NYCS Swag Spotlight Featuring Kylie Frey

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Kylie Frey

Photo Credit: Rachael Mason

This month’s Swag Spotlight series features Louisiana born Kylie Frey; a former rodeo star, honky-tonk singer, and rising country artist. Growing up in a rodeo family in Louisiana, music came a little bit later for Frey. Her early success originated from roping calves and tying goats, however she showcased another talent with her voice at the rodeo. Frey said, “When I was about five years old, I started singing the National Anthem at every rodeo I was entered in, so that’s how I got into it.”

Music became even more prominent in her life when she began writing her own songs. Frey revealed, “I picked up playing guitar around13 or 14 and it was the age of Taylor Swift.” A voice coach encouraged her to write, and at that point in her life, she was just a little girl who did not know how to get her feelings out.

Writing songs became her outlet and safety net, not imagining she could ever be a big-time country star. It was essentially a form of therapy, Frey explained, “It was me getting my feelings out onto a piece of paper and for some reason, words just made sense when you put a melody and chords to it.”

Frey’s earliest memories of country music and major influences were Shania Twain and The Dixie Chicks. One of the most incredible full-circle moments occurred when Frey was a contestant on “Real Country,” and Shania Twain chose her to be on her team.

It was back in Kindergarten when Frey dressed up as Shania Twain for career day, and Twain was able to see the photo during the audition. However, it was not the childhood photo that stood out to Twain, Frey explained that “Twain told her she heard a strong independent woman.” and her response was, “Yes, that is because who your music taught me to be.”

It was truly a life-changing experience for Frey who recently released her new single “One Night In Tulsa.” The singer-songwriter tells a story of the desperation of wanting one more night with someone when you know it ultimately will not work out. Frey possesses the incredible ability to write songs that draw us in with her traditional county style and smooth, powerful voice.

Looking forward to 2020, Frey will be releasing new music, in addition to “all things deep-fryed.”

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

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby 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!

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NYCS Swag Spotlight Update Jordan Rager

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Jordan Rager

“I think country music is at its best when we don’t try to say- I’ll say not just about country music- but about all music, I think music is at its best when we just enjoy what we enjoy listening to […]. It should be that simple when it comes to music.” – Jordan Rager

Back in April 2018, we had the pleasure of interviewing rising artist, Jordan Rager as he was on the brink of a new career move and signing with Riser House Records. Check out our original Swag Spotlight here to learn more about that move, as well as, his backstory. Most recently, we caught up with the singer to chat about his new sound, new music, and what fans can expect from him in 2020.

For the last six years, Rager has been working hard in Nashville to get his music out there and to build his fanbase. Since signing with Riser House, the momentum has picked up, as he is finally able to release the music he is most passionate about. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was put music out that I believe in and have a team of people behind me who believe in that music and I have that now,” he tells us. “2019 was a lot of kinda reintroducing myself to people.”

Over the course of the year, Rager has released five songs that truly personify, who he is as a singer, songwriter, and a performer, including the two most recent tracks “The Wrong Ones” and “Dirt In My Veins.” The former came about by happenstance when the singer joined forces with songwriters, Michael Whitworth and Brent Anderson.

“The three of us were in very different places relationship-wise,” he shares, adding, “We’ve all got this different perspective on relationships at the time of writing this song. That’s kinda the conversation that we’re having that got us on the topic of ‘it takes getting it wrong to get it right,’ that’s the thing we kept going back to.” The trio of songwriters included details of their own experiences in the creative tune. As Rager looked back on the writing experience he decided that “…it was just the perfect formula to write that song that day.”

In regards to “Dirt In My Veins,” the Georgia native delivered a song that is an enticing ode to his hometown. “That song was the first thing that I wrote after signing with Riser House. That was kinda the song that like, kicked off, call it a new direction, a new sound or a new attitude, that was the song that started it because I wrote as honestly as I possibly could about how I feel about my hometown.” After writing the track, Rager decided that he was going to take that approach to all of his music and no longer try to fit a mold.

Although the songs have garnered success, the singer-songwriter admits that it was a scary decision to change up his sound into something that felt more genuine and authentic to him. “If I’m being honest, I was incredibly nervous going into 2019 because I knew that this new music, all five songs that we were going to release this year, I knew that sounded different than what people probably expected from me,” he explains. “I used influences that I had my entire life and for lack of a better term, I kinda got weird on a couple of songs.”

For Rager being transparent and honest in his music and having fans connect with his lyrics and melody is the ultimate reward. “As a writer and as an artist, there’s no greater high than having somebody say ‘I understand completely what you’re saying,’ ‘I’m right there,’ ‘you wrote that song about me,’ stuff like that.”

At this point in his career, Rager is an artist who knows who he is. His vast influences, such as Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, 2000s alternative and punk rock, and even Rock ’n’ Roll, keep his music at the forefront of creativity. He is someone that is going to continue to take risks because he is truly all about the music. Looking ahead, fans can expect a ton of new music in 2020. The singer will also be getting back out on the road to play the songs for his fans. “I’m excited to keep rocking and rolling and to keep building this machine that we’re trying to build!”

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

“The Wrong Ones” 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:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Tebey

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Tebey

Continuing to shine our light on rising artists and talented singer-songwriters, our Swag Spotlight this week is Tebey. He is a creative that hails originally from just outside of Toronto, Canada with roots now firmly in Nashville, Tennessee for over a decade. The singer-songwriter chatted with us about his musical journey, his new single, and of course how he views the evolution of country music.

“I grew up listening to everything,” he tells us, naming country musicians like George Strait and Kenny Chesney as some of his top favorite country artists, adding, “But I also loved Boyz II Men, Nirvana and just kinda anything that was great. I have a very eclectic musical taste […]. I’ve always been a fan of music and I’m lucky enough to make it a career.”

In his several years in the industry, Tebey has found success working with many different artists all across the board, when it comes to genres. He has earned accolades as both a producer and a songwriter, working with artists like One Direction, Cher, Flo Rida, and even artists from the United Kingdom.

Fans can find Tebey’s eclectic experience and influences in his own music too. Although he identifies as a country artist, listeners can expect a unique sound and vibe from the budding artist. He shares, “I think music doesn’t really have borders anymore,” adding that streaming has helped artists and fans connect. “There’s a lot of great artists from Canada that are making music up there, but people here in the United States are able to get a hold of that music more easily than they were back of the day”

The genre-bending in country music is something that Tebey welcomes, agreeing with us that ‘good music is good music.’ The singer shared with us more about his experiences, backing up why he believes fans welcome the modern country sound and intermingling of genres. “I think now more than ever, your typical country music fans listen to more than one genre of music,” he explains. “I see it at my shows a lot, 22-year-old, 23-year-old kids, at my shows, I know for a fact that they are there because they’re a Tebey fan, but they’re also listening to Drake and ASAP Rocky.”

Tebey, even went on to say, “I think before country music wasn’t ‘quote on quote’ cool, but then you got artists like Taylor Swift and even a little while ago Rascal Flatts, people like that were making music that was crossing over. Thomas Rhett in particular is making music that is country, but it’s also reaching people outside of the genre.”

Like some of those cross-genre artists, Tebey is making music that fans from across the globe can relate to as well. Most recently, he released his new single “The Good Ones,” which is a duet with songstress, Marie-Mai. In the few short months, since it has been released, the song has garnered close to 2 million streams across platforms.

“I sat down with my co-writers that day in Nashville, and we started randomly painting the picture of this relationship and this girl driving in this Toyota Tacoma,” he started to tell us, adding, “We eventually ended up settling on the title “The Good Ones.” Tebey feels that the song showcases a universal message, stating “I think a lot of people are going to be able to relate to the lyric because we’ve all had relationships that have ended, we all have had relationships that we have lost.” Interestingly enough, the artist keeps songs close to his heart before releasing them, and “The Good Ones” is a track that still felt special years after it was written.

Before we let Tebey go, we had to check in with what he has planned for the new year. 2020 will be a year of getting his music out there and touring across the world. He already has plans for a tour in Canada and Europe, but shares that he might have to plan a United States tour too! Look out for new music coming towards the end of February in the meantime.

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

“The Good Ones” 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:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Elizabeth Lyons

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Elizabeth Lyons

This week our Swag Spotlight shines on a one woman show, Elizabeth Lyons. She is a fiercely talented singer-songwriter with an eye for business and a caring heart, who shared everything with us from her childhood to how she got where she is now and everything in between.

Lyons is a Midwestern girl who has had music in her soul since she was a kid. “Since a young age, I’ve always loved music. I basically learned my letters, so that I could learn to play piano,” she tells us, adding, “I joined church choir […]. I auditioned for musical theatre until I made the music theatre production and I ended up being in 18 musicals. So I always performed.”

Fresh out of high school, the songstress embarked on a new journey south to Nashville, Tennessee, where she simultaneously was a student at Vanderbilt University and an intern at a music publishing company. For her, everything shifted, when she saw Florida Georgia Line’s song “Cruise” take off, despite the fact that they were newcomers on the music scene.

“[They] inspired me to use word of mouth marketing to do what I needed to do to follow my dreams because I wasn’t super confident when I moved down to Nashville, being an artist.” By the time she reached her senior year of college, Lyons released her debut EP, which garnered accolades on iTunes. The singer credits both Florida Georgie Line and Taylor Swift as two artists, who inspired her on her path. “I attribute Taylor for helping me move down to Nashville and Florida Georgia Line for making me pursue my dream.” Of course, Lyons shared that she also loves artists like the Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and the Spice Girls.

Clearly inspired by many powerful women in the industry, Lyons shared her own philosophy on life with us, calling “patience, perseverance, and persistence” her mantra for getting things done each and every day and her reminder to work towards her goals. She recently was invited to sing the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium, which she shares, was on her to-do-list for three years! Lyons encourages others to write and manifest their own dreams and goals too.

“In terms of women in country, over the years, there have been times when women dominated and when men dominated, it would be nice if we all just dominated together,” she reflected, “But I think there are a lot of great up and coming artists […]. There are so many independent artists that are just killing it.”

As an independent artist herself, Lyons is also finding success in country music, especially in regards to the festival circuit. She has opened up for artists like Sam Hunt and Luke Bryan and played her own music at many festivals across the United States. Most recently, she released an inspiring song called “Epiphany” and shared the writing process with us.

“Epiphany is so personal, I really feel like it’s a tale that many people can relate to today in today’s world about how social media and our society influences us to compare ourselves to others and change accordingly,” she tells us, explaining, “I really wanted to write and I just needed this song for myself really and I thought that maybe because I needed it that other people may need it. In all of my music, I try to put a ray of sunshine or a piece of hope in it, so I really did want to make it a bright anthem about being true to yourself.” The song is a beautiful tribute to Lyons as an artist, as well as, to how relatable she is to her fanbase.

Going forward into 2020, the songstress promises to release more thought-provoking music, including a song called “24,” which is slated to be released in mid-January. Of course, Lyons will continue to play shows in the new year too. It will be exciting to see how more and more fans gravitate towards her music and how her career continues to blossom.

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

“Epiphany” 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. 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:

 

 

 

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Tara Thompson

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“I want to change the world, and I’m just little old me, so I might as well do that with lyrics because God gave me that talent to tell stories and hopefully make people laugh.”

Tara Thompson

This week we got to champion a uniquely talented artist, who truly knows who she is and what kind of music she wants to put out into the world. Our Swag Spotlight is singer-songwriter, Tara Thompson. We recently got to chat with the songstress about her career, her musical family, and of course, her brand new Christmas album, which she dropped just two weeks ago.

It was evident throughout our conversation that Thompson has one of those infectious, can’t quit, personalities that she has had since childhood. Growing up in East Tennessee, she tells us that music was always in her blood. “I was one of those weird kids that always had a microphone in my hand, as in the remote was a microphone, the shampoo was a microphone,” adding, “I knew since birth I wanted to be a singer.”

Thompson grew up admiring her cousin and country superstar, Loretta Lynn, sharing “I got to grow up and watch her from behind the scenes and I was completely hooked on it and knew that was exactly what I wanted to do,” later adding, “It’s an honor to be related to someone like Loretta Lynn.” She also credits some of the old-school country greats like Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Tanya Tucker, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash as some of her all-time favorites.

At the tender age of eighteen, Thompson moved to Nashville, where like many artists, she played gigs at bars, for ten years, before she got her break, signing with Big Machine Records. The songstress released her debut record with the label, only to get released three years later. Ironically, being released from the label gave Thompson a new lease on life and a clever idea for an independent record.

She recently premiered her first project as an independent artist called Hillbilly Christmas, featuring the clever and charming lead single “Willie Nelson Tickets” and nine other festive tracks. “I said from the start I want when people hear this album to think ‘wow that’s country music,’ from the first note to the end. It almost takes you back in time, mixed old school and modern, yeah, country,” she shares about the record, hoping that fans garner it “timeless” and break it out year after year for the holidays.

Thompson is sure to make waves with her newest release. She shows her wit, her originality, and her talent throughout the music. The singer-songwriter promises that she has more new music in the works, calling her soon to be released songs, “A lot deeper,” adding, “I feel like my last album that I put out […] was a lot more tongue in cheek. I still like doing that, but I think this is more- I went through something, so my fans get to see a side of me that’s like ‘Oh, oh wow, that’s where she’s been.’ I feel like they can maybe relate to me on a deeper level. So real, authentic, and deep.”

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

Hillbilly Christmas 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. 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:

 

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Donovan Woods

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Donovan Woods

Photo Credit: Danielle Holbert

Continuing to shine a light on rising artists and singer-songwriters releasing compelling music, our Swag Spotlight this week is Donovan Woods. A native Canadian, Woods grew up in a working-class town, and what he calls a “country music town” but said at the time, it was what all the dads were listening to, so he was initially drawn to hip hop and artists like Another Bad Creation, Bell Biv Devoe, and Bobby Brown. As he matured, his musical tastes also evolved and the great singer-songwriters like Paul Simon, Billy Joel, and Traveling Wilburys became a staple as his influences.

I was eight years old when I picked up a guitar, my older sister told me to have a skill like that, she could tell I wasn’t hitting a home run in the looks department,” Woods laughs.  “She was preparing me for a life, that I was going to have to work for it, she told me I should develop a skill, and so I picked up a guitar that my mom used to play and kept in the house.”

At first, he released a bunch of records on his own in Canada, eventually making connections and moving down to Nashville to continue to pursue a career as a songwriter and artist. Writing songs that were cut by other artists, Woods is a master at crafting lyrics and stories that others felt the need to tell through music. Songs like “Portland, Maine” recorded by Tim McGraw on his 2014, Sundown Heaven Town album and “Leaving Nashville”, recorded and released by Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley’s solo project, The Driver. “Leaving Nashville” is one of the most honest, raw and real songs about the music industry and although we love Kelley’s version, listen to Woods sing it below.

He explains that he loves modern country music, such as HARDY and Morgan Wallen. “I love anything that feels good, that stuff feels good to me,” he says. “Country music is funny, as soon as we get backlash from that other type of sound, someone like Morgan comes along and doubles down on it, it’s such a strange genre.” We discuss at length the fluidity of music, bending genres and putting labels on music. “Country music, Americana, Folk Music, Singer-songwriter, I take it all as a compliment. I just don’t really pay much attention to it. Kids pay a lot less attention to genres these days. They live in a playlist world rather than an album world.”

Recently, he released a duet with one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Tenille Townes, an acoustic version of his song “I Ain’t Ever Loved No One”. Townes’ unique and evocative voice particularly shines and complements the bittersweet sentiment of a love story that will never be matched.

His latest release, “Way Way Back” was a solo write, a song Woods knew would work with the right production, working with Todd Clark in Nashville, it was released this fall. His gentle voice along with the most powerful, beautiful lyrics make Donovan Woods one of the most talented writers in Nashville. His dry sense of humor and witty remarks also make him one of the funniest to interview and to see live.

