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

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This week’s Swag Spotlight artist is one that we think is primed for success in the near future. Canadian country artist and Nashville transplant, MacKenzie Porter has had music in her blood since she was a young kid. Recently signed by Big Loud Records, the songstress is proving that she is the real deal.

Mackenzie Porter

Mackenzie Porter Photo Credit Bree Marie Fish

Growing up on a ranch outside of Alberta, Canada, Porter found herself gravitating to music when she was only four years old. “We lived on a ranch. There was nothing else to do other than play music,” she shared, “I was constantly surrounded by it, and I think living out in the country, you also listen to country radio all the time, and that’s kind of how I became obsessed with it, and fell in love with the genre.”

Following her father and grandmother’s lead, who both played in bands, Porter learned to play classical piano, violin, and started singing at four years old. Despite playing in many concerto competitions and orchestra shows, she still knew she wanted to play country music.  “I just wanted to do what you hear on the radio, not classical music,” she tells us, recounting exactly what she told her mom growing up.

With artists like Shania Twain, Martina McBride, The Chicks, and Deana Carter on her radio airwaves, Porter aspired to move to Nashville and fulfill her dreams. She started writing songs at around eighteen years old and began making trips back and forth to Music City, the songstress finally made the big move in 2014.

Armed with a desire to make music and a hustle that does not quit, she set her sights on making more meaningful connections in Nashville. “I just kind of started meeting people and just going out as much as I can. That’s the cool thing about Nashville, it’s such a relationship-based town, if you’re out and meeting people and making friends, it really does get you places, I think.”

Currently, Porter has become one of those women on the radio that she aspired to be like. Already a star in Canada, the songstress is steadily increasing her fanbase here in the states but remains as humble as can be, admitting that being a part of the ever-growing badass women of country music is a great honor. “The more that are on the radio, the more me, as a fan, feels excited, and the more me as an artist feels excited because women are knocking doors down right now.”

So far, Porter’s song “Seeing Other People” and her newest release, “Drinkin’ Songs” have made waves in the states. The former, although not written by the songstress, was an immediate “must record” for the singer. “As an artist, I always want to write my own songs,” she tells us, “But if there’s a song that someone else writes […] if they write something that I connect to, I just feel like a million other people are going to connect to it too.”

The latter, “Drinkin’ Songs” was inspired by what happens to that song you have with your boyfriend or girlfriend that changes meaning after a break-up. “It kinda haunts you and like the meaning of the song is totally different,” she explains, “Now instead of it being a song that makes you feel secure, it kinda makes you feel the opposite.”

Music lovers can anticipate a full-length album coming out next year by Porter with all new original music. She hopes to tour next year and continue to deliver more and more impressive music to the fans and country music fans in general. For now, though, fans can enjoy her current singles and a special new track slated to come out this month!

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

To keep up with MacKenzie Porter follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Drinkin’ Songs” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

 

Who is CB30? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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CB30

Nashville is filled with talented artists and songwriters, but it is always exciting when a promising new act can call Nashville their hometown. Brothers, Christian and Brody Clementi make up a duo called CB30, who just so happens to fit the bill! We interviewed the talented brothers about growing up in the Nashville music scene, taking social media by storm, and of course their new music and growing fanbase.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Christian and Brody grew up in a musical household. Their father, Jay Clementi, is a musician and hit songwriter, so it is safe to say music is in their blood. “Music was our priority, our biggest thing growing up. We didn’t really think it would be anything else,” shared the brothers, when asked about their upbringing.

Despite that fact, the singers found themselves interested in sports and other activities, it was not until they performed at a charity function and saw the reactions of their fans that they decided to take their talent seriously. “They loved the harmonies, and we realized how special it was- just singing as brothers.” The duo began to make more connections in the industry, including their now friend and one of their musical influences, Luke Bryan, with who they performed a cover of “Cover Me Up” on Instagram, during the quarantine.

CB30 also identified country stars like Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt as some of their inspirations. Interestingly enough, the duo also gravitates towards the Pop world, emulating artists like Justin Bieber, Ed Sheehan, and Bruno Mars.

Fittingly, CB30 is entering a music world, where genre-bending and collaborations are a part of the fabric of country music. “I think the borders are expanding,” the brothers explained, “We love all kinds of stuff. I love when Pop people do acoustic stuff because it’s almost country, but it’s still considered Pop. It’s an acoustic guitar and a well-written song, that’s what country music is.”

Their latest single “We Are Right Now” is a great example of that philosophy. The song was originally released as an upbeat jam, featuring layers of vocals and creative harmonies by the two men, but could easily be stripped-down acoustically. Christian and Brody use their voices to convey moments in time that feel as close to perfect as possible. Singing lyrics like “I can spend forever just feeling it together like we are right now,” they definitely give a new meaning to appreciating the moment.

CB30 even transformed that same song, remixing it with Black Caviar, and creating an even newer vibe and sound. “It is just a different spin on it,” they began, “The remix is like a party song. It turned it into a whole different vibe, which is really cool.” The song continues to be a fan-favorite across social media, and especially on TikTok, a place where CB30 has grown in popularity.

Fans can expect even more content on social media, as the duo is dedicated to getting content out to fans any way they can. As far as new music goes, CB30 is headed back into the studio soon! “We actually just recently picked the songs that we are going to record, and it should be here pretty soon, so that’s exciting,” they shared. As soon as recording gets underway, they hope to continue to put at music at a fast pace and keep the momentum going.  CB30 is also hopeful for touring to start again in 2021 and anticipate opening for some headlining artists in the future. Regardless, it is safe to say that CB30 has a bright future ahead of them!

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future CB30 releases.

To keep up with CB30 follow them on  Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“We Are Right Now” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

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

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Releasing a brand new track today, newcomer Tiera spoke with NYCountry Swag about her backstory and her journey to Nashville. Learn more about her in the interview below.

Tiera

We have been early believers and proud supporters of Nicolle Galyon’s record label, Songs & Daughters since the very start. Championing women in country music and beyond is something that is close to our hearts, as a female-run business ourselves, that’s why teaming up with Galyon and Songs & Daughters for our 3rd Annual Babes, Booze & Brunch event earlier this year was so special to us.

Now, Songs & Daughters are introducing us to another rising female powerhouse, Tiera, and we are thrilled to get to know her in this week’s Swag Spotlight feature. Tiera is the flagship songwriter for Songs & Daughters, and also has new music coming out on her own including a brand new track released today, “Found It In You”. We loved every minute of our conversation with the blossoming singer-songwriter…

Growing up in Gardendale, Alabama, outside of Birmingham, Tiera recalls her family always being supportive of her dreams. She grew up in a household that encouraged exploration of interests, including modeling, dancing, and singing, but Tiera always returned back to music. “My parents really encouraged us to try everything until we figured out what we wanted to do, and I always just went back to music.”

After writing her first song in high school and teaching herself how to play guitar, Tiera had her heart set on attending Nashville’s Belmont University. However, as plans changed, she ended up attending the University of Northern Alabama for one year on a full-ride scholarship instead, before changing trajectories. “I’m really grateful for my time there,” she explained, “I spent a lot of time in the studio writing and recording. It was kind of where I learned how to write songs and figure out who I was at an artist.”

With that being said, it was there where Tiera really learned her craft as a songwriter. Channeling inspiration from fellow country singers like Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Carrie Underwood, she knew then, that her heart was in country music and Nashville was where she belonged. “I fell in love with country music and I realized that Nashville was the place to be if I wanted to do country music, so I would take trips up there with my parents, and I just loved it.”

After making numerous trips down to Music City to play shows at some local venues, Tiera finally convinced her supportive family to make the big move with her. “I had been traveling back and forth before I moved here, and I was really lucky that I knew a couple of people in town, from writers rounds and everything. I felt so at home here. […] Literally, the day I moved, I had a show, and I haven’t stopped since.”

In the last four years, the songstress has managed to be accepted by Nashville’s incredible all-female collective, Song Suffragettes, sign a published dealing with Songs & Daughters, and of course voice her own daily radio show on Apple Country Music called ‘The Tiera Show.’ “It’s crazy, it’s so crazy, I don’t think it caught up to me yet,” Tiera explained when talking about her success over the last few years.

Currently aside from being Songs & Daughters’ flagship songwriter, Tiera is focusing on releasing her own music. After several writes with her producer Cameron Bedell, she finally selected “Found It In You” as her newest single. “We wrote it at the beginning of last year,” she began, adding, “it was really fun writing that song because I didn’t know it was the start of a new chapter for me when we wrote it. I had been searching for my sound for the longest time. I remember he sent me the demo after that writing session, I was like whatever this is, that is exactly the direction I want to go with my music.” Tiera later referred to the song as her “song baby” and how proud she is to be releasing such an impactful and personal tune.

Fans can look forward to more new music from Tiera coming out later this year. She even hinted at an acoustic version of “Found It In You” coming up the pipeline sometime soon.  Moreover, fans can be sure to have music that speaks to who the singer is now as a person, which makes it extra special, “I feel like for the first time, I am able to release some music that is congruent to who I am as a person now.”

Whatever the case is, we are sure that Tiera is primed for much success in the industry, so make sure to keep her on your radar and on your playlists!

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

“Found It In You” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Who Is Jordan Rowe? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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After releasing his debut track to the world, “Good For Nothin'”, newcomer Jordan Rowe spoke with NYCountry Swag about his backstory and his journey to Nashville. Read more about him below.

Jordan Rowe

 

As always, our Swag Spotlight this week features a rising artist that our team thinks our readers will love. Jordan Rowe, south Georgia native grew up singing in church much like many country stars however when we discuss in a recent chat about the artists that have influenced his life and his career, we don’t hear the usual ‘Johnny Cash’, ‘Merle Haggard’ or ‘George Strait’. Rowe laughs when saying that he recalls being most influenced by early Luke Bryan music, something that is refreshing to hear. He attended the University of Georgia and started performing as an opening act for artists around Athens, spending his summers in Nashville writing and interning at River House records before making the permanent move in June of 2019.

Since his move, its been a whirlwind of accomplishments including being signed to River House in partnership with Ashley Gorley’s publishing company Tape Room Music. “To have the opportunities that I’ve had so quickly, its such a blessing and that is all credit to God and his plan. I pray for opportunities to come and try to make the most of them when I get them, working really hard, writing so many songs lately and just working as hard as I can at it, being thankful for everything that this happened and soak it in and enjoy it.”

Rowe has also was able to be a part of Luke Combs’ Beer Never Broke My Heart tour last year playing the tailgate shows before opening acts Jameson Rodgers and Morgan Wallen, letting us know that that experience just him and his guitar getting to play for their fans was one of his favorite parts of this journey so far.

In a press release announcing his joint publishing deal, Rowe stated “One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 16:9 which says, ‘The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.’” and during our chat, we discussed why he wanted to share that verse with the industry. “I was playing a show at the Georgia Theatre a while back, I was opening and a guy who was there owned an apparel company and gave me a box and in that box, he wrote a note to me and wrote that verse on it and I had never read that verse before,” he explains. “I thought it was so cool because I have planted my heart, I want to be a successful singer and songwriter but the Lord is establishing my steps to get there, from that moment on, every setlist I write that verse at the bottom of it because sometimes, I am singing to empty rooms or to people who act like they don’t care at all, but then I can look down at that setlist and say to myself, this might not be the best thing but this is one of those steps to where I want to be and where I am supposed to be.”

His faith in the process and his confidence in his craft, Rowe continues to shape the kind of artist and songwriter that he wants to be. Combining and melding a traditional sound with a freshness found in modern-day country, his debut single “Good For Nothin'” is the perfect way to showcase his versatility and who he is. “Traditional country twang is just where I naturally go, but I also feel like that is what people are longing for right now, that more traditional sound,” he states.

For fans of Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen, and Jon Pardi will find a brand new favorite artist in Jordan Rowe. Thanking his eclectic taste in music, he understands that listeners today are loving a broad spectrum of genres and he hopes to write and record a cohesive first project over the course of the next year that will showcase all of his musical tastes and introduce his signature sound to country music fans.

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

To keep up with Jordan Rowe follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Good For Nothin’” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Who Is Manny Blu? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Manny Blu’s new music “Old Money” and “Sink” are now available as prior releases to New Ink, his EP that comes out November 13. Read more about his music here.

Manny Blu, a performer from Montreal who previously entertained viewers in the ring as an MMA fighter, has traded in his speed bag for a guitar and a concert venue. And after a 2019 debut with Leave It Like It Is that featured former singles such as “X on My Heart” and “Like It Like That”, Blu and his team are set to release a new project titled New Ink on November 13. Three singles are available now, “Born To Ride”, “Old Money” and “Sink”, to introduce listeners to this new era of music that is said to be “louder” and “bigger” than the first collection.

Manny Blu Music

Manny Blue – Photo Credit Yve Assad

“I’m really starting to find the right mix between country and blues — rock, blues and rock ’n roll,” said Blu, our Swag Spotlight artist this week. “There are some influences in all of that, and finding a way to bring it all together in one EP is a fun challenge. And, I think I’ve done that with this one.”

