Who Is Cooper Alan? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Country music artist, Cooper Alan joins us to chat about tour, his viral success on TikTok, taking ownership of your music and more. Learn more in the interview below.

Cooper Alan

Cooper Alan

The Beginning:

Cooper Alan starts off our conversation with explaining how he came to love country music. “I’ve gone through all the phases of loving different genres. Country has always been the most dominant,” Alan began. “Music was always something my family enjoyed and liked, but I’m the only one that plays. We would always go to concerts and share music with each other – it was a way we bonded with each other.”

Alan attended his first concert, Tom Petty, when he was five years old. “I slept through the whole show,” he laughed. Even though he wasn’t awake, it ignited a spark. He learned his first instrument in elementary school and second in middle school – the trumpet and guitar respectively. “I started playing guitar in 6th grade because I figured girls probably thought it was cooler than a trumpet. I started my first band in 8th grade and played through all of high school and college. My music taste always comes back to country music.”

He started cultivating his songwriting when he was a teenager, but it’s really performing his music that is his true passion. “I’ve been most inspired by the entertainers that I’ve seen live. Live performing is my thing… so concerts have inspired me probably even more than music has.”

After high school, Alan went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad, and he received not only a college education, but he received a hands-on education in live performing and entertaining. “Some people can move to Nashville when they’re 16 or 18, and be totally fine, but I just kinda needed to learn how to entertain a little more and kind of cut my teeth – it was probably the most valuable part of college.”

The Turning Point:

When the world paused in March 2020, it gave Alan a moment to brainstorm new ways of reaching fans and being creative. “I couldn’t play shows, so I had to find something to do. My girlfriend mentioned that I should get on TikTok, and I thought it was just kids dancing!” Alan recalled laughing. “I started digging in and studying the app and had my first video go viral and that’s when it really hit me.”

Over a year after starting TikTok, Alan’s singles have racked up millions of streams, and he has even signed and created a publishing company with his mentor, legendary songwriter Victoria Shaw, called “Cooped Up” records. “‘New Normal’ started going viral on TikTok and people started to care about my original music. Victoria and I had an opportunity to treat this like a real business and record company and that’s what we decided to do. We’ve worked together since I’ve gotten to Nashville, so she’s been my champion this whole time, so it was a no-brainer.”

Today:

Alan has recently finished the first leg of his In Real Life tour with artists Alexandra Kay and Thomas Mac, as they’re currently making their way across the country. “It’s been so wild and awesome to be on tour. Before COVID, I couldn’t go play a show where people would come and be there for my original music and be there to see me… it was the first time I really experienced any of that. It’s a really special feeling.”

As for what’s next for Alan, new music and tour dates are already starting to come to fruition. He is coming to the New York area this Saturday night at Mulchay’s, grab tickets here, and will continue down the east coast before heading South to Texas and Louisiana. He’s an artist you won’t want to miss out on.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Cooper Alan, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Cooper Alan’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.

kolby-cooper-ep-gabriel-muniz

Who Is Kolby Cooper? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Kolby Cooper

The Beginning:

A little over a week ago, we introduced you to a new artist in country music, Kolby Cooper. His major-label debut project Boy From Anderson County is currently one of our favorites of 2021. We chatted with Cooper about his EP and his journey to country music. Learn more about the newcomer below.

Growing up in Bradford in East Texas, Cooper lived a typical country boy lifestyle. The singer recalls growing up on a ranch and riding horses as a young kid. Of course, country music was all he listened to at first. “My dad was always playing Texas Country,” he tells us. “He also introduced me to southern rock and I kinda took that and ran with it.

It was not until Cooper turned thirteen that he really considered playing music himself. “Around 13 or so I started playing music and I kinda figured out that it felt a lot cooler to play music than it did to go be a nurse or to do whatever I was planning on doing in college,” shared the singer.

During this time in his childhood, the singer lost his father to his battle with cancer. “We really bonded over music, so I think it definitely drove me to want to make music.” Additionally, the singer shared, “It just felt right. It was something he was proud of me for doing.”

