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Who Is The Jack Wharff Band? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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Who is The Jack Wharff Band? The incredible country group joined us to chat about their journey to country music. Get to know the rising stars here…

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The Jack Wharff Band // Photo credit: Alexa Campbell

Quick Facts:

Full name – Jack Wharff, Garrett Howell, Ryan Barrett Atchison, Evan Novoa
Band Formed In – Richmond, Virginia
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Willie Nelson
Label – Big Machine Records
Current Project – Richmond’s Most Wanted EP (as of date of article: 7/7/2025)
The Beginning:

Every once in a while, country music and its fans get blessed with a new country group to fall in love with. Today is one of those moments! The Jack Wharff band are truly ones to look out. They are carving their own path, creating a sound that is uniquely their own, a blending of of country, rock, and bluegrass sounds. We chatted with the four band members, frontman and lead singer Jack Wharff, drummer Garrett Howell, bassist Ryan Barrett Atchison, and guitarist Evan Novoa all about their rise to stardom, their journey so far, and everything in between. Keep reading to learn more!

The Virginia natives all grew up with music in their hearts from an early age. Lead singer, Wharff shared, “I grew up listening to bluegrass. I’ve always been involved in music because my dad plays in a band to this day, and before I was even a thought, he was playing in music with his band. I grew up going to his shows on the weekend with my mom, so it kind of all started out with bluegrass for me and it molded into what we are today,” while his other band members echoed his statements. “I really fell in love with country music and bluegrass, when I was in middle school, I fell in love with more of the outlaw country when I was in high-school,” shared Atchison.

For the group, music was alway something that felt viscerally important. “I love blues a lot too. That’s something our band has too, we call it American music because it’s such an array of different things that we love and stuff,” shared Novoa.

The Turning Point:

Despite all growing up in different parts of Virginia, the band didn’t meet until 2023, when they crossed paths at an open mic night in Richmond, Virginia. “I was trying to get my sound out there and Ryan and Garrett were trying to get their sound out there, and they sounded really good on stage, and I was playing after them, so I asked them if they wanted to play with me, and they were all for it,” shared Wharff. “We kept going around the area, trying to get gigs and playing them together. We never really looked back, and we started writing together too.”

“At the open mic where he met Ryan and I, Jack had two original songs that neither one of us have ever heard before, and he was like “you guys want to come play.” So we just turned around and got right back on, and I think my wife has a video of us playing, and you can hear one of my buddies in the background just screaming, but it was songs that Ryan and I have never heard before or played, so the chemistry was always there from us three, and then Evan came in, and it was just the perfect fit,” added Howell.

The coveted day at the open mic night formed the first iteration of The Jack Wharff Band. Eventually they caught the attention  of an A&R guy from Big Machine Label Group, and eventually made the big decision to move to Nashville.

 “LJ came down to Virginia after hearing about us from TikTok, and seeing one of our songs called “Burnin’ It Down” do very well, so we went out, and had lunch with him, and they have been super head over heels excited about what we’re doing, and putting a lot of energy and time into us, and they really believe in what we’re doing,” shared The Jack Wharff Band. “That’s what we made the decision to go with Big Machine because the people there are great and they’ve been super willing to let us move creatively, while also guiding us with their wisdom of how it all works.”

Eventually, the group added their guitarist to the mix too. “We found Evan, and we were completely blown away, and we wanted to take him on tour with us, we really fell in love with him, the person that he is firstly and how amazing he is at guitar. We had to have him.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, The Jack Wharff Band recently made their major-label debut with their EP, Richmond’s Most Wanted. The project is an incredible sampler of what’s to come blended with their fan-favorite songs.

“As far as choosing the songs for the project, Jack hit the nail on the head one time when he said that this is Richmond’s most wanted songs, and putting all of these songs on the EP is kind of the nostalgia of the old school Jack Wharff Band songs, where it just speaks to this array of where it started, and where it is now. I like to say it’s a warm welcome to who we are and who we were as well, it kinda just combines everything,” shared Novoa.

Songs like “Washed” remain one one of the bands’ favorite songs, while the new songs introduce fans to what’s to come for The Jack Wharff Band. “The two new ones on there, “Don’t Hold Your Breath” and “Otherwise,” we worked on, probably late last year, those were two songs that we felt were really strong and bring a different element to what we had before, it allows for a different feel than what we had before.”

Looking ahead to the future, The Jack Wharff Band stand firm that this is only just the beginning. We have hundreds of songs that we’re sitting on right now. We’re so excited to get all of these songs and all of these tunes and all of these ideas in our head, out to the world and our fans,” shared the artists. “We have so many cool ideas for shows to make them more enjoyable and more energetic than they are right now […]. We’re so excited to get out there and make better music and better shows for the people out there who are following along with us. […] We have a lot of cool and fresh sounds coming for all of you guys.”

Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with The Jack Wharff Band, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

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Who Is Jacob Hackworth? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-jacob-hackworth

Jacob Hackworth

Quick Facts:

Full name – Jacob Hackworth
Birthdate – 01/18/1997
Hometown – West Plains, Missouri
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Jason Aldean, Justin Bieber, Rascal Flatts
Current Project – “When I Don’t” (as of date of article: 6/30/2025)
The Beginning:

Country music is filled with elite vocalists and songwriters. With Nashville being the hub for the latest and greatest, today’s incredible artist fits that bill. Jacob Hackworth, the writer behind number one songs “Rock And A Hard Place” and “This Heart”, as well as, Morgan Wallen’s heartbreaking new song, “Jack and Jill,” is currently taken the country world my storm, emerging as his own artist.

“I grew up in southern Missouri, like 30 minutes from Arkansas, way down there. Grew up in a normal, small-town type thing, and I sang in church,” began the singer-songwriter. “My grandma played the piano, so I’d sing with her, and that led to be singing in school and choir. Then in fifth grade or so is when I started singing some solos and stuff in choir. My choir teacher said I was really good at this and [encouraged] me to keep the thing going.”

Hackworth was enamored with music, falling in love with songs from artists like Billy Gilman and Rascal Flatts from an early age.“Off the bet, I’ll go way back when I was five years old, around that time, there was a guy named Billy Gilman, and he had put an album out, and there was a song called “One Voice,” on that record, and that was probably the first thing I remember singing, where I thought it was awesome,” he shared, adding, “It led into Rascal Flatts and definitely Justin Bieber, I had a big Justin Bieber era. […] I would sit in my room and sing all the runs he could do for hours, and then weirdly enough, I became a [Jason] Aldean fan. Then it was just a big melting pot of different stuff from then on.”

Throughout school, Hackworth continued to spend time in choir, working on his singing voice, all while juggling sports at the same time. “After school, I would work on some stuff. I started really doing that, and I was playing sports at the same time also, and I was still scared to death singing those solos, so I was slowly getting into it,” he shared. “I sang through middle school, and by high-school, I was like “I really like to sing,” and everybody kind of new me as the guy who could sing, I joined choir in high-school, and I did that for three years, and then my senior year, I ended up dropping out of it, and ended up playing football, and I wanted to do that.”

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating high-school, Hackworth was ready to put school behind him and start his career. He got a job with the railroad, where he was gone often and typically housed up in hotel rooms. This is how guitar entered his life for the first time. “I had started positing some videos and stuff on Instagram and Facebook, just singing with friends who played guitar. […] Nothing crazy and nothing was popping off or anything, but I slowly became the guy who sang in my hometown, even more than I already was,” he shared, adding, “I had a lot of downtime at work, so I bought a guitar, and I’d play guitar, and then three and a half, four years of doing the railroad thing, I decided to hang it up and quit traveling and get a job in town.”

Once back in his hometown, Hackworth began playing local shows with a group of buddies around his hometown. Additionally, the singer dabbled with songwriter, as he became a better guitar player. While still apprehensive about the longevity for music career, the singer knew that it was what made him feel most fulfilled.

Shortly after moving back home, his mom introduced him to a high-school friend, Travis Smith, who was a songwriter in Nashville. Smith took Hackworth under his wing, and brought him to Nashville for the first time to write with other writers in town. “He brought me town and booked me some writes, and it took about two days of me being in Nashville to say, “I’m moving.”,” he shared, adding, “I definitely always wanted to be an artist.”

At just 22 years old, Hackworth made the move to Music City, and cut his teeth as a songwriter in town, landing a publishing deal after his independent song, “Rock And A Hard Place” earned him his first number one single as a songwriter.

“We were all independent writers, and we just rode the wave, and signed a publishing deal, and next thing you know, I’m getting booked with writers I’ve wanted to write with for three or four years, who are legends. And you start writing better songs and we just kind of saw it as a really good thing, and the artist thing can happen at any time.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Hackworth has two number ones as a songwriter to his name already at country radio. He is also finally showing off his artistry through his own music. Recently, the singer accompanied Tucker Wetmore on tour and shared his latest song, “When I Don’t.”

“The day that we wrote that song, we all thought it was sick. I love the melodies in the song. I love to sing and getting to showcase my artistry was already something that I already liked in this song. Early on we sent the song around and pitched it, and it never caught, and it kinda fell between the cracks, and it wound up back in our pockets. […] I thought about how Tucker [Wetmore] was about to take me on tour with him, and everything fell in to place really quick, and that song just cut through, and I became a big fan of it. That’s why we went with it.”

“When I Don’t showcases Hackworth’s incredible vocals, as well as, his ability to craft a catchy and honest song. The song came at the perfect time for the emerging artist.

It is only just the beginning! Hackworth is currently in the studio working on more new music and slowly but surely making a name for himself as an artist in country music. Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

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

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

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Who Is Colin Stough? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music (2025)

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

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Colin Stough // Photo credit: David Bradley

Quick Facts:

Full name – Colin Stough
Birthdate – 07/28/2004
Hometown – Gattman, Mississippi
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Ray Vaughn, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley
Label – 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville
Current Project – “White Trash” (as of date of article: 6/23/2025)
The Beginning:

This week we reconnected with singer-songwriter, Colin Stough to catch-up with him about the trajectory of his music career. We first chatted with the entertainer back in 2023, shortly after his stint on American Idol, where he placed third in the competition. Keep reading to check-in with the singer and learn more about his story!

“I grew up in a little town in Mississippi, Gattman, Mississippi. There’s about 73 people there,” began the singer. “Growing up, I got my first guitar when I was probably eight years old, and I bought it out of a pawn shop. I just kind of always played music, and I went through some rougher things in life in my teenage years, and I just kind of turned to [music] as a coping mechanism.”

Music became Stough’s solace during unpredictable times in his youth. “I had a very troubled, different childhood growing up. We had hard times, we had good time, and we had times that were plain-out fucked up to be honest with you. I just kind of learned to write about how I felt, and that’s where it all started. “

Stough looked up to artists who were great songwriters, as well as, legendary guitar players. “My number one influence is Lynyrd Skynyrd, and then Waylon Jennings, Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix, pretty much all of your main guitar players and all your great lyricists too. […] There’s a lot of Conway Twitty in there too because my grandma loved Conway Twitty too.”

Despite loving music, Stough never thought he’d end up where he is now. “I’ve always dreamed of doing this. It’s so surreal for me because I never thought I’d actually do it,” he shared. “I kind of bought that guitar with that little dream in my pocket and I never thought that it would kind of come true, but we’re here, and we’re rocking out.”

The Turning Point:

As Stough got older, he continued to rely on both his horses and music for comfort; however, his mother encouraged him to chase his dreams, ultimately signing him up for American Idol. “My mom signed me up for Idol, and I went on to do that. Stough impressed all three judges, during his audition, singing an emotive cover of the Lynyrd Skynryd song, “Simple Man.” His incredible vocal tone and heart proved his staying power from day one.

After American Idol, the singer-songwriter thought he was just going to go back home to work. “I was like well I guess I’m going back home to work. They called me two days after I got home, and they were like, we need you in Nashville,” he shared, adding, “I heard some rumors about a bunch of people wanting to sign me, so with American Idol, I got to go with BBR/BMG and 19 of course, and it’s just been amazing. We have a great team, and I finally just now, getting dialed in, where I’ll only write with certain people because you figure out something that starts working, you don’t break it, you don’t try to fix it.”

