who-is-meels-photo-credit-Jim Hughes

Who Is Meels? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-meels-photo-credit-Jim Hughes

Meels // Photo credit: Jim Hughes

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Amelia “Meels” Einhorn
Birthdate – October 10th
Hometown – Mill Valley, California
Current City – Mill Valley, California
Musical Influences – Paul McCartney, Loretta Lynn,
Label – Lost Highway
Current Single – “Out West” off of Across The Raccoon Strait EP (as of date of article: 03/16/2026)

The Beginning:

This week we interviewed a singer-songwriter who is a true artist in every sense of the word. Amelia Einhorn who goes by Meels is a force to be reckoned with in the industry right now. She just releases her latest project, Across The Raccoon Strait, and 2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for the singer. Keep reading to learn more about her story.

“I was born in Boston, but I grew up for most of my life in Mill Valley, California,” began Meels. “I’ve been playing piano since I was five. My grandmother was a concert pianist, so she put my mom in piano, and then my mom put me and my three sisters into piano when we were super young. I was kinda the only one that took to it.”

At a very young age, Meels was fully enamored with music, finding herself in every artist she listened to, and learning more about herself as she created her own music. “I grew up on a lot of 60s and 70s folk. My mom played a lot of Peter, Paul and Mary and John Denver growing up. I don’t really see John Denver and see him solely as a country artist, but Back Home Again is one of my all time favorite records, and I think John Denver is what really got me into country music and folk music early in my life.”

For Meels, music was a creative outlet. As she got older she added banjo and guitar to her resume, and she even wrote her first song at just fourteen years old. “I always say that I’m a songwriter first, performer second, even though I love both equally. When I wrote my first song, just the release that I felt and how therapeutic it was for me, I knew it was something I was going to do forever. It was a turning point for me,” she shared, adding, “I had just gone through a horrific friend break-up that rocked me, I was so sad, and so I was feeling sad, and I asked mom to take a personal day from school, and she’s the best, and let me. And I had another family friend that would bring over instruments all the time, and he brought over a ukulele and I had never played it in my life, and I looked it up, learned some chords, and wrote my first song on the ukulele that day.”

The Turning Point:

Meels always saw herself as an artist, taking her dream of playing music professionally across to the East coast to New York City, where she attended college. “I went to NYU the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music and then, I just knew from a young age that music was always something I wanted to pursue.”

While at college, Meels honed her skills as songwriter and music-maker, recalling the days from her youth where she discovered the therapy music provided. “I had started kinda recording covers with a family friend whose in the music industry, and I posted a cover of Vance Joy, “Riptide,” sepia-filter, pressing play on the computer for the track, and he saw the video and texted my dad that I could really sing, and told me I should try to write some songs,” she shared, reminiscing about the early days of her songwriting.

Eventually, upon graduating college, Meels was hungry to release music of her own. “I was like I’m an artist and I need to release a project, and I actually went to Nashville [and made my first EP.] It was basically the best songs that I wrote in college,” she shared, adding, “It did fairly well for me releasing independently, and I started positing pretty religiously on socials too.”

Despite loving the project, the indie-pop genre that she found herself in still didn’t’ feel right for her style and her voice. “I  felt like I was constantly searching for a genre that felt right for my voice and my songwriting, and there was this summer where my boyfriend, whose also my creative director, we worked really loses on the Meels project together – he started playing a lot of classic country music, and I just took a deep dive into Loretta Lynn and Marty Robins, and Willie Nelson. I took this deep dive, and all of sudden this music started pouring out of me. I had found a genre that felt so right for me and my voice and my songwriting style.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Meels found her home at her label Lost Highway and even found her own style of music, something she calls, “critter country.” “Eventually was hooked up with my manager, Jake, and all of a sudden things started snowballing from there, and I started talking to these labels. This record has been done for a long time, and I have been teasing the songs for probably a year before it finally came out, but I think finding Lost Highway felt so perfect and the perfect partner for me,” she shared.

Since moving to Los Angeles to live with her grandma, signing her deal, and created her now released record,  Across The Raccoon Strait, Meels has been relentless about getting her music out there.” I was playing as much as I could, and I made Across The Raccoon Strait at that point. I was sending it before it was even mastered, I was like, “here’s my music, would love to play at your venue.” I was sending it to whoever would listen to it.”

With the project officially out in the world, Meels’ momentum is at an all-time high. The EP as a whole is a cohesive project that truly speaks what she is capable of an artist int he folk-Americana space. “”The Wizard” is the most personal song for me. It’s just a very special one. I also love “Marsha June” is right now, my favorite because I wrote it about my grandma, the one I moved in with in LA, and it’s all about her story, and sonically, the outro of that song is my most proud moment as a producer, as an arranger. It sounds exactly like it did in my head, and that was literally the coolest moment.”

Across The Raccoon Strait is one of those projects that fans are going to play again and again. Meels will also be playing he songs live all season long, as she embarks on a ton of touring. Stay tuned for what’s to come from the talented artist!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Meels, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Meels’ 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.

who-is-abbie-callahan-catherine-powell

Who Is Abbie Callahan? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-abbie-callahan-catherine-powell

Abbie Callahan // Photo credit: Catherine Powell

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Abbie Callahan
Birthdate – 09/17/2001
Hometown – Iowa City, Iowa
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Patsy Cline, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves, Sabrina Carpenter
Current Single – “2:38” ft. Brendan Walter (as of date of article: 03/09/2026)

The Beginning:

This week, we chatted with talented singer-songwriter, Abbie Callahan all about her upbringing, her music, and where she’s headed.

