Over the years, radio has been a staple in all of our lives. Although there has been many changes and a metamorphosis in the music industry with streaming and new radio programming, music still remains at the forefront of everyone’s lives.
Apple recently announced two new live global radio offerings on Apple Music, joining the flagship global radio station ‘Beats 1,’ which was just renamed ‘Apple Music 1.’ The two new stations include ‘Apple Music Hits” and ‘Apple Music Country.’ The latter spotlights country music and all the great acts that we have grown to love over the years.
Apple Music’s global creative director and host, Zane Lowe shared the excitement in a recent press release, “Apple Music is home – it’s home to artists, it’s home to fans, and it’s home to incredible music.” We are so excited that country music gets to be at the forefront of the new wave of streaming and radio.
Radio remains a part of the fabric of country music culture, and Apple Music Country continues that for the country music fan. The new station has a wide range of country music’s on-air personalities, including hosts Kelleigh Bannen, Ty Bentil, and Ward Guenther, just to name a few. Mainstream artists such as Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Morgan Evans, and Morgan Wallen will also present new exclusive shows on-air, fostering the unique relationship between the artist and the listener.
Each of the shows that are part of the country music forum will feature different and unique content. For Ty Bentil’s show, fans can expect to learn more about who Bentil is as an avid supporter of country music, as well as, get a deeper look into what makes a song relatable, “For me, I am all about making he bond of music a little bit more accessible to people,” he shared about what his playlists will look like.
We cannot wait to see how fans react to the addition of Apple Music Country, and we are so excited to say how this evolves into a deeper understanding of the power of country music.
Fans can enjoy Apple Music radio wherever they listen to Apple Music, including iPhone, iPad, iPod, CarPlay, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, HomePod, and on the web at music.apple.com. They can also ask Siri to play “Apple Music 1,” “Apple Music Hits,” or “Apple Music Country.”
The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/country-apple-music-copy.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2020-08-19 12:40:202020-09-19 17:30:41Apple Launches Apple Music Country Radio Featuring All-Star Line-Up
Despite the chaos that 2020 has come to be there’s one artist who continues to provide for his fans, Luke Combs. If getting married, hosting livestreams and releasing new music weren’t enough to keep Combs busy during quarantine, now the singer-songwriter has confirmed he will be dropping a deluxe version of his What You See Is What You Get album with the revised title, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get.
The deluxe album will include five new tracks to accompany the eighteen songs featured on the original album. Set to be released on October 23rd, Combs has yet to reveal exactly which tracks will make the cut, but fans are already buzzing about which songs it could be based on some of the new ones he has teased in the past few months.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming Luke Combs release in the coming weeks.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/deluxe-luke-combs.jpg6301200Stephanie Wagnerhttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngStephanie Wagner2020-08-18 13:38:562020-09-19 17:30:42Luke Combs Announces Deluxe Album Coming This Fall
Apple TV+ has announced their first music competition series and they are partnering with Nashville native and Academy Award-winning actress, Reese Witherspoon to do it. Titled My Kind of Country, the show will focus on searching for the next big talent in country music.
According to Apple, fans can expect the show to provide fresh, documentary sensibility that will also break down cultural and musical barriers in the country music space to let musicians unleash their authentic voices and take center stage.
Witherspoon will executive produce the show along with Lauren Neustadter and Cynthia Stockhammer via Hello Sunshine, the production company that Witherspoon co-founded in 2016. In addition, Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen (Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini), The Masked Singer and Dancing With the Stars showrunner Izzie Pick, and Done + Dusted’s Katy Mullan and Melanie Fletcher (“The Disney Family Singalong”, “The Little Mermaid Live!”, etc.) are also executive producers. Adam Blackstock, who works with artists like Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Tim McGraw and more, will join the all-star team as the show’s musical director.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Witherspoon writes: “Well, it’s not looking like I’ll ever fulfill my childhood dreams of becoming @DollyParton… but this might just be the next best thing! ✨ I am beyond excited to share that @HelloSunshine will be partnering with @Apple to bring y’all it’s very first competition series called “My Kind of Country”…. the search for extraordinary country music talent. Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Country music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. The history of songwriting and recording, the artistry of matching lyrics and chords, the true expression of what is happening to humanity right now… not to mention the dazzling stage performances that bring you to your feet! ✨”
Witherspoon adds:“There are so many remarkably talented people whose voices are being heard right now, but there are many more who have different experiences and remarkable stories that still need to be told in the genre. I’ve been incredibly inspired by all artists who continue to blaze bold new trails and our hope is to discover musicians who are revolutionizing country music and help amplify their voices and bring the JOY of Country Music to everyone around the world!”
Joining other shows produced by Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, including The Morning Show and Truth Be Told, My Kind of Country will premiere globally on Apple TV+. No official airdate or guidelines on how to enter have been announced. Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about the upcoming competition series in the coming months.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/witherspoon-reese.jpg6301200Stephanie Wagnerhttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngStephanie Wagner2020-08-17 19:13:492020-09-19 17:30:42Reese Witherspoon Debuts Forthcoming Country Music Competition, “My Kind of Country”
A lot of musicians have been keeping busy during their time in quarantine. Many have been live-streaming their new creations, playing their favorite songs, or answering questions. While some have kept low during this time, a few have recorded projects and surprised released them, and that is exactly what Jon Pardi did.
Pardi released Rancho Fiesta Sessions, an eight-song album brimmed with cover songs from Merle Haggard, Prince, Keith Whitley, Joe Diffie, Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, and Tom Petty. The unique project was recorded live during a one-night live jam session with his touring band at his ranch in Nashville, “Rancho Fiesta.”
The album is fun and lighthearted and reminds you of something nostalgic from a fun night out with friends at the bar enjoying live music. Rancho Fiesta Sessions targets Pardi’s musical influences and artists who have shaped his path in country music. It lays out a conventional country sound on most of the tracks while “Marina Del Rey” and “Nothing Compares 2 U” are stripped back ballads bursting with emotion.
“Surprise! I recently recorded eight classic songs from a bunch of my musical heroes,” Pardi shares on Instagram. “We recorded everything on my ranch out in my shop. Had an awesome time putting this all together and hope y’all love it. The Rancho Fiesta Sessions is here!!!”
In a recent press release, Pardi added, “It’s all my band on this whole album. We mainly did it to have fun and record, and it sounds like we’re in your backyard, playing for you.” He noted, “I hope the fans really have fun when they listen to it, and they enjoy it and turn it up. This one was for the fans, to let them hear something different… songs you may have heard before but, haven’t heard them like this. It turned into something special because it’s a year where we are off the road, and we recorded it live in real-time, out at my house.”
Rancho Fiesta Sessions follows the singer-songwriters Heartache Medication, which earned a top spot on the Billboard’s Country Albums chart. The title track, “Heartache Medication”, awarded Pardi his fourth number-one single on country radio following “Head Over Boots”, “Heartache On The Dance Floor”, and “Dirt On My Boots.”
Rancho Fiesta Sessions is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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Sony Music Nashville’s, Rachel Wammack has graced country music with her homespun lyrics and angelic vocal abilities since her debut EP, Enough. New York Country Swag first featured the rising star back in December 2019 for a Swag Session, filmed in Midtown, Manhattan, where Wammack performed on the piano her two songs “Damage” and “Something People Say”. Check out the interview and performance below.
Now, Wammack is back singing a tune on a happier note, a fairytale of a love story, this time with new single “What He Does.” The track opens up heavily with a piano progression gingerly proceeding Wammack’s serene voice and handcrafted lyrics. She enunciates the memorable melody line while articulating the difference between past men in her life versus her love now. The country singer-songwriter looks back at all the negative personality traits she’s experienced in past relationships and realizes she has everything she could ever want now.
“But what he does, is make me laugh when I feel like crying // What he does is lift me up, when I feel like flying // He calls me beautiful, he calls me baby, he calls me just because // He makes it all look so damn easy, that’s just what he does.”
This single follows the songstress’ success with single “Damage.” She was selected for CMT’s 2019 Next Women of Country’s round-up and one of influential radio personality Bobby Bones’ Class of 2019 artists alongside Tenille Townes, Lauren Jenkins, Abby Anderson and Caylee Hammack.
“What He Does” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/what-he-does-rachel-wammack.jpg6301200Brianna Vaccahttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngBrianna Vacca2020-08-17 15:45:092020-09-19 17:30:42Rachel Wammack Sings to a Happier Note in New Song, “What He Does”
Fresh-new country artist and musician in Brett Young’s touring band, Matt Ferranti released a brand new single, “Pick Up” on Friday, August 14th. This is Ferranti’s first release since his six-song, self-titled EP that dropped in January.
This breakup jam mixes a heavy, pop production and pounding drums with slivers of banjo and steel guitar in the background, giving it a very interesting and unique sound. Although the general theme of the song is nothing new in country music—a male protagonist who can’t stand the fact of his ex-girlfriend going out with other guys—in Ferranti’s version, he’s blindly optimistic. He believes the door remains slightly open, and that if she sees his picture pop-up on her phone, she’ll go running back to him, when in reality that is not the case. This is a hypothetical that every hopeless romantic has drawn-up at some point in their lives.
“Thoughts running wild all across my mind / but it ain’t the same for you /
‘Cause you’re out with some guy / moving on with your life / I call, I call but you don’t pick up”
With the cancellations of Young’s Chapters Tour, in which Ferranti had his own 30-min opening set on, and Jason Aldean’s We Back Tour, in which Young was apart of, Ferranti has used this free-time writing new material. We anticipate that “Pick Up” is the first of many new songs to come from this rising, country talent. Fans will soon know that Ferranti’s skills go far beyond the keys and the guitar, but in singing, songwriting, and performing.
Learn more about Ferranti and his journey to country music in our Swag Spotlight, here.
“Pick Up” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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Today marks the debut of a star in the making! Critics and fans alike may notice Caylee Hammack’s fiery red hair right away, but it’s her voice, her attitude, her talent, and her undeniable charm that declares her staying power. Her brand new debut record If It Wasn’t For You is her story, and boy is it a good one.
Unexpectedly, Hammack begins her record with a song called “Just Friends.” In the beginning, the song appears to be a vocal-based performance with a simple backing, but then the song opens up and explodes into a powerhouse introduction. Just from the first song, fans know that they are in for something special with this project.
Hammack keeps the energy up with previously released tunes “Redhead” and “Preciatcha.” “Redhead” is the song we all needed. Featuring megastar, Reba McEