who-is-zandi-holup

Who Is Zandi Holup? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-zandi-holup

Zandi Holup / Photo credit: Seth Hayes

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Zandi Holup
Birthdate – April 11th
Hometown – Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Current City – Nashville, TN
Musical Influences – Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton
Label – Big Loud Records
Current Project – Wildflower (as of date of article: 8/18/2025)

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist is an artist in every sense of the word. Zandi Holup believes in unapologetically sharing stories through music, while remaining true to her unique sound and style as a singer-songwriter. We chatted with Holup about her upbringing, her newest project, and everything in between.

“My family and I moved to Northern New Jersey when I was little girl, and I grew up there. Then I went to high-school in New York City.” ” began Holup. “I got into music when I was little because my parents put me in plays. Because I was a little bit shy and timid, and I helped me come out of my shell, so they put me in singing lesson. I grew up around music my whole life, my dad, my aunts, and even my grandmothers write songs and sing, and play guitar, so I’ve always been around that type of stuff.”

From an early age, music was a constant in her life. Holup drew inspiration from a variety of artists, finding herself in the music she fell in love with. “ I was really influenced by folk music at a young age, and also I absolutely fell in love with country music. […] I always heard different country music growing up. Dolly [Parton] took my heart, and that’s what got me into story-telling, listening to those artists and wanting to write stories like them,” she shared.

Holup also fell in love with artists like Lorreta Lynn and Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan. “A lot of Dolly Parton’s earlier work that’s a little darker really influenced me. Also Loretta Lynn, I love her as a story-teller and a truth-teller. I love Bob Dylan and Joan Baez as well and Joni Michell, she’s one of my favorite poets. I think different record also inspire different things.” Much like her favorite artists, Holup found herself using music and songwriting as a therapeutic outlet.

The Turning Point:

For Holup, music was always her calling, and the arts was her passion. “I’m definitely more of a creative-brained person than an anything else  brained person,” she shared, adding, “I’ve always had a big case of wanderlust. If there’s a dream, I’m going to chase it. I’ve never been the kind of person to not want to make my dream into a reality, I’ve always just been ready to go.”

At just eighteen years old, the singer left New York and headed to California to chase her dreams. Eventually, she found Nashville and was inspired to chase her dreams in a new city. “I basically just had a suitcase, and I went to Nashville. After about a week of some things I had set myself up to do, I decided to move here. I found myself a little apartment, and I got a job, and I just started waitressing and hosting, and doing songwriting rounds and open mics. I just was doing anything I could to keep hustling and hustling, and making a name for myself.”

Shew as told “no” many times, but still kept with it, using social media to pioneer her music along the way. During the pandemic, Holup would spend several hours a day creating content and growing a massive fanbase who fell in love with her original music. Her efforts caught the attention of Big Loud Records, and eventually, Holup signed her record deal, finding a team that truly supported her unique talent and vision.

“I  had to find myself in all of it, and I think I finally got there, and is tarted posting my music on the internet because a lot of people in Nashville didn’t really notice me or care to notice me. I was told a lot that my music was too dark or too depressing or that people wouldn’t want to hear it on the radio. But I just knew that I didn’t want to change, and not be true to myself and what I wanted to talk about and what I wanted to say,” she shared, “I found people who enjoyed my art when I went on social media, and it was a game-changer for me.”

Today:

Flash forward to day, Holup finally released her major-label debut album, Wildflower. The record features eleven beautifully-crafted songs that speak to the singer-songwriter’s creative spirit and her artistic voice. “There’s elements of country in my music, there’s elements of folks, there’s elements of a whole bunch of different genres that I’ve just kind of put together. I would say it’s story-teller music,” shared Holup.

Wildflower is comprised of songs that Holup has written over the years, including songs that fans have fallen in love with on the singer’s social media. “These eleven songs were really chosen by the people that listen to my music. I had been posting music on social media, and I pretty much put all of the songs that people were really enthusiastic about, that they related to, and that the loved, that they wanted me to record, but that is how this record was chosen,” shared Holup, adding, “There were just a couple of songs that I had put on this record that were chosen by me or someone I worked with, but most of the songs were chosen by the people that support me and listen to my music.”

