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

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

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

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

The Turning Point:

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

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

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

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

Today:

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

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

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

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

Connect:

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

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