Ultimately, he signed his record deal shortly after and began working and dare I say, outworking many of his peers in Music City. “I had two big challenges whenever I moved to Nashville. When you go on a show like American Idol, you gain what they call “TV fame,” but when you get off that show, and you start doing music, you have to flip that, and you have to do it quickly to music fame. We’re still doing that. My second biggest challenge was I have a physical work ethic that is not matched. There’s not another person in this town that will out work me, and that’s just how I was raised. But you have to swap that physical work ethic for a mental one. […] It’s probably just now, in the last six months, I’ve been able to flip that.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Stough has found his signature sound in the industry, all while growing up.“We’re doing something that’s honestly in a different lane than everybody else, and I love that,” he shared, adding, “I’m putting my actual feelings in a song, and I tell everybody that’s what I do this day. I never write about a story that didn’t happen, and it’s just something that I love. That’s the reason that I do this. Music and writing have brought me closer to the good Lord, to my family, and  brought me closer to my own self.”

Most recently Stough released arguably his best single to date, “White Trash,” a song that truly shows his songwriting prowess. When he was young and he and his mother were called ‘White Trash,’ Stough stored it a way as a compliment. “I kind of took it as a compliment because that put me different than everybody else. I graduated and got a bunch of tattoos, and stuff like that. It was always something that I was proud. […] I knew there were other people in the world that was like that too.”

Eventually “White Trash” became a song. “I thought it would be a killer song title […]. One of my buddies was over here, and I kept saying that I was white trash, and I took that as a sign from the Lord to write that because it just kept popping in my head. I went in with Jamie Collazo and Kenny Whitmire and we sat with the song for probably an hour and a half, and we did a demo on it, and I thought it was one of those songs that was going to sit in a folder, but that’s not how it was at all.”

The song is an anthem for the misunderstood. Referred to as a “battle cry for the outcast” in a recent press release, the new song showcases Stough’s gritty and piercing vocals. “White Trash” unapologetically captures how the feeling of confidence; despite, what naysayers may say. It also firmly showcases Stough’s unique country-rock music.

“For a couple of months I was chasing the mainstream stuff and what was going to work, and I can do that, and I’d probably have a successful career, but at the end of the day, I just wasn’t happy when I’d get home from writing, and so now, we’re dialed in, and we put “White Trash” out, and all the songs that we are wanting to put out are really just me,” he shared, finally adding, “We’re staying as authentic as possible, as stripped-back as possible, and I’m just happier.”

Stay tuned for more music from Stough soon!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Colin Stough, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

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Who Is Naomi Johnson? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Naomi Johnson // Photo credit: Matthew Simmons

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Naomi Carleen Johnson
Birthdate – 10/5/89
Hometown – Born in Front Royal, Virginia
Current City – Salt Lake City, Utah and Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Bonnie Raitt, Shania Twain, The Chicks, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow & Brooks and Dunn
The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on an incredibly talented singer-songwriter with a unique story to share. Naomi Johnson, formerly of Runaway June, recently re-introduced herself to the world as a solo artist. With talent that rivals anyone in the industry and armed with a story to tell, Johnson is ready for the world to know her. We chatted with the songstress about her upbringing, her journey in music, and where she is now. Keep reading to learn more!

“I am one of eleven kids, I was born in rural northern Virginia. I grew up pretty different from most people,” began Johnson, who went on to share her story of living amongst the Amish, as well as eventually a hippie cult. “My dad was a park ranger, and my mom was a midwife to the Amish community around that area, so we lived in very close proximity to the Amish and Mennonites. […] In order to kind of be living amongst them, you have to kind of look like them and live like them, sort of, so we lived very plainly, and lived off the land.”

When she was young, her family left that life to pursue a more nomadic one. “We ended up selling everything that we owned, and my dad renovated a school bus, and we started traveling around the United States in this school bus with me and my eight brothers and sisters, my two parents, and my family dog, and we lived in state parks and national parks. Then we ended up in this crazy hippie cult, and that’s where I ended up learning to play guitar, and that’s where music came into my life.”

At just eight years old, music became her solace. “I learned how to play guitar from a little girl my age,” shared Johnson, adding, “I was born with a song in my heart. My mom told me that I would even hum when I would nurse. I was always very artistic and imaginative, and I would always sing and stuff.”

“When I was about eleven years old, a really close friend of ours gave me an Alison Krauss CD, and I had just started listening to the radio a bit, and my dad really loved the Allman Brothers Band and Brooks & Dunn, so I started to get introduced to country radio through my dad. But this friend of ours who gave me the Alison Krauss CD, I was just blown away, I wore it out.”

Eventually, her family escaped the cult; however, Johnson still had the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, as well as helping her family make ends meet financially.

The Turning Point:

Despite loving music, Johnson continued singing on street corners and gigging in restaurants to help pay the bills. “I went from playing on my guitar for gas money and food when I was nine to when we moved and got out of the bus, and my parents got divorced, I started gigging in restaurants and stuff to help pay the electric bill. […] Then a few years passed, and I met a few other kids doing the same thing, so I felt really secure there,” she shared.

Although she fell in love with artists like Shania Twain and Dolly Parton, who she saw herself in because of their stories, Johnson still didn’t believe that “people like her” could make music for a living. However, when she met someone who finally gave her the push she needed, her world expanded for good.

“I barely have a sixth-grade education. I never went to school, so college wasn’t an option, but I met someone, I met a songwriter, Rob Hatch, in Nashville, who became one of my biggest mentors and best friends. He was the first person I knew at all, or even adjacent to the music business. […] I played my guitar for them and a couple of songs, and he told me to move to Nashville,” she said. “I needed one person to say that this is the path you can take.”

Johnson spent the summer in Alaska working to save up money, and promptly moved to Nashville right after, landing a job at Tootsie’s in her first week in Music City.