“I grew up in Iowa City. I was there until I moved to college, but nobody in my family does music at all, it’s just me. I really wanted to be a surgeon until I was sixteen, and we visited Nashville for the first time, and that’s where I really saw live music.”

Despite not being surrounded by musicians, Callahan was always a big music fan. “Growing up, we listened to a bunch of pop radio, my mom loved that, and as I grew up and learned about streaming, I started listening to the Tyler Childers kinda country and early Chris Stapleton.” She even recalls participating in the school talent show in elementary school. “I moved schools when I was in fourth grade and I did the talent show to make friends at the new school. […] We had a karaoke machine just for fun, and I said, “I’ll try singing.” So I knew I could kinda sing, but I didn’t think of it as a job at all.”

The songstress took her love of music and starting writing songs as a way to process her teen feelings. “It was so cliche. My mom was very proactive of us, so she said no dating until you’re sixteen, so when I was sixteen, I was like there are so many new feelings and that’s when I started writing crazy songs.”

The Turning Point:

Despite thinking she was going to be a surgeon one day, Callahan’s trip to Nashville changed the trajectory of her career. “I really wanted to be a surgeon until I was sixteen, and we visited Nashville for the first time, and that’s where I really saw live music. And I fell in love with Broadway in Nashville, and all the country music going on,” she shared, “That’s when I was first introduced to it. I was just enamored with it, and I went home writing songs and two years later, applied and went to Belmont. It was kind of a big switch, but it wasn’t really a big part of my upbringing, but then I saw it, and I was like, “oh that’s what I want to do.”

Since her mother was in education, Callahan knew she was going to attend college, but had to find a way to get an education and play music. “I really just wanted to move to Nashville and start playing shows, but my mom wanted me to figure out how to get a degree under my belt. […] I found Belmont, so I started doing college classes while I was in high-school, so I finished a year of college before I move to Nashville which was really helpful, I did songwriting, and I came here during COVID, so I didn’t meet a ton of people but it gave me a change to sit in my dorm and gave me a chance to write good songs.”

The songstress started playing on Broadway in Nashville, honing her skills as both a performer and an artist “Playing on Broadway was a master class on how to perform and how to be on stage. It paid for college and also to put out some of the songs I wrote in school.” Eventually, the industry took notice of the singer-songwriter, offering her, her first publishing deal. “My publisher found me on Instagram playing Whiskey Fest or something. […] It kinda fell into my lap. I wasn’t really looking for a publishing deal. Obviously I wanted it, but I didn’t really know how.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Callahan continues to find her place in country music, a genre she has fallen in love with. She continues to write as often as possible, while connecting with her fans across her socials. Most recently the singer released a song with Brendan Walter called, “2:38.”

“Last summer I wrote that with Ryan Hurd and Michael Lotten. I had been in my publishing deal for two years, so it was about right after I signed. I was so nervous because I had never written with an artist I had heard of before. […] It was one of those weeks where I felt like I couldn’t think of anything new. […] I was up late the night before for probably no good reason, and the time was 2:38, so I wrote it down in my notes, and I don’t know why it inspired, but it did, so I brought that into the room with Ryan and he loved that. […] I met Brendan [Walter] at a writer’s round in Nashville, and he’d always been very supportive and friendly, and eventually my publisher sent it to him, and asked him if he wanted to be on it, and he said, “hell yeah.”

While different than her viral song, “Simon Says,” both songs speak to Callahan’s undeniable talent as both a singer and a songwriter. “It’s a really honest song, and the reaction to it has been amazing. So many people have commenting their stories with it. It’s been really inspiring to keep making music that is that honest,” shared the singer, when asked about “Simon Says.”

We expect even more coming from Callahan this year too! “I’m going on my first tour dates with Carter Faith this winter. That’s something I’m very excited about, and then we’re going to see if anything clicks on social media. If it does well, we’ll put that out. Everything I’m teasing right now is up for consideration, and I’ve been writing a ton.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Abbie Callahan, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Abbie Callahan’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.

who-is-trey-pendley-natalie-osborne

Who Is Trey Pendley? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-trey-pendley-natalie-osborne

Trey Pendley // Photo credit: Natalie Osborne

Quick Facts:

Full name – Trey Pendley
Birthdate – 01/04/2000
Hometown – Toad Suck, Arkansas
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Merle Haggard, Ozzy Osborne, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Label – Leo33
Current Single – “Like A River” (as of date of article: 03/02/2026)
The Beginning:

Today’s artist represents the true definition of the word artist. Rising star, Trey Pendley writes about what he knows and shares his heart with his fans through his gritty and honest music. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his story, his brand new project, Podunk, and everything in between.

“I grew up in a little town of 200 in Arkansas in a town called Toad Suck, Arkansas, which I learned when I left how funny that is,” began the singer. “I was alone quite a bit in a town surrounded by old men, my grandfather and his buddies. I always say that I was baptized in music. There was just so much music going on all the time. There were like four radio station playing and I would soak in all of it.”

For Pendley, music was a lifeline, a friend, and a way to process everything in his life. “Music got me through all those times of being alone and I guess hearing stories my grandpa and my buddies would tell, and I picked up on all of those. I started writing music pretty young. I feel like I’m doing the same thing now that I was doing then, try to keep my head down and think of all the things that old people like to talk about.”

He recalls falling in love with music from an early age, coining artists like Merle Haggard and even Ozzy Osborne as some of his favorites. “It was definitely overwhelming older country, Merle Haggard and George Jones. But then again, my dad was playing Eazy-E and Mötley Crüe. I feel like I would listen to good music. I think our genre was good music,” he shared, adding, “Merle Haggard was probably my favorite when I started out, I loved his storytelling even Blaze Foley. I liked the sorrow stuff that was real and deeper than just beer type of country you know. Later on, when Chris Stapleton came around and it was insane sounding and insane writing too.”

The Turning Point:

Pendley grew up surrounded by hardworking men that would work themselves to the bone, a path he also originally saw for himself. “The people I was raised around, it was kind of like to be a good man, you had to be miserable and put yourself last, and all that stuff. My dad too was that kind of man, and once they realized I could do this, they heard it one day and dug into it a little more, and it turned into my dad and mom trying to push me in this direction. I feel like even the start of doing it as a career was from them forcing me to, which I love.”

Because of the support of his family, Pendley started to see a career in music as a path for him. “I still battle that some days, that hardworking man stuff. I can do that, and I’m actually really good at that, and sometimes I want to do that in a way, but then again, I also have a family and I want them to be taken care of way better than that. I also have a lot more to say than I used to.”

Despite the internal battle, Pendley has planted himself firmly in the music industry, even securing himself a record deal with Leo33. “When I was young and going through some stuff in my life, writing music was a release in a way that connects people,” he shared. “I’m thankful for everything I been through in my life, even the bad stuff, and there’s been plenty of both good and bad stuff in my life. Everyday it makes me more of who I am, and it’s all honest. One of my goals is to spread the message that our life is what makes us, regardless of what cards we are dealt.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Pendley officially releases his debut EP, Podunk. The record features six songs that speak to the singer-songwriter’s talent and story as a human and as an artist. Each song showcases different stories and experiences that the singer has been through – all equally as important as the next.

“I was writing a whole lot. There’s all types of things I want to write about, but I don’t know how, so I just write about what I know. This EP is really where we’re at now, where we’ve been for a while, and where we are going. It covers the good and the bad and the in-between. It’s such a great little project,” shared the singer.

While the title track and “Like A River” are also incredible songs, currently Pendley finds himself loving the song, “The Dog.” The track speaks to the authenticity of his songwriting in the most prolific way, all while still being an enjoyable song to listen to. “That one is a lot closer to right now than anything else because we kinda go back and forth where we’re doing alright for ourselves and still getting t know this career we’re starting. We go up and down, but I’m such a dreamer that when things go up a little bit, it’s probably my fault that it goes down because I get so excited, and I go get my wife or my kid something, and we’re always out of dog food. It doesn’t matter how much we made this month or how much we’re going to make next, we’re always going to be out of dog food.”

The release of the Podunk EP marks just the beginning for Pendley, who is planning to release even more music and play as many shows as possible in 2026. He said it best at the end of our interview: “Keep your eyes open because there’s probably a whole lot that we don’t know yet coming.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Trey Pendley, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Trey Pendley’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.

Who Is the Graham St. Clair Band? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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Who is the Graham St. Clair Band? Lead singer, Graham St. Clair joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising band here…

who-is-the-graham-st-clair-band

Graham St. Clair Band

Quick Facts:

Full name – Graham St. Clair Band
Birthdate – 5/12/2003 (Graham St. Clair)
Hometown – Lubbock, Texas
Current city – Lubbock, Texas
Musical influences – Jason Isbell, John Fullbright, Evan Felker, Marty Robbins
Current Single – “Junior Stayed Home” (as of date of article: 02/23/2026)
The Beginning:

We love introducing you to new artists that we believe in. Today, we’re sharing a band from Texas that we’re loving: Graham St. Clair Band. We chatted with frontman, Graham St. Clair all about his journey in music, his band, and of course, their brand new project, The Narrow Gate.

As a Lubbock, Texas native, St. Clair spent his childhood immersed in all things music.  “I got brought into it by my dad I would say, listening to some Texas country artists like Rob Earle Keen, Lyle Lovett, those are his favorite guys. I started playing guitar. I grew up playing piano, stopped playing piano because I got bored going to the lessons, and I started playing guitar when I was ten, and I started playing in front of people in high-school, sixteen or seventeen probably, and writing songs around that same time.”

As he cultivated his own love of music, the singer-songwriter became enamored with artists that he discovered on his own. “I would say my biggest inspirations in terms of songwriting came after the fact. My dad introduced me to a ton of guys that I still listen to and love today, but growing up with the invention of Apple Music, that was the coolest thing ever,” shared the singer. “I got to start listening to everybody. I stumbled across Jason Isbell that way and Turnpike Troubadours that way, and there’s John Fullbright, so those three are some of my biggest influences in terms of songwriting. The Turnpike Troubadours are my favorite band of all time.”

The Turning Point:

Despite trying to start multiple bands in high-school, it wasn’t until St. Clair attended college at Baylor University that his dreams of starting a band began to take shape. “I got to Baylor, and that’s where I met the rest of the band. […] We kinda came together on accident a little bit, but it was just a fortunate thing and we hit the road running, and we’ve been playing ever since,” began the singer. “I tried to start probably five bands in high-school, and none of them worked out, and I played solo acoustic at bars and restaurants in Lubbock for a few years, and I don’t ever want to go back to that. Playing with a band is so much more fun.”

Coined as a “fraternity band,” even though they never played a fraternity event or party, St. Clair met the rest of the band organically through college. “The idea for the band kinda came together cause we were going to play one darty, which is a day party, and we never did,” shared the singer. “I had met some friends in the music industry from playing around in Lubbock, and I had played some songwriter nights and what not, and I got a call to ask if we could open up for one of them, and his name was Hank Weaver, so Jackson Wright and I opened up acoustic for our buddy, and then I got another call to open up, and they wanted full band. […] I told him I could make it happen, and I called up all these guys, and said we have a show in two weeks, and we worked our tails off and got to practicing.”

The full band had their first show at Cheatham Street in San Marcos, which is a really special place for music in Texas. “I realized that I didn’t really want to be a fraternity band, and we hadn’t played any fraternity stuff yet so there was still time. I had written all these songs prior to the band starting, and I asked if they wanted to come to Lubbock for a week in the summertime to record.” The band agreed, and the rest was history.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Graham St. Clair Band’s first album, XX opened a lot of doors for the newcomers. “People started calling us a little more and answered our emails when we sent them. […] It really kind of felt since we released that album that it wasn’t just for fun anymore, we were going to try.”

Most recently, the band released their incredible EP, titled The Narrow Gate, featuring songs like “Junior Stayed Home” and “The Deep End.” “I have been waiting to put these songs out for a very long time, so I’m very excited for these to come out. I think “Junior Stayed Home” and “Lose Yourself” are the youngest ones. The record is meant to be listened to all at once. The idea is it’s kind of our initial impression of some of the stuff we see in the music industry especially some of the harder things. The music industry is really romanticized. It’s a lot of fun, but at the same time, it’ comes with a lot of difficult problems that you face with being on the road and being so close with seeing musicians have problems with substances and all of these things. It’s also a beautiful thing that you get to share your music with everybody and to play your music with people that the songs are going to mean something to.”

The record is one of those projects that people will fall in love with instantly. Each and every song has a distinct purpose, and the EP is a mark of true artistry. While St. Clair shared this about the song, “Junior Stayed Home,” we think this statement exemplifies much of the record. “There’s some personal stuff and also some non-personal stuff that went into the writing of that song. Really the message that I wanted to get across with it is when you see someone who is going through something like that, grace is an important thing, you don’t know where they’re coming from or why they’re in the position they’re in. You can respond with grace and love instead of judgement.”

2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for the Graham St. Clair Band. Stay tuned for more music and a show near you!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Graham St. Clair Band, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Graham St. Clair Band’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.

who-is-harper-grace

Who is Harper Grace? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music (2026)

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

who-is-harper-grace

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Harper Kayleigh Grace Gruzins
Birthdate – 6/26/2001
Hometown – McKinney, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Christina Aguilera
Label – Curb Records
Current Single (comes out 2/27) – “if daddy says no” (as of date of article 2/16/26)

The Beginning:

A few years ago with introduced you to a singer-songwriter that we really believed in, Harper Grace. We recently reconnected with the songstress, as she embarks on a brand new era in her music. Continue reading to learn more about her story.

A Dallas, Texas native, Grace grew up with an incredibly supportive family. “I grew up in Texas, and my dad always had country music blaring in his truck, and my Nana played the accordion. She would listen to records like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash. The list goes on and on.”

Grace recalls finding so much solace in music from an early age. “My found love for country started at a very early age. My Nana bought me my very first guitar when I was six or seven, and we had a piano donated to my family around the same time, so I was homeschooled and I just fell in love with writing songs.” She started to spend her days writing songs and listening to some of her favorite artists.

“I started really, really diving into music and what it meant to be, and fast forward a little bit, I was known as the worst national anthem singer ever as an eleven year old, which was a very trailing time for me, but also taught me a lot about having confidence and bravery, and learning who I was to the core and what my purpose was and what I wanted to say and that mattered,” she shared, adding, ” “I grew up singing gospel music, so Nicole C. Mullen was somebody I listened to a lot. My mom listened Norah Jones and Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin, but I heard Rascal Flatts, and they were this beautiful mix of the soul and the country music that I would listen to with my grandma, so it was a wide variety of music that inspired me, and I knew I wanted to be part of the country music family because I could close my eyes and see what they were saying within their lyrics, and I wanted to be able to do that and incorporate the soul that I loved so much too.”

The Turning Point:

Grace knew that country music was her calling in life, even when she was a young child. “Music was what stuck and what I have been attached at the hip to. […] It’s what feels right and resonates with the chords of my heart,” she shared.

At sixteen, the singer went on American Idol, and then found herself at a crossroads, finally moving to Music City. “I moved to Nashville, when I was roughly nineteen, and I’ve been here ever since. Signed a record deal shortly after I moved here, and I’ve been striving to tell stories and ripping pages right of my heart even if it bleeds some times, and hoping people hold on to them.”

Since moving to Nashville, the songstress focused on finding her sound and her team. “It’s definitely been a journey. You go through this phase of figuring out what your style is and who you want to work with. […] With some of my past releases, they’ve been very fun and catchy songs, but I reached a point where I want to be so vulnerable and so honest, and I don’t want to hold back. It’s what I fell in love with in the beginning, which is the organic side of country music. […] I have moved towards just this more vocal-forward, organic sound, that I hope to kind of continue to walk into, where you can just feel like you’re right there in the middle of an 8-track recording in the middle of the live session.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Grace is embarking on a brand new era in her music, a more vulnerable and deeply personal one. “I gained a lot of confidence in wanting to release “if daddy says no” due to the fans. I’ve been singing it live for a little over a year now, and hearing people’s stories and having them come to a point of vulnerability with me, with the song, is what gave me confidence.”