We caught his opening set on the Brightly Burst Tour with Ruston Kelly earlier this fall at Bowery Ballroom and he is now playing shows in Canada as he wraps up 2019. He looks ahead to new music in December and getting into the studio to record at the top of the new year.

To keep up with Donovan Woods follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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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.

—————————-

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:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Swearingen & Kelli

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Swearingen & Kelli

This week’s Swag Spotlight series features artists Jayne Kelli, and AJ Swearingen, also known as the country folk duo Swearingen & Kelli. Singing and songwriting are what brought this husband and wife duo together, and their infectious story-telling and harmonies are something we will all appreciate.

So how did these two gifted artists come together and create their own musical love story? Well, Kelli grew up in a small town in Michigan, just north of Detroit and Swearingen was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA just north of Philadelphia. They had been solo artists for many years and it was not until their paths crossed at a small venue called “The Hideaway Cafe” in St. Petersburg, Florida that they began working together. Swearingen initially played lap steel in Kelli’s band, and before they knew it their synergy and cohesiveness revealed something special. Swearingen spoke of their effortless ability to collaborate saying, “She fills in the blanks pretty quickly, and we understand each other musically.”

Their country-folk style is heavily influenced by genres that span across decades, and both agreed they were inspired by similar artists. Kelli explained, “We love so many styles, but there’s a lot of folk and country from the ’60s and 70’s that we really pull from and love.” Swearingen agreed, and he added, “My Mom used to spin all kinds of country records like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. So I really was steeped in that and almost exclusive to country music when I was growing up, so that became part of who I am. Lyrically, we’re influenced by the singer-songwriters from the ’70s. ”

The duo has spent the last two years in Nashville writing and recording songs. Swearingen and Kelli drew inspiration from visiting an old timin’ country bar called The Station Inn. In between trips to the bar, they were able to put together an honest record with a classic sound that originated from their own life experiences entitled Cold-Hearted Truth. In order to showcase the realness of this album, they did not use any autotuning on their vocals, with no click tracks, and no isolation booth. Their goal was to let their onstage chemistry and intimacy be heard throughout the recording of the album. Swearingen said, “There’s a lot of our history coming out in all of this writing, and that feels good to us, its a very honest record.”

Cold-Hearted Truth truly is as authentic and raw as one can imagine, and the “live” feeling is captured throughout the entirety of the record. Swearingen and Kelli are currently on the road promoting Cold-Hearted Truth and will be opening up for David Bromberg on select dates. In addition, they plan to release a recently recorded Merle Haggard classic before the year’s end.

To keep up with Swearingen & Kelli, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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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.

—————————-

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:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Brennley Brown

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Brennley Brown

Our Swag Spotlight this week, Brennley Brown has been in love with music and performing for as long as she can remember. At only seventeen years old, she has honed her craft and is ready to reintroduce herself to the world on her own terms with music that she hopes inspires others and clearly tells her own unique story.

Growing up in Apple Valley, on a ranch and with classic country musicians such as Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton, blasting through the speakers, Brown discovered her love for music at an early age. At just five years old, the natural-born talent mesmerized the audience at her kindergarten talent show with her rendition of Faith Hill’s “Mississippi Girl.” Her parents knew then that they had an entertainer on their hands. She continued to play shows and perform at open mic nights throughout her childhood, both singing and playing guitar, but it wasn’t until her mom got sick with Lyme disease that the songstress knew how important music truly was to her.

“For me, that’s when music became something more than what I just listened to on the radio or played in my dad’s truck. It became something that became very important to me. It was a safe place, a sanctuary for me during that time. Really my faith, my music, and my family were the there top things in my life.”

Continuing to rely on music and her family, Brown landed different gigs in the industry. Since the age of twelve, she went back and forth to Nashville to write songs, as well as, worked in voiceover and acting for big networks, such as Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel. Currently, she voices ‘Leyla’ on the Netflix series “Dragon Rescue Riders.”

During that time, Brown was invited to audition for the twelfth season of NBC’s The Voice, where she found herself making it further than she ever thought. She reflected on that experience, during the interview, calling it a “crazy, crazy experience,” for her at just fourteen years old, adding “I was on Team Blake [Shelton] and then stolen by Gwen Stefani. It’s such a great experience, a great stepping stone in my journey.” The star in the making made it to the finals of her season and garnered the recognition she deserved for her unique talent.

As an artist, Brown shared with us that her goal is to bring awareness to the disease her mother battled, as well as, to the healing power of music. “Music is healing. […] Music can make you feel happy, sad, it may bring back a memory, but it’s so healing in so many different ways.” She decided to wait three years before releasing her own music to the world because she wanted to hone in on her craft and what she truly wanted to say in her music.

Finally, just last week, on November 1st, Brown released her debut single “Keep Coming Back” to the world. The song was carefully cultivated with influences from an array of genres, ultimately culminating in a fresh new, different, and uniquely enticing sound. For Brown, the inspiration for the track stems from her own experiences in her life sharing with us a little bit about how the song came to fruition.

“I remember there was something kinda weighing on my heart. For me being 17 years old, I’m kinda in that place, where I can go to college, where I can take more years and really dive into my education, and kinda put music aside for a moment, and choose maybe the smarter path,” but ultimately the singer reveals, “I just get pulled back to music. When you’re given a gift or a calling in or your life or a dream, it’s gonna have its challenges, its up and downs, its trials that you’re going to go through, but having that dream inside you- it’s not there for no reason, like it’s going to continue to be a part of you, no matter what trial or what thing you have to overcome, you’re going to keep coming back to it, and keep pushing, and keep working towards your dream.”

Brown’s unique perspective and her powerful voice will continue to take center stage in her next single, which will be released on January 24th, her 18th birthday. On top of that, she is anticipating that her debut EP will drop in March of 2020. Expect to hear a lot coming soon from this rising artist, as she makes her mark on the industry!

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

“Keep Coming Back” 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:

NYCS Swag Spotlight LJ

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LJ Music

Our Swag Spotlight this week shines on LJ, a Houston, Texas native who moved to Nashville back in 2017 to pursue her love of songwriting and infuses her own blend of country music. Growing up in a huge family, LJ tells us in a recent interview that she loved listening to her dad play guitar, played sports from a young age and considered herself a tomboy, fishing and hunting.  It wasn’t until she hit her teenage years that she really took an interest in music, at age 13 her father gave her his guitar to play around with and she would listen to Sheryl Crow and Colbie Calliat and eventually taught herself how to play by ear. “We daydream when we are kids, some people want to be an astronaut, a fireman or a doctor or whatever that may be but I hadn’t’ really daydreamed about music until I was in high school,” she explains.

She recalls loving all different types of music growing up, including Latin music, dance music, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, and Brian McKnight but being from Texas, George Strait was definitely one of her biggest musical influences. She recalls seeing him play at Greune Hall when she was young and being enamored by his stage presence and the live music. From a young age, she loved certain melodies and she loves that she can bring those different melodies that she grew up loving and help evolve her own, now in a music career of her own.

She met her husband, Ricky, while he was playing baseball for Rice University and she was his support system through his career playing professionally. She tells us that it wasn’t that she put her dreams on hold, but she knew she wanted to be there for him, traveling with him and supporting his career. All the while, LJ was working on creating connections, networking as well as experience what the life of someone always on the road is like, something that would bode well for her future career. “All of this traveling and grind of trying to make it to the majors, it was equipping me to realize the work that goes into making it in the music industry, all of the steps that it takes not just to get a record deal, there is so much you pour into that.”

The day after retired and played his last game, the two of them hopped into a Uhaul and moved to Nashville, ready to start realizing and trying to follow her career path as a musician and songwriter in Music City.  “If there is something you are supposed to do, I think a lot of people can look back on their journies in life and they were probably were once in a position of ‘I don’t know how I am  going to get there’ but we have to do our part by planting the seeds and there are times when we can’t always be the person to water them or give them sunshine, there is something else that comes in and does that,” she poetically explains. “I believe that God has done that for me, he has opened up doors that are unexplainable, I know it’s God, I’m just here for the ride.”