“I learned how to be in a band, play with a band, and perform for big, drunk crowds. It was like baptism by fire,” she shared, adding later that she eventually started working at Tootsie’s in the airport, too. Eventually, she landed a single cut on a Tyler Farr record without a publishing deal, and people in Nashville started noticing her. “That’s what cracked the door for me into the industry world and me being able to get meetings and stuff.”

One thing led to another, and Johnson was asked to be the lead singer of a new girl group named Runaway June. “We had great success, we did seven years of touring, and we made some money, and had some hits, and it was great,” she shared. “We started writing music again [after the pandemic], and I found that I was at this point in my life where I wanted to write about my life, and that was in my heart to write about. These weren’t songs for the band, unfortunately. These were not songs that Runaway June was going to do.”

It was time Johnson embarked on her solo journey.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Johnson is doing exactly what she set out to do many years ago: share her story as a solo artist. Earlier this year, she embarked on sharing her truth with the world by releasing her song, “Bricks Make Houses.”

“I chose ‘Bricks Make Houses’ as the first one to come with because I felt like I had this story to tell people, and it could be a lot of information, and I was like, how do I start this? I decided to start this at the beginning, when my musical journey started in that school bus,” shared Johnson. “My story is dotted and checkered, there’s a lot of pain and really hard times and tragedy, but there’s also triumph and victory and a heroic story of efforts. I wanted to paint both of them because there’s a duality.”

“Bricks Make Houses” showcases the resiliency and strength that are part of the fabric of what makes Naomi Johnson who she is. Her follow-up single, “Mama Ain’t Jesus,” showcases her fiery maternal instinct. While the singer may have helped to raise her siblings, becoming a mother to her baby girl ignited a newfound flame inside of her, something she wanted to share with her fan base.

“I wanted to put that one out because Mother’s Day was coming up, and I’m a new mom. I have this maternal instinct that’s been turned on for me for a long time because of my younger siblings, and it’s been more of a sibling relationship with them. So I’ve had this maternal instinct where I’ll fight to the death for the people I love. I’m just a very loyal person like that, but once I had my daughter, it quadrupled that feeling.”

“Bricks Make Houses” and “Mama Ain’t Jesus” might be the beginning of Johnson’s solo project journey, but it’s not the whole story. The singer-songwriter has another new song coming out at the end of this month, as well as a solo project in the works.

“I’m super focused on finishing this record. I live in Utah, and I’m making my record here and not in Nashville, and that’s been this whole beautiful, amazing experience. I’m fully committed to this record, and I’m also co-producing it.”

Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Naomi Johnson, follow her on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter.

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

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Who Is Ada Pasternak? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Ada Pasternak // Photo credit: Chaz Mazzota

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on a uniquely talented singer-songwriter. Ada Pasternak joined us to chat about her musical upbringing, her current music, and how she interweaves all of her passion projects into the fabric of her life. Keep reading to learn more about her incredible story.

“I was born in Moscow. We immigrated to New York City when I was little, and my parents are both musicians, so they put my brother and I in music classes when we were little people,” began Pasternak. The songstress grew up as a classical violinist and a child prodigy. She spent most of her childhood surrounded by music, mostly classical music, and improving at her craft.

“I grew up a classical violinist. I was a child prodigy, and that was my whole life. That’s what I thought I would do forever, be a classical soloist,” she shared, reminiscing about her upbringing. “I played classical music so often as a kid that when I listened to music it was really just whatever was on the radio like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, that kind of stuff. Other than that, I practiced four to six hours a day, and my whole childhood was in classical music. […] My parents would also be playing music at home.”

Unfortunately at the peak of her career, Pasternak became unable to play her instrument. “I developed severe tendonitis, and over use syndrome, so I couldn’t play violin anymore. That was really difficult physically and emotionally of course to have to give up what you worked so hard for.” However, her path would go to unfold in a different way.

The Turning Point:

Eventually Pasternak decided to apply to college at the Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue a new dream. “I applied for a music therapy program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and you needed to audition with an instrument and I hadn’t played the violin in three years. So I picked up the violin, prepared a piece, and my dad drove me to Boston, and accompanied me on the piano while I auditioned. I ended up getting a full scholarship, such a miracle because we were really poor.”

While at Berklee, Pasternak’s world opened up, as she was exposed to musicians from all over the world, playing all different genres of music.“Berklee completely opened by eyes and changed my life. It’s where I started playing Jazz and improvising, and playing country, and signing and writing songs,” she shared, adding, “Berklee is such a melting pot. There is so many types of musicians from all over the world. There is any musical genre you can think of.”

While attending school, the songstress would jam with bluegrass musicians and dabble in different genres, ultimately learning new languages through music. It was during this time in her life too that she unofficially became a songwriter. “I kind of just starting exploring these other genres without ever thinking I would become a songwriter or a singer, but it was after my first break-up with my first college boyfriend that I started writing songs,” shared Pasternak.

The singer made the move to Nashville to continue to hone her musical talent just. few months ago. Since then she has immersed herself into the country music fabric, and the songwriting that comes with it.  “Writing has just been my therapy and I hope it can provide some music therapy to others, and it’s funny because I originally applied to Berklee to be a music therapist and I became a songwriter, in a way is music therapy.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Pasternak has her feet firmly planted in Nashville. She is a multi-faceted artist, author, songwriter, and advocate for mental health. Her music is healing and honest, something that fans are sure to gravitate towards. While all of the singer’s previous releases have merit, most recently her songs “One Way Ticket” and “Rosé” showcase her undeniable talent.

“One Way Ticket” is an autobiographical song that encapsulates Pasternak’s journey in Nashville. “I just had to release this one. I had to finish writing it when I came up with the chorus. It was too good and too honest not to. Basically I bought a one way ticket to Nashville from LA, just a few months ago. […] It was a really hot outside, and I thought it would be nice to get a trim, and at this point, my hair was really long, like it’s been my whole life, so I asked if they had an appointment. […] I sat down and I said you know what, chop it all off. I’m starting over,” she shared.

She ended up sans ten inches of hair and with a new found inspiration for life. “I felt like a different person after. I felt a lot lighter, I felt excited for the new chapter here in Nashville, I felt really sexy and alive. It was something I’ll never forget getting that hair cut. So I went back to my friend’s house where I was staying, picked up his guitar which was tuned in a really weird, unusual way, and came up with that chorus. It just came out of me, and I took it to my producer, and we finished the song.”