With blessings from both his mother and his then girlfriend (now wife), Cooper put college on hold to pursue his dream. Combining his love for country music, like his favorite Waylon Jennings, and rock bands like Blink 182 and Nirvana, Cooper was destined to create a sound all his own. 

The Turning Point:

Just out of high school, the singer was able to capitalize on his one-of-a-kind talent. He amassed over 100 million streams prior to his debut major-label release. “For the first time in a few years, I took a couple of minutes to think about it and I was like damn, I’m right where I’m supposed to be and I’m doing what I’m meant to do,” shared the singer, reflecting on his journey thus far.

Cooper later added, “There’s been a lot of amazing moments. Whether it be playing our first decent size show […] all the way to playing our first big sold-out show.” Both personally and professionally, Cooper could not be happier with where he is now. He credits his wife and two young daughters for all that he has been able to accomplish so far.

Today:

Cooper created his EP, Boy From Anderson County from the joy he was feeling. “I wanted to make a happy record.” Adding later, “I wanted to kinda show anyone who didn’t know who I was or fans who do know who I am, I wanted to show where I am in my life.”

Although Cooper truly loves all six songs off his project, the singer-songwriter identified the title track and “Way To Go” as two standouts. With the latter, “I really go to explore musically areas that I haven’t gone before.” For the autobiographical tune “Boy From Anderson County,” Cooper got to share his full truth with his fans.

Similarly, the comedic and clever song “Her Favorite Songs” also pulled from a real-life experience. “Every song I write, it’s pulling from some real story, whether it be my story or someone else’s,” declares the rising star.

Fans can gear up for the full-length version of Boy From Anderson County slated to come out at the top of 2022. Cooper also promises that he will continue to hit the road hard, touring as much as he can throughout the rest of the year.

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Kolby Cooper’s debut EP “Boy From Anderson County,” is out now.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Kolby Cooper, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Boy From Anderson County EP 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-nolan-sotillo-new-music

Who Is Nolan Sotillo? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Nolan Sotillo // Photo Credit: Nicola Harger

 
The Beginning:
This week we got to chat with rising artist Nolan Sotillo. The young artist has been in the industry for many years, honing his craft as both an actor and a musician. After living in California for a few years, the West Palm Beach native made the move to Nashville. 
 
“From a young age I played just about every sport you could imagine and I loved being outdoors, so while I could sing along with the songs on the radio and had some natural melody within, I never really took it seriously until I became a teenager and starting writing songs and taking lessons,” begins Sotillo.  It was not until high school that he began to recognize his natural talent and love for music and the arts. “Not getting the lead one year [in a school play] led to me taking lessons and really honing in on my voice,” shares the singer. Sotillo later added that he learned to play guitar after seeing his friend play a Coldplay song to impress a girl. 
 
In regards to his musical influences, the singer was introduced to country music throughout his upbringing. “A lot of the music I discovered as a kid was a result of my parents, whatever they listened to on the radio.” His parents introduced him to artists like Keith Urban, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, and even George Strait and Jimmy Buffet. “I kinda formed this love for country storytelling with a little bit of rock edge.”

The Turning Point:

Continuing to find his lane, Sotillo believes in being open to all sorts of influences and types of music. “I’m keeping the goal post wide,” he tell us. “I don’t want to rule anything out because I am a lover of all music.” After a successful acting career in Los Angeles, Sotillo decided to refocus his attention on music and songwriting. “So there really came a point where I wanted to prioritize what I initially went to LA for, which was music.” He later adds, “I felt that if I was feeling that way, it was important to me to listen to myself and not shy away from music or shy away from a move.” This led to Sotillo to move to Nashville in January 2020 to pursue a career in country music. For the last year and a half, the singer has cultivated a sound that is all his own through writes with songwriters and other incredible opportunities.

Today:

Interestingly, one of the singer’s newest original releases was the first song he wrote when he moved to Music City. In January 2020, Sotillo wrote, “I’m Still.” “The idea for “I’m Still” was to write about what I was going through at the time,” adding, “I knew it would be something that a lot of people would appreciate, but more than anything it was saying exactly what I wanted to say.”

