his story and his music journey with fans across the country genre.

Beginning with the title track, “Way Back When,” the singer instantly sparks feelings of nostalgia. The single is reminiscent of old-school, feel-good country songs, but with a fresh take. The song is a surefire windows-down anthem

“Way back when we were so on fire // We burned both ends // Of a front seat high // you and I leaned way back then // Girl it’s been too long // But I still hang on // ‘Cause I ain’t felt that way // Since way back when”

The record continues to tug on our heartstrings with the next song, “Left Of Center.” In our conversation with Dial, he named this song as one of his favorites. The tune is a beautiful, story-telling song. Dial shared that the track is semi-autobiographical, as the verses tell his story to find music. It is clearly a special song off of the project.

Next up, “Damn, Denver” has emerged as a fan-favorite since its release. One of our personal favorites as well, the song is an all-too-familiar break-up song. Dial sings about losing a girl to a place, Denver. Interestingly enough, he gets it, since he spent a lot of time in Colorado growing up.

“You stole her heart with that blue sky // You made her dream up a mile high // You took her breath and set her free // Made her forgеt about this town and me // How could I compete? // Damn, Denver”

On the previously released, “Runnin Downhill,” Dial leans into the rock side of his musical inspirations. The song is a clear jam! Perfect for a live show, the single expresses a more adventurous side of Dial and his music.

The record culminates with the final two tracks off the EP, “Wild Thoughts” and “Still Smokin’.” “Wild Thoughts” is nostalgia on fire. The intricately beautiful tune is a love song at its deepest layer. The song is truly a beautiful moment on the project. Similarly, on the final number, “Still Smokin’,” Dial leans into the outcome of love and loss.

Overall, Dial’s project, Way Back When is an incredible feat! The six-song project is the perfect combination of personality, nostalgia, and relatability. You will fall in love with the singer and his talent the more you dig into each song on the EP.

Way Back When EP Tracklist:

Way Back When
Left Of Center
Damn, Denver
Runnin Downhill
Wild Thoughts
Still Smokin’

Tyler Dial drops new EP, ‘Way Back When,’ out now.

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

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

Way Back When EP 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.

Luke Combs: ‘Growin’ Up’ – Album Review

June 24, 2022/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Luke Combs’ brand new album, Growin’ Up, is out now, June 24th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Just five years since the release of his debut single, “Hurricane,” and just five days since the debut of his first child, Luke Combs is Growin’ Up. Today, the man whose rise to superstardom can only be described as meteoric, released his third album, a twelve song collection reflecting who he is, where he’s been, and where he’s going.

As one one of country music’s most ascendant superstars, he’s currently headlining stadiums across the country while juggling the title of ACM Entertainer of the Year. “I’ve been working on this album on and off for two and a half years now. It was sort of a crazy process through what COVID brought, and what that meant for our touring life last year. It made me have to put a pause on this album for a second, but I’m just really stoked that it’s finally coming out… I think that the fans are going to love these songs. I’m just excited to get them out and see what they think.”

Each of the album’s dozen tracks were co-written by the North Carolina native who has become country’s most popular everyman. Rather than rely on gimmicks, dance moves, pop beats, or genre-bending collaborations, Combs remains true to his roots as a country purist, his voice weathered with the kind of transcendent grit that only comes along once in a generation.

In fact, the only collaboration to be found on Growin’ Up is with Miranda Lambert, whom, despite occasional detours into pop country, has returned to her roots with the stellar release of Palomino. The pair trade verses on “Outrunnin’ Your Memory,” a twangy and guitar-laden ode to getting over the one who got away. The song has the breezy country feel of the Eagles with subtle hints of Bakersfield that make it pure perfection.

While Combs does touch on the typical country tropes of love and love lost on Growin’ Up, he also shows a more introspective side on tracks like “Doin’ This” and “Used to Wish I Was.” On the former, he muses that his career “ain’t about the fame, ain’t about the fortune,” but about that moment of connecting with a crowd. “I’d still be doin’ this // If I wasn’t doin’ this,” He sings, and it’s impossible not to believe him. Meanwhile, on “Used to Wish I Was,” he celebrates the dreams he used to have that didn’t quite come true. Think Garth Brooks’ “Unanswered Prayers” with a modern, up-tempo twist.

Combs shows his raucous side on “Any Given Friday Night,” the perfect live show opener with its booming guitars and driving dedication to getting a little crazy in Anytown, USA on “any given Friday night.” Likewise, “Ain’t Far From It” has hints of 90’s country, while “Middle of Somewhere” and “Better Back When” sees a nostalgic Combs longing for days when things were simpler.

“Those were some good times // Those were the best nights // The freedom ya feel when you’re learning to fly // And the song on the radio // Was singing our lives // I can’t say that the moon in the sky // Was shinin’ any brighter than it is tonight // But it looked on fire back then // It probably wasn’t, but it seemed a little better back when”

“On the Other End of the Line” is remnant of Brad Paisley’s 2001 hit, “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” finding Combs torn between the two loves of his life: a woman and fishing. Meanwhile, there’s no second guessing his devotion on the sultry slow burn of “The Kind of Love We Make.”

“Let’s get some candles burning // And some records turning // All the lights down low // Take it nice and slow // The way your body’s moving // Keep doing what you’re doing // to me all night long // Writin’ our love song // Girl, I want it, gotta have it // Let the passion take us to a higher place // Makin’ the kind of love we make”

The love is lost for Combs on songs like “Call Me” and “Tomorrow Me,” which find the earthy-voiced crooner struggling with regret. “Call Me” is tongue-in-cheek as he muses over all the names an ex might call him before actually (drunk) dialing his number, while “Tomorrow Me” finds him wrestling with a bad decision tonight affecting his tomorrow. The album concludes with the stirring and sparse “Going, Going, Gone,” which finds Combs reaching acceptance as he lets someone go.

“Like a runaway southbound train // Like an Arizona desert rain // Like lightning in the sky // Like fireworks in July // Like a left field home run ball // Like a whiskey shot at last call // It’s like she was made for moving on // That girl is going, going, gone…”

While it would be easy for Luke Combs to rest on his laurels and release 12 new tracks that sound like carbon copies of “Hurricane” or “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” he manages to evolve and stretch on Growin’ Up. In some ways, he’s the same Carolina boy he always was, but in others, he’s a brand new man. The album title couldn’t be more appropriate here, and I guess he’s just Growin’ Up.

Luke Combs – Growin’ Up Track List:

Doin’ This (Luke Combs/Drew Parker/Robert Williford)
Any Given Friday Night (Luke Combs/Randy Montana/Jonathan Singleton)
The Kind of Love We Make (Luke Combs/Jamie Davis/Dan Isbell/Reid Isbell)
On the Other Line (Luke Combs/Thomas Archer/Dan Isbell/James McNair/Randy Montana)
Outrunnin’ Your Memory w/ Miranda Lambert (Luke Combs/Miranda Lambert/Dan Isbell)
Used To Wish I Was (Luke Combs/Deric Ruttan/Jonathan Singleton)
Better Back When (Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/Dan Isbell/Randy Montana)
Tomorrow Me (Luke Combs/Dean Dillon/Ray Fulcher)
Ain’t Far From It (Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/Dan Isbell/Reid Isbell)
Call Me (Luke Combs/Shane Minor/Jonathan Singleton)
Middle of Somewhere (Luke Combs/Randy Montana/Jonathan Singleton)
Going, Going, Gone (Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/James McNair)

Our Top Picks:

“Doin’ This”
“Outrunnin’ Your Memory”
“Tomorrow Me”
“Any Given Friday Night”

Luke Combs’ new album ‘Growin’ Up,’ out now.

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

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

Growin’ Up 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.