Pulling from influences such as B.B King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer, the music is both intentional and accidental. Blu mentions that he became a country artist “by default” once he started playing guitar and his friends requested songs relating to the genre. Though he quickly learned and mentioned in a press release, that “there’s a culture and a vibe to country music that’s like nothing else”.

And “Sink”, his latest single release, speaks to that truth. A song that practically demands to be played over speakers in a honky tonk bar with a crowded dance floor made up entirely of cowboy boots and fringe jackets. “Eric Church is a big influence for me, too, and he’s just doing whatever he wants,” Blu revealed. “And when a song like “Sink” comes along, it’s hard to turn it down since it’s such a good song and whether it fits exactly what I wanted or not, I didn’t want to pass it up.”

The performer who has learned to roll with the punches after a series of obstacles including a sports injury to the quad and struggling to succeed in school with dyslexia, Blu has proved himself time and time again. Now, with new music ready to hit all media platforms, he is ready to get back on stage and perform. Though, like all musicians, he has hit a wall. “…moving forward I would like to play at least a couple of shows before the end of 2020,” the Jimmie Hendrix enthusiast stated. “But, if we don’t get that opportunity, then the plan is to put on our work boots for 2021 and play as many shows as we can.”

As we continue to find that happy medium in between safety and live entertainment, check out Blu’s first single “Born To Ride” to New Ink here, a project that was artistically produced to follow the same energy of a live performance.

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

To keep up with Manny Blu, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Sink” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music‘ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police, and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

 

Who Is Cory Marks? – The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Cory Marks

Interestingly enough a lot of great country artists on the scene right now hail from Canada! Our Swag Spotlight artist this week, Cory Marks grew up in North Bay, Canada, outside Ontario. Although his musical influences and interests have evolved over the years, Marks has created an image and a fanbase that is unique to him and his genuine talent.

Marks grew up in a big hockey town and admits that hockey was one of his first loves; however, music was always a staple in his life. “Being from Canada obviously, I grew up on a great variety of music,” he shares with us, “My dad loved bands like Rush, Deep Purple, and Ozzy, and then he also had a deep passion for my hero, Merle Haggard.” The singer’s musical taste ran the gamut of genres from hard-rock to traditional country music. It makes sense why the singer gravitated to the drums at just ten years old, and later, dabbled with the guitar.

Throughout high-school, Marks sang back-up behind his drum kit in various bands with his friends, but it was not until his twenties that he actually considered being a frontman, after a push by his hockey teammates. “We would go out to his bar every Tuesday,” he began, “And really that’s how it all got started for me. I was starting to write more and do cover stuff on Youtube and Facebook [too].”

Honing his talent, playing at various bars in town, Marks realized that he had a passion for playing country-rock music and had a lot of support from his teammates, family, and friends. “I was playing every bar in town and even elsewhere, and that’s when I was picked up by my manager,” he recalls, “In 2017, I signed my [current] record deal as the flagship country artist. The first and only country artist on a hard-rock label.”

Flash forward to today, the singer-songwriter has released his debut record WHO I AM and even had his first hit song on rock radio with his break-out single “Outlaws and Outsiders,” which features legendary musicians, Travis Tritt, Ivan Moody, and Mick Mars. The debut project exemplifies exactly who Marks is. “The record is based on the story of my life from 2015 to the end of 2017 […] I like to say it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly,” adding, “A lot of the stories are about breakups or hardships or just having a hell of a good time. It’s as relatable and as honest as it gets.”

Although known as the country-rock guy, who revels in his outlaw exterior, Marks admits to loving Christmas and Christmas music. He let us in on a little secret that his next single to come out will be his rendition of a Christmas classic that was originally recorded by a 90s country band called The Tractors. The singer is keeping it a secret for now of which song he changed to fit his vibe, but we are sure that if his previous work is an inclination, that we are in for a real treat. Until then, fans can look forward to more music videos slated to come out soon and a lot of new music heading our way in 2021.

To keep up with Cory Marks follow Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

 

 

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Who Is Whitney Duncan? – The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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Whitney Duncan

As a former contestant on the fifth season of Nashville Star and, later, a competitor on the 23rd season of Survivor, Whitney Duncan has been acquainted with just about any obstacle or challenge whether it be in the limelight or not. During our most recent Swag Spotlight interview, Duncan discussed everything from falling in love with music at such a young age, her reality TV detour as well as both current and previous music releases.