Grace’s single, “if daddy says no” officially comes out on February 27th, and it’s truly one of the best songs she’s ever released.

“This is the most personal song that I’ve ever let out in the world. It’s my baby for sure. It tells a story of a situation that I was kinda stuck in. The tension between doing what was right for me at the time and figuring out what that was. I love love, I’ve always been an hopeless romantic, and I’ve also been the girl that sees the best in everything even when it’s waving a red flag in front of my face,” she shared, adding, “It’s the tension between the two relationships that mean a lot to me. Luckily, my dad did say no, and this is a true story, and I closed the door on something that should have been closed a long time prior to that. […] I believe a lot of time that some of these songs that maybe I’ll get a chance to release down the road that we have plans for, it’s always been a time that I’ve learned something and I’ve been able to attach it to a couple chords and paint a canvas picture with it. It’s very much ripped right out of my heart and put to some music.”

For Grace, this is only just the beginning of her career as a country music artist. She has true staying power, as her talent in songwriting and singing can match up to any artist in the industry right now. Fans should keep their eyes and ears open for more music coming from Grace sooner rather than later!

“I’m grateful for the country music listeners because that’s what really pushed me to step into the true Harper Grace, the intimate, the real, the crispy vocal that comes out, there’s just so much emotion and so much rawness in this song and what’s to come as well,” shared the singer. “We have a lot of stuff that is coming soon, tour dates, new music tease, lots to come.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Harper Grace, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Harper Grace’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.

who-is-lauren-craig

Who Is Lauren Craig? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-lauren-craig

Lauren Craig

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Lauren Craig
Birthdate – 07/22/1999
Hometown – Derry, Ireland
Current City – New York, New York
Musical Influences – Stevie Nicks, The 1975, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton, Bruce Springsteen
Current Single – “Call Me Back” (as of date of article: 02/09/2026)

The Beginning:

This week we connected with a NYC-based country artist who has a special kind of talent. Singer-songwriter, Lauren Craig from Derry, Ireland impressed us with her artistry and her unique story. Keep reading to learn more about how she landed in New York City, as well as, all about her music.

“I’m originally from Derry in Ireland. I moved over to New York a couple of years ago just to pursue music, and music has always been a thing,” she shard. “Irish background is you are just brought up to sing and play an instrument or something, so I guess I couldn’t really see a career without that being involved.” From an early age, Craig recalls being enamored with music, often listening to both Irish country music and American country music.

“We actually have Irish country which is kinda a little different, but I think from then, it’s people either like Irish country, American country or both. I’ve always had it in my heart growing up. All our CDs have been country music. […] Whenever Zach Bryan took off, he did a tour in Ireland, and everybody was obsessed,” she shared, adding, “Artists now like Ella Langley, I feel like everybody is just obsessed with her, especially for women, she’s such a good artist to follow, and her journey has been pretty cool, so I’m manifesting that for myself.”

Throughout her upbringing, Craig channeled some of her favorite artists, all while creating her own thing. She played shows through her home country before finding herself landing in America.

The Turning Point:

Like many people do, the songstress took a vacation to New York City, and ended up wanting to stay. “I came out here on a holiday first, and I just fell in love with it. The music scene is so big in New York. It just drew me I guess. I came over and there’s definitely some similarities with Irish music scene in New York, and I wanted to play here. […] After I came out on the holiday, I had to get my paperwork figured out and come over here.”

A bit before the pandemic, the singer finally made the move to NYC. She pursued her degree in psychology degree while simultaneously making connections both in the big apple and in Nashville. “I was so nervous to start writing songs, but now I kinda see it as a way of journaling. If something goes wrong in my life, I just put it down on a page. I never really wrote songs with other people until I came to Nashville and New York. Now I love writing with other people, so it definitely helped that way,” shared Craig.

In 2022 she released her first single, marking the moment she truly fell in love with songwriting and the industry.

I’ve been lucky to have a lot of opportunities since I moved to New York between here and Nashville. I’ve met a lot of friends who have really helped boost my career to be honest,” she explained, adding, “I reached out to a guy, John, who plays drums for Parker McCollum. I just reached out and asked if he knew any producers in Nashville that would be interested in working with a little Irish girl like me. […] He sent me a list of a few different producers, and I went with Jacob Gardner, he also plays guitar with Riley Green, and I reached out to him. […] Honestly, he saw my vision, and we got into the studio right away, and I loved how he brought my lyrics to life.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Craig is releasing songs, including ones that was produced by Gardner, “Tracks” and “Call Me Back.”

“Call Me Back” is Craig’s newest single, and it truly speaks to her grit as a singer-songwriter. Throughout the song, she evokes emotions that are hard to admit outlaid. It is a true embodiment of using music as therapy.

“”Call Me Back” is definitely more of an emotional song than the other ones I have brought out. It’s kinda about identifying the feelings that you go through whenever you go through a breakup,” shared the singer. “Honestly, I was just sitting and the tears were falling, and I was just writing everything I was feeling down on the page. It’s probably one of my favorite songs I brought out because it’s so raw. It was literally what I was feeling in the moment. There’s definitely a little bit of a poppier-country vibe to it to pull away from how sad it can be if it was stripped back. […] I think most people can relate to it, I know I can relate to it.”

It’s just the beginning for Craig. She already has more music that’s she’s planning to released throughout 2026, and she remains focused on creating and getting her music out there for fans. “I’m actually playing a bunch of shows and going back home to play in Ireland for the first time in two years. […] Hopefully in the next month and half, I’ll have a new single out. My goal this year is to release at least four songs this.”

Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Lauren Craig, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

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Who Is Tyler Nance? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Tyler Nance

Quick Facts:

Full name – Tyler Nance
Hometown – Lamar, Missouri
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Keith Whitley, Hank Williams Jr, Everly Brothers
Current Single – “Keeps Me Sane” (as of date of article: 01/26/2026)
The Beginning:

Today’s artist is a singer-songwriter, who had quite the impressive year in 2025. Tyler Nance is slowly, but surely making everyone know his name. We chatted with the singer about his journey to music, his current songs, and of course, what fans can expect for 2026. Keep reading to learn more about the artist.

“I’m from a small-town in South West, Missouri, called Lamar. Fourth generation cattle farmer, and I also welded on the road for three years, and it’s kind of where I started getting into music,” began Nance. Despite loving music from an early age, the singer didn’t realize the gift he had until later on in life.

“I never thought I could sing. I never really tried. I just sang in the car and the shower, but I’ve always had a large impact on my life,” he shared, adding, ““My grandma put me on to a lot of the older stuff, like Rock N Roll and also country. It was a lot of Keith Whitley, Hank Williams Jr., Everly Brothers, just all over the place mix of people and other artists, that’s what really influenced me.”

Without even knowing it at the time, the music Nance fell in love with started to seep there way into his story-telling and eventually, his songwriting. “Whenever I was welding on the road, music is what I kinda did to get out of my own head and to pass time, and cure my boredom, and I happened to start posting and opportunities came with me posting, and it all went from there.”

The Turning Point:

As he continued working on the road, Nance found solace in music. “I always enjoyed poetry, but not that deep of a level. I enjoyed words and rhymes and stuff, and I found that fascinating, and I thought I could do it, so the first song I wrote in my truck, I had just got off work, and I was driving home, and I just had thoughts that popped into my head, and it happened like that.”

Naturally introspective and honest, the music that was pouring out of the singer started to resonate with his buddies. “I never was going to post anything on social media, I was too nervous, but I had a buddy that I worked on the road with who told me to start posting,” he shared, adding, “I usually tell people that I had a few beers one night, and I posted a song I had written on TikTok.”

Nance’s success and vitality on social media led him to connect with people that would ultimately change the trajectory of his life. “I’m always so shocked when I look at the numbers and stuff. It’s been such a short amount of time for things to be as big as they are now. It blows my mind,” shared the singer. “Most of this has been done by reaching out and networking on social media. That’s how I met my management.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Nance is showing no signs of slowing down in 2026. His latest singles, “Keep Me Sane” featuring The Castellows and “Hell If I Know” speak to his undeniable talent as an artist.

When it comes to the collaboration with The Castellows, Nance wanted to breathe new life into the viral hit. “The collaboration is really simple. They couldn’t have made it any easier. Once we found out and got our schedules to align to be able to go into the studio and meet each other, they’re just a super talented group of people,” he shared.

“Keep Me Sane” is the type of song that makes you think, yet feels like it could have been ripped from a diary.  “The song itself, I was sitting right here, and I picked up my guitar, and I had written pretty much the first verse, and it was late, so I had a writing session the next day, and thought I would take it to them. I went to the write, and I finished the song here in Nashville. […] I never really expected the song to do anything, so it’s hard to get into words what it really means. I’d say mostly it’s about all the struggles I’ve put myself through and all the negative things, regardless of that, keeps me sane, keeps me moving forward. I think that stands true to life – the “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” type of thing.”

As 2026 unfolds, Nance is sure to release even more music. While he hopes to put out an album, one things for certain, the singer-songwriter will be playing live shows as much as possible. “There’s an Ian Munsick tour in February and March, and also in the spring, I plan on putting out an album for this year’s work, and I’m super excited about it because I’ve been writing so much this year, and I feel like I’ve grown so much as a writer, and the songs are just so good.” Grab tickets to a show near you here.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Tyler Nance follow him on Instagram and TikTok.

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

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Who Is Ashley Brooks? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Ashley Brooks

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Ashley Lauren Brooks
Birthdate – 03/09/1996
Hometown – Hickory Flat, Georgia
Current City – Ball Ground, Georgia
Musical Influences – Lee Ann Womack, Allison Krause, Reba, Janis Joplin
Label – Droptine & Marshals of the Revolution
Current Single – “Better Bars” (as of date of article: 01/19/2026)

The Beginning:

Women in country music are always worth celebrating! Today we shine our spotlight on a talented female, newcomer in the genre, Ashley Brooks. Brooks chatted with us all about her love of country music, stepping into the limelight, and everything that truly makes her the artist that she is.

“I’m currently in North, Georgia,” she began. “I grew up with a dad who was in bands my whole childhood. He’s a guitar player. So when I got old enough, I asked him to be in a band with me, and he said that if I could write songs, he would.” Throughout her childhood, Brooks was always enamored with music, finding it to be a constant throughout her life.

“I remember being super, super little watching ‘The Little Mermaid,’ and trying to replicate her singing in the mirror, so my parents got me a karaoke machine. I remember being really little and sitting in my room with the OG country CDs and just singing along with them. […] I knew it was something that I loved. My dad bought me my first guitar,” shared the songstress.

She fell in love with artists like Lee Ann Womack, The Judds, and Loretta Lynn at an early age. “I always listened to country music,” she shared, adding, “My dad was actually more into the 80s rock bands, so I know a ton of 80s rock as well. It’s been in my blood since birth now.”