Who Is Peytan Porter? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

June 24, 2022/in Blog, News, Swag Spotlight /by Erica Zisman

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

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Peytan Porter

Birthday – January 14th, 1998

Hometown – Dawsonville, Georgia

Musical influences – Taylor Swift, Brandi Carlile, Beyonce, Maggie Rogers

The Beginning:

In a special spotlight feature, we are introducing you to an incredible new singer-songwriter, Peytan Porter. The songstress is the type of artist who has a vocal range for days, but also creates songs with substance. We chatted with Porter all about her journey to where she is now and of course about her brand new EP, ‘In My Head’ out today.

Porter grew up in North Georgia with a family who loved basketball, a sport that she also played. “I’m the only person in even my extended family that ever picked up an instrument. I am definitely the weird, artsy one of the sports family,” shared the singer “When I started writing songs, it became a thing like, I want to skip practice and audition for The Voice. And my mom who was a coach, would make me ask my teammates if that was okay.”

Despite her family’s interest in sports rather than music, she recalls her family and her small town always encouraging her to pursue her passions. At the early age of eleven years old, Porter even started to write her own lyrics and music.

“I started writing songs when I was probably eleven or twelve,” began the singer. “My first concert was Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift was opening for them. It was the first time I saw someone close to my age being a country singer and she talked about how she wrote her own songs about her experiences.”

Despite secretly loving Swift, Porter still did not see a path for herself in country music. “There’s a lot of songs about loving your hometown and wanting to live there forever and that just wasn’t something that represented how I felt, so I wasn’t sure that I was going to be great at writing a country song, because I felt differently than them.”

Eventually Kacey Musgraves came out with her record Same Trailer Different Park, and Porter felt seen. “It was the first time I saw a different perspective of like “I love it here and I can care for the people and where I came from, but it doesn’t mean I fit in here.” That was the first time I really felt like I could have a voice in country music that didn’t have to be the same narrative that I kind of grew up around.”

The Turning Point:

Shortly there after, Porter knew her path was to head to Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating high school, she started college at Lipscomb University in music city. While in college, the singer honed in on her songwriting talent, writing music in her dorm room, and eventually beginning to co-write during her sophomore year at college.

Porter continued her education by landing herself an internship at a publishing company. “I just tried to be invisible and listen to all the songs that were being turned in and at the time the songs that were getting turned in were like HARDY’s “One Beer” and all of these songs before they came out,” shared the artist, adding later, “We had all of Chris Stapleton’s catalog there and I just got to study great songs.”

This led to her receiving her own publishing deal offers, just before her senior year of college. Despite wanting to pull the trigger, something kept Porter from signing. As fate would have it, then the pandemic hit, which sent the singer right back to Georgia.

“Spring semester senior year I had almost gotten a degree for something I didn’t want to do and said no to the job that I wanted, so my mom was like ‘you need to figure this out,'” shard Porter, “So I kept writing, kept taking meetings, and then by the fall of 2020, I had an offer from the company I am with now, Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music”

Today:

Now with a publishing deal, Porter’s focus was completely on writing music. However, after a viral TikTok moment occurred for her in February of 2021, it was evident that the singer needed to start releasing her own music to her growing fanbase. “I just tried to collect as many fans as I could. And started giving them unreleased music,” shared the singer. This led to her team helping her create her EP, In My Head, out today. Check out the brand new music and our full review of the project here.

“I never wanted my music to be red dirt, Georgia. I always wanted it to be more mountainy, Georgia. Those sound and feel very different, so I always wanted to be able to grab the breezy, mountain air feel from where I came from in my music.”

In My Head is certainly that! The record is filled with songs that speak to Porter’s experience so far. “This first one covers a lot of ground,” began the songstress. “I think it’s a big kind of introductory to all the different sides of my personality and kind if my perspective one the world. It covers the gamut of emotions. It’s got me at my worst and me at my probably better.”