At four years old, right around the time her granddad had introduced her to Elvis and became so intrigued by his art, Duncan claimed she had found her calling, and she could not have been more accurate. “…I was walking out of church, and I guess the sermon had been about everybody having a purpose… and I told my mom, I was like ‘well I know my purpose, I’m gonna sing’”, Duncan explains, thinking back on that moment of innocent confidence. Though, this was not some fantastical dream. Not for Duncan. Flash forward to today, and this singer-songwriter chased after that momentous dream with no hesitation.

In fact, nine years later, at the age of 13, Duncan had been offered a record deal and though it didn’t turn out to be entirely authentic or reliable, it had brought her to Nashville. And after being advised by a vocal coach and an entertainment attorney, Duncan walked away from the opportunity and began writing songs because “that’s what this city is all about…it’s a song city, for sure”.

Now, an artist who has collaborated and toured with Kenny Rogers, Duncan is ready to release new music after almost 11 years since her debut full-length album Right Road Now. “You live, you learn. You change so much from your early 20s to early 30s, so I’m just bringing a whole different perspective,” the singer reveals.

The latest single release titled “Lightweight” is a tell-tale sign that Duncan’s music has taken on a new layer of maturity both sonically and vocally. After a writing retreat on the beach with her bandmates and her now-producer Michael Carter in April 2016, “Lightweight” has been reinvented years later and inspired a new project that is under construction with new music on the horizon.

To keep up with Whitney Duncan, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Who Is Priscilla Block? – The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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Priscilla Block

Primed for a career as a singer-songwriter, our Swag Spotlight artist this week, Priscilla Block is someone you’re going to want to remember. During our conversation, we spoke about her upbringing, her move to Nashville, and how fitting the “mold” in country music is just not for her.

Growing up in North Carolina, Block found herself always drawn to music. She sang worship music at church with her mother, and eventually took an interest in guitar. “I was the girl learning all the Taylor Swift songs on the guitar,” she laughs, telling us, “I wrote my first song when I was 15, and I just fell in love with writing and performing for people. Anyone that would listen to me, I would play for.”

Although an avid Swift fan, (still) Block credits her openness to all sorts of music for her creative process today. “My first concert was Celine Dion,” she shared, adding “I loved 90s country, like Shania Twain and Martina McBride, but I also listen to a lot of pop and rap.” She later shared that she has always loved Chris Brown and Usher. Nowadays, the songstress finds herself adding incredible female artists like Lizzo, Cardi B, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves to her music library.

Straight out of high-school, Block headed to Nashville, where she currently resides. At first, she tried to make it in the music industry, all while going to school and working full-time, but it came apparent to her shortly after her move that it was an all or nothing type of thing. “One day, I decided that I just needed to give it a go. I quit my job, I quit school and just started networking like crazy in Nashville,” adding later, “I would go to shows, ask people to write that I loved their songs, and just really put myself in uncomfortable situations for the first little bit until I really established my core group of people in Nashville.”

Since meeting her crew, Block has also found her loyal fanbase and following on social media. Her song “Thick Thighs’ went viral on TikTok and is a crowd favorite during live shows. The female-empowerment anthem is just as important to Block as it is to her fans. “That song is 100% me in a nutshell,” she begins, “It started out as a joke, we started playing it live, and the response was really, really cool.” The response led her to record the track, much to fan’s happiness. “I needed to write “Thick Thighs” to be really able to embrace, who I am, and hopefully let other people love themselves too.”

With a newfound sense of confidence, Block was able to tap into her vulnerability too, letting fans into her more emotive side. Her newest song “Just About Over You,” was written a week after she ran into her ex out a bar. “It’s about a relationship that I was in. Just trying to get over somebody and sometimes it feels like forever to finally be down with someone.” Whether it’s a power anthem or a heartbreaking emotional song, Block can truly express the gamut of emotions with her vocal ability and talent.

Although the rest of 2020 looks bleak for live music, Block has a one of a kind, positive-spirit. She believes in the power of manifesting the good in life. She promises fans that more music is on the horizon and shares that she will be on the biggest and baddest stages performing for all her loyal fans next year!

To keep up with Priscilla Block follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Just About Over You” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

NYCS Swag Spotlight Southerland

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Southerland

A brand new duo has hit country music airwaves with Nashville artists Matt Chase and Chris Rogers. The group called ‘Southerland’ has been years in the making, whether the pair of singer-songwriters had plans to officially join forces or not. Instead, they had been pushing for their own solo careers while booking gigs and playing covers together to, in the meantime, pay the bills.

“We were just playing cover songs, and making enough money to get by so you can pay gas to get to the next show,” explains Chase, a native from a small suburban neighborhood in Charleston. While Rogers, who comes from a musical-oriented family from Washington, Georgia, talks about how the concept of becoming a duo was so farfetched for them. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had the conversation with people after we’ve played when they’d talk to us after the shows. They’d be like ‘you guys are great, how do we find you’. And, we’d have to explain to them that we’re not a duo. We’re not playing together, we’re just doing our own solo thing.”

Despite years of positive feedback and tons shows, it wasn’t until winter of 2019 that Southerland was truly set in stone after signing a record deal with River House Artists. Though, even this deal took years to finalize when Chase and Rogers were a part of the 2017 Key West Songwriters Festival and a representative from the label approached them with an offer. “…and fast forward to winter of 2019, we finally took her up on that offer. And, here we are. So, we’d been writing a lot over the past 18 months and gearing up now for the release of our first single,” said Rogers.

“Thing Is” acts as Southerland’s debut single which was heavily influenced by the ‘90s country feel, something both artists described as being what drove them to Nashville in the first place. Written by the duo along with frequent collaborator Greg Bates, the song is the perfect introduction to a group that tries to make everything fun and enjoyable. “…if you’re not making music and trying to have fun with it…if you’re not enjoying it, then I think you’re probably doing it for the wrong reasons. So, that’s the common theme that we try to find through everything,” Rogers continued.

After becoming involved with many associations such as WME and Reservoir, Southerland has continued to write and line up plans for the future, though their sole focus has been on the release of “Thing Is”. And despite not having an exact time, they look forward to the moment when they’re able to get back out on the road and introduce themselves to an audience as the duo who decided to partner up during one of the craziest years yet. Though Chase emphasizes how the terrible year has been, it’s also quite a blessing in disguise since it put everything on pause. “We’ve produced some great songs that I’m super proud of. Even though it’s a terrible situation, there’s a silver lining, because maybe if we had been on the road this year, we wouldn’t have gotten the songs that we have.”

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

“Thing Is” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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NYCS Swag Spotlight: Jay Bragg

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Jay Bragg

A family-bred musician from Maine and a former bandmate of ‘North of Nashville’ who toured all across the country to open for artists such as Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, and Brothers Osborne, Jay Bragg has been built and trained in more ways than one to take on a solo career. In our most recent Swag Spotlight, Bragg discussed everything from musical influences to what drives him to be an entertainer.

The Portland-native and Bruce Springsteen enthusiast not only aims to reach people’s souls with his music but “to take a leap to reach a wider audience”. Bragg explains that he is constantly trying to challenge himself as an artist, a writer, and an entertainer which was what initiated the move to Nashville. “You just get to the point, you know, you’re a big fish in a small pond […] (I wanted to) really break out from the confines of a band situation, and just do my own thing as a solo artist where I’m the curator of everything– soup to nuts.”

A new chapter of music has begun for the steadfast singer-songwriter, after releasing his own debut record in June 2018. Now, Bragg has released the first volume of his second record Find Me In a Song which encompasses three new tracks. The album is set to release through three different phases over the next few months. The second date with three more songs is set to be released on October 1.

“When The Sun Sets”, which is a song that can be found on the second volume, is a strong and sentimental dedication to Bragg’s childhood best friend Tim who tragically passed away in a car accident at 17 years old. Tim introduced Bragg to all different kinds of music such as rock ‘n roll from the late ’60s into the 1970s. “That song starts off ‘I can’t hear Touch of Grey without thinking about those good old days’, Tim turned me onto the Grateful Dead, and Touch Of Grey is a song that we listened to by the Grateful Dead all the time.”

Eric Mallon and the artist himself wrote the song, which was said to have practically written itself. “I knew that I had tapped into something so deeply real, […] specifically, about losing a loved one and knowing that someday you will see them again- somehow reuniting with their energy and their essence.” While the song is a makeshift memorial and celebration of both life and Tim, Bragg acknowledges that the lyrics relate to all scenarios that deal with loss and the sadness that comes with it alongside contradicting emotions of joy, hope, and healing. “Everybody has gone through loss, it’s a recurring theme in life. There’s a ton of loss that comes through living, and I wanted to write (about that).”

Bragg has gracefully endured releasing new music through the pandemic and status of the world by using new, more creative methods to do so. The option of delaying the release of Find Me In a Song or waiting for the world to open up again was easy to dismiss because this is a “business of delivering joy and hope and goodness through music”. Bragg’s hope and prayers are simple: that this new music reaches all the people that need to hear it.

To keep up with Jay Bragg follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The first phase of his album ‘Find Me in a Song’ is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: