who-is-anna-vaus

Who Is Anna Vaus? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-anna-vaus

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Anna Vaus
Birthday – 09/14/1996
Hometown – Poway, California
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Music Influences – Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, John Mayer, Harry Styles, Maren Morris
Label – Longshot Records (independent)
Current single – Younger Version of Myself EP | “Kinda Don’t Ever” (*as of date of article: 10/3/22)

The Beginning:

Today we shine our spotlight on singer-songwriter, Anna Vaus. An incredible artist from California, the songstress is the perfect addition to your music catalog.

Growing up, Vaus was always involved in music and entertainment. “Both of my parents are in entertainment,” she began. “I was just around music and this creative lifestyle since I was a kid. I think that really opened up this whole world to me of parents who were like “go write a song” or “go make a video with your brother and make up a skit.” […] That was huge for me that music or videography could be something that I do for a living.”

She grew up believing that she could pursue this dream of music thanks to the support from her parents and her undeniable talent. When Vaus discovered artists like Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, she found herself gravitating to songwriting. “Since I was a kid, I was like this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. I could see the arena tour, I could see all the things.”

While she loved artists like Swift and Musgraves, Vaus found inspiration in so many different artists throughout her upbringing. “Early 2000s country music was big, but we also grew up in this era of like being able to access any kind of music,” she began. “While I was listening to Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts, I was also going way back listening to Billy Joel and Frank Sinatra or Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber. So it was just this melting pot of music that I was exposed to.”

The Turning Point:

Regardless of who she found herself listening to, Vaus always gravitated towards the lyrics and the stories that music shared. This led her to pursue higher education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She set out to major in songwriting. “Belmont allowed me to exist in Nashville, study music, but also continue this dream. Once I graduated, it was kind of full steam ahead,” shared the singer.

Upon graduating college, Vaus put her all into creating her sound and artistry. “I just continued pursuing this passion that I had for music until it became signing a publishing deal and growing a team of people around me that believed in my music,” she shared. “This whole time it was just led by the songs I was writing and the things that I was experiencing that has become the music I put out today.”

Vaus also credits social media for expanding her fanbase and reinvigorating her love for music time and time again. During the pandemic, when no one could play indoor shows, the singer-songwriter found herself taking to TikTok, asking people if they wanted her to play a safe show in their backyards. This led to 62 shows and an even bigger fanbase.

Today:

Now, Vaus gets to celebrate the release of her brand new EP, Younger Version of Myself, which dropped on Friday (9/30). “It’s five songs, well seven because there are some features on there. At its core, it’s these songs that I feel the whole thing is a love song to a younger version of myself,” shared the songstress.

Later, Vaus adds, “All of these songs are songs that a younger version of myself could have used at the time they were going through the situation. […] It’s just this honest representation of the things that I have gone through.”

There are songs like “Didn’t Even Date,” which talk about getting into a situation-ship and being sad when it’s over. Of course, the title track is one of the many standouts, as it touches on insecurities that are super relatable.

“At the beginning of 2021, I sat down at the piano and I was just kind of messing around […] I have never really written about my struggles with my insecurities and body image, that kind of thing […] That song became kind of an affirmation for me to give myself grace and we all just kind of need a hug at the end of the day,” shared the singer-songwriter, when asked about the title track.

Overall, Vaus shares, “It’s just an EP that is from my diary. I’m so excited to put new music out in this world, but especially this music because there are some important messages in it. But it also a fun EP to listen to.”

Fans can anticipate more new music and shows coming soon!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Anna Vaus, follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Anna Vaus’ 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-young-fables

Who Are The Young Fables? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

Who are The Young Fables? The country duo joined us to chat about their journey to country music. Get to know the rising stars here…

who-is-the-young-fables

Quick Facts:

Full Name – The Young Fables (Laurel Wright & Wes Lunsford)
Birthdate – Laurel: 9/14 + Wes: 12/9
Hometown – Maryville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell
Current Single – “Wonder If We Did”

The Beginning:

Today we shine our spotlight on a country music duo that you are going to want to add to your music catalog ASAP! The Young Fables, comprised of Laurel Wright and Wes Lunsford are an incredible male/female duo, who were born to make music together.

Despite not knowing each other, both Laurel and Wes grew up in East Tennessee in a town called Maryville. For Laurel, singing has always been her passion. “I’ve been pretty much singing my whole life, since I was three or four years old. I picked up the guitar when I was ten, wrote my first song, and just kind of played every hometown gig I could get.” She recalls always being interested in country music.

On the other hand, Wes had a different musical upbringing. “I grew up in the same place, but I never really listened to country music,” he began. “I got a guitar, I was probably like 13 or 14, and I just played rock and roll, Metallica, whatever songs I liked. When I was 19, I got really into Jazz music, and I did that for a little while. And I went to China to play and while I was over there for some reason, I started to listen to country.”

While their musical journeys were distinctly different, they ran in similar crowds unknowingly. When Wes came back from China, he finally met Laurel, after a friend called him when their band was in a bind.

“I had this gig coming up and I had this guitar player that didn’t show up the night before the gig at the rehearsal, and it was just a nightmare,” shared Laurel.  “I had this drummer, because I was a solo artist at the time, playing with a full band, and he calls Wes one of his buddies.”

The Turning Point:

“About a year and a half into that, we started the duo,” added Wes. The Young Fables were officially born. “We did everything backwards, played together, and then kind of fell in love.”

The Young Fables is a conglomerate of musical influences from both Laurel and Wes. While Laurel has always found inspiration in musical acts like Pasty Cline and Loretta Lynn, Wes loves Jazz music and Rock; however, he shared that he credits Glen Campbell for his introduction to country music.

As a duo, The Young Fables is a unique Country-Americana band. “The duo is my vocal with Wes’ guitar. […] Wes brings so many different elements to what I do that make up the sound,” shared Laurel.

After playing together for a bit of time, The Young Fables finally moved to Nashville to continue to pursue their dreams as a country music duo and as songwriters.

Today:

Currently, The Young Fables third studio album, Pages is slated for release this Friday (9/30). “This is our third record and between this record and our last record, it’s been two years, and during this time, we’ve written 60 songs that we were actively choosing what could be on the record,” shared the duo.

The record speaks to experiences the duo went through over time. Laurel vulnerably shared that she suffered the loss of her younger sister and her father over a short period of time.

“Whatever my possible meaning of life could be to maybe help others who have gone through the same thing. I was almost called to write that stuff and my experiences […] It was really important for me to put songs on the record that reflect that,” shared the songstress.

The duo later shared, “This record has a little bit of everything. We’ve got the song about my sister and all the questions I have for God, and a song about my dad […] Then we have songs about love, songs that are fun, songs about Wes and I. […] It’s the pages of my life, and that’s why the record is called pages.”

Fans can already listen to the current single, “Wonder If We Did,” which is out now “We wrote this song during a not-so-good time in our life. We just wanted to write a happy, fun song,” they shared.

In addition to touring the music, fans can anticipate a screenplay tour, which showcases the documentary The Young Fables created which chronicles the writing process behind their music.

Connect:

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

To keep up with The Young Fables, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Young Fable’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-dylan-marlowe

Who Is Dylan Marlowe? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-dylan-marlowe

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Dylan James Marlowe
Birthdate – 6/9/1997
Hometown – Statesboro, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennesee
Musical Influences – Tracy Lawrence, Keith Whitley, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Kenny Chesney
Label – Play It Again Publishing
Current Single – “Why’d We Break Up Again”

 

The Beginning:

Today we’re introducing you to a singer-songwriter that is about to blow up! Dylan Marlowe is the real deal. We chatted with the newcomer about his journey to Nashville, his new music, and what he has planned for the rest of the year. Keep reading to find out more.

Marlowe grew up in Statesboro, Georgia, where baseball was his number one passion until music found its way into his heart. “I had a buddy who had a guitar and I didn’t really get into music until my senior year of high school I think, in 2015,” began the singer. “Once I began writing my own music and playing guitar, that’s when I really fell in love,” he continued.

Despite not truly finding his love for making music until his senior year, the singer recalls being a fan of music in general at an early age. “I always liked music,” he shared, adding, “My upbringing was very different musically. My dad used to play drums in like a heavy-metal, Christian-rock band, so he was always very rock and roll and my mom was very country, so I kind of got a hard mix of the two somewhere down the road.”

He credits his parents for his love of artists like Linkin Park and Kenny Chesney. Later, he discovered traditional country music on his own. “When I got into country music, I found old country just on my own and really fell in love with Tracey Lawerence and Keith Whitley and all that stuff,” shared Marlowe. “Then when I discovered Eric Church, it was all over.”

The Turning Point:

Eventually, the singer started taking his passion for music a bit more seriously. “I had a few buddies in Nashville at the time that were from Statesboro and we kind of had this open night mic in town and a couple of the guys had been doing it for a while and they were singing their own stuff. […]  I was like I want to sing songs that I wrote that other people sing back to me. That kind of sparked that songwriter side of me.”

Despite considering a future in music, Marlowe still went to college for one year, and subsequently, worked for his father for the next two years. It was at the encouragement of his Dad, that he finally gave music a fair shot. “He was the one who said ‘man are you going to work with me forever or are you going to go there and do what you want to be doing’.”

Now, Marlowe has officially been a Nashville resident for four years, cutting his teeth on the happening singer-songwriter, country scene. As fate would have it, the singer also scored his first number one as a songwriter this year with the Jon Pardi single, “Last Night Lonely.”

“I was going to cut it. It was supposed to be one of my first songs, and I told all the publishers not to pitch it, and one of them accidentally did, and they were like Jon Pardi wants to cut it and potentially single it,” shared the singer, admitting that it was a crazy moment in his young career.

Today:

Flash forward to now, Marlowe is now sharing music of his own. Most recently, the singer-songwriter released a high-energy song called “Why’d We Break Up Again.” “The song is a fun song for sure. I didn’t even think I was going to put it out when we wrote it […] It kind of has this pop-punk element to it in a way, but when I went on tour in the spring it kind of opened my eyes to a lot.”

According to the singer, fans want energy and a fun set. “I feel like, in my opinion, if you’re not giving crazy energy for thirty minutes, why would those people come out to see you?,” adding later, “I have to do my best to win everybody over.”

Marlowe anticipates another uptempo song coming out soon too; however, after that, he is excited to put out slower music that he is also proud of. “I definitely have songs [coming] that are more ‘songwriter-y’, drawing from my Eric Church influence.”

As we await more music, catch Marlowe on tour with Cole Swindell this fall.

Connect:

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

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

Dylan Marlowe’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-grace-leer

Who Is Grace Leer? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-grace-leer

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Grace Leer
Birthday – 11/28/1991
Hometown – Danville, California
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Music Influences – The Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes
Label – 19 Recordings
Current single – “Ones Before Me”

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on an artist who you might recognize: Grace Leer. After her impressive stint on American Idol, Leer has transformed her growing following into diehard fans. As we anticipate the release of her debut EP, the singer-songwriter shared with us all about her journey.

A California-native, Leer always had a passion for music. “I started singing at the age of six and started doing talent shows, and absolutely fell in love with performing and being on stage,” Leer shared. “I caught the bug early on.”

The songstress recalls always singing and performing around her town, while still playing competitive soccer (her other passion). She drew inspiration from talented female artists in the music industry.

“It was a lot of 90s pop and 90s country,” shared Leer, adding, “It was all these female 90s powerhouses for me, but being from California, I had all these other influences like rock and roll and soul, and blues, and like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.” She also credits country megastars like Shania Twain and The Chicks as some of her all-time favorites.

Despite loving music, Leer decided to take a more straight and narrow path upon graduating high school. “I had a pretty down-to-earth upbringing and then I was pretty fortunate to receive a scholarship to play soccer at UC Berkeley, so I ended up going to college, and playing soccer, and then after graduating, that’s when I felt I could really give 100% to music.”

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating with her degree, Leer was ready to put music at the forefront. “I felt like I had these boxes I needed to check before I gave everything to music and made it a full-time career,” shared the singer. She added that she never stopped performing, but that she really upped the ante after graduating.

“I started performing around the Bay Area again and started a country band with a friend of mine, and we started to write and perform our own music. Until eventually, I said I think we need to move to Nashville.”

In 2017, Leer made the move to Nashville. She began balancing a full-time job with weekend gigs all over Music City, truly honing in on her sound and talent. Eventually, American Idol happened, which catapulted her dream to the ethers.

“It kind of changed my life,” Leer began. “American Idol was incredible. […] Looking back now, I am just so grateful that I did it.” The singer recalls the new-found confidence she gained from making it top ten; despite, being being 28 when she auditioned. “I remember getting eliminated at top ten and being like this is awesome, I am ready to keep going.”

From that point on, Leer quit her 9-5, and music became her full-time focus.

Today:

Now, Leer can officially says she is a rising country music starlet. The singer-songwriter’s self-titled debut EP is officially dropping on September 14th. The EP boasts songs she wrote, as well as, outside cuts that she relates to.

“The EP is my debut EP. […] It’s just this introduction to people, post Americana Idol to see me as a songwriter and as an artist. It is a little bit country, a little bit California. It’s a little bit mainstream. It’s these true stories,” shared Leer.

She later adds, “It’s self-titled because it’s these real things that I’ve been through and it’s a way for me to connect with my fans on a deeper level with my writing and with my storytelling.”

Fans can anticipate a few heartbreak songs like, “Brought A Girl,” and “After 1,” as well as, fun-loving songs like “Ones Before Me.” The latter is an outside cut that Leer fell in love with upon listening. “[It is] definitely that song I think that represents what has influenced me as an artist and people who have paved the way for me to do what I am able to do now.”

Leer even brings her artistry to her music videos, as well was, a digital cookbook (Taste of Grace) that compliments the EP. This is only just the beginning for the singer-songwriter, and it appears that big things are on the horizon for her.

Connect:

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

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

Grace Leer’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-jade-eagleson

Who Is Jade Eagleson? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-jade-eagleson

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Jade Eagleson
Birthdate – May 23, 1994
Hometown – Bailieboro, Ontario
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Roger Miller, Buck Owens
Label – Starseed Entertainment
Current Single – “Shakin’ In Them Boots” (*as of date of article: 9/6/22)

The Beginning:

It is always exciting when country music gains a new rising artist to champion! Nashville-transplant, Jade Eagleson is already a star in his home country of Canada. Currently, he is working hard at making a name for himself here in the United States, and he’s earned fans in us.

Growing up in Ontario, Eagleson came from a supportive upbringing, crediting his family for his love of music. “There’s always country music in [our] area,” began Eagleson. “My mom was actually a pop musician herself. […] “My grandfather on my paternal side was into country music and stuff, too.”

Eagleson recalls listening to his grandfather play guitar and eventually, listening to all of the old records that he had in his incredible catalog. “I got to play just strumming on guitar at my grandparents and that old country music, storytelling kind of stuff is what really drew me into that genre.”

He later added, “My grandfather had a ton of records and his catalog for country music was so old and it allowed me to have this really awesome understanding of the genre.” This led to an early love for musicians like Buck Owens, Hank Snow, and Wilf Carter. Eagleson also took a liking to 90s country artists like Shania Twain and Alan Jackson.

“When I started playing music, I never really had any intention of playing. I just picked up a guitar when I was eleven, and then I started loving it and started singing more towards the start of high school.”

The Turning Point:

Eventually, Eagleson decided to take the practical route – heading out west to work as a farmer. “I initially always thought I was going to be a farmer, I was always very real with what I thought my future was going to be. […] As I kept playing music and doing that, I realized I was miserable,” shared the singer.