Fans can certainly expect even more honesty, authenticity, and music from Porter very soon. According to the singer herself, “The only reason I want to be an artist is so that I can meet people and connect people and hopefully make a little girl in her bedroom feel seen in her small town who is not finding music that says exactly what she, or he, feels.” We think it’s safe to say, she has accomplished that!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Peytan Porter, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Peytan Porter’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.

Sam Hunt’s New Song “Water Under The Bridge” is Here!

June 23, 2022/in Blog, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Sam Hunt’s brand new song, “Water Under The Bridge” is out now, June 23rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Summer is officially here and we have brand new Sam Hunt music to kick it off perfectly! The singer-songwriter dropped his brand new song, “Water Under The Bridge,” today. It is an instant jam and a must-add to your playlists ASAP.

The new single, written by Hunt with his songwriting buddies, Chris LaCorte, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne, is a fast-paced bop. The song is a mood all of its own. “Water Under The Bridge” embodies nostalgia and those wild and carefree days of our youth.

“That muddy river, it was rollin’ // We didn’t care where it was goin’ // We had it made, we didn’t know it // We were young, dumb, and so full of it // Broken bottles and graffiti // Beer and girls and poppin’ wheelies // Love was fun and life was easy // Now it’s just water under the bridge”

We hope this new single is the start of more music to come from Hunt, who appears to be constantly writing new music. The singer always manages to release music that his fanbase flocks too, showcasing his undeniable charm and staying power one song at a time.

Sam Hunt’s new song “Water Under The Bridge” is out now.

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

To keep up with Sam Hunt follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Water Under The Bridge” 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.

5 Carrie Underwood Songs That Should Have Been Singles

June 23, 2022/in Blog, New Music, News /by Kristina Callahan

In her incredible career, Carrie Underwood has certified herself as a superstar. Aside from her country radio hits, we’re looking at Carrie Underwood’s stellar catalog and choosing 5 songs that should have been singles.

Photo by: Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for Country Swag

As the current queen of country music (in my humble opinion), any song Underwood puts out is almost guaranteed to be a hit and she rarely misses when it comes to what songs she and her team decide to release as singles to country radio. Problem is, not every song can be a single, so we’re rounding up 5 of our all-time favorite Carrie Underwood tracks that should have been singles. Check it out in the list below…

“End Up With You” – Cry Pretty

“End Up With You” is just a feel-good song that so many people can relate to. When I first heard this song on the Cry Pretty album, I knew it would be a song I’d listen to over and over again. Underwood sings about getting in a car with someone and not caring where your destination is as long as you’re together.

“You Won’t Find This” – Carnival Ride

There’s a million things Carrie Underwood does well and two of them are singing her heart out in a ballad and another is singing about heartbreak. “You Won’t Find This” is about 15 years old and I still find myself listening to it every few weeks. Underwood sings about a breakup and knowing the other person “won’t find this” when they’re looking for someone or something better. This song reminds me of a movie and I wish she had made a music video for it.

“Crazy Dreams” – Carnival Ride

Everyone should have big dreams and this song is just a reminder of that. Carrie Underwood sings about how even the craziest dreams can come true. This song makes me feel like I can conquer the world and reminds me that you should dream big because you just might end up a country music superstar like Carrie Underwood!

“Kingdom” – Cry Pretty

As you listen to Carrie Underwood’s more recent albums you’ll find how her sound and lyrics have matured as she’s gotten older. Instead of singing solely about broken hearts, she has more songs about her family, including her two adorable little boys. “Kingdom” describes the chaos of her home and how it’s “perfectly imperfect,” something I think almost everyone can relate to. This song is so raw and real. You can almost feel the love she has for her family and the life they’ve built pouring out through the lyrics.

“The More Boys I Meet”— Carnival Ride

Anyone who is dating or has dated in the past knows what a process it can be at times. Anyone who also is a dog parent can relate to this song “The More Boys I Meet.” Carrie Underwood sings about a series of bad dates and the more men she meets, the more she loves her dog.

To keep up with Carrie Underwood, follow her 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 Carrie Underwood releases.

Grace Leer Releases New Song “After 1” – Out Now

June 22, 2022/in Blog, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Grace Leer’s new song, “After 1” is out now, June 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Learn more about the song and listen to the brand new track below.

New Nashville singer-songwriter, Grace Leer is ready to take the country world by storm. The songstress is finally releasing the song that fans cannot get enough of. Leer’s new song “After 1” is out now.

Written by Leer, the track is all about that one ex you just cannot seem to shake. Leer shares her experiences on the verses, but the story really explodes in the chorus. The anthemic chorus personifies exactly how it feels to be in the wake of a break-up. Sometimes, we just cannot get used to being without them.

“After 1AM, I’m at the bar with my friends // Taking shots to pretend // Like you ain’t there with them // After someone tells me the same old story // Hide my pain in a hurry // I don’t want them to worry // After 1 // We used to be 2 // 2. Cant’ get over you // 3. I gotta believe you ain’t what I need // After 1”

Leer is just at the beginning of her blossoming career. The songstress already has a solid fanbase behind her, supporting her every step of the way. “After 1” is a great single for the up-and-coming country performer.

Grace Leer’s new song “After 1” is out now.

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

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

“After 1” 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.

Zac Brown Band Adds Blake Shelton for “Out In The Middle” Collab

June 22, 2022/in Blog, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Zac Brown Band collaborates with Blake Shelton on, “Out In The Middle,” out now, June 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

It is always exciting when two artists collaborate on a song, especially when those artists are superstars and have 42 number-one hits between them. Today, Zac Brown Band adds Blake Shelton to a re-imagined version of their single, “Out In The Middle”.

A rugged southern rock anthem about country lifestyle, “Out In The Middle” is for anyone who grew up in the fly-over states that can relate to the imagery painted by writers Brown, Ben Simonetti, Jonathan Singleton, and Luke Combs. It is both lyrically and sonically similar to two of Shelton’s newer songs, “Come Back as a Country Boy” and the 4x-Platinum hit, “God’s Country.” Like in the original, Brown sings the first verse and chorus while Shelton takes over on the second. The two artists come together for a dramatic final chorus.

“Out in the middle where the hard work meets hard living // Out in the middle where we’re grown ’til we’re gone, God willing // Just some good old boys and good old girls // Hunting red dirt dreams in a concrete world // Getting by on just a little, out in the middle”

“Out In The Middle” currently sits just outside the top-30 on country radio, but having Shelton join the track can help push it closer to the top.

The GRAMMY-winning group is currently on their tour of the same name. For fans in the New York area, the tour hits Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, on Thursday, August 18^th. For tickets and a full list of tour dates, head to their website.

Zac Brown Band and Blake Shelton drop new version of “Out In The Middle,” out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Zac Brown Band and Blake Shelton releases.

To keep up with Zac Brown Band, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To keep up with Blake Shelton, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Out In The Middle” 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.

Parmalee Earns Number One at Country Radio with “Take My Name”

June 21, 2022/in Blog, News, Number One Songs /by Erica Zisman

Parmalee secures another number one song at country radio with their romantic single, “Take My Name.” Learn more about the success below.

Country band, Parmalee is finding momentum once again with their music. In 2021, the platinum-selling act topped the charts with their collaborative track, “Just The Way” with Blanco Brown. Today, Parmalee scores yet another number one song at country radio with their latest single, “Take My Name.”

It is no wonder that the romantic love song reached the top of the charts! “Take My Name” is the perfect song for couples in love and for people who yearn for a true love, like the one described in the song. The simple message behind the song is both nostalgic and relatable. Country music needs more good-hearted songs like this on the radio.

“So take my hand, let me make you mine // I’m through waiting, taking my time // Never felt like this before // Take my name and make it yours // I know I’m the last guy anybody think might // Ever be talking like this, yeah // But I can see my future in your eyes tonight // And taste forever on your lips”

This makes Parmalee’s third number one song of their career. We wonder what song will be next! Congrats to Parmalee and their team!

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

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

“Take My Name” 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.

Who Is Morgan Johnston? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

June 21, 2022/in Blog, News, Swag Spotlight /by Erica Zisman

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

The Beginning:

Today we are shining our spotlight on Morgan Johnston, a talented singer-songwriter from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The songstress grew up singing and performing on stage with her eccentric, yet supportive family in tow.

“I grew up playing at these local bars. Both of my parents are in the animal entertainment industry. They are both dog trainers,” began Johnston. “They would travel and do these fair circuits and my dad would try to get me to just try to sing in front of people by singing the national anthem at these events.”

Her family always encouraged her to sing and use her beautiful voice. At the age of thirteen, Johnston began adding writing to her repertoire.“I started writing at 13 years old. Just the classic, heartbreak, boy songs,” shared the singer, adding, “It was a way to get my emotions out on paper.”

Johnston found early inspiration in artists like George Strait, The Chicks, Britney Spears, and Shania Twain. Nowadays, she still finds inspiration in talented female artists in the industry. “I am so fascinated by the up and coming journey of it to, who may not be huge, but are grinding and doing so well like Lainey Wilson or Ingrid Andress. My icons, however, are Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, and Maren Morris.”

Despite a clear love for music, Johnston never truly saw it as a career path, so she attended college in Ohio on a scholarship for riding horses. When she turned 21 and went to Nashville, all of that changed.

The Turning Point:

“On my 21st birthday, I came to Nashville, and I had a friend who was dating Brett Young at the time,” began Johnston. “When we got there, he asked me if I wanted to play Whiskey Jam.” During that trip, the songstress learned that there was a path for her to play music for a living.

“I always tell that story because I moved [to Nashville] three months later after that weekend trip to Nashville […] I usually say that Brett pretty much gave me that power and knowledge that there was a path to do it.”

In 2016, when she made the move to Music City, Johnston found herself wanting to soak in as much as she could with people who were also beginning in the industry. “When you get here, you don’t want to hang out with [more established artists]. There’s so much learning and growing that you have to do. Learning about the industry, learning about yourself, learning about what you want to do yourself in the industry,” shared the singer.

During her time cultivating her sound in Nashville, Johnston found her people. “I came here and just started to hang out with people who also just got here and were trying to write with whoever they could and were looking for friends, real friends.”

She added later, “That’s kind of how I found the group of people that I just love and are inspired by, and they might not be hit writers yet, but I believe that we are all going to have success together. That’s my favorite part of being in Nashville.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Johnston is a working singer-songwriter in the industry. For the last six years, she has been paving a spot for herself in the talented landscape that Nashville has to offer. Most recently, the singer released an incredible new song called “The End.”

“This is kind of funny because it is probably one of the most lighthearted songs I have put out. I really struggle with love songs,” shared the singer, when asked about the inspiration for the clever track. “For some reason there is a lack of substance to love songs to me sometimes, if they are a little too bubbly.”

Johnston went on to share that the concept of “The End” inspired her to want to create a love song. “When people talk about love and are like ‘I fell in love and never looked back,’ and for me, yes, I have fallen in love and not looked back in a sense, but there’s a nervousness and a scariness that you feel when you meet the person and you’re like I think this is going to be it, and no one ever talks about that.” This creative new outlook on love is both relatable and inspiring.

The singer has another new song coming down the pipeline too! “After Me,” a fan-favorite on socials, is slated for release on July 1st. If that news is not enough, the singer also shared with us that an album is coming later this year. Johnston is continuing to up her staying power with each and every exciting announcement!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Morgan Johnston, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

Morgan Johnston’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.