Songs like this are sure to be at the forefront of Pasternak’s upcoming project. She is currently working on a concept album that is sure to impress fans. “It’s going to be a lot of break-up songs. […] Then there are going to be songs about me getting stronger and becoming free again. I’m really excited to finish that album and share it with the world.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Ada Pasternak, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

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

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Who Is Justin Schools? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-justin-schools

Justin Schools

Quick Facts:

Full name – Justin Schools
Birthdate – 09/20/1999
Hometown – Ray City, Georgia
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Luke Bryan, Randy Travis, The Fray, Alan Jackson
Current Single – “Somewhere Right Now” (as of date of article: 6/2/2025)
The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on newcomer, Justin Schools. The talented singer-songwriter has music in his blood, and he is on the path to greatness. We chatted with Schools about his path so far, his current music, and everything in between!

Growing up, Schools was surrounded by music thanks to his musical family. “I grew up in South Georgia, pretty much the middle of nowhere. […] I grew up listening to music and helping out and working around farms, just living the country lifestyle,” shared the singer, adding, “My mother sings and still sings in church to this day. I grew up around it, I had some cousins who played in bands around Georgia, so music has always been a big part of my life.”

From an early age, the singer-songwriter played and snag in church and led worship at his school. “Country music was a part of my lifestyle, so I listened to a lot of that and Christian music.” In high-school, Schools’ music catalog expanded to the genres too. “I played a lot of sports, so that opened me up to a lot more music. I listen to some rap, some hip-hop, and I kind of got into classical a little bit. […] It’s a little bit of everything.”

His wide musical taste allowed him to draw inspiration from different artists, which he still feels inspired by today. “Growing up, I grew up listening to Luke Bryan, and some people hate it, and some people judge me for it, but now I’m just accepting it. Luke Bryan is one of my biggest influences as far as his songs he wrote coming into country. I grew up that way, so I related to him a lot. Outside of Luke, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, and I listened to a lot of The Fray coming up too. They’re one of my favorite bands, so they inspired a lot of my songwriting too.”

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating high-school, Schools went to college in his home-state.”I started playing in a little acoustic group in college and playing bars, and stuff like that. That kind of extended into writing songs,” he shared, adding, “coming out of high-school, I went to college, and I was a terrible student in college. I would skip class just to go to work or to play a show on the weekend. I wound up going to four different colleges really before I decided to finally make the move up to Nashville in 2021.”

Prior to making the move to Music City, Schools found himself trying to make college work, while really desiring to focus on music. “People tell me I lived twelve different lives all in one,” he shared. “I went to one college and did the fraternity thing and had fun at that one school, and then got out of there. Then I went off to one college and went there, and was doing great in school for the first time, then COVID came around, and everything went online, and I am by no means a technology guy.”

This led Schools to take some time off. He eventually ended up transferring to a private music college in Memphis, Tennessee. “I majored in songwriting, which I didn’t really major in it, because I only went for one year, and I went there, and I did not enjoy the college in Memphis at all, I was back and forth from Memphis and Nashville a a lot, just writing back and forth with guys here in Nashville, I felt like Memphis was kind of just my way to be involved with music without having to stress about my first months rent.”

After that, he moved home for the summer, saved up money, and officially moved to Nashville at the end of 2021.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Schools is living full-time in Nashville, and releasing music for the first time, giving his dream a real shot. He most recently released new songs, “Hurt Like That.” and “Somewhere Right Now.” While the singer’s initial music leaned more towards old-school Luke Bryan, his current sound is an incredible blend of rock and country influences that feel all his own.

Schools shared that “Hurt Like That” marked the first time he really felt he found that sound in his music. “I had the idea of “Hurt Like That,” what could it be, and you could go so many different routes with one idea. Then the melody kind of popped in my head, and I took it into a room with some great writers, and we didn’t really nail down what I wanted, so I took it back, and took it in another room with some good friends of mine, and we finally got the product that you hear today. […] “Hurt Like That” is a cool song. It’s different than when I first started writing. […] It’s a new lane that I feel like I’ve gotten into, and I’m really enjoying it, and it’s fun, and it feels great.”

“Somewhere Right Now” is an incredible follow up “Hurt Like That,” showcasing Schools talent even more!  Fans can expect even more music coming down the pipeline soon. Stay tuned! “We for sure have more music coming out this year. We worked really hard on them.”

Connect:

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

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

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

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Who Is Zach John King? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-zach-john-king

Zach John King // Photo credit: Emma Shane Heim

Quick Facts:

Full name – Zach John King
Birthdate – 03/25/1997
Hometown – Fayetteville, Georgia
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – George Jones, Otis Redding, The Police, Third Eye Blind, Switchfoot, Biz Markie
Label – Sony Music Nashville
Current Project – Slow Down EP (out 5/23) (as of date of article: 5/19/2025)
The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on an artist that is making waves in country music. Zach John King is a name you are going to want to remember! The singer-songwriter has the talent of a seasoned veteran. As he embarks on the release of his EP, Slow Down, out this Friday, we chatted with the singer about where’s he’s been and where he’s going!

“I grew up in a town called Fayetteville, Georgia. My grandparents, my first memory of music in general was my Nana had a little radio in her kitchen cabinet and every time she cooked, she turned on anything basically from 1980s down in country music,” shared the singer, reminiscing about his childhood.

Those early movements introduced him to artists like Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, and even later on, Travis Tritt. “Being from Georgia, if you’re growing up there, that’s all you listen to kind of non-stop, and I think for me, growing up on it, it was a beautiful thing,”

Instinctively country music memorized the singer, who gravitated towards the storytelling aspect of the genre at an early age. “My family has some poets. […] My grandma instead of journaling would write some super simple poetry about their travels like rhymed poetry, so I had that in my family DNA already. A family of writers. […] I would read their poems, and I would figure out how to read rhyme, so that was really cool, and then I think in school, I was terrible at math, I was terrible at most subjects, but the literature, English side of thing always came easy to me, and then when you move to Nashville, a town of the best of the best, you really have to learn the discipline of it. It’s a job, and it’s still very inspiring, but you also have to show up everyday and get better at it. It’s one of the most fun parts of it.”

The Turning Point:

Despite loving country music, like many kids, King wanted to to forge his own path, separate from his roots in country. “By the time I got to high-school, it was sort of what I had always known, so there was a part of me that wanted d to do something different, so I fell in love with indie-rock. I was trying to get away from the hometown and my grandparents music, and I kind of abandoned it in this weird identity-crisis mode in high-school, which I think everybody goes through.”

While in high-school, the singer-songwriter formed an indie-rock band, gravitating towards the likes of artists like Kings of Leon, The Strokes, and Radiohead. “I started a band in high-school like everybody does. It was an Indie Rock band with my buddies from back home. We started playing graduation parties, and then we all went to separate colleges in separate states, but I couldn’t get away from writing music, so I would write a bunch of music, and then during our Christmas break, we’d learn it all and recorded it, and put it out on an EP.”

This led King to move to Athens, Georgia to take the band more seriously. “We cut our teeth for basically three years playing the clubs and indie route circuits,” began the singer, “And then COVID hit, and at that point, I had really fallen back in love with country music, and where I came from. It was kind of a perfect storm because I realized if I’m going to make this thing a career then I have to move and actually do it, and that meant Nashville.”

King got a job on Broadway waiting tables, and started to make connections in Music City, ready to pursue his dream. “I quit my job, and I got a job waiting tables on Broadway. Didn’t know anybody, and it just kind of started from there. And I tell everybody that if you feel like you can’t get a way from that calling, if you feel like you can’t quit daydreaming about it, your probably need to try it and really go for it. For me that’s what it was. I just couldn’t get away from music. I tried four different careers, jobs, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, King is a Sony Music Nashville recording artist with a bright future in country music. He has seamlessly blended his love for traditional country with the sounds of indie rock, creating a true sound that is all his own. “The beauty of country music among all the beautiful things about it. The best thing is the storytelling. We focus on the best storytelling lyrics we can build, but musically speaking, maybe we throw in some non-traditional instruments there or maybe the cadence of the song isn’t a typical country song. […] I feel like I’m carving my own lane, and it’s taken some time, but I feel really strongly that we’re landing on some stuff that really feels like me and no-one else.”

As he grows his catalog, the singer is releasing his EP Slow Down this Friday, featuring songs like, “I Deserve A Heartbreak” and “Cold Shoulder.” While the EP features six songs, the process for choosing the songs took a lot of thought and honesty. “At the point of picking the EP, we had thirty songs to pick from and we had to little wittle them down to six,” shared King.

“It was about how do we pick the ones that tell a complete story about who I am because if you listen top to bottom of this project, we wanted to treat this thing like an album, where if you listen through, you get a full picture and a full story of who I am. […] We wanted to put my mistakes in there, what I’ve done wrong in relationships, my healthy relationships, who I love, where I’m from, and kind of color up the whole project, so when you listen you get this guy, you connect with this guy because there’s a lot of common ground out there.”

The EP is sure to make fans new and old flock to the singer in droves; however, King is showing no signs of slowing down in 2025. “We’re putting more music out. It’s going to be a non-stop summer of music. […] The goal of this EP is for you to get to know me, and then the stuff coming after that is my favorite stuff that I’ve ever done. It feels very focused, and I’m really excited about it. We’re not slowing down,” he shared, adding, “We’re going to keep fueling the fire and building this thing.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Zach John King follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

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Who Is Jordana Bryant? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Jordana Bryant // Credit: RKWP Press Photos from Creditly

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Jordana Bryant
Birthdate – 07/30/2005
Hometown – Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini and Shania Twain
Current Single – “Out Of The Blue” ft. Joseph O’Brien (as of date of article 5/12/25)
The Beginning:

Nashville is full of young and promising talent across the music industry; however some artists just have the “it factors.” Jordana Bryant is one of those artists! We chatted with the songstress about her upbringing, how she found music, and of course, her brand new project. Keep reading to learn more.

“I grew up in Pennsylvania, in a small town between Lancaster and Philadelphia, so I got a very good mix groined up of real country music, my parents are massive country fans and also more contemporary music that I would hear on the radio,” began the singer-songwriter.

From a young age, Bryant found herself writing lyrics to songs without even truly knowing what she was doing “My dad played guitar, so I would hear him playing around the house, and without anyone prompting me, I started making up my own words and melodies,” she shared, adding, “Whenever I would hear a song on the radio, at the top of the song, I would start singing my own melodies and lyrics. Songwriting was something that felt so instinctual to me. […] I fell in love with the songwriting process, and my dad started teaching me how to play guitar when I was about ten or eleven, and that really opened up songwriting for me.”

During his time, Bryant fell in love with the story-telling that country music does the best. “I loved any song that had a story, and I think that’s why I gravitated towards country music, to the songs that my parents were showing me. It was because the song were so visually, you could close your eyes and picture it” she shared. “I fell in love with Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood, and all the music that they were showing me.”

The Turning Point:

While in high-school, Bryant continued to craft her voice and songwriting skills by posting music online. “When I was about fourteen, fifteen, I started posting a few cover songs on Youtube, and a producer from Nashville saw some of those videos, and invited me to Nashville to record a few songs with him. My dad and I took the trip.”

While in Nashville, the singer was introduced to a producer and was able to get her first taste of the Nashville music scene. Unfortunately, COVID hit about a week later and she wasn’t able to continue going back to Nashville right away, but that did not stop her.

“The publisher that he had connected us with starting setting me on Zoom co-writing sessions. I had never cowritten before. […] For me, since I had never written in person with anyone before, I thought it was great. […] I sunk my teeth into it, and I loved it, and I started posting and going life for a few hours every night on Instagram, trying to create a community and something that people could look forward to everyday. […] It was a really special way to grow that community. I feel like I got to know a lot of awesome people through that.”

Bryant made the most of the pandemic, earning a loyal following on social media that turned into fans of her, as well as, making connections with other songwriters in Nashville. “Once everything was lifted, I started coming back and froth to Nashville was much as possible. […] I moved to Nashville, when I was sixteen, turning seventeen, I graduated high-school a year early, I  just wanted to get into it as quickly as possible. They was 2.5 years ago now, and it’s been such a dream come true to get to do this.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Bryant just released her sophomore EP, Right Key, Wrong Porch featuring six songs the speak to the singer’s artistry.

“When you’re releasing a body of work, you get to say a lot more about your artistry. You get to really put out a message. It’s kind of about the last year or two of my life, and I think when a door doesn’t open, it just means it’s not the right door for you and a lot of the time when an opportunity does go the way we want it to, we look inward, and we think “what did I do wrong?, how was I not good enough” but I think truly in all of this situations, it just wasn’t the right opportunity for me. […] That’s a big message that I think I’ve learned over the last year or two, so I’m really excited to share that,” she shared.

The project speaks to Bryant’s individual experiences in a way that also sparks the collective, much like her favorite artists, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift. “They are such strong, confident, women, and I also loved that their songs felt real and autobiographical. Their stuff proves when you want to write something relatable, it’s all about being as honest as you can about what you’re feeling. […] Feelings are universal.”

When asked about her favorite songs on the project, Bryant shared, “There’s two songs on the project that probably mean the most to me. One is “Something Like Us” because that song really came from watching my parents and their relationships, and seeing them love each other and support each other no matter what was such a powerful thing to watch growing up. […] “When God Closes Doors” is also really special to me because my faith is really important to me.”

Fans can continue to get excited about the songstress because she promises more new music and more shows soon. Bryant already released a duet with Joseph O’Brien called, “Out Of The Blue.” Stay tuned for more soon!

Connect:

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

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

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

who-is-sterling-drake

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

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

who-is-sterling-drake

Sterling Drake // Photo credit: Alice Loayza

Quick Facts:

Full name – Sterling Drake
Birthdate – 07/20/1995
Hometown – Big Cypress, Florida
Current city – Philipsburg, Montana
Musical influences – Willie Nelson, Paul Brady, Roger Miller, Keith Whitley
Label – Calusa Music / Missing Piece
Current Song – “In My Dreams” (as of date of article: 4/28/2025)
The Beginning:

This week’s spotlight shines on a singer-songwriter, who is a true artist in every sense of the world. While chatting with Sterling Drake, we learned how connected he is to music, as well as, how important his passionate to him. Keep reading to learn more.

“I was born in South Florida. My father’s family has a ranch down there. That was kind of my origin,” began the singer. “I live in Montana now, I made a home here, but my path was not very linear, I spent time living in the country, but we moved around a lot as a kid. We went all around a lot for my father’s work. We landed in the Northeast, and we’ve been in the south and out west. There were moments of my life that were more urban and moments of my life that were more country.”

Despite his unorthodox upbringing, Drake recalls music always being an important confidant for him throughout every stage of his life. “Music has always been around. It was more of a language to me than anything. It’s an area of intelligence for me. […] Music is kind of the lens that I see the world through. […] Oftentimes I get asked about how I balance multiple passions, and I really don’t see them at odds. Music is the language that I speak and my lens in the world, and no matter what I’m doing that’s the way I’m going to portray it. If I’m traveling or observing anything in the world, music is the way I’m going to experience it and ultimately the way that I’m going to convey.”

While his roots in country music ran deep, thanks to grandfather who introduced him to artists like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, Drake found himself loving all sorts of music. “I think one of my earliest memories was my grandfather dancing with grandmother begrudgingly to “Good Hearted Woman” in the kitchen. It was always around,” he shared, adding, “I spent time listening to punk music in high-school and playing drums, and I rode a skateboard, and I’m a product of this generation. I think I have a little bit more dimension than that. I inevitably pursued a life that wasn’t naturally presented to me. Ranching and music were both goals that I wanted to achieve for myself.”

The Turning Point:

Drake nurtured his love for music throughout his life. “I was also pursuing music as a drummer and a songwriter, and toured in a ton of different bands pretty much since high-school. It was always a steady thing for me,” he shared. “My guitar entered my life, and I found my father’s guitar in a crawl space once, and I was like “what is this.” I had no idea that my father was cool, and he played guitar, so it was a relic from his college days, but he taught me just enough to get going, some Hank Williams. […] I think traditional country has been a big love for me, and a big home for music, but I really like to look at if from a broader lens of American music, American songwriting.”

Right out of high-school, the singer-songwriter decided to pursue his multi-dimensional passion of both artistry and ranching, following the footsteps of grandfather. “He had a ranch and raised cattle, and spent time out west, and Florida had a big ranching community out there, but it’s kinda isolated, so I made the attempt to pursue that in my early twenties, and I moved out here. Right out of high-school, and eventually landed here in Montana, and it’s become a home for me.”

While in Montana, Drake continued to scratch the undeniable itch for ranching, while simultaneously, continuing to craft music, writing songs, and pursue music to the best of his ability. Eventually in 2019, he decided that he needed to try out Nashville, Tennessee.

“I kind of had a realization that if I wanted to do anything farther with music, it get kind of a like a dream of mine that wasn’t getting enough nurture, so I moved to Nashville for a whole year, I tried it out, and I moved into a house. […] I was interning at a publishing house, I was writing songs for folks, and I was fronting a band as a singer, I was on Broadway, drumming for anyone who needed a drummer, I really tried to make a go of it, and then obviously COVID hit in 2020, and I returned to Montana.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, the time Drake spent in Nashville was an important time that signified that he could do all the things he loved. He continues to split time between Montana and Tennessee, and now his debut full-length project is officially coming out on May 2nd.

The Shape I’m In features fourteen uniquely crafted songs that speak to the singer’s incredible talent and artistry. “It was produced in Nashville and recorded there at the Bomb Shelter by Thor Davidson, who’s a great friend of mine, band member, and multi-instrumentalist in Nashville. He spent time on the road with me, kind of shaping thee songs, and my story, and the places that I’ve gone. I think it helped really tie it all together,” he began. “There’s songs that are more abstract, and talk more existential topics and themes that I’ve kind of faced throughout my adolescence and my twenties, and now as I’m almost thirty. The themes kind of range a lot. They talk about my pursuit of traveling and being lost in certain points, and finding redemption in the journey, and finding yourself, and present more questions than they answer,” shared the singer when asked about the album.

Songs like “She Means Everything to Me” and “In My Dreams” showcase different sides of the singer’s story so far. The former showcases the duality between finding the love of your life young, and also still trying to grapple with the insecurities of growing up. “It’s equally showing that you’re not sure where you’re going, and also your adoration for somebody who’s willing to stick with you through the world.” The latter is a true testament to following your dreams even when it’s tough.

The Shape I’m In is rooted in the full gamut of landscapes that country music, American music has brought to the table. “It’s definitely a record that you want to listen to all the way through and listen to it on vinyl and put it on, on analog speakers.” Drake is an artist who creates poetry to music and brings his duel-loves together. To catch the singer at a show or support the incredible Montana festival, ‘Old Salt Festival,’ head to the singer’s website here.

Connect:

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

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

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

who-is-garrett-bradford-ted-parker-jr

Who Is Garrett Bradford? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-garrett-bradford-ted-parker-jr

Garrett Bradford // Photo credit: Ted Parker Jr.

Quick Facts:

Full name – Garrett Bradford
Birthdate – August 24th
Hometown – Weatherford, Texas
Current city – Weatherford, Texas + Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – George Strait, Red Steagall, Bob Wills, Nat Stuckey, Merle Haggard
Label – H.O.T. Records
Current Song – “Do You? (I Do)” (as of date of article: 4/21/2025)
The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist is a pure soul, what truly loves what he does. Garrett Bradford is a true-blue Texas man with a talent that rivals anyone in the industry and a heart is invested in country music. Keep reading to learn more about his incredible story.

“I grew up in Weatherford, Texas on a ranch there. My family are ranchers. My dad owned a horse sale company […] That was kind of my whole life. Nobody in my family really played music,” began the singer-songwriter “When I was really young, I wasn’t really exposed to all of this singing and being an artist, but I sang in a children’s choir at church. My mom had me do that even though I didn’t want to as a little boy. I ended up kind of enjoying it, and eventually as a young teenager, at twelve or thirteen, I started playing guitar and writing songs came as soon as I learned to play a few chords. It just kind of seemed like the thing to do for me.”

Music found its way into his heart at an early age. The desire to play music never left him. “My dad and my mom were super supportive of it, and looking back at it, I think that’s super cool,” he shared, while reminiscing about being introduced to country legends, while driving in the car with his parents. “I had a lot of classic country in my ears, especially when I was first starting to play. With my dad it was classic country and with my mom it was country and a lot of bit of gospel, when I was riding in the car.”

Eventually, when Bradford got a driver’s license, he found his own musical taste too. “When I had a vehicle and my own CD player and my own radio, I started realizing that there was this Texas music scene. It was firing on all cylinders at that time in 2009, 2010. It was really a heyday of Texas country music,” he shared. “I feel like my life started when I got a guitar honestly.”

The Turning Point:

After graduating high-school, Bradford continued to cut his teeth on the Texas country circuit. “I kept on doing that, and we have so many great places to play in Texas, even as a youngster like that. We had open mics and flea markets I would set up and play at, and I would busk at a lot of horse shows,” he shared, adding, “I started playing in bars and things when I graduated from high-school, and it just slowly evolved over my life, but it’s been a huge part ever since I got a guitar.”

Around this same time the singer was playing shows and writing music, he started a tree business with his best friend, Colt Ford. Unfortunately, in 2014, the singer and his best friend got into a life-altering car accident, which took the life of Ford. This devastating event catapulted Bradford into letting go of playing music professionally, due the tragedy. “It was a derailing experience for me. […] It kind of took away all my confidence after that. For a few years after that, three or four years, I quit playing shows. I would still play a few shows, but only if it was someone I knew, but I wasn’t trying to get out or release music or anything,” he shared.”

Eventually as fate would have it, Bradford ended up getting hired to do some work for Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the hit show, Yellowstone. “We hit it off, and we became friends, and he would invite me over for dinner but I didn’t event think about telling him I was a musician.”

Despite taking a break from playing shows, the singer never stopped writing. “I had kept writing songs the whole time. As a matter of fact, I wrote more songs than ever between when I was in the car wreck and when I met Taylor, four, five years later,” he shared, adding, “He encouraged me a lot, and really rekindled my passion for [music] and my confidence to get out there, so I started playing again, publicly a lot more, and I started recordings one music. Then eventually, two, three years into knowing him, he asked me to write a song for the show, and I did, and I sent him an acoustic demo of it just to see if he liked it, and apparently he liked it a lot because I sent it to him on a Tuesday and it ended up on Yellowstone on a Sunday, the demo did.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, not only did Bradford’s song, “The Way of Life,” land on Yellowstone, but the singer-songwriter is finally releasing a two-part album of his own. Act 1 of the singer’s record, Honkiest Of Tonkers came out in February, featuring nine songs, including, “Do You (I Do)” and “Bad Girl Good.” Act 2 of the project will be released soon.

“I think an album allows fans to take a deeper dive, and really the thought process for the record, it’s a combination of songs that I recorded in Texas and Nashville. Both albums have a mixture of both of those places, and I was originally going to put out nineteen songs on one album, but then I thought that it was a lot of songs to ask people to listen to,” shared Bradford.

For the singer, this record reflects who he is an artist, pays tribute to his heroes, and showcases his songwriting prowess. “I wanted the first part to be a little bit of everything I do, as far as my songwriting, and the second part, is similar, but there’s a few more deeply personal songs and a song about my dad who passed away a few years ago, and a song about a conversation I had with my grandfather called, “Fireflies” whose still alive thank god. I think I just wanted to split those up to make it a little more digestible.”

As fans await part 2 of the project, Bradford promises that he is already working on more new music. “I’m just really excited to be putting this music music out, and I’m already working on another album. I just want to release a lot of music.” Stay tuned!

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