Noticing that he was unhappy, Eagleson decided to risk it all and actually pursue his love for music. “I was like ‘ya know what, maybe I’ll try this music thing.’ I’d go out and play bars and do all these different things.”

After gaining traction in Canada, Eagleson’s dream was coming true. As fate would have it, he even met his wife on the set of his first ever music video for his song, “Got Your Name on It.” “My wife is a huge part of this. In the first music video I ever did, we hired this beautiful model. […] I didn’t think I had a chance at all. […] When there’s someone who can see you for who you are, appreciate you, she’s that person, and as soon as I had that and my son came along, it was more of a drive to pursue this and turn this into a really long career.”

With his family in tow, Eagleson decided to finally make the move to Nashville to pursue his dream even further. “My passion for this genre of music and going out singing is kind of like fueling this fire, and I kind of want to take it as far as I can and work as hard as I can to get it there.”

Today:

Since relocating to Nashville, Eagleson has focused on making a name for himself in the industry. With four number ones in Canada already under his belt, it is time for the singer to take the American country market by storm.

Last month, the singer released his song, “Shakin’ in Them Boots.’ The song was written by James Barker, Jacob Durrett, and Blake Pendergrass. Interestingly enough, James Barker of James Barker Band grew up ten minutes away from Eagleson in Canada.

“I got very lucky with the past couple of songs that I have done and funny enough, the same writers have been on both of them. His name is James Barker,” shared the singer, adding, “He was a writer on this one and he’s got that same kind of love for that older country music and the love for the genre.”

This is just the beginning for the singer. Fans can anticipate more new music coming soon and definitely some live shows too!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Jade Eagleson, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Jade Eagleson’ 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-brandon-davis

Who Is Brandon Davis? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-brandon-davis

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Brandon Davis

Hometown – Chattanooga, Tennessee

Musical Influences – Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings

 

The Beginning:

Today we shine our spotlight on an artist that we have so much respect for both as a person and as an incredible singer-songwriter. Brandon Davis is a true family-man in every sense of the word. His family is his number one priority, and if you are a fan of his music, you know that. His wife and four children are the common thread that is woven throughout his catalog of songs.

Growing up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, out on Highway 58, Davis was the product of a musical family. “My dad and his dad before him, my uncle, my cousins, we were all into music from an early age,” shared the singer. “I grew up around it and loved it all throughout my life, but I had a passion for it and baseball.”

Although he chose to focus on baseball for most of his upbringing, music was always there to greet him. “Music was there the entire time. I had been writing songs since 8th grade. I constantly played shows with my dad in a family band we had for years at a local spot,” shared Davis.

The singer recalls finding inspiration in classic country music, taking a liking to artists like George Jones and Merle Haggard. “But my passion for writing came from, first when I heard my dad tell me that Merle Haggard wrote so many songs throughout his career, and I asked him what it took to write a song and he pulled out this little black box and inside this little black box was all these different papers that were folded up, had a date written on them, and they were stapled shut, and he said all these are different songs that I have written throughout the years,” shared Davis.

When his baseball career did not pan out due to a shoulder injury, the singer-songwriter did not immediately see a path for music.“It never presented itself to me in a way that I felt like I could make it happen from a professional standpoint,” began Davis. “Nobody ever really knows how to get into music, I don’t think there’s a set way to get into music and at the time, I just couldn’t find my own avenue.” He decided to take the ‘safe’ route and went to school, eventually becoming a design engineer.

During this time in his life, he met the love of his life, his now wife, Destiny, and her two children, which he regards as his oldest daughter and son. This soon set him on the trajectory of music unbeknownst to him.

The Turning Point:

Things took a turn when Davis had a life-altering experience, which eventually led him to pursue music as a living. “It got put into perspective for me when I was on my way to work one morning and a distracted driver came through a red light and ran it, and  wound up hitting hit me, head on at a turn on Highway 53.”

Fortunately for Davis, though he suffered many injuries and emergency surgeries, he survived with a renewed sense of life and a supportive wife and children. “Moments like that really put things in perspective that nothing else can,” he shared, adding later that he asked himself questions like, “What have I not accomplished yet? What have I not chased after?”

Ultimately the answer was music. He told his wife that he wanted to take a shot at pursuing music, and so it began. Davis ventured onto social media and started to try to book gigs. As soon as he started to make headway, the pandemic stopped him in his tracks. “We were kind of back to square one, not knowing how to chase this dream.”

Then, his wife found TikTok and it was a game changer. His heartfelt and incredible videos led to a growing fanbase, who eventually started requesting original music. Davis credits his wife for his success so far, “She knew there was something there when I didn’t.”

Today:

Flash forward to now, Davis has millions of fans across different platforms and has even opened for artists like Tim McGraw and Russell Dickerson. Check out our video of Davis on tour with the two below…

Now, with his debut album under his belt, it is time for the singer-songwriter to continue to make a name for himself. Most recently, Davis released his brand new single, “Wheels on the Truck.” He entered a writing room alongside, Blake Pendergrass, Rhett Akins, and Will Bundy ready to write a fun and enticing jam. “So this song is just a feel-good tune, and it’s been this way since we wrote it,” began the singer. “It was just a cool way to spin the old wheels on the bus nursery rhyme and it was something that immediately drew all three boys into my mind.”

Davis added later that the single, “brought that 90s country sounds that I’m into and a little bit of a modern feel. [….] I hope it is a little bit of an earworm for everyone.” “It’s literally just a huge circle of life, centered around a truck and it goes from one generation to the next.”

Davis is certainly living up to the mantra he tells his children, “I’m the dad that tells his kids every day, chase your dreams, reach for your goals, and don’t let anyone ever tell you no.”

Fans can anticipate more music in the fall, while we all watch his career take off!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Brandon Davis, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Brandon Davis’ 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-james-barker-band

Who Is James Barker Band? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

Who is James Barker Band? The lead singer-songwriter of James Barker Band joined us to chat about their journey to country music. Get to know the rising act here…

who-is-james-barker-band

Quick Facts:

Full Name – James Barker Band

Hometown – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Musical Influences – Eric Church, Maroon 5, The Strokes, Keith Urban

The Beginning:

Today, we are shining our spotlight on a band we have been loving for the last few years, James Barker Band. The Canadian country band continues to grow their fanbase year after year. If you do not have them on your radar, what are you waiting for? We chatted with lead singer-songwriter, James Barker about his career and the trajectory of his namesake group.

James Barker Band is comprised of four talented men – James Barker, Taylor Abram, Connor Stephen, and Bobby Martin. The men are all from different parts of Canada, near Toronto; however, met each other later in life. Barker grew up in Woodville, Ontario, focusing on music right from the get-go.

“I started kind of playing music when I was 4. I played violin actually, weirdly, classical stuff. I got into songwriting at 12, when I started learning guitar.” Barker’s family influenced him from day one. I listened to a lot of different stuff. My dad was from the country, so he always listened to country music, and we always had country music on. But my mom was raised in Toronto, so she listened to all kinds of stuff,” shared the singer.

While in high school, the singer focused on writing music. Then one summer, he met Conner, who would go on to be his first bandmate. “I met a fellow by the name of Conner Stephen at a band camp actually,” began Barker. “We were fans of the same kind of music at the same, angsty teenage stuff, and we started a little band.”

Eventually, after Stephen came back from college, the pair recruited their other two members. “We had done recording with Taylor Abram at a studio and thought we should steal him. And we played with Bobby [Martin] in a couple of different bands, and we stole him too.”

The Turning Point:

James Barker Band was officially formed in 2015. “Music draws like-minded people together. It’s such a country music thing, I mean you see it in Nashville every day,” shared Barker. “If you love music, and do it every day, you’re bound to run into people with the same mindset.”

Despite coming back and forth to Nashville, since 2011, the entire band made the move in 2018 to Music City, bringing their eclectic sound to center stage. “We are always blending [genres] in a cool way,” began Barker. “Especially because it is the four of us, and we all have different musical tastes – you definitely hear stuff that is band-related, especially that all rock kind of thing.”

The band names artists like Keith Urban, Eric Church, Maroon 5, and the Arctic Monkeys as some of their top influences. Barker even shared that the band loves incorporating soul, hip-hop, and R&B into their music as well. “One thing we have never done is say ‘we have to make this sound country,’ we’re always like this just has to sound like us, but because we love country music first and foremost, it’s going to come out like that.”

Fortunately, for JBB, the pandemic was a time for them to continue to hone their craft. The artists spent the time perfecting their sound and improving their songwriting ability. “When you have so much time to just concentrate on something, you just get better so much faster,” shared Barker. Adding,“You mature as an artist and you mature as a writer, and I feel like you definitely hear that in our music.”

Today:

Flash-forward to today, James Barker Band got to release one of their pandemic tunes. Most recently, the band dropped their new single, “Rain All Summer.” The sensual and nostalgic song is the perfect blend of soul and country. “With “Rain All Summer” you definitely hear our maturity and our gain in complexities,” shared Barker.

“The cool thing about writing any song, it’s like figuring out the vibe of the song and what the real emotions are before you dig into the lyrics.” With this song, the vibe was all about “giving you a reason not to leave this room.” The song was created to be this sexy and fantasy-like song without being too on the nose, or romantic.

“You can push the envelope a bit sonically and musically, but the lyrics always need to make sense and live like a freaking working-class person,” shared Barker.

Fans can anticipate more new music to come soon from James Barker Band. The lead singer let us know that they have a ton of new music ready to go. Fans can also look forward to more fun TikTok’s and social media escapades from the band, as well as, more live shows sooner rather than later.

Connect:

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

To keep up with James Barker Band, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

James Barker 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-kyle-clark

Who Is Kyle Clark? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-kyle-clark

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Kyle Clark

Hometown – Jefferson, Georgia

Musical Influences – Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, John Mayer

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist is one of the masterminds behind Lily Rose’s breakout single, “Villain.” Kyle Clark is a talented singer-songwriter, who has been working towards a career in music for a long time coming, discovering a love for the craft at an early age.

Although born in Hawaii, Clark spent most of his life in Georgia, even attending both the University of North Georgia and the University of Georgia later in life. Music was a staple in his childhood. “Whenever it came to music, I always had music playing in the house. My parents, from early on, were listening to artists like George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Alan Jackson.”

At just five years old, Clark developed an appreciation for country music, but especially Chesney. “I really loved Kenny Chesney. He was my hero when it came to country music.” The singer recalls performing Chesney songs around the house and yelling into the camera, “I’m Kenny Chesney.” Interestingly enough, when he would say that, his mom would respond back, “I hope you will be someday.” That adorable audio will someday be in an upcoming song too!

As Clark got older, he started to broaden his affinity for music. “Music was always a big part of my childhood. Whether it was country music and also Jimmy Buffet or Bob Marley. Then there was also classic rock. I loved Boston.” At thirteen years old, the singer picked up the guitar, and around fifteen years old, he began to write music, heavily investing back into his first love, country music.

At that same time, one of his teachers noticed how interested in music he was, and asked him to play at the ‘Ms. Jackson County Pageant.’ This went on to be his first ever live performance, and he was hooked.

The Turning Point:

While attending college, Clark began to garner traction with his music career. He competed in several competitions, even winning the Nash Next competition for Atlanta. This led him to have opportunities that he could never have dreamed of. He was asked (and obliged) to open up for Darius Rucker. “I was like now I’m going to be playing at Verizon Wireless […] When I got to play, there were probably 1000 to 2000 people in the audience.”

Later on, he continued to foster a connection with the local radio station, which continued to help him gain more opportunities. One of those opportunities was to open for Kane Brown. Clark recalls Brown encouraging him to work on his social media presence, look for an agent, and continue to work on his craft. He was even nice enough to post a picture of the two of them together, which helped Clark to gain a bigger social media following.

“I just continued to think, ‘how do I do this again, how do I continue to have events like this and feel the way that it makes me feel getting to play songs for people.'”

As fate would have it, eventually someone in Nashville began to notice his talent and reached out to have a meeting with him and producer, Jordan Schmidt. That meeting led to his first ever publishing deal and eventual move to Nashville in June of 2019.

“It was just like let’s keep writing songs, so I think I came back in May and I wrote again with some people, and we even cut a couple of songs that I had written at that point,” shared the singer, adding later, “I moved the week of CMA Fest and I just met everyone.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Clark has overcome many obstacles, since moving to Nashville. The singer-songwriter spent 6 months with a publishing deal, until the pandemic through things off course. During that time he helped create Lily Rose’s “Villain,” as well as, started to release music of his own.

Most recently, the singer released the acoustic version of his song “Hope It’s Hot Out.” The singer wrote the track, during his spring break on his second writing trip to Nashville. Both versions of the song showcase Clark’s undeniable talent and charm.

The singer is also set to release a brand new song with fellow newcomer, Troy Cartwright called “Bad Day To Be A Beer.” The upcoming single is fun-loving, a perfect summer anthem that fans are sure to fall in love with. Fans can anticipate the song’s release, this Friday (8/12).

“If you surround yourself with the right people and the people that are doing the right thing, then good things are going to happen,” shared the singer, before acknowledging that this is just the start! Fans can expect more new music coming soon!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Kyle Clark, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kyle Clark’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.

Country Swag Spotlights: A-Z Index (Full Catalog)

Over the years, we have interviewed some of the best rising talents in the country music industry and their journey to what led them to music today. Check out the full index below to learn more about your favorite new artists…

 

A

Abby Anderson (2018)
Abbey Cone (2021)
Adam Sanders (2021)
Alana Springsteen (2020)
Alannah McCready (2021)
Alex Hall (2020)
Alexander Ludwig (2022)
Ana Cristina Cash (2018)
Andrew Jannakos (2020)
Anella Herim (2024)
Anna Vaus (2022)
Anne Wilson (2023)
Ashla Taylor (2018)
Ashlyn Grayce (2018)
Ashley Cooke (2022)
Austin Burke (2022)
Austin Snell (2023)
Avery Anna (2022)

B

Bastian Baker (2018)
Becca Bowen (2024)
Belles (2024) + (2021)
Ben Burgess (2022)
Ben Chapman (2023)
Brandon Davis (2022)
Brandon Ratcliff (2019)
Brandon Stansell (2018)
Breland (2022)
Brenna Bone (2021)
Brennley Brown (2019)
Brent Cobb (2023)
Brett Sheroky (2018)
Brinley Addington (2024) + (2018)
Britnee Kellog (2019)
Brittney Spencer (2021)
Brooke Eden (2024)
Brooke Moriber (2024) + (2021)
Bryce Leatherwood (2023)

C

Callie Twisselman (2024)
Callista Clark (2021)
Canaan Cox (2022)
Carolyn Miller (2018)
Carter Faith (2023)
Caylee Hammack (2024)
CB30 (2020)
CJ Solar (2018)
Chapel Hart (2023)
Charles Esten (2024)
Chase McDaniel (2024)
Chase Wright (2021)
Chayce Beckham (2022)
Chevel Shepherd (2020)
Clark Manson (2019)
Clayton Anderson (2022)
Clever (2024)
Cody Hibbard (2023)
Cody Purvis (2020)
Cody Webb (2019)
Colby Acuff (2023)
Cole Bradley (2020)
Colin Stough (2023)
Conner Smith (2022)
Cooper Alan (2021)
Cory Marks (2020)
Craig Campbell (2018)

D

Dalton Dover (2023)
Dasha (2023)
David J (2022)
Davisson Brothers Band (2020)
Delta Rae (2018)
DEMPS (2024)
Don Louis (2024)
Donovan Woods (2019)
Drake Milligan (2021)
Drew Baldridge (2024) + (2018)
Drew Green (2020)
Drew Parker (2020)
Dylan Marlowe (2022)
Dylan Schneider (2021)

E

Eli Winders (2024)
Elizabeth Lyons (2022) + (2019)
Elvie Shane (2021)
Erin Kinsey (2024) + (2021)
Erin Kirby (2023) + (2021)
Ernest (2023)

F
G

George Birge (2023)
Georgia Webster (2021)
Grace Leer (2022)
Grant Gilbert (2022)
Greylan James (2023)
Griffen Palmer (2023)

H

Haley Mae Campbell (2018)
Hannah Bethel (2019)
Hannah Dasher (2020)
Hannah Ellis (2024) + (2019)
Harper Grace (2023)
Harper Grae (2021)
Hayden Haddock (2019)
Heath Sanders (2019)
Home Free (2018)
Honey Country (2020)
Hudson Valley (2020)
Hueston (2024)
HunterGirl (2022)

I

Ian Flanigan

J

J. Antonette (2019)
Jackson Michelson (2021)
Jacob Bryant (2020)
Jade Eagleson (2022)
Jaden Hamilton (2020)
Jake Worthington (2023)
James Barker Band (2022)
James Dupré (2020)
Jameson Rodgers (2018)
Jamie Gabrielle (2020)
Jay Allen (2023)
Jay Bragg (2020)
Jenna Davis (2023)
Jenna Paulette (2021) + (2019)
Jennifer Smestad (2021)
Jessica Willis Fisher (2022)
Jillian Cardarelli (2022)
Jillian Jacqueline (2018)
Jimmie Allen (2018)
Joe Lasher (2018)
John King (2021) + (2019)
John Morgan (2022)
Jon Langston (2018)
Jon Wood (2019)
Jordan Rager (2020) + (2018)
Jordan Rowe (2020)
Jordyn Stoddard (2019)
Josh Kelley (2020)
Josh Kiser (2022)
Josh Melton (2020)
Josh Ross (2022)
Joshua Dylan Balis (2022)
Josiah Siska (2023)
Juna N Joey (2021)
Justin Fabus (2018)

K

Kaleb Lee (2019)
Kalie Shorr (2019)
Kameron Marlowe (2020)
Kären McCormick (2019)
Karen Waldrup (2018)
Karley Scott Collins (2022)
Kasey Tyndall (2021)
Kaylee Rutland (2018)
Kelleigh Bannen (2018)
Kelsey Hart (2023)
Kelsey Lamb (2018)
Kinsey Rose (2023)
Kirby Ai (2019)
Kolby Cooper (2021)
Kree Harrison (2019)
Kristen Merlin (2021)
Kyle Clark (2022)
Kyle Daniel (2024)
Kylie Frey (2020)
Kylie Morgan (2019)

L

Laci Kaye Booth (2021)
LAKEVIEW (2020)
Landon Parker (2023)
Lanie Gardner (2024)
Larry Fleet (2023)
Lauren Davidson (2018)
Lauren Duski (2019)
Lauren Watkins (2023)
Leah Turner (2019)
LECADE (2024)
Lena Stone (2019)
Lewis Brice (2018)
Lily Rose (2024) + (2021)
Liv Charette (2020)
LJ (2019)
Logan Brill (2018)
Logan Crosby (2022)
Lori McKenna (2019)

M

MacKenzie Porter (2024) + (2021)
Mackenzie Carpenter (2023)
Madeline Consoer (2022)
Madeline Merlo (2022)
Madeline Edwards (2022)
Mae Estes (2023)
MAMADEAR (2019)
Manny Blu (2020)
MaRynn Taylor (2021)
Matt Ferranti (2020)
Matt Koziol (2022)
Matt Roy (2022)
Matt Schuster (2023)
Matt Stell (2018)
Matt Williams (2018)
Maybe April (2018)
Meg McRee (2023)
Megan Moroney (2023)
Meghan Patrick (2024)
Michael James (2024)
Mike Gossin (2023)
Mike Ryan (2018)
Minnie Murphy (2022)
Mitch Rossell (2021)
Morgan Johnston (2022)

N

Nashvillains (2022)
Nate Barnes (2021)
Nate Botsford (2019)
Nate Smith (2022)
Natalie Stovall (2018)
Neon Union (2023)
Nessa Lea (2021)
Nikki Briar (2020)
Niko Moon (2019)
Noah Guthrie (2022)
Noah Hicks (2024) + (2021)
Noah Thompson (2022)
Nolan Sotillo (2021)

O
P

Parker McKay (2020)
Parmalee (2018)
Paulina Jayne (2020)
Peytan Porter (2022) + (2023)
PJ North (2019)
Priscilla Block (2020)

Q
R

Rachel Bradshaw (2022)
Rachele Lynae (2020)
RaeLynn (2023)
Raleigh Keegan (2019)
Randall Fowler (2024)
Randall King (2024)
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen (2020)
Rayne Johnson (2019)
The Reklaws (2024)
Redferrin (2024)
Reid Haughton (2023)
Renee Blair (2018)
Restless Road (2020)
Risa Binder (2018)
Rob Baird (2019)
Robert Counts (2020)
Robyn Ottolini (2022)
Roman Alexander (2021)
Ron Pope (2020)
Ryan Larkins (2023)
Ryan and Rory (2024)

S

Sacha (2021)
Sam Grow (2018)
Sam Williams (2019)
SaraBeth (2018)
Sean Stemaly (2020)
Seaforth (2019)
Seth Ennis (2022)
Shane Profitt (2023)
Shawn Austin (2022)
Shaylen (2024)
Shelby Darrall (2024)
Skip Ewing (2024)
Sophia Scott (2022)
Southerland (2020)
Spencer Crandall (2021)
Spinn (2018)
Stephanie Quayle (2019)
Stephen Wilson Jr. (2023)
Sundance Head (2018)
Swearingen & Kelli (2019)

T

Tanner Adell (2023)
Tanner Usrey (2023)
Tara Thompson (2019)
Taryn Papa (2022)
Tayler Holder (2023)
Taylor Acorn (2019)
Tebey (2020)
Teddy Robb (2020) + (2018)
Tenille Arts (2021)
Tenille Townes (2018)
Tera Lynn Fister (2020)
Terra Bella (2019)
The Swon Brothers (2019)
The Young Fables (2022)
Tiera Kennedy (2023) (2020)
Tiffany Woys (2024) (2019)
Tigirlily Gold (2023)
Tommy Cole (2018)
Tori Martin (2019)
Track 45 (2020)
Trent Harmon (2018)
Trey Lewis (2021)
Tristan Jackson (2018)
Troy Cartwright (2023) + (2021)
Tucker Wetmore (2024)
Twinnie (2024)
Tyler Braden (2021)
Tyler Dial (2022)
Tyler Halverson (2023)
Tyler Hilton (2019)

U
V

Valerie Ponzio (2018)
VAVO (2023)
Vincent Mason (2023)

W

Walker County (2024)
Walker Montgomery (2019)
Warren Zeiders (2021)
Waylon Wyatt (2024)
Whitney Duncan (2020)
Williams Honor (2020)
Willie Jones (2021)
Wyatt Flores (2023)

X
Y
Z
who-is-logan-crosby

Who Is Logan Crosby? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-logan-crosby

Logan Crosby // Credit: Jake Powers

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Logan Crosby

Hometown – Milledgeville, Georgia

Musical Influences – Chris Stapleton, George Strait, The Allman Brothers Band,

 

The Beginning:

One of our favorite things about Country Swag is our ability to champion new artists before they officially take off. We believe that will be the case for today’s spotlight artist, Logan Crosby. If that name sounds familiar to you already, you may recognize the singer-songwriter from his impressive TikTok or from the new show ‘Claim to Fame.’ However, you are going to remember him for his undeniable talent and charm.

Crosby grew up in a small town in Georgia. His upbringing allowed him access to explore all of the musical genres that were at his fingertips as a kid. “Growing up in Georgia, there are so many different musical influences. Otis Redding was born right down the road from me. You got the Allman Brothers, you got Little Richard and then you have Luke Bryan, Sugarland, and so on. Then you have Atlanta, which is one of the biggest hubs of rap music. Of course, it’s the south, so there’s also a lot of gospel music,” shared the artist.

He recalls constantly shuffling through different music throughout his childhood, including artists like Aretha Franklin and even Chris Stapleton. Crosby shares that he learned to sing in the choir at church, but it was not until he turned seventeen that he finally learned how to play guitar and piano.

“Growing up, I always kind of had it in my head that I wanted to do music, that I wanted to be in the entertainment business.” Despite that knowledge, Crosby did not know exactly how he was going to achieve those dreams. Instead, he attended college at The University of Georgia in Athens.

The Turning Point:

While attending university, Crosby learned the power of his talent and the power of social media. His skills as an artist were not just a “party trick.” The singer created a TikTok page and luckily had a video go viral. Ironically, the song was just a funny video and not music-oriented.

“It wasn’t a music TikTok, but somebody saw that I did music and they were like ‘can you cover this song?’ and then someone else was like, “can you cover this song?,”‘ shared the singer. By summer 2021, Crosby accumulated almost 30K followers on the app alone. This led him to start playing shows and taking music a bit more seriously.

“I started putting out some of my own music on TikTok, I called it original music Fridays and people loved it. […] And I was like, let’s give it a shot, let’s see what happens.”

Today:

Now, Crosby has accumulated almost 90K followers and 2.5 million likes on TikTok. The singer also released his first ever song thanks to his fans. “If Jesus Was A Cowboy” officially dropped on July 15th. “I was looking for something with this first song a little bit different, and so it’s not your typical full band, everybody’s jammed out kind of stuff.”

According to Crosby, “I wrote [the song] after watching an episode of ‘1883.’ It took me 25 minutes to write the song, but I kind of went in, and I was like this is how I feel. And I think putting out music that is relatable to people is what people want to hear.”

Crosby yearns to continue to create and release music that people can relate to. He truly believes in the art of storytelling. “I love writing music. It’s my favorite thing to do,” shared the singer, adding, “That’s kind of the simple, country music, where you’re putting the emotion and the raw-feel back into it is who I am, that’s who I have always been.”

Fans can look forward to another new single coming out in the fall, as well as, the continuation of the show he is on ‘Claim To Fame’ through mid-September. Make sure to keep Crosby on your radar!

Connect:

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

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

Logan Crosby’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.