While each and every song is special in their own right, one of Holup’s personal favorites is, “Mary Jane,” inspired by a true story about one of her friends. “One of my favorite songs that I’ve ever written as an artist is “Mary Jane,” which is on my record,” began Holup. “I love metaphorical storytelling. It’s one of those things that I admire the most in a lot of my heroes, so I was out to write a metaphorically song that could connect to people. “Mary Jane” is a song I wrote about a friend of mine who suffered from drug addiction to heroin, on and off for about fifteen years, and their in recovery now, which is a very big accomplishment, and I wanted to write a song to tell their story because I thought their was a lot of pain and beauty that I wanted to show people. It was a story of redemption and triumph, so I wrote this song to paint his story through my eyes.”

In her blossoming career, it’s clear that the songstress plans to remain as authentic as possible. Her desire to share music is from the depths of her soul and her lyrics are the embodiment of that. While we are not quite sure what is in store for the singer for the rest of the year, Holup put it perfectly. “This is just the beginning.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Zandi Holup, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Zandi Holup’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-alexandra-kay

Who Is Alexandra Kay? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-alexandra-kay

Alexandra Kay // Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Alexandra Kay
Birthdate – September 5th
Hometown – Waterloo, Illinois
Current City – Nashville, TN
Musical Influences – Faith Hill, Martina McBride, George Strait, Christina Aguilera
Label – BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
Current Single – “Straight For The Heart” (as of date of article: 8/11/2025)

The Beginning:

Each and every artist in country music has their own story and path. Some artists have luck on their side, some preserve through a ton of trials and tribulations, and others have a slow rise to stardom. Today, spotlight artist, Alexandra Kay is the true epitome of hardworking and relentless dedication to her craft. We chatted with Kay about her journey to where she is now, her new record coming out soon, and everything in between. Keep reading to learn more about her inspiring story.

“I grew up right outside of St. Louis in a smaller town in Illinois called Waterloo, Illinois, I  didn’t grow up in a family of musicians, not at all,” began Kay. “I just kind of listened to what my parents listened to on the radio growing up, and that was country music, I really fell in love with the storytelling, and became infatuated with music in general.”

The songstress recalls music being a huge part of her childhood. She was a huge music fan. I  loved everything from rock music like Kiss, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones. I also loved Michael Jackson, The Jackson Five, The Supremes, Muddy Waters, I loved that era of music,” she shared. “I remember the first CD I bought with my allowance money was the Jackson Five Greatest Hits and I became really into Motown when I was younger and I think that’s when my parents were like “oh okay. Lexi’s in some interesting music.” After that I just kind of started seeing myself in the entertainment business. I told my parents when I was pretty young that I wanted to try out for Disney channel and get into acting. I was always very theatrical.”

With a love of music in her heart and a gift for writing too, Kay spent her free time cultivating her craft, all the while, priming herself to play collegiate softball. “I had a gift for writing when I was younger and I placed in some big Young Author’s contests, and I think that was when I started to develop my song-writing skills. As I got older, I played a lot of softball, that’s what my parents focused on. We were all set to be collegiate athletes,” she shared, adding, “We all played for these elite national teams. I did that from when I was eleven until I was eighteen, and then I chose to take my first year off of college and to chase my music career.”

The Turning Point:

Despite being multi-talented in both music and sports, Kay’s heart was set on music. She found inspiration in 90s country music like Faith Hill, George Strait, and Alan Jackson, but also found herself deep in the St. Louis music scene, enjoying hip-hop and R&B too.

“That’s when I dipped my toes into the St. Louis musical scene. […] I did a lot of hooks for rappers in the area, and then I did some work for Nelly and Huey, and then I signed my first record deal in 2012 to a St. Louis-based record label, and I’ve been going ever since,” shared Kay.

Towards the end of 2013, early 2014, Kay ended up leaving the label, and social media became a huge part of her career. ” I decided that I really wanted to hit social media hard, and that’s exactly what I did.” She went viral on Facebook early on, and decided to try to repeat that momentum during the pandemic, when TikTok became a vital platform for artists.

“I just tried to go with the times, and I was like “why not give it a try.” I made a coffee and sang a song by The Chicks, and it had 3 million views by the end of the day, and before I knew it I was singing with Randy Travis and Tim McGraw, and I was on tour with Tim McGraw as a completely independent artist. I had millions and millions of streams, and I had a real fanbase. […] I’ve been on eight tours in the last two years, we haven’t stopped touring since then, and the fans keep showing up, and I’m so grateful.”

For six years, Kay surprised everyone besides herself and worked relentlessly to make it a singer-songwriter in country music. “The time period in my life that I’m the most proud of is definitely those six years of being independent. […] Instead of quitting, I would drive to Nashville ever Monday, it was about a 4.5 hour driver, and I’d come home Friday, and I’d be with my then husband for two days and drive back on Monday. I would just couch surf and hopefully meet people that would let me stay with them, and I’d write songs while I was out there, and I did that for two years.”

Earlier this year, Kay finally found her “home” in a record label with BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville. “I would take label meetings every year. […] I made a very, very conscious decision, and we took our time to decide what label we were going to go with, I knew it with every fiber in my being that BBR was my home.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Kay is embarking on arguably the biggest moments in her career as a signed artist. Her record Second Wind is slated to be released on October 24th. The record is an incredible project that is sure to garner even more fans to her music.

“I started writing ‘Second Wind,’ the album last year,” began Kay. “What I really wanted to do and what I kept at the forefront of my mind when it comes to this record is I didn’t want the fans to listen to it and think it was so incredibly different from ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ the album because the truth is that’s not how healing happens. You don’t go from feeling how I felt in ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ then jump to pure happiness and love again. So what’s really cool about this record is you get these songs that happened during this transition period. I’m really excited for fans to feel my healing through beginning track one all the way to track fourteen. […] I really take everyone on a ride on how to transition to trusting someone with my heart again and really living in that.”

The released tracks showcase so much growth, fearlessness, and maturity. Songs like “Straight For The Heart” and The Last” are just another piece of Kay’s story, something that fans time and time again seem to find themselves in.

“”Straight For The Heart” is actually my first outside cut by myself, so I actually heard this song while sitting in a pitch meeting for some songs. As soon as it played, I had to have that song. I love it. I love that it really describes how I felt with this kind of female intuition of knowing that things were going south and being strong enough to know that I didn’t have to get let down easy. […] Even though I wasn’t a creator of it, I’m really excited to be a vessel for it, and take it out into the world.”

Kay is laying her heart out on the line for her music and her fans. Second Wind is a record that every fan should gear up for. Kay is a true superstar in the making!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Alexandra Kay, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Alexandra Kay’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-elizabeth-nichols-2025

Who Is Elizabeth Nichols? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-elizabeth-nichols-2025

Elizabeth Nichols

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Elizabeth Nichols
Birthdate – June 21
Hometown – Louisville, KY
Current City – Nashville, TN
Musical Influences – Kacey Musgraves, Toby Keith, John Prine, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton
Label – (if applicable) PULSE Records
Current Single – “I Got A New One” (as of date of article: 8/4/2025)

The Beginning:

Every now and then you come across an artist that has undeniable, raw talent. Elizabeth Nichols is that girl. Despite not knowing music was in the cards for her until recent years, the songstress is an incredible songwriter and story-teller with vocals to back it up. We chatted with the singer-songwriter all about her music career, her new songs, and of course, where’s she headed. Keep reading to learn more!

Nichols was born in Plano, Texas, but spent her formative years in Louisville, Kentucky with her family. A daughter and a granddaughter of a pastor, the singer was always surrounded by music. “I grew up singing in church and listening to a lot of gospel music. […] I also listened to a lot of country music. My family all loved a lot of country music.”

She recalls even wanting to be Hannah Montana at an early age. “When I was nine, I wanted to be Hannah Montana. I was her for three halloweens in a row, and then once I hit school aged, it was not my plan, I did not think it was in the cards for me,” she shared.

Although she didn’t grow up with a fully-fleshed out dream to be an artist, Nichols was always a writer and story-teller, finding inspiration in artist and their lyrics. “I love Toby Keith. I think he is so funny and uses humor in his lyrics so well. I think country is kind of a funny genre. It doesn’t always need to be so serious. I love Kacey Musgraves, I think she’s so clever with her lyricism, I love Miranda Lambert, big fan. I love John Prine. I think I really gravitate towards lyricism and clever lyrics. […] I think it’s funny because in my songs, even the gospel songs that I listen to growing up, comes out in the harmonies. I love funky, cool, harmonies, and stacking those, and building choir. I think that’s there too.”

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating high-school, Nichols attended college in Oklahoma, where she eventually connected back to her early days as a music lover. “I was a writing major in college, English writing, I graduated in 2022, and I did my masters in accounting in Australia, and I was there, but I was missing writing,” she shared, adding, “I was missing home so much, I get homesick. I love America, I was very homesick. I would write these country songs because I was missing home, and there was these boys that I was talking to in Oklahoma, and they’d make me angry, and I though it was fun writing songs about them.”

Although she had never written a song before, she started to process her emotions through song-writing. “I couldn’t play them for anyone, so I made a TikTok account, and I blocked everyone I knew, and made it my first name and my middle name, so no one could find it, and I just started posting on there,” shared the songstress. “I remember when my first video that actually got views, I was like “oh no, they are going to find this.” I’ve gotten over that though for sure. I’ve had to.”

With just a year of writing under her belt, Nichols made the move to Nashville, Tennessee. After Kelly Clarkson sang her song on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Nichols quickly shifted gears and her sole focus became her music career. “I always loved school, and I thought I was going to just do that, but it’s all a blessing. I like this a lot more.”

Today:

It may be hard to believe, but Nichols has already released her debut EP. Tough Love features her viral song, “I Got A New One” and six other songs. The record as a whole features two solo writes and Nichols is a writer on every single track, an impressive feat for a newcomer.

“‘Tough Love’ is cool because it’s a collection of the the last year and a half, and my journey of songwriting. The first seven months that I was writing was home in Oklahoma by myself. I didn’t even know co-writes were a thing,” shared Nichols. “There’s a few songs on there that I wrote alone before I ever knew anything about anything. It’s cool to kind of see the progression like the first song whenever I moved to Nashville was “I Got A New One,” and then songs I wrote a few weeks before the project came out are on there.”

When it comes to “I Got A New One,” the track was inspired by the singer’s knack for story-telling. “”I Got A New One” was my first co-write moving here, I came in, and I had this idea. I kind of look at songs as stories, so I go in with an idea, and I always kind of have a plot of where I want it to go, and what I want to happen because I’m so used to writing books and short-stories, and that kind of writing, and you always start with a roadmap,” she explained.

“So I knew that I wanted the first verse to be I’m fighting with my boyfriend, he doesn’t like what I’m wearing and I knew I wanted to be like so I got a new one, and you think it’s the dress, but you know. So we took that, and I had that idea and that storyline, and we made that music. I also knew that I wanted the chorus to be different guys. It’s just a bit different. […] We took a chance, and we did what the song needed, and that’s what was best for that song.”

This is truly just the beginning for Nichols. She plans to build on this momentum, adding shows to her tour schedule, as well as, continually working on new music for fans. “There’s never a lack of music. There’s always too much which is a good problem to have.” We’re gong to keep giving people songs that I love, and I’m excited for people to hear. It’s an honor.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Elizabeth Nichols, follow her on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook.

Elizabeth Nichols’ 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 Cole Goodwin? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-cole-goodwin

Cole Goodwin // Photo credit: Ike Everard

Quick Facts:

Full name – Cole Goodwin
Birthdate – 11/20/2000
Hometown – Pooler, Georgia
Current city – Pooler, Georgia
Musical influences – Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr., Mark Chestnut, George Strait, Waylon Jennings
Label – Big Machine Records
Current Project – “Girlfriend’s Got A Boyfriend” (as of date of article: 7/28/2025)
The Beginning:

Country music is full of incredible artists, who as humble as they are talented. Cole Goodwin is one of those artists. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his journey in country music so far and his brand new music. Keep reading to learn more!

“I’m from Pooler, Georgia, right outside of Savannah, and I actually got a late start to the whole playing music thing, but I’ve always been infatuated with music, and I was always around it. My mom sang in a band back in the day, and still gigs around town,” shared Goodwin. “She’s been a real big influence, and I’ve always been obsessed with music, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever […] I thought guys like Hank Jr., Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings were the coolest people on earth. I would go home and spend hours and hours after school just watching old show footage of them back in the day.”

Goodwin recalls having a ton of music at his fingertips, finding inspiration in different sub-genres of country music. “ I loved everything from Bob Segar to AC/DC to Merle Haggard to Gary Stewart to Hank Jr. You name it, everything,” shared the singer. “It was a bunch of southern rock, classic country, outlaw country, southern gospel, that kind of stuff is what I cut my teeth on. But my heart’s always been in the classic country thing.”

Despite loving music, Goodwin spent his earlier childhood focused on baseball; however, he eventually started to dabble with the guitar. “That was kind of the extent of music for me back in the day because I played travel baseball year round. That’s where I spent most of my time on the weekends, on the baseball fields. But once I got burnt out on baseball, and got to high-school, I figured out I could play guitar and go fishing on the weekends, and I quickly became a baseball fan instead of a baseball player.”

The Turning Point:

After graduating high-school, Goodwin attended Georgia Southern University to pursue a marketing degree. He also ended up really focusing on music too.

“I guess I started playing guitar about freshman year of high school, and then I dabbled in piano some,” began the singer “Then once I got to college, I really focused on becoming a songwriter, and I wrote a lot of songs by myself, and really tried to get better at that. It kind of all started snowballing and I started booking all these shows and playing the heck out of them. It turned into this. It’s been fun, but not that long. It’s been a short ride, but a really fun one. I’ve only been at it about four years so far.”

While at college, Goodwin often asked his parents if he could quit to pursue music; however, he’s glad that they ultimately said no. “There were multiple times I called Mom and Dad, and said I wanted to quit [college] and just try this music thing, but I’m so, so glad that they would not let me do that because I would have been swallowed up. […] I guess whenever we got to start playing shows, I took it more seriously.”

Slowly, but surely, and actually much quick than most, Goodwin started making a name for himself on the music scene, making connections along the way. “It kind of just turned into ‘wow people are starting to take this serious,’ and I needed to buckle up and be my best at it. Everything has kind of happened organically for me, as far as meeting people, which I love. […] It’s always been handshakes and word of mouth, which I’m a huge fan of.”

Recently, Goodwin officially signed with Big Machine Records, progressing his career even further!

Today:

Flash forward to today, Goodwin is cranking out music, and showing off his talent to fans everywhere. He is currently on tour with Luke Bryan and is continuously making waves with his music. When Goodwin and his team announced his signing, the singer put out a song called, “Girlfriend’s Got A Boyfriend,” which quickly became a fan-favorite.

“That one is a funny song obviously. I’m a really sarcastic person and a really goofy person, so it’s right in my personality. I wrote it with a buddy of mine Jack Hummel and another buddy of mine Connor McCutcheon. That’s the first song we wrote together. I had the idea a week or so before. I have twin little sisters, and one of them was talking to this fella back home, and he had posted a picture with another girl, and I made a joke in the car one day, and said “looks like so and so has a girlfriend, but it ain’t my sister.” So I took that Idea into the room, and we wrote it in an hour and a half. […] I immediately added it to our setlist, and we started playing it out a lot, and people were loving it.”

Goodwin also recently released another new song, that showcases his vocals in a whole different way. “Dust on the Dancefloor” is a heartbreakingly beautiful and honest country ballad that truly captures Goodwin’s talent in a new light. “I also wrote that one with Jack Hummel. It’s remained one of my favorites since we wrote it. I love a slow, country ballad,” shared the singer.

With more music to come, it’s clearly just the beginning for the rising artist. Stay tuned for what’s to come!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Cole Goodwin, follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Cole Goodwin’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.

Hudson-westbrook-number-one

Who Is Hudson Westbrook? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-hudson-westbrook

Hudson Westbrook // Photo Credit: Ian Noh

Quick Facts:

Full name – Hudson Brown Westbrook
Birthdate – 05/21/2004
Hometown – Stephenville, Texas
Current city – Fort Worth, Texas
Musical influences – Turnpike Troubadours, Tracy Lawrence, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel, George Strait
Label – River House Artists / Warner Music Nashville
Current Project – “House Again” (as of date of article: 7/21/2025)
The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on incredibly talented, Texas native, Hudson Westbrook. We chatted with Westbrook about his incredible rise to stardom, his upcoming debut album, and everything in between. Keep reading to learn more!

“I went to high-school and I was playing all the sports, and playing guitar was kind of for fun. I didn’t really take it too seriously for a while,” began the singer. Despite, loving music and guitar, like many kids, he did not see music as a future career right away. “It was kind of I’m going to learn songs and cover songs, and that’s all I’m ever going to do with the guitar, just learn the chords, and it could be a party trick. I always loved music and playing music, but I never really aw it coming in this sense or this fast, but now it’s really cool because everyday I’m growing more and more, and learning more and more.”

Throughout his upbringing, music was a constant. Westbrook found himself listening and connecting with artists across genres. “I think that in the past I listened to a ton of Flatland Calvary. I listened to a lot of John Mayer, Jack Johnson, I istened to a bunch of Koe Wetzel and John Pardi,” he shared, adding, “I feel like John Mayer and Koe and all them really did that was it felt like you could relate to exactly what they were saying and it was personal, it was relatable topics and it was things that, you know, aren’t all about boots and jeans and, you know, maybe might not be the most country thing in the world, but I love John Mayer’s melodies and I love Jack Johnson, just his vocals.”

The Turning Point:

Eventually Westbrook graduated high-school and attended Texas Tech. “I ended up going there and just majored in chemical rights, trying to be a land man in the future, and then I was also breaking bulls at the same time. […] I didn’t really mind college. […] At the same time, I was making music for fun, and I posted it, and it blew up out of nowhere. That’s the short story,” shared the singer.

In April of 2024, Westbrook has a video of him singing his song “Take it Slow” go viral, ultimately changing the course of his life from that point on. “There was a label River House that was in Nashville, and then I also had a buddy named Grant Gilbert, and Grant was like, ‘hey, let me hook you up with these people in Nashville. I know you have absolutely no idea what to do.’ Because I thought, now I have a song blowing up. I don’t have a van, I don’t have a trailer, I don’t have a band. And I don’t have anything ready. And so I bought a van. I bought a trailer all in a matter of three weeks. I bought a band trailer. We got the band together.”

While keeping him home base Texas, Westbrook began making frequent trips to Nashville and found his team “We rehearsed a set and we started touring three weeks after I dropped that song. And then I dropped another one. Ended up signing with River House between those two songs because it was taking off, but I just  needed someone who knew what to do. And so I kept making the music.”

Westbrook added, “I’m like the best things happen on accident ya know, but you have to be there when they happen, and be ready to soak in so much, and I’ve realized so much music in a year span, and I’ve learned so much through that. It just shows how much I really do love music. […] I feel like the work as it kind of translated from football and all that type of stuff, or like football, baseball, basketball, playing sports, and going to college is now just translated to like, okay, now I’m an artist and I’m going to put everything I have into that now, you know, and make sure that the same effort that I would be putting in at a job right out of college is the effort I need to be putting in with this, you know, like I want to make a name for myself.”

Today:

Flash forward just a little over a year later, Westbrook is about to release his debut album, Texas Forever, out Friday, July 25th. The record features seventeen songs all co-written by the singer. “I don’t think for the time being that I won’t be on a song that I put out for a while. I want to make sure my voice is heard, at least at an early stage, because this is when you feel stand, you know, this is when you’re in the roots, so I want to be in the songs, you know,” he shared.

When it comes to the album, the record has really come together since December 2024, when Westbrook began working on it. “The main thing in that whole process was I still live in Texas, and now I’m going back and forth from Lubbock or from Fort Worth to Nashville to Wright. And I come up to Nashville when I need to, you know, record, but I still want to live in Texas, still stay in Texas and not change that aspect,” he shared, adding, “There’s a lot of love and a lot of breakup songs. But at the same time, there’s one life song on there. I feel like love and breakup is where I am in life right now. And I couldn’t tell you how to raise a kid yet, so that’s kind of the route of the whole album is heart break and love and so I really try to stay on that topic.”

Over the last nine months or so, Westbrook wrote songs that he hopes fans will relate to and also understand him a bit better. The record features fan-favorite songs like, “House Again,” “Damn Good Taste in Whiskey,” and the title track, “Texas Forever” too, with the other songs being purposefully selected to showcase Westbrook’s story.

“I think the best way to know if you should cut a song or put it out is how you feel when you show it to someone. Like, not how you feel personally about it. Like, if you got 100 songs and you got to show someone 17 of them, which ones are you going to show them, you know? Because I do want them to be sure to sell, but at the same time, you are doing it for a living, you know? And so I always try to think, like, what song does this part play in my career? And so I was super intentional.”

Westbrook will continue his rise to stardom as the year unfolds. With touring plans already under way, the record almost out, the singer-songwriter and his team are already talking about the next iteration of songs. Westbrook is the real deal, so if you’re not already a fan, now is the time! Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Hudson Westbrook, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. 

Hudson Westbrook’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 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:

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