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Who Is Not Leaving Sober? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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Who is Not Leaving Sober? Nico Araco (lead vocals, acoustic) and James P. Long (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) joined us to chat about their journey to country music. Get to know the band here…

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Not Leaving Sober

Quick Facts:
Full name– Nico Araco (lead vocals, acoustic), James P Long “Jimmy” (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ronnie Fischer (lead guitar), T.J. Horner (drums), Jerry Leach (bass)
Hometown – Matawan, NJ & Hazlet, NJ
Current city – Asbury Park, NJ
Musical influences – Hardy, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Guns N Roses, Green Day
Current single- “Different Kind of Country” (as of date of article)

The Beginning:

Today we shine our spotlight on a local country-rock band that everyone should pay attention to! Country Swag caught up with Nico Araco and James P Long of the band Not Leaving Sober to chat about their band, their story, and of course, their debut album, Almost Sober.

The New Jersey natives had music in their blood from an early age. Despite not forming a friendship until after college, the two crossed paths often during high-school and college, while on the same music circuit. “Me and Jimmy pretty much met at karaoke. I used to host karaoke, Jimmy used to come out to it,” began Nico of Not Leaving Sober. “He and I had been in and out of different bands in high-school that almost always crossed paths. I had seen him at some local shows, when we were in our high-school bands, and then we finally came together and wanted to do something.”

While in high-school, both lead vocalists dabbled in different types of music, drawing inspiration from artists across genres, including country greats like Johny Cash, Keith Whitley, and The Allman Brothers. “I definitely always loved music. No matter whatever else I was doing in my life, music was always a part of it. I’ve been writing music since I was a little kid. I was in a punk band in high-school. […] Before this, I was part of a hip-hop group, so a lot of that influence came into what we do now,” shared Nico.

“Since I was younger, always doing it. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t really get to a guitar until I was about twelve, thirteen, but I guess I’m a little late to that party, but once I got a hold of a guitar, and started realizing what I was doing, it was always there. And I’ve been singing my entire life, and you put one and two together, and “I’m like that’s a lot of fun.” I was in a grunge band in high-school, and in college, I had another band that was a rock group and I was in a jazz fusion band before this happened believe it or not,” shared Jimmy.

The Turning Point:

Eventually the two connected and decided to make music together. “We did some songs together, and I realized how immaculate this gentleman’s harmonies were, and I said we should do something together. […] We started playing as an acoustic duo. Then we ended up hosting karaoke together for years, and sort of, it became this special thing, he became my best friend and my music partner pretty much.”

A few years in, the rising artists decided to turn their duo into a legitimate bad, forming Not Leaving Sober officially. “We had a bunch of really talented friends and asked them if they’d be interested, and that’s kinda what led into to what it is today,” shared the singers, adding, “We call ourselves country-rock. It’s mostly southern rock. We’re very proud to be carving a niche if you will. It’s got more bite. It’s not true country, it’s something good.”

However, when 2020 hit and the world shut down, Not Leaving Sober was faced with some unforeseen challenges, but eventually rose to the occasion. “During COVID, the lockdown, there was this moment where we were like we’re not going to sit here and be stagnant and rot. There were probably more bad things than good, but we tried to turn it into a positive, and said let’s take all this downtime and write a lot of music and record a lot of music and when life opens back up again, we’re going to be in a lot better of position. We really buckled down during COVID and had everything figured out, and I think that really helped us when the world opened back up.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, some of the songs Nico and Jimmy had written during he pandemic turned out to be on their debut album Almost Sober. The record features sixteen songs in total, with five new songs making the cut and eleven previously released fan-favorite singles

“Obviously we just released five new songs that we haven’t put out as singles before, but a lot of those songs came really easy at least to me. The last five just came easy, came right out of our head, and we were able to add some depth to the album. The other ones, they had been singles, and they had been obviously a thing,” shared the singers, who highlighted songs like “Chasin’ Tequila,” a FaceTime babies as one of their favorites.

The record as a whole boasts songs that truly speak to the diversity that is Not Leaving Sober. Although cohesive, the record has depth, relatability, and unique influences that flow through each and every song off the project.

“Once the album came together, we started to realize that we do have our own sound. Like you said before, there’s influences from so many different genres. We really kind of put together five very different musicians that give us our own flavor. And being from the Jersey shore and the tristate area really, a lot of people have this stigma that country music can’t exist, and I think it’s really cool that we got to kind of put our mark on this, and we consider ourselves a country-rock band, but there’s this whole other side to this that feels unique.”

Not Leaving Sober is ready for the world to know their name and their music. Be on the look-out for a show near you! “We’re going to showcase the hell out of all this new stuff.”

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Not Leaving Sober announcements and releases.

To keep up with Not Leaving Sober, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Not Leaving Sober’ 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 Jenna Davis? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music 2025

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

Jenna-davis-2025

Jenna Davis

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Jenna Davis
Birthdate – 05/05/2004
Hometown – Born in Plano, TX and Grew Up in Frisco, TX & Chaska, MN
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee + Los Angeles, California
Musical Influences – Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus
Label – SMACKRecords
Current Single – “SIKE” (as of date of article 02/03/2025)
The Beginning:

The journey of an artist is filled with evolution, passion, and perseverance. Some shine brightly from the start, while others take time to refine their sound and truly make their mark. Today, we had the pleasure of reconnecting with a standout talent we first spoke with a few years ago, just as she was signing her record deal.

While many recognize Jenna Davis for her strong social media presence, her love for music and performing has been lifelong. Now, she’s making a powerful return as one of country music’s brightest rising stars.

“I was born in Plano, Texas. […] My mom was a piano and voice teacher, and I was always singing music throughout the house with her, and that’s how I discovered that I loved singing,” shared the songstress.

Ever since she was young, the singer-songwriter recalls listening to country music and falling in love with the genre. “My biggest influences are probably Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, and Shania Twain,” she shared. “I think they’re the top three that I get inspiration from.” Adding later, “Country music has always been in my life. My mom introduced me to LeeAnn Rimes and Dolly Parton from a super young age. I always just fell in love with how country music told stories with their lyrics.”

At just four years old, Davis and her family moved to Minnesota, where she started doing musical theatre. “I started doing small community theatre and then graduated to doing professional theatre. After I started doing professional theatre in middle school, I turned to my mom and said that I wanted to do film and TV, and that I wanted to be on Disney channel, so when I was around ten to eleven years old, we started coming out to Los Angeles to pursue the acting world and industry.”

Recognizing her undeniable star power, Davis and her mom began traveling to LA to chase her diverse ambitions.

The Turning Point:

While in Los Angeles, Davis began sharing her vocal talent on social media. “I started doing parking garage singing covers in our parking garage in our apartment complex, and we started posting them to Instagram when I was eleven years old, and I believe we did 3-4 covers a week, just to grow as an artist and to also learn how to sing different genres. Still, I knew country music was what I wanted to do deep down.”

In order to feel a closer connection to her growing fanbase, Davis decided to showcase more of her life on social media, aside from her singing aspirations and talents. “As that grew, I decided not only to show my singing side, but also who Jenna is as a person, because I think if you are relatable with your audience and your audience can understand not only you as an artist but you as a person, it just gives them a sense of that you are actually a person and a personal connection.”

At just fifteen, Davis discovered a deeper connection to music by writing her own songs. “I started writing when I was fifteen after my first heartbreak,” she shared. “It became my outlet, and from there, I began releasing music and stepping into the country scene.”

“I always knew that it was where I wanted to be, so when I was about sixteen, we started coming out to Nashville. I startled getting involved in a little bit of the writing rooms and learning how Nashville works, and then when I was eighteen, I got signed to SMACK. They discovered me when I was seventeen, and I found my team. I’m so thankful for them and for believing in me and my music.”

Today:

Since signing her record deal with SMACKRecords, Davis has been cultivating her aesthetic and artistry. “I’ve been learning about what I want to say as an artist and what I want to put out. This past year, I’ve been collaborating with different writers and finding the people that I now call family to love and create music with,” she shared. Adding, “My biggest goal as an artist is to create music that tells stories, and I think that also stems so much from acting. I also want to create things that people can get different emotions from.”

Most recently, Davis shared her debut EP, SIKE with the world, featuring five carefully-chosen songs that depict who the singer-songwriter is as a young, rising artist. “I really feel like ‘SIKE’ has been so healing for me, and it’s been so fun. I’ve been able to take a lot of my real life experiences and putting them into a song. Something I love about this project so much is all of these stories I can kind of look back and laugh on and I wanted to make that really prevalent in the songs too.”

The record as a whole is cohesive, spunky, fun, and exciting to listen to. “All the songs are really witty and fun, and I really wanted to make this project just super witty and fun. […] I truly think these five were my favorites and that’s what made it so easy to pick. […] I’m super proud of it, and I’m excited because I do feel like they correlate together, but they’re not the same. Sonically, I wanted them all to fit together, but I also wanted listeners to click on each one and hear something different,” shared the songstress.

Moving ahead, Davis is only going to share more and more music as her career continues to take off. For 2025, fans can expect more music releases, more shows, and a bigger and more exciting year ahead!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Jenna Davis, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Jenna Davis’ 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-joe-nichols

Who Is Joe Nichols? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Joe Nichols

Quick Facts:
Full name– Joe Nichols
Birthdate – 11/26/1976
Hometown – Rogers, Arkansas
Current city – Texas
Musical influences – Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Don Williams
Label – Quartz Hill Records
Current single- “Better Than You” with Annie Bosko (as of date of article)
The Beginning:
While we love showcasing new and rising country artists, it’s always exciting to celebrate those who’ve already made their mark. We caught up with singer-songwriter Joe Nichols to talk about his incredible journey through decades in country music, his achievements, new music, and more. Keep reading to dive into his story!

“I always had the bug to sing a little bit,” began the Arkansas native. “My dad had many jobs, but one thing he did on the weekends was he played music, and a lot of my family members played music. It was mostly country music. I kind of always wanted to be a singer. I watched him play and he was a great singer.”

Growing up on country music, Nichols recalls trying to emulate the greats that came through his airwaves. Artists like George Strait, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, and Keith Whitley influenced him and his singing voice at an early age. “Those guys taught me how to sing. I always gravitated towards the more baritone, traditional country guys.”

Nichols took his love of music with him throughout his life, and when he hit high school, he found himself at a crossroads. “I decided my life was going into two directions, either music professionally or a baseball player professionally. Both of those things were incredible long-shots, but I kind of leaned into music, and then put together my first band around 18 years old.”

The Turning Point:

At just eighteen years old, Nichols was primed for success, playing gigs around his home state and beyond as much as he could. A year into grinding in the music scene, he earned his first independent deal. “When I was nineteen, I put out a couple of songs with a video attached to it, and had a little bit of success,” shared the singer. Adding, “It gave me a little taste of wanting to do something bigger, so I moved to Nashville. I beat the streets for a good solid four, five years, and in 2002 I got my first major-label release with Universal South called, “The Impossible.” […] I had my first number one on R&R charts.”

Once he finally landed in Nashville, Nichols was clear-eyed and ready to make his dreams come true. “We were kind of off to the races then. We had peaks and valleys, and top of the top and low of the lows, over the last twenty-two years,” shared the artist.

Throughout his time in Nashville, Nichols achieved recognition by radio, garnered millions of loyal fans, and shared many new projects. “As far as my career goes, I think I’ve had technically six number ones, five if you only count billboard number ones. […] It’s been incredible. I’m still here, making new music. […] My goal always was to do this for a living for twenty years or more, and people are still coming up to see the show and stream my music. That’s all I ever wanted.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Nichols is still making music, and has no plans to stop any time soon! The singer most recently released his new album, Honky Tonks & Country Songs featuring eleven new songs including an incredible remake of the Hank Williams Jr classic, “Country Boy Can Survive.”

“We started recording back in October 2023, and we put together a good pile of five or six songs to feel out the direction we wanted to go with this album,” shared the singer. “What kind of formed organically, was a little bit honky-tonk music and kind of 90s throwback music. We have some two-stepping songs, line-dancing songs, and that’s kind of the feel we went for. There’s some new, kind of progressive sounding things, including the single, “Better Than You,”. The single is kind of a new, 2024, radio-sounding song, and then we got a 2024 version of “Country Boy Can’t Survive” that’s pretty rocking. There’s a lot of stuff that feels like early 2000s, late 90s. It was a really explosive time for country music.”

The record as a whole showcases Nichols staying power as an artist. There are songs for the more modern country fans, just as there are songs for the more traditional fan. Nichols music stands the test of time. To stay in the loop ant catch the singer on the road, head to his website here for tickets to his shows!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Joe Nichols, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Joe 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 Faith Hopkins? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Faith Hopkins

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Faith Hopkins
Birthdate – 06/20/2000
Hometown – Huntington Beach, California
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Kelsea Ballerini, Sasha Sloan, Maren Morris, Lennon Stella, Keith Urban
Label – Play It Again Music
Current Single – “Am I The Only One” (as of date of article 01/20/25)
The Beginning:

Today our spotlight shines on singer-songwriter, Faith Hopkins. Hopkins creates music that her fans to relate to. She’s talented, honest, and authentic, something we admire about any rising artist. Keep reading to learn more about her journey and her music.

“I’m actually from Huntington Beach, California. I grew up in a Christian household, so we kind of only listened to Christian music and country music,” began the songstress. “I just grew up with loving country music, and I just started singing in recitals when I was young. Then in high school, I joined a program called The Academy of Performing Arts. It was a cute little thing, we’d put on three shows a year, and we would sing cover songs. I decided to do a country cover, and everyone kind of knew me as the country girl there, and I didn’t really know it was possible to pursue music as a career.”

Despite loving music and idolizing artists like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and The Chicks, Hopkins truly did not know that that a career in music was possible. “Faith Hill is one of my favorites. […] I had a little iPod nano and I’d fall asleep to “Fireflies” by Faith Hill every night.”

Instead, she set her sights on following in her brother’s footsteps in the hopes of attending San Diego State.

The Turning Point:

Ultimately, Hopkins faced challenges with the SATs, which led her to realize that this would not be her chosen path. “My brother went to San Diego State, and I saw him having the best time, so I thought that was my dream too. My brother was my idol growing up. So I took the dang SATs a million times and my scores did not let me get in,” she shared. Adding, “I swear it was a God thing, because if I would have gotten in, I would have gone without thinking twice. My counselor was like have you heard of Belmont?”

After learning about Belmont University, Hopkins and her mom decided to take a girl’s trip to visit Nashville for the first time. “Our concierge told us to go to The Listening Room, so he got us these VIP tickets. It was just the balcony, and I was sitting next to Dan + Shay, and Carly Pearce and Seth Ennis were all playing that night. It was the coolest moment ever.”

While At The Listening Room, Hopkins had a life-changing moment. “When Seth was playing the “Call Your Mama” song, I was just a wreck and sobbing, and I looked at my mom and said I was going here,” she shared. “That’s kind of how I landed on Belmont in Nashville. I just fell in love with the songwriting of country music after The Listening Room. I didn’t really know how, but I knew it was all I wanted to do.”

Upon graduating high school, Hopkins made the move to Nashville to pursue a business degree even though songwriting was on her heart. “Everyone at Belmont was so confident. They all seem to come there and know what they want to do, and that wasn’t me. […] I remember every one of my teachers would be like “raise your hand if you are an artist or a songwriter,” and it took me until sophomore year to raise my hand.”

Eventually, Hopkins got the courage to consider herself a singer-songwriter in a school with a great community of support. “At first, my story is ‘I’m trying to be true to myself because I’m from California and I’m not from the South.’ […] I tried to do pop music at first. […] It felt so wrong because I grew up singing country, and for some reason it just scared me. I realized country means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Country Pop is what I’m doing now.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Hopkins has found her sound and her voice in the country genre. With a few songs under her belt and a record label behind her, the songstress is ready to crank out more and more music in 2025.

Most recently, Hopkins shared a new song with the world called, “Am I The Only One.” “I wrote “Am I The Only One” literally eight days after my 21st birthday and obviously you look forward to your 21st your whole life. My family and high school friends came into town, and they all left a couple of days before this break I had, so it’s like the come down. Questioning, “What’s next. Oh my god 25 then 30,” I thought it was so scary. I was really having a moment. I wrote this song with a group called Nightly here,” she shared. “I remember being so nervous for that write too. […] It helped me work through my emotions and my feelings, and I really brought that honesty into my music.”

“Am I The Only One” stands out as one of the most relatable and honest songs from a country artist in recent times. However, Hopkins is gearing up to shake things up with new music that highlights different facets of her artistry coming soon.

“We have two songs that we’re 100% sure about, and I’ve written about thirty. We have one that’s kind of more in the lane of “Oops.” It’s called “Getaway with Murder.” It’s just a fun, flirty song. […] We have another song coming called, “All For Nothing,” which is another feel-good song about dating your person, even if it doesn’t work out.”

“I have a lot to be grateful for, and I really want to convey that through my music.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Faith Hopkins, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

Faith Hopkins’ 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-lanco

Who Is LANCO? The Story Behind Their Journey to Country Music

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Who is LANCO? LANCO frontman Brandon Lancaster joined us to chat about the band, new music, and more. Get to know more about the band here…

who-is-lanco

LANCO

Quick Facts:
Full Name(s) – Brandon Lancaster, Jared Hampton, Chandler Baldwin, Tripp Howell, Tim Aven
Hometown – Nashville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Eric Church, Bob Dylan, Alabama, Zac Brown Band, James Taylor
Label – Riser House Records
Current Single – “We Grew Up Together” ft. Cory Asbury.
The Beginning:

There are many artists who have been working hard in Nashville and at their craft for several years, becoming almost synonymous with the country genre. Today, our spotlight shines on a group that has been creating music for almost a decade, while still finding a way to remain true to themselves and reinvent their sound at the same time. We chatted with the lead singer, Brandon Lancaster of LANCO to get the inside scoop about what’s to come on their sophomore album and everything leading up to this moment.

“I grew up outside of Nashville in Smyrna, Tennessee. It’s about 45 minutes outside of the city, and if you’re 45 minutes outside of Nashville, you’re like on a different planet,” shared the singer.  “I grew up on a two-lane road, out in the country and experienced that life, that small-town life. Then I was close enough to Nashville that I was exposed to songwriting and music and The Bluebird Cafe, and these kind of things at an early age, so I knew that world existed, and I loved it and admired it.”

Lancaster has been immersed in music for most of his life, starting with learning guitar at a young age and even attempting to write his own songs in high school. Similarly, the other band members, Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell, and Eric Steedly also had an early passion for music.

“I knew I wanted to do that for a long time, even if it was just for fun or a dream, but then I met the guys in college just through songwriter buddies. I was going to school in East Tennessee, and met Tripp at a music festival, and then met the other guys, they went to MTSU, when I moved back to Nashville. We had similar friends in the music community, got together, and started jamming, and writing songs, and that’s kind of where it all started, as far as the inception of the band.”

The Turning Point:

LANCO officially formed in 2013, but it wasn’t until five years later that the group released their debut album, Hallelujah Nights featuring fan-favorite tracks, “Greatest Love Story” and “Born to Love You.” “Sometimes it feels like we’re just getting started and trying to figure it out, and then other times, I can’t even remember a life before LANCO. At this point, we’re family, and it feels like we’re literally brothers,” shared Lancaster.

For LANCO staying true to their country roots was inevitable, but creating a blend and sound that was all their own and remaining authentic was equally as important. “The inception of LANCO was country music, because we’re originally from Tennessee and Georgia,” began Lancaster. “When you grow up in Tennessee and Georgia small towns, you’re around a lot of country music, and we lived those lives. A lot of the stories that country music is telling, we experienced firsthand. So when we were starting, we wanted to be in that genre, and that’s our home base. Even instrumentally, the banjos, the mandolin, the guitars, its more country instruments we wanted to be influenced by and use. At the same time, it’s also the 21st century, we’re influenced by a lot of different music and a lot of different things.”

LANCO is a compilation of many different influences spanning genres, including artists like Brad Paisley, more folky-stuff, Bob Dylan, and rock bands like The Killers. However, the song-writing part of things is just as important if not more important to the LANCO band members.

“From the songwriting angle, it’s a big thing for us, we tour and play shows and we try to meet as many fans as we can, but we know there’s a lot of fans that listen, and the best way they can get to know us is through our lyrics and our songwriting. We try to communicate to our fans where we are in life through our songwriting, and then musically, we’re always trying to challenge each other.”

Today:

Flash forward to day, LANCO is finally about to release their sophomore album, We’re Gonna Make It featuring fourteen songs including, “Low Class Lovers” and “We Grew Up Together.” The record officially drops this Friday, January 17th.

“The music is the way we communicate with fans, and if you’re a LANCO fan and you’ve been on the journey with us, or if you just joined the party, whatever it is, you’ll definitely get to hear where we’ve been, what we’ve been up to, who we are now. We’ve grown up a bit. We’re not old men yet, but we’ve grown up a little bit. You can hear that in the music. You can hear it in the story-telling. We’ve gone through some hardships and that’s in the record, and we’ve also celebrated, and had a lot of fun, and are very excited and happy to be living life to the fullest, and that’s in the record as well.”

The album is packed with moments that are relatable, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and truly memorable. LANCO has truly outdone themselves, offering fans an intimate glimpse into their unique journeys and life milestones. While each track on the album holds its own, a standout is “We Grew Up Together,” which Lancaster considers one of his personal favorites.

“‘We Grew Up Together’ is the last song we wrote for the album, but it’s really a milestone for us. Since the first album, we’ve all started families, so it’s the first song that’s truly dedicated to that,” shared the singer. He also mentioned another favorite, saying, “The other one I’ll always be a sucker for is ‘Low Class Lovers.’ That was the first song we released from this album, and it’s one I’ve always held onto. It’s really the staple of the album.”

“‘Low Class Lovers’ pays tribute to the main characters from our song ‘Greatest Love Story,'” the singer explained. “It’s like the starting point, if this were a movie, ‘Low Class Lovers’ would be the opening scene five years later, with the rest of the album exploring what happens after that. The whole project really grew out of that concept for me.”

Be sure to check back on Friday for the full album release, where you’ll hear how these stories evolve and come to life!

Connect:

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

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

LANCO’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 Kevin Smiley? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

Kevin Smiley // Photo credit: Matthew Linman

Quick Facts:
Full name -Kevin Eugene Smiley
Birthdate – 03/05/2004
Hometown – Okeechobee, FL
Current city – West Palm Beach, FL
Musical influences- Ed Sheeran, George Strait, Shawn Mendes, Morgan Wallen, Ernest
Label – Rebel Music/gamma.
Current single- “Sunshine State” (as of date of article)
The Beginning:

As we kick off the New Year, we are putting more incredible artists on your radar. This week, we are shining our spotlight on the very talented singer-songwriter, Kevin Smiley. We chatted with the artist about his path to music, his latest project, and everything in between.

Smiley grew in Okeechobee, Florida, a small, cattle-town, where music was a constant in his life. “I have five older siblings, and we were all homeschooled by my mother, and my dad was a pastor,” began the singer. “We were always around music, and we were in a band 90% of the time. I started the drums when I was seven years old, and then guitar and base around eleven. I was always playing. I would go to different churches and play weddings, funerals, whatever the event, I was always playing with my siblings.”

Smiley does not recall a time where music wasn’t a part of his life. For him, country music became the soundtrack to his upbringing because of his best friend’s parents. “My best friend growing up, his parents were ranchers, so they were always playing country music. I was around it a good bit, so when I decided to finally take singing seriously, country music was the only genre that made sense. It was what I’ve been around my whole life.” Artists like Brooks & Dunn, Jon Pardi, and Alan Jackson were some of his favorites growing up.

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating high school, Smiley started working in appliance maintenance and delivery, but music was still the thing that he felt the most drawn to. “Music has always been in my life, it’s always been something that I’ve been passionate about. I’ve seen other people do it, and I’ve heard all other stories of people making it off of social media, so I just wanted to go for it.”

Smiley kept positing on TikTok, all while gaining a fanbase. At around the same time, a pop producer reached out, and encouraged him to start writing his own music. He quickly took the advice, which led to even more growth. “I got discovered by a production company, right after I had written my song, “Paralyzed,” which right now is my biggest song. I showed that to them and immediately they sent a contract offer. I flew in and recorded that song, and posted it on social media to see what it would do, and it kind of blew up a little bit.”

Smiley met with just about every label, eventually landing and signing a deal with Rebel Music/Gamma. Upon signing, the singer got to work writing and recording what would eventually become his debut project. “I love writing so much. I always tell my manager, “when can we go back in, when can we get more sessions in,” and even when I’m home, I like to write by myself, and a couple of those songs ended up on this project,” shared the singer.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Smiley is living the dream. Back in November, the singer-songwriter released his debut EP, Hurts Worse featuring eight songs, including a killer collaboration with YoungBoy Never Broke Again called “Matador.”

“That’s one of the songs that I had written my part by myself, and then I had a few sessions with a producer,” began the singer. “After we finished the song, we thought it could use something else, especially with the production, and thought it could use a rapper. We thought of realistic options, and we knew one of my close people on my team had a great relationship with NBA Youngboy, so we sent it over, and he decided he would hop on it.”

As for the rest of the project, it was important to Smiley that the project was cohesive, while still remaining true to his love of music both in and outside the genre.

“I don’t want to get stagnant. I recognize when a lot of artists do one kind of style in the beginning, they kind of get stuck there, and their fans don’t really want to hear anything else from them. With this first project, I wanted to make sure that people understand that I enjoy all the sub genres of country, even outside of country, and that’s what you’re going to get from me. You’re not going to get one thing.”

He went on to share that the theme of the record as a whole was heartbreak, a feeling that almost anyone can relate to. “What I really wanted to do with this project was kind of make it a streamlined story, so one to seven are really just one story, different sections you could say. Starting with “Heart To Break,” it’s almost like the beginning of the fall of the relationship, and not really knowing what’s going to happen, and then all the way down to “Hurts Worse,” the person completely left. At the same time, all of these songs, I wanted to have that emotion of heartbreak in there, it’s something that a lot of people can see themselves in even if it’s not a relationship, it could be friendships breaking up, siblings going their separate ways, moving further away from parents. You can see yourself in these songs.”

As Kevin Smiley continues to carve his own path in the country music world, his debut EP Hurts Worse serves as a testament to his authenticity, versatility, and commitment to telling stories that resonate with us all. With his unique blend of influences and raw emotion, Smiley is undoubtedly an artist to watch in 2025 and beyond. Keep an eye on this rising star as he continues to turn life’s heartaches into songs that speak to the soul.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Kevin Smiley, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kevin Smiley’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 Tim Dugger? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Tim Dugger

The Beginning:

This week we’re highlighting Tim Dugger, an incredible recording artist from Roanoke, Alabama. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his love of music, his path, and his most recent album. Keep reading to learn more.

“I grew up in a little town called Roanoke, Alabama. It’s a pretty small town. It was a dry county up til 2016, so very backwoods and not a lot going on down there, but I fell in love with music at a young age,” began the singer. “My dad was a truck driver and he would come home with all these cassette tapes from traveling around, he just had so many. […] I would say 95% of them were country and more classic country, a lot of Merle Haggard, a lot of trucking songs like Red Soul Vine. […] And of course 90s country music was on the radio when I was a kid I grew up on Alan Jackson and 90s country.”

While 90s country music was arguably his first love, Dugger honed his singing skills through church choir.“I started out singing in church and we would travel around the southeast singing at all kind of churches, doing gospel music.”

Eventually, at the age of fifteen, the singer and his parents helped him put together his first band. “It was one of those kind of started out playing at a bar with five people, and four of those people you were related to, and that’s kind of how it started,” shared the singer. Adding, “I was the youngest in the band by probably fifteen years or more. I’m from the school of thought that you have to be playing and being on stage and singing, and be out there, and get your honky tonk university [degree]. I did that for years and years.”

The Turning Point:

With a love for 90s country imbedded in his veins, Dugger truly only saw one path forward. He continued to sing all around with his band, while also making frequent trips to Nashville to record Nashville-quality demos.

“I didn’t live in Nashville at the time, I’m from about 5 hours from Nashville, and I’d commute back and forth to write and record, so at the time the demos I had were really good, they were Nashville quality. I was glad I wasn’t behind the eight ball on that, but you never know, country music goes through these waves here over the last ten years, but my shows can be kind of rock sometimes or lean a bit more traditional, but I”m not one of those that goes “that ain’t country or this ain’t country.” It’s a fun time to have music out.”

Eventually, as fate would have it, Dugger met a guy at one of his shows who was friends with a Nascar team owner, and he was asked to play a few shows. He got me booked at a couple of races, and that gave me an opportunity. I actually met Mike Curb on pit road at the Daytona 500 and gave him a CD, and that’s how I ended up with Curb Records, just by that meeting.” Shortly there after, Dugger signed with Curb Records.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Dugger is making a living as a signed singer-songwriter. The singer brings a rock flair to his country lyric by creating a sound that feels distinctly ‘him.’ Most recently, the artist released his album, Stars Over Alabama, which features thirteen songs, including eight that the singer had his hand in writing.

“When we were writing those songs, I didn’t know we were writing the album, I just knew I was cutting songs. I didn’t know if it was going to be an EP or a full album, and then about halfway through it, they were like you should cut another batch, and the best song ever wins, and Nashville is full of the best songs that we may never hear. […] So the best song always wins, but I love when I am able to write something.”

Dugger went on to add, “I like when I have a story to tell behind the guitar. […] “Most of it is stories I’ve lived or at least try to put that somewhere within the stories and songs that we’re writing.”

All of the songs on the record feel like getting to know the singer and his story, as well as, the music he loves and appreciates. While Dugger has been at this seemingly his whole life, it is clear that he is primed for a big 2025.

“My winter, like a lot of singers, slows down from touring, which is nice, but it’ll be all about writing. […] Definitely going to dive in, I have a lot to say. This year’s been a pretty wild ride. […] We’re going to be back on the road and keep putting out more music for everybody who likes this album.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

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

Tim Dugger’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 Kayley Green? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Kayley Green // Photo credit: Matthew Berinato

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Kayley Green
Birthdate – October 4th
Hometown – Florence, South Carolina
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton
Label – Sony Music Nashville
Latest Music – “Catching Up” (as of date of article 12/1/24)
The Beginning:

This week we caught up with incredible singer-songwriter, Kayley Green. The Sony Music Nashville recording artist has a chased her dreams for a decade, knowing from an early age, that music was her calling. We chatted with the songstress all about her journey, her music, and everything in between.

“I have a big family, none of which are really musical. My mom’s dad was musical and my dad played a little guitar, but no one in my family really pursued music or did it as hobbies or anything, but I always pursed music. I did musical theatre as a kid and sang in church choir, and was playing live gigs in front of audiences as soon as I possibly could. It started in middle school,” shared the South Carolina native.

Green recalls always being drawn to music. “I loved Martina McBride. She was my favorite. My grandad asked me to sing one of her songs, and I remember saying “I can’t sing that.” But I wanted to make him happy and make him proud, so I would blare my stereo and scream sing her songs until I could hit the notes,” she shared. Adding, “I loved all genres of music, but my grandma watched me and all of my cousins, she watched all of us everyday, and she spent most of her time standing in front of CMT watching all of the music videos, so I just grew up with country music constantly playing.”

During her youth, Green chased her music dream, garnering the support of the people in her town. “My youth pastor set-up my first gig at a coffee shop, and it just continued from there. I played bar gigs all through high school. I moved to Nashville and continued playing shows as much as I could,” shared the singer. “There really wasn’t ever a time in my life where I didn’t want to be a singer. There really wasn’t any other option at any point in my life.”

The Turning Point:

Armed with a dream and ambition to match, Green headed to Nashville in 2013 to attend Belmont University “I found out about Belmont [University] in middle school, and I found out I could get a singing degree, and that was it. I went to Belmont and I got my music degree, and from that moment on, I just knew I was moving to Nashville, and I was going to do it.”

Green worked on her craft, all while performing five nights a week at the bars on Broadway. Eventually, she experienced the pandemic, which led her to leave her dreams behind momentarily. “I lived in Nashville for probably seven years, when the pandemic happened. I was playing downtown the whole time, but I had no idea how to even get into the industry. I wasn’t being told “no,”. I didn’t even know how to find a “no,”” she shared. Adding, “I moved home for a year and a half during the pandemic, and I thought that music was over, but I couldn’t quite give it up.”

The songstress began to find a new way to make her a dream a reality. “I started working on TikTok and influencing, doing that kind of thing. I really wanted to build up my influencer platform, so I could have money to put into my own original music and really give music one more shot. As soon as I launched my website and my merch line, I got a call from Keith Urban and his team, asking me to come play at the Bridgestone. It was two days before the show, I had no idea it was coming. […] He asked me to sing “We Were Us” with him and one song that I loved to sing too. […] I sang “Independence Day” and it changed my life over night.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Green found a home at Sony Music Nashville, first a writer with a publishing deal and later with a record deal.

“I had no prospects in the industry, no contacts, no friends, I was so far from it, and immediately was kind of thrown into it, 100 miles an hour. Ross Copperman was behind me at the show, and he asked “who are you, what are you doing,” and he was kind of helping guide me in the right direction, and asked if I wanted to sign a publishing deal with SONY. […] I signed a joint venture publishing deal with Ross and SONY, and then not long after, I was offered a record deal with SONY too, but it was all because of the night at Bridgestone with Keith Urban.”

In the last few months, the songstress has released two songs that really speak to her unique talent as an artist. Both “Shadow of a Cowboy” and “Catching Up” were inspired by a break-up that the artist was going through.

“‘Shadow Of A Cowboy” was written by me, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Ben Williams. It was Ben’s idea, but I was going through a break-up at the time, and he had the idea “Shadow Of A Cowboy,” and then just that with break-up energy in the room, we created this awesome song. […] As soon as I listened, I knew it was special and big. […] It was one that I had no doubt that I wanted to release,” she shared.

When it came to “Catching Up,” Green recalls wanting to hide the heartbreak she was going through. Her poker face was not very good, and one of her co-writers asked her what was wrong, eventually leading to this song.

“I told them everything that was going on, and we wrote “Catching Up.” It was totally organic, no one really came in with the idea, it was just about everything I was going through, and it was so healing to write it with them. I think it’s a story that a lot of people can relate to, especially girls. I think the story is great, and I’m really proud of that one too.”

Fans can expect more new music coming from the singer at the top of 2025. This is only the beginning for Green, so make sure you follow along!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Kayley Green, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter. 

Kayley Green’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 Shaylen? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Shaylen // Photo credit: BMLG

Quick Facts:
Full Name – Shaylen Caroll
Birthdate – 01/31/1993
Hometown – Chattanooga, Tennessee + Allen, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Shania Twain, Adele, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride & Nickelback
Label – Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
Latest Music – “To Tell You The Truth” (as of date of article 11/18/24)
The Beginning:

Today we’re shining our spotlight on an incredibly talented singer-songwriter, Shaylen. Despite finding a home in country music, Shaylen has had an interesting career path, spanning from her love for musical theatre, her former Pop group, and even writing hit songs for Korean pop artists. We chatted with the singer about her path, finding her home in country music, and everything in between.

“I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was raised here until about seven. Then moved to Allen, Texas. I basically realized the second I figured out how to talk, that I was going to sing,” began the songstress. “I don’t have anyone who is in the music industry in my family, but I was influenced by their taste in music. My mom and dad played everything under the sun. I really found a love for it, I was super, super, dead set on singing a song at the offering in Church, and I was six when I did it, and I got to get up on stage, and in that moment, I was like “oh I want to do whatever this is. I want to feel whatever this is.” It wasn’t really like “look at me,” it was the connection with everyone, and for the first time ever, I thought this was my purpose.”

The singer convinced her supportive family to get her a guitar and a piano. “I dove into piano lessons. I’m classically trained there, and then at night time, I would go to a music school, and I would do children’s theatre, and all the plays I can do at the time.”

Shaylen recalls from an early age having access to many different musical genres. She fell in love with all sorts of artists like Shania Twain, The Beatles, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, and even Elton John. “There was a period of my life, where it was gospel music and then I learned what Broadway was. I was heavily into musical theatre. Then, I got introduced to Brooks & Dunn, and Toby Keith was a big guy in our household, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, etc. I realized, as little as I was, the storytelling in country music, it was always about the song first,” she shared. Adding, “We played everything you could think of under the sun.”

The Turning Point:

Young Shaylen, continued to hone her talent as a musician. Eventually, she landed herself a spot in a Pop group called ‘Savvy.’ “Then randomly the creator behind the show, Proud Family, came across one of my group members, and met us, and was like I’m going to write a sitcom around you guys. […] She wrote the script and we filmed the pilot. […] A year later, it was picked up, and all of a sudden instead of going to high school, I’m moving to Michigan to film a 22 episode sitcom,” she shared.

“So I did that, I was home-schooled, and then out of nowhere, when I was turning seventeen, Cash Money Records wants to sign us. We signed the record deal. […] We were really having a moment, and then things derailed within six months.”

Unfortunately, Shaylen experienced what many artists have experienced, being shelved and unable to release music because of her record deal. Despite the unfortunate experience, the singer decided to move to Los Angeles to find a new way to make her dreams a reality. “I get there, I’m working five jobs, and my group and I after a few months, knew it was over. […] I was stuck in that deal for two or three years, no one would write with me, but I figured out I needed to know how to write a song by myself.”

Learning how to write songs became Shaylen’s silver lining. “That led me to my first publishing deal as a solo artist, and wrote my way into certain rooms, and wrote another song by myself that landed in the room of Universal Republic, around 2018, I signed my first record deal as a solo artist with Universal Republic, and then COVID happened.”

By happenstance, Shaylen got the opportunity to go write in Nashville. During her first ever co-write in the city, her and her co-writers wrote the song “What If I Don’t,” which would go on to be life changing for the songstress.

Eventually, Shaylen felt the pull she felt years prior to head to Nashville. “I just heard this voice tell me that I had to go and derail my life and do the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but pack up your bags and go to Nashville,” she shared. Her record label let her walk, and she headed to Music City with just $75 to her name.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Shaylen following her inner knowing became the best thing she’s ever done for herself. The singer-songwriter found a home in country music, signing a deal with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment.

“I’m curating a body of work right now that I’ve been curating over the last year in almost phases. I didn’t realize that in what was so hard and so sad, really I started to learn how to love myself again. […] If there’s anything that I can take away from my own thing is that these songs are chapters of that in my own life,” shared the singer.

Most recently, Shaylen released a new song called, “To Tell You The Truth.” “”To Tell You The Truth” was written down a year and a half ago, about wanting to call you and tell you I miss you, but why, you’re with someone new, and I remember being so excited to walk into the write. […] I happen to be suffering from a kidney infection on the same day, but I had to go. […] We’re writing, we’re trying to go around this idea. […] in the duration of that, when we finally listened  at the end, I loved it so much.”

“To Tell You The Truth” is the first song to come out in conjunction with her record deal. The Track showcases exactly who Shaylen is an artist. Fans can look forward to more music coming soon, as 2025 is slated to be a huge year for the humble rising artist. “We’re in the chapter of being vulnerable.”

Connect:

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

To keep up with Lanie Gardner, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Shaylen’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 Clever? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

who-is-clever

Clever

Quick Facts:
Name – Clever
Birthdate – July 8th
Hometown – Gadsen, Alabama
Current City – Gadsen, Alabama
Musical Influences – Lynyrd Skynyrd, Randy Travis, Juice WRLD
Label – Ricochet Recordings
Latest Release- “Trainwreck” (as of date of article 11/11/24)

The Beginning:

This week we are highlighting a unique talent in the music industry, an artist who goes by the name Clever. Clever has been penning music since he learned to write, and has deep dived into all different genres throughout his blossoming career. Lately, Clever has been honing his songwriting as a country singer-songwriter. Keep reading to learn more about the artist’s interesting path, including why he has the support from artists like Justin Bieber and Post Malone.

“I’m from the great state of Alabama. Still living here to this day. I’m from small town U.S.A. […] I’m still here, because I’m basically the mayor here. I’ve built up a big following here for a long time, kind of that hometown hero thing, and I just never left,” began the singer. “I started doing poetry at an early age, and it kind of transitioned into writing songs. Clever recalls always using poetry, and later music, as an outlet for what he was feeling and going through. “I needed an escape. I think for creatives, all of us, we need an outlet, I was always looking for that escape from reality, and poetry though it was doing the job, I was still yearning for something more, and music made so much sense.”

Despite growing up in a more conservative family, Clever’s music education spanned many genres. “Early on, I listened to what my parents listened to. My dad was a big Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin fan, The Allman Brothers, that sort of thing, and my mom listened to ‘Cool and The Gang’, and ‘Earth, Wind, and Fire’, which makes sense for the hip-hop with this big vocal on top of it. I was also raised on Vince Gill and Travis Tritt, and Garth Brooks.”

Clever also shared a liking for hip-hop music, something he discovered on his own. “When I started diving into my own music, I went a little edgier, like Korn, and Limp Bizkit type stuff, but I was a huge Jay-Z fan and Lil Wayne fan. It kind of explains the poetic side of me and the lyrical side of me with a cool vibe.”

The Turning Point:

At just around thirteen years old, Clever discovered that he could rap and freestyle. I did some freestyle, battle type of stuff early on in my career, maybe around thirteen, fourteen, and I got a gig on the radio station in Birmingham Alabama. I started taking phone calls live on the air and freestyle battle callers,” he shared. Adding, “I got this CD insert and I was reading the lyrics and I started reading the lyrics, and I thought “this is trash.” […] I was saying that I can outdo this, I wanted to make my own music, and I was kind of a wild kid for someone who was raised better.”

The radio gig led Clever to have his own radio show in his early 20s, which eventually led him to do things for radio and BET in New York. “I dabbled with radio here and there, and I started making hip-hop music in the beginning of what I would consider hip-hop. Nobody really called it hip-hop when I was doing hip-hop, and I expect the same out of most of my country listeners. I kinda do what I do, I don’t think you can really put it in a box, but the production of it is definitely more of a country thing that we do now.”

The artist was making waves in the music industry, and despite, getting into a bad record deal, he was still writing music for many publishing companies, trying to find a way to keep releasing his own music simultaneously. “I ended up writing some songs with Snoop Dog and a bunch of California OGs back in the day and eventually linked up with David Foster, and started to write some songs with him,” he shared.

“Around 2018, I got noticed by Juice WRLD, and I ended up signing with Juice, and I was touring with him, and featured on his album in 2019, and eventually did a deal between me and Post Malone and Juice together, and signed with Post Malone at the end of 2019, and then the next day Juice passed. […] It was a weird transition there for a while. It really put us at a standstill for a while.”

At the same time, a lot of artists were looking to collaborate. “I was blessed to work with artists like Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Juice, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, the list just keeps going, but fast forward, I started making some country records, I’m from Alabama, it’s in my blood. I was kind of raised on country music,” he shared. Adding, “I started writing for some country artists. I had never written a song for myself and with the country transition, as soon as Jelly Roll started making his way, I started getting phone calls with people saying that I should try to do this sort of things.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Clever is embracing country music. Recently, the singer-songwriter released a self-titled EP filled with six songs that speak to the singer-songwriter’s unique talent as an artist. 

“My goal was to release this huge 30 song album. […]  I wanted to put together this huge body of work and release it, and I did a distribution deal, and before you drop an album, you need to make some singles shake, otherwise no one really cares to hear a full album and you really need some solo songs to do well, so we kind of shortened it to putting together this deal that entails six mini EPs of five or six songs, and of course, it’s subject to change. We’re just playing it by ear right now.”

Still armed with a dream to release a massive project, Clever is chugging along, garnering more and more fans with every single release. “‘Candlelight’ was one that caught the attention and really grew my fanbase here on TikTok. I love the style and production, that sort of thing. “Billy The Kid” stands out to me because it’s the first song I wrote in this country direction. “Trainwreck” was the only song I did that wasn’t a solo write”

Fans can expect a whole lot more from Clever as we head into the top of 2025. The singer is already sitting on a ton of new music and is primed for a huge new year. Stay tuned for the singer, as he plans new tour dates and maybe even jumps on tour with some of your favorites soon!

Connect:

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

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

Clever’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.