 
Sotillo also recently released another cleverly-written song, “Prove Me Wrong.” “It’s such a different way to show love. You’re always trying to find a new way to say the same thing.” The song really depicts how it feels to have a girl really change your outlook on life. “The wordplay with that one is kinda like a tongue-in-cheek, clever kinda way to say yeah girl, you’re good for me.” As far as more new music goes, Sotillo promises it is coming sooner rather than later. “I want to continue to show that there are multiple sides of Nolan, that being said the next release may have one different element that’s just another part of me.” Fans can also catch the singer on his first tour kicking off this September. Find tickets here.
Who-is-nolan-sotillo-new-music

Nolan Sotillo releases new music including new song, “Prove Me Wrong,” out now.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Nolan Sotillo, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 
“Prove Me Wrong” 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 Laci Kaye Booth? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Laci Kaye Booth / Photo: Robby Klein

The Beginning:

Laci Kaye Booth is a name you are going to want to remember. The singer-songwriter grew up with country music in her heart and in her blood. After a successful stint on American Idol, Booth found her path in Nashville, ultimately signing a record deal. We chatted with the songstress about her entire journey.

“I’m a singer-songwriter from East Texas. I was born and raised in Livingston, Texas,” she begins. “My dad is a Texas artist […] So he introduced me to Willie [Nelson] and Waylon [Jennings] and Merle [Haggard],” shares Booth. The songstress recalls singing in church with her mother and performing on stage at the tender age of eight.

“It was just second nature to be involved in music at a really young age. I don’t ever remember a time where I wasn’t playing around with guitars, singing, or on stage.” Later, Booth tells us that she even learned how to play guitar at nine years old and sang the national anthem at pep rallies in school. 

“For some reason, I always had it in my mind that I was going to be a country singer.” Despite her dad’s connection to country music, Booth also credits her mother for introducing her to some of her favorite acts. She names artists like The Chicks, Shania Twain, and Lee Ann Womack as some of the women she was raised on.

Despite her love for country music, the songstress finds inspiration in all sorts of genres. Discovering music on her own became a passion for her. “When I was about eleven, Fleetwood Mac came on and I was like ‘who the heck is this?’ And I just became obsessed with Stevie Nicks and even Norah Jones, […] Anyone with a really unique voice just captivated me.”

Currently, Booth still loves traditional country music and the oldies that she grew up on. However, she runs the gamut of music influences, naming artists like The Weeknd, Olivia Rodrigo, and Lana Del Ray as some of her favorites right now.

The Turning Point:

Despite knowing that she wanted to become a professional artist, Booth yielded her mother and step-father’s advice and went to college straight out of high school. “They wanted me to have a backup plan,” she tells us. Still, Booth found herself immersed in music. “I was playing shows on the weekends for money and like 3-4 shows every weekend, when I decided to try out for American Idol.”

Just thirty hours shy of a Bachelor’s Degree, Booth auditioned and made it on to American Idol. “The right place at the right time was exactly what it was with American Idol,” she tells us. “I didn’t even want to get out of the car at the audition, that’s how fearful I was of rejection.”

Clearly, it was fate that Booth did get out of the car. Her American Idol journey landed her in the top five and helped secure her a record deal with Big Machine Label Group Records and 19 Recordings. Booth moved to Nashville two years ago. She is officially honing her craft as a singer and a songwriter with some of the most established producers in the industry today.

Today:

With her debut major-label EP slated to come out at the end of this week, Booth has a lot to be proud of. The eight-track project is a culmination of all of her influences over the years. It reflects her journey beautifully. “I still have problems believing that these things are even happening to me because it’s something I dreamed about my whole life,” shares Booth as she reflects on her journey.

Fans will definitely relate to her humble attitude and vulnerability, which is so easily conveyed through her music. Although trying to keep the details behind the project under wraps, the songstress lets us know that each track is so different from the other. “Having a little something for everybody. I’m excited to see what people think!”

Besides the project, fans can catch Booth playing Stagecoach this season. This is a huge upcoming moment for the new artist. Check back on Friday for our full review of the EP. We can tell you, it’s one you’re going to want to listen to!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Laci Kaye Booth, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Who Is Georgia Webster? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

The Beginning:

This week we got to catch up with a budding new songstress in country music. Georgia Webster just released her debut EP First Goodbye last week, and we instantly fell in love with her vulnerability and talent. Growing up on the east coast in Hampton, Massachusetts, Webster’s whole life has done a 180. From a high school student to Nashville’s newest star, the singer-songwriter is on a path towards greatness.

“I grew up kinda in the middle of the woods, out in the country,” shared Webster, as she recalls her early experiences. She recalled her father playing acoustic guitar and artists like the Grateful Dead throughout her childhood. “I ended up being intrigued with the guitar. So he ended up teaching me my first few chords and got me my first guitar, and the rest is history from there.”

At as young as nine years old, Webster began writing music and teaching herself to play more songs on guitar. “I would kinda take the chords I taught myself and put them together to make my own songs.” She recalls learning to play early Taylor Swift songs and One Direction tunes at a young age. Webster even sang Carrie Underwood’s song “Something In The Water” at her sixth-grade talent show.

If Underwood was her introduction to country music, it was Sam Hunt that solidified her interest in the genre. “Sam Hunt came out a few years later, and I really related to the lyrics of his songs,” adding later, “I really found myself loving country music from him. It’s kinda like a country-pop feel and I thought that was so cool.” Nowadays, Webster loves all types of country music including Lennon Stella, Kacey Musgraves, and Tyler Childers.

The Turning Point:

Webster’s career really began to take off when she started posting clips of her songs on TikTok. Armed with a love for music, the singer never suspected her songs would go viral on the social media app. She credits TikTok for helping her get where she is now.

“TikTok has been crazy for me,” she begins. “Without TikTok I wouldn’t have gotten my record deal. […] They flew me down to Nashville to play a few songs of mine.” SONY Music Nashville signed Webster on the spot after discovering her on the app and later hearing her music in person. “’Box of Memories’ is the song I think got me signed,” she shares. “That was a big moment for me.”

Since signing her record deal, the songstress has gotten to hone her talent even more in Nashville. Her debut project is full of songs that her fans on TikTok have fallen in love with and songs she has loved.

Today:

On July 16th, 2021, Webster finally had her debut with First Goodbye. The record features songs that she has written over her high school experience. “I really wanted to make sure that it was just me on the project, just me that had written all of the songs,” adding “I just had to get them or else I’d regret not putting them out.”

It was important to Webster that her songs were reflective of her young self and relatable to younger audiences. The EP features songs like “Box of Memories,” “First Goodbye,” and “Tell Your Mom.” “‘Box of Memories” definitely stands out as like my favorite one. That one and “First Goodbye,” the title track. That one is definitely really close to me,” shares Webster.

The singer also shared the story behind the fan-favorite song “Tell Your Mom.” “It’s based off a true story,” she begins. “It kinda just made me think of all the times in our relationship and got me back to going over his house […] and it just made me think your ex’s or anyone that you are close with, the family plays a big role in your relationship with them too.”

If her debut record is any inclination, Webster will continue to garner more and more fans over the trajectory of her career. The singer just announced her first tour with Ingrid Andress, kicking off this Fall. She will have more songs out before the tour begins. It is safe to say that Webster will continue to be adding to her box of memories, as her career continues to blossom.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Georgia Webster, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

First Goodbye 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.

drake-milligan-new-music

Who Is Drake Milligan? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Drake Milligan / Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg

The Beginning:

We love sharing new artists that we believe in with you all! Today, we get to introduce singer-songwriter, Drake Milligan. The rising new artist is hard to not love! With music coming out this week and a true love for music, Milligan is an artist that will appeal to fanbases across the country genre.

Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, music was definitely a part of the landscape of the singer’s childhood. “My first introduction to music was probably my dad’s records,” he tells us. “He would always have some great CDs in his car. Alan Jackson records of course.” Milligan’s father introduced him to traditional country artists that remain a staple in his influences today. The artist credits greats like George Jones, Merle Haggard, and George Strait as some of his top picks in the country realm.

Milligan fell in love even more with music in general, when he was just a young kid. “At 7 years old, I discovered Elvis,” he begins, “I learned all I could about music and decided I wanted to be an entertainer like him.” As fate would have it, Milligan ended up playing Elvis on CMT’s show ‘Sun Records’ later in life.

Despite his love for the entertaining side of music, Milligan had bigger dreams and untapped potential that was soon to be recognized. “I always kinda wanted to be a rockstar. I had papers in 2nd grade about what you wanted to be when you grew up and it was always rockstar or something like that.”

The Turning Point:

Upon moving to Nashville, Tennessee, Milligan’s dreams became more attainable. “I was lucky enough to get in the room with some of my favorite writers in Nashville,” he recalls, adding later that one of the first people he met in town was legendary producer, Tony Brown. “Tony definitely helped me find my voice […] Originally when I came to town, I definitely wasn’t planning on being one of those guys that writes everything.”

Interestingly enough, it was through songwriting that Milligan finally honed in on his natural-born talent. Surrounding himself with the right team of people, the singer was able to tap into a unique perspective as a singer-songwriter, melding old-school country music with some modern-day flair of influences like Cody Johnson and Dierks Bentley.

“I found myself going back more than I do going towards new music. Discovering stuff from artists that were recorded in the 60s that I never heard,” shares Milligan recalling the process of really honing in on his own style as an artist. After a few years of writing every day, the singer felt comfortable enough to co-write original music.

Today:

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Drake Milligan’s debut self-titled EP is due out Friday, July 23rd

Nowadays, Milligan is anticipating the release of his debut self-titled EP. The record comes out this Friday (7/23). It features five original songs, all co-written by the singer himself. “It was really through co-writing and Brandon Hood, to his credit, really helped me try to hone in on finding my voice through storytelling,” shares Milligan about the process of writing the record. “There’s a lot of those songs where you can hear a lot of those influences.”

Milligan also shares how effortlessly the record came together. “It’s just being around good guys and getting to know them and their stories, it’s one of my favorite parts and by the end of the day, hopefully after a bunch of stories and some good times, we have a song.”

Of course, it is impossible to pick a favorite off the project, but the singer did share that the ballad, “Don’t Look Down” is one of his favorites to perform. “I miss melodies in music quite a bit,” shares Milligan. “We went for it… we didn’t hold back!” Other songs that fans can anticipate on the record are “Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’” and “She.”

With the EP release coming soon, the singer cannot wait for fans to hear everything and hopefully get to play songs live real soon. The singer already has some shows lined up and shares that he is still writing every day. It is a very exciting time for the budding artist! Congrats to Drake Milligan!

Check back here on Friday, July 23rd for a full review of the music and on Tuesday, July 27th, check back for a very special performance + interview from Drake Milligan live from New York City.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Drake Milligan, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Check out 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 MaRynn Taylor? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who is MaRynn Taylor

MaRynn Taylor

The Beginning:

Today we are highlighting a rising artist who is just twenty years old and at the start of an incredible journey. Hailing from Michigan and now a Nashville transplant, MaRynn Taylor is a one-of-a-kind talent. She grew up around music and knew she wanted to sing country music for a living at an early age. “I started pretty young,” she tell us in our recent chat. “I think it was about 4 when I started doing little mini-performances for my family in the living room and I had the little plastic mic and I would sing gibberish and they would put on music in the background.”

Always finding inspiration from her parents and what they were listening to, Taylor fell in love with country music. Her parents introduced her to artists like Garth Brooks, John Denver, Trisha Yearwood, and The Chicks. “There was always music in my house,” she shares, adding, “I just kinda gravitated towards it naturally.”

By the age of twelve,  Taylor solidified her desire to play country music. “I went on a real stage for the first time. It was like my 6th-grade talent show,” shared the songstress. “It’s really when I fell in love with performing and I starting singing at little festivals in the summertime.”

Taylor took her love for country artists like Carrie Underwood and all the women in 90s country with her when she finally made the big move to Nashville just out of high school. “I knew I wanted to be just like them.”

The Turning Point:

Three years ago, Taylor and her family headed south to their new home in Nashville, Tennessee. Back in sixth grade, during a family trip to Music City, the singer had declared her love for Nashville. She knew back then that she would end up living and working in the city. “I just knew I loved music,” shares Taylor. “Something in me knew that I was going to come back and I was going to live here. It just felt like home. I finished high school when I was 17 and I told my parents I want to do this.”

Since moving to Nashville, the songstress has been able to grow her talent and her voice. She has even begun writing her own music, which she shares has been one of the most rewarding parts of being in the industry. “I would write little poems and stories as a kid. I always loved it, but I didn’t start really songwriting until I moved to Nashville and I began writing with a lot of people here.” 

Later, the singer declared her love of the city she now calls home, once more. “There’s no place I’d rather be. The heart of country music is here and I love it.”

Today:

Nowadays, Taylor can officially say that her dreams are her reality. Since moving to Nashville, the songstress has gotten to play gigs and put out original music. Most recently, the singer dropped a heartfelt and beautiful song called “Lies of My Fears.” The song showcases the singer-songwriter’s ability to just ‘go there’ and be vulnerable with her fans through her music.

“We got in the room together and [one of the co-writers] actually had the idea and I was like wow I could really relate to putting my own self down and it was pretty vulnerable sharing my fears and sometimes doubts that are in my head almost daily honestly,” she tells us, recounting the writing experience.

Since its release, Taylor has learned how relatable sharing your fears and your heart can be for listeners and fans of country music in general. “Lies of My Fears” is a song that will keep fans in her corner for a long time to come.

As we continue into the second half of 2021, Taylor promises more music this year. She shared that she is working on so much music right now as well as playing shows whenever she can.  Overall though the most important thing to her is “I can’t wait for people to hear more of myself and my heart.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with MaRynn Taylor, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Lies of My Fears” 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 Kristen Merlin? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

Kristen Merlin

Kristen Merlin

The Beginning:

Today we are highlighting a seasoned musician in the country music industry. Kristen Merlin, a rising artist, is creating a movement with music. She chatted with us all about her backstory, her personal struggles, and of course, her music.

Growing up in a little town outside of Boston, Massachusetts, Merlin gravitated towards music. “Music has always been something that was super important to me, that made me feel like I belonged,” declared the songstress. The singer recalls singing in the choir at church and later at open-mic nights in college.

Merlin used music as a form of therapy and as an emotional release. Even in middle school, she found herself writing songs. However, it was high school where Merlin wrote her first song that truly meant something to her and others. “My grandfather was sick,” she tell us, “I had this idea inside me that I needed to get out […] What it was was a goodbye to my grandfather from my grandmother.” The singer recalls singing it at her grandfather’s funeral, and again, years later, when she lost a good friend.

“It was really when I started to make sense of the idea that music is super healing. It is therapeutic, it can evoke emotion in people that they need to feel.” The singer-songwriter continued to feel into this even more, as she cultivated her sound after high school, hitting the cover band scene as a full-time artist.

The Turning Point:

Although clearly already successful, Merlin’s career began to grow exponentially, when she became a contestant on “The Voice.” She finished in the top five of the mega-hit show. “I was doing music full-time previous to “The Voice,” but it allowed me to do it on a much bigger level and it also gave me the jumping-off point to move to Nashville,” adding later, “Nashville is where I fell in love with the original music side of everything.”

As a Nashville transplant, the singer has found her passion in country music, a genre that she was not always interested in as a kid. “I didn’t love country music growing up, until I got into the 90s music of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Reba.” Nowadays, the singer loves so many artists in the genre, including Carrie Underwood, Brett Young, and Luke Combs.

“I always loved the storytelling aspects of country music,” shared Merlin. “As much as I love every other type of music out there, it was really special to me when I started writing my truth, my stories, and things like that, and it fits in the country realm. It all just kinda came together naturally.”

Today:

Today, the singer-songwriter recently released her beautiful new song “Shame.” “The inspiration for the song was being so vulnerable and raw in the moment,” shares Merlin as she recalls sitting down for the write with fellow songwriters. “Shame just came falling out of us in that writing session and everything just felt right.”

“Shame on the way you’re acting // Shame that you can’t get past it // Shame that you just can’t see // I’m more than who I hold hands with”

The song shares the struggles that the LGBTQ community goes through, but really, it is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt misunderstood or like they don’t belong. Merlin was inspired by both, adding “being a person myself coming through tough times and feeling like an outsider [resonates with me].” The singer even partnered with the Human Rights Campaign in honor of Pride Month and the overall message of the well-respected organization.

Merlin promises to continue to release more music this year. She’s not sure yet what song will come next, but she wants fans to be involved in the process. Clearly an artist for the people, Merlin deserves a place in your music catalog and in country music.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Kristen Merlin, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

“Shame” 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 Noah Hicks? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Noah Hicks // Photo by: Austin Screws

The Beginning:

Today we are highlighting a rising artist in country music that feels like an overnight sensation. During our conversation with singer-songwriter Noah Hicks, we learned how humble and genuine he is as a man and as an artist. We chatted about everything from his upbringing to his current songs. Learn more below.

Growing up on a chicken farm in Georgia, Hicks never even dreamed of a music career. “I’ve always played guitar and played in church and stuff like that,” he shared, adding that it was really all just for fun. The singer always thought he would make a living doing blue-collar work, but music was still something he loved from an early age.

Thinking back to middle school, Hicks recalls loving the fresh sound of duo, Florida Georgia Line. “I remember being at high school parties with my brother and seeing the reaction to their uptempo vibe,” he shared. “I became just like in love with the fact that music can make you feel a type of way.”

Hicks also credits artists like Rhett Akins and Jason Aldean as early inspirations. Nowadays, he loves artists and songwriters like HARDY, Ernest, and Luke Combs, among many others. “I’m definitely a fan first,” stated the singer. “Now I’m a fan of songwriters ‘cause the songwriters are just as cool as the artists, if not cooler,” he added.

At seventeen years old with a push from one of his hometown buddies, Hicks started singing and taking his natural talent more seriously. “Ever since then I’ve been chasing this crazy dream and I somehow worked it out.”

The Turning Point:

Although clearly gaining popularity in his home state of Georgia, Hicks really started to gain traction earlier this year when he recently signed with RED Creative Group. Prior to his signing, the singer would travel back and forth from Georgia to Tennessee, eventually making the move to Nashville to pursue his dreams.

“I never thought I’d be in the position I am,” shares Hicks, “It happened a lot faster than I can keep up with.” The singer also credits his quick success to the friends he has made in Nashville. “I fell into a great group of guys who live up here. And it took all of the hard work out of moving to town and meeting people,” adding, “They would just knock out the hard part and say ‘this is my friend Noah Hicks.’”

The singer also recalls the moment he knew that music was his passion. “When I first released my first ever single ‘Raised On The Radio’, we had a big old concert down on the square and all these people showed up. I was like ‘okay, this could be possible.’”

Today:

Now, Hicks has two more songs out under his new partnership, “No More of ‘Em” and “Miss You Back.” The former is a collaboration with one of his heroes, Rhett Akins. “I had these people I wanted to write with and Rhett was one of them […] I saw his name on my calendar and I planned ideas for two weeks and he shot down every one of them,” he laughs reminiscing about what it was like to write with Akins for the first time.

After the song was created, the singer made a comment to his manager about asking Akins to be on the song, and to everyone’s surprise, he agreed. The Georgia native wanted to release a song that was close to his heart and a story that could help fans get to know him and his artistry. “No More of ‘Em” was that song.

On the other hand “Miss You Back” showcases a different side of the singer’s talent. “It was me, Paul [DiGiovanni], Cole Taylor, and Jeremy Stover, during a write, and we wrote six songs in four days.” “We just kept trying to write about me and get really specific about me cause every song that I release, I want there to be some truth behind it.”

As it turns out, the singer was able to tap into a more somber emotion to create the song with his fellow songwriters. “It’s a double lining. Obviously, it’s about a girl, but also when we were writing, we all talked about it being universal, you can miss anyone back.”

The two songs are just the beginning for Hicks. “Writing songs, playing shows, realizing music, that’s what I hope to do in 2021,” he declares. Fans are in for a real treat with this budding star!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Noah Hicks, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

“No More of ‘Em” and “Miss You Back” are 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 Are Juna N Joey? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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Who are Juna N Joey? The country-pop duo joined us to chat about their journey to country music. Get to know the rising stars here…

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The Beginning:

We love supporting new and rising artists in the industry! Today, we are excited to introduce up & coming country-pop duo, Juna N Joey. Despite their young age, the brother/sister pair are incredibly talented and knowledgeable about music.

Growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida, the siblings were always surrounded by music. “Our mom’s dad was in a country band and he played a ton of instruments and wrote music,” shared the twosome. It was Juna though, who first fell in love with music at the tender age of three.

“I actually got into music lessons through the song “Love” by Frank Sinatra,” she tells us. “Then I did classical piano and vocals and that’s kinda when Joey came in the picture with music.” Joey shared that his first love was sports, but after attending one of his sister’s vocal lessons, he found his own voice.

Both Juna and Joey went on to attend performing arts schools and even sang and played in a rock band. “It was definitely one of our dad’s favorite times in our music journey,” joked Juna. Although the two loved performing rock hits from artists like Led Zeppelin and Blondie, country music was really what they were listening to.

“We always listened to country-pop music in the car, so we decided to take that path,” they explained. Later adding that they find inspiration from fellow duo’s like Florida Georgia Line and Dan + Shay. They also named artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs as some of their favorite in the country genre.

Still, the duo reveals that they really do love all music. “I listen to pretty much everything,” shared Joey, “Some of my influences are Stevie Wonder and Adam Levine.” Juna also named Billy Joel and Elton John as two of her personal favorites.

The Turning Point:

With a dream to make country music declared, Juna N Joey decided to share their talent on their YouTube channel. Consistently putting in the work, the duo has over 80,000 subscribers on just that platform alone. “We would cover a bunch of songs on our YouTube channel and it would mostly be country-pop, that kinda thing.”

As independent artists, the duo continues to make strides with their music. They have toured with artists like Cade Foehner from American Idol and received recognition from some of the biggest producers and networks. They also just made a big move, buying a house and officially moving to Nashville to further their careers as singers and songwriters.

“I think the dream was ultimately to be in music, be on big stages, and continuing writing music,” shared Juna N Joey, when asked about their desires. If all of this news is not enough to be an epic turning point, their brand new song “Something Good To Miss” sure is.

Today:

The singers recently released new music, which was produced by Ken Royster (Luke Combs, “Hurricane)” and is off their upcoming self-titled EP. When asked about the track and the writing process, the duo shared their unique and interesting process with us.

“Joey and I have a thing called a ‘Hook Book’, which is pretty much in our phones, a notes page of a bunch of ideas that we’ll just write when inspiration hits,” shared Juna. Joey later added, “I’m more of doing the melodies and the music, and I bring in some lyrics, but Juna is mostly the lyrics and I’m mostly the harmonies and stuff.”

For “Something Good To Miss” the singers were able to bring the idea to a write with their co-writers in Nashville. “We said the title sounded like a story.” For them personally, the story is about having Florida to miss, since moving to Nashville, but they recognize that others may connect to the song in a different way. “That’s kinda how we relate to the song, but it can be different for a lot of other people and other family situations.” The song is currently finding success on streaming platforms and with fans.

Juna N Joey have a lot on the horizon for fans. They will continue to drop more music from their self-titled EP and hope to continue to connect with even more fans. The twosome are also headed to England in September to tour with another rising star named Twinnie. Additionally, they hope to play more shows in the states in the coming months. A behind-the-scenes video of their newest single is also slated to come out soon!

 “This feels like where we were meant to be and our destiny,” shared the duo. We couldn’t agree more and looking forward to hear more from the talented pair.

 

Connect:

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

To keep up with Juna N Joey, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Something Good To Miss” 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.