The Turning Point:

Despite loving country music and having natural talent, Brooks pursued a career in healthcare. “I dove into the healthcare world, and I made a great career in Georgia, and then I was like you know, I’m 20 something years old, if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it, and I started writing my first song, and people really took to it.”

With the support of her dad, whose been in her band since its inception and the help of her mom running the merch stand, Brooks took the plunge into the crazy, yet exciting world of country music. “I want to be the Lee Ann Womack crossbred with Gretchen Wilson, like wild and rowdy, but can sing the bluegrass, heartfelt, high tones too,” shared the singer.

Slowly, but surely, Brooks started making waves on social media with her music, especially her song, “Leaving Side Of You.” Eventually, after writing music mostly by herself, Brooks started writing with SONY, which gave her the confidence and the experience to continue down this exciting path.

“Songwriting is the bread and butter of what I do. Songwriting is definitely it. I was going through a really tough period of my life in 2023, a lot of emotional stuff, and I just decided to pour it into music. That I feel like is what took it to the next level, just taking your life experiences, like Taylor Swifting somebody, and just literally writing a song about someone. But I always wrote alone, and then I started writing at SONY and other writers.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, 2026 is looking to be the biggest year yet for Brooks. A the end of the 2025, she released her sassy song, “For The Bar,” as well as, an acoustic cover of her viral song, “Leaving Side Of You.” “There’s this whole next level of songwriting with so many talented people. I’m just trying to grow my skills and do more collaborating,” she shared when talking about gaining experience in the industry.

When asked about “For The Bar,” Brooks shared that the song just fell out. The track adds to her growing live show too. “”For The Bar” was a cool idea that I had, a lot of times men are at the bar, but not really looking for anything but a hookup, and for women, a lot of the time it’s just so not traditional. So we were at SONY one day, and I was showing them this idea. […] It’s just kind of a “you didn’t see that coming in a song” kinda thing.”

In addition to “For The Bar,” Brooks also released a song called “Better Bars.” The single is another tempo track that feels live show ready, something that the singer hopes to do a lot more of this year.

“I’m keeping the momentum going, and hopefully being back on the Grand Ole Opry stage,” shared the singer. Stay tuned for more from Brooks!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Ashley Brooks, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Ashley Brooks’ 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.

who-is-kc-bruner

Who Is KC Bruner? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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KC Bruner

Quick Facts:

Full Name – KC Bruner
Birthdate -04/08/2004
Hometown – Swisher, Iowa
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Megan Moroney, George Strait, Loretta Lynn
Label – Electric Feel Records
Current Single – “Country Magic Spell” (as of date of article: 01/12/2026)

The Beginning:

2026 is looking to be a great year in country music already! We’re excited to continue introducing you to artists you may or may not be familiar. Today, we’re shining our spotlight on singer-songwriter, KC Bruner.

Hailing from a small-town in Iowa called, Swisher, Bruner grew up loving music; despite, not thinking about it as a future career for her (at first). “I grew up with my mom working in a small hair salon and my dad always had a side job, and he would do gigs on the weekends for private shows and events,” she shared, adding, “On his side of the family there was a lot of music and a lot of older country songs that I fell in love with. Then I also would sing at my youth group at church on Wednesdays and Sundays, so that was the main part of how I got introduced to music.”

Catching the music bug early, Bruner recalls spending many hours in her room writing and learning to play guitar. “I would just write on my own, and I didn’t do any shows, unless my dad had a gig, and he would let me come do one song with him.” She drew inspiration from her own experiences and stories that friends and family shared, all while becoming a big fan of the country music genre too.

“Alan Jackson for sure [is one of my favorites]. I love like everybody in a way. I never got hyper-fixated on one artist, it was always I like that song. I love Dolly Parton, George strait, Taylor Swift’s older country music. I did like Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn. It just ranges, a bunch of sad songs with a bunch of meaning or stories I loved.”

The Turning Point:

After graduating high-school early, Bruner followed in her mother’s footsteps and went to hair school and then moved back home to work at her mother’s salon – all while still writing music for fun. “I got more and more into writing, and thought maybe if I went to Nashville, I could become a songwriter or something, but I was pretty focused on my other career, and then it all kind of just happened out of nowhere,” she shared.

On what seemed like a whim, Bruner’s sister asked her if she wanted to move to Nashville. “I moved here with my sister, her boyfriend, and his two brothers, and originally, the three brothers all wanted to do music. […] I just thought I could make more money in Nashville doing hair. I lived in a house with them for a while, and I just did hair, and I would write at home for fun with them or on my own, and then I got my own apartment,” she shared.

Despite being surrounded by the best in music, Bruner was still focused on her blossoming career; however, when she got really sick out of nowhere, her life changed on a dime. “It definitely put me in a position where I was like, “what do I want to do the rest of my life.” […] it was really hard on me, and it made me super grateful for how you wake up everyday and be able to sing or talk to your friends, and that’s when I started posting, and then it didn’t take long until I got reached out to. And I started cutting days at the salon, and now I’m pretty music-focused.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Bruner is focused on making a name for herself in country music, releasing music that speaks to her talent as a singer and as a songwriter. In the last quarter of 2025, the songstress released a haunting song called, “Country Magic Spell,” that fans on social media fell in love with almost instantly.

“Someone told me I should write a Christmas song, and [instead], I ended up writing “Country Magic Spell” which is a spooky song and more of a Halloween song,” she shared, laughing, as she shared the unique story. “To me the song is about how when I moved here, nobody I knew listened to country music, especially the classic country that I loved the most, and they started sending me songs, and I was like, “I’ve been telling you that.” I thought I could change the way they thought of country music, and then I did meet a guy who didn’t love country music, and I knew I could change that too. It kind of all fell into my head, that I’m just going to put a spell on you and make you like country music, like if you’ll fall in love with me, you’ll like it also.”

“Country Magic Spell” is a perfect introduction into the fun-loving side of the singer; however, this year fans are going to get a more in depth look into who Bruner is and what she’s been through. Her soon-to-be-released song, “Bible and the Bottle” is available to be presaved here. The song is about loving an addict, and it’s a vulnerable song that is sure to keep people talking about her talent and honest. Make sure to keep Bruner on your radar!

Connect:

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

To keep up with KC Bruner, follow her on Instagram, and TikTok.

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

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Who Is Atlus? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Atlus // Photo credit: Spidey Smith

Quick Facts:

Full name – Sean Haywood // “Atlus”
Birthdate – 08/07/1992
Hometown – Denver, Colorado
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Rascal Flatts, Dolly Parton, The Fray, Drake
Label – BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville
Current Project – “Devil Ain’t Done” (as of date of article: 01/05/2026)
The Beginning:

In our last spotlight of 2025, we had to share an artist that we are predicting will have an even bigger 2026. Sean Haywood, who goes by his artist name, Atlus is proving to be a rising star in the making. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about how he got to this place in his career and everything that happened along the way. Keep reading to learn more about his incredible story.

“Music was kind of an escape because things were hard there for a little bit financially, so music was always a way I could put the headphones on or drown out neighbors fighting around me or anything that was going on in the community,” began the singer who grew up on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. “I grew up with just my mom. My mom and my dad split, and then my mom was taking care of me, my brother, and my sister.”

Despite the shortcomings he experienced, Atlus found himself coping through music. “I think the first thing I remember was that Sarah McLachlan song where you see puppies on TV, and they always seemed so sad. That was the first time I ever felt really sad emotions with my headphones on, and for some reason I had that “I Will Remember You” song on repeat. […] That was the first time I ever cried listening to a song,” he shared, reminiscing about the first time music made him feel.

At an early age, the singer would sing along to songs in the car, but it wasn’t until he was twelve that he tried to hone his vocal gifts. “My dad listened to a lot of country, so for him it was Rascal Flatts, Mark Wills, Phill Vassar. My mom listened to spiritual Christian music, so in terms of artists, artist and people that inspired me, my dad definitely brought country into my life. When I was twelve, I just remember trying to sing every word just like Gary could like in “What Hurts The Most,” and then puberty hit me, and I lost the ability to sing like him,” he shared.

The Turning Point:

Armed with a pure love for music, Atlus rediscovered his sound at around fifteen years old. “I joined a band in high-school with a bunch of buddies, and I thought of how I’d want to do this as a career. I always loved it, but I didn’t always know it could be a career. I love doing it.”

From that point on, music was one of the most important things in his life. When his band split up in his 20s, he was at a crossroads, deciding how he could best pursue this dream that he’s had virtually his whole life. “We were at the point where we were ready to do our own things. It was a fun thing for a while, but it was never really serious, but I still wanted to be really serious about music, so I started Atlus, my solo career.”

Atlus started researching what the greats in the industry were using for their equipment and quickly learned how expensive it truly was, so he decided to rent studio time. “I was driving semi-trucks for a living, and I would drive eight hours a day, pay my bills with that, but then two months into recording, I was going through my life savings, so I picked up a second job, and I threw every dollar from that into the studio.”

Along the way, he released a ton of music, covering songs on Youtube and positing as much as possible for two years before gaining traction. “I ended up having this moment, and then Jelly Roll hit me up and messaged me, and said he loved the music. […] I remember calling him, and I was like, “first off I love you, and I have a hard out in thirty,” because I was on my lunch break from work, and it was probably the craziest thing I ever said in my life. […] He was like “why are you driving trucks, you have a gold record,” and I didn’t really have a good answer for that,” he shard, adding, “He ended up asking who my team was, and at the time, it was two of my homies from high-school who filmed stuff for me to put online, and he basically said he had to introduce me to people, flew me to Nashville, introduced me to my manager, Matt Wallace, and that’s how the whole Nashville thing started.”

Today:

Now, officially a BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville recording artist (and a platinum-sealing artist), Atlus has a full team in his corner, who want to see him take the country music world by storm.

Most recently the singer-songwriter made his major-label debut, releasing his EP, Secondhand Smoke featuring six songs that truly speak to his story. The record’s lead single, “Devil Ain’t Done” impacted country radio earlier this year, debuting among the most added at country radio.

“We heard that instrumental with those drums during a songwriter, and we knew we wanted to write to it. I was having a conversation about my life and the EP, and that song “Devil Ain’t Done,”, if the EP is a house, was kind of like the doorway to get into that house. I think it’s a really easy way to get in to all the other rooms in the house from there. […] In this sense, the devil is kind of my past, and I’m always trying to keep doing the right thing,” shared Atlus.

As far as the project as a whole, the EP is a true introduction to Atlus. “We have an album that will probably come out later next year, but these six songs did a really good job of telling my story, and I want to be able to have conversations about it, and let fans behind closed doors, see how I grew up, and share my relationship with my mom. These six just felt so good at explaining me as a human being,” he shared, adding and remaining fans, “We have a lot more new songs coming, some festivals, and definitely show dates coming, and a lot more personal songs on the later half too – just an album that’s a lot more personal, authentic, and me being myself, more than I’ve ever put out.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

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

Atlus’ 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.