Her most recent single, “Vegas” was written with Kelly Archer and Nathan Spicer and they looked to emulate the feel-good, light-hearted feelings that the city of Las Vegas can bring out in people. “When I was dating Ricky, I remember feeling like I wanted to run off and marry him, so we wanted to give that feeling of like, getting on a plane and going to the place that has tested the time of running away and getting married.”

The video, shot in one day and of course, in the city of lights, perfectly sums up that sentiment of being carefree and getting married in Vegas. “We shot at this chapel in vegas, the most famous wedding chapel and it was packed, around the clock people getting married from all over the world,” LJ tells us of the experience”.  “Couples that are so in love, it was so neat to see that. There is a lot of love here. When you are in love and you want to get married, it doesn’t matter where you get married.” She and her husband even renewed their vows while they were there shooting, a moment that will always be a fond memory for them. Fans of the video can head to CMT and vote for “Vegas”

Looking ahead to the end of 2019 and into the new year, LJ is playing a few rounds at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, a place she loves to play because it is so iconic for songwriters. She looks ahead to 2020 and releasing even more new music, working with Red Creative Group, her publisher.

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

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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.

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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!

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NYCS Swag Spotlight: Rayne Johnson

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Rayne Johnson

This week’s Swag Spotlight is taking over the airwaves with his current radio single “Front Seat.” Rayne Johnson hails from Southern Ohio, but his sound is influenced by his vast life experiences and multi-genre musical interests.

Growing up in church, Johnson often sang on holidays. He shared that his parents, especially his mom would always play the classics on vinyl, such as Nat King Cole, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra. “I think the impact that influenced me from the Nat King Cole and the Frank Sinatra stuff [was] I could always recognize how they could make you feel what they were singing.” On the other hand, his father made him fall in love with classic country music, especially Merle Haggard. “On the country music side, my dad was a classic country guy, that was more of the story-telling and I saw that in country music.” When he got older, he added R&B artists like Brian McKnight and Babyface to his music collection.

His eclectic music taste led him to a music career, writing and recording songs that span genres. Johnson’s song “Laid Back” garnered success on Spotify, where fans took a liking to the cheeky lyrics in the fun song. He wrote the song with a friend from Rhode Island, who he claims has a knack for wordplay. Although the lyrics are the star, the funky and soulful beat, along with the singer’s vocal delivery make it a smash.

On the the other end of the spectrum, Johnson’s current radio single and first national release, “Front Seat” showcases his vulnerable and emotive side. All the buzz around the new song can only be described with one word “surreal,” according to the singer. “Honestly it wasn’t one of those songs, where we’re like ‘this is the one,’ everyone is going to love this. We knew it was a good song for sure, but it’s really hard to break with a ballad in any type of music really. It’s just been received super well.”

As we delved deeper into the impactful song, we learned about the inspiration for the beautiful ballad. “It was more or less, some friends of mine attacking a song that could maybe inspire guys to treat girls better. A few of us have younger boys, and we were like ‘How do we want our boys to be when they grow up?’ Cause honestly, today’s society is a lot different when it comes to respect and the old school type of thing, ya know.”

Johnson added that he is so appreciative that fans are relating to the song’s message, sharing “It’s been really cool to see. I get direct messages all the time from young ladies, I would say more from women expressing like “I just came out of an eleven-year relationship, where I was treated awful, this song is so awesome for me.,” adding that the song resonates with the men too. “I also get messages from guys, saying “Bro, this song is awesome man. I wish my friends treated their girlfriends this way.””

We could all learn a thing or two from “Front Seat,” and it is especially important that we continue to empower women to stand up for themselves, but also to encourage men to be the best they can be too. Johnson is a pioneer when it comes to that sentiment.

We closed out our interview discussing upcoming music. Although are no solid dates, Johnson assures us that there is an EP coming towards the end of the fall, early winter. He added, “I’m so excited about it because I feel like it’s one of those EPs that have so many songs that people are going to love.” If it is anything like his previous releases, we are sure that Johnson’s upcoming EP will be just as powerful.

To keep up with Rayne Johnson follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Front Seat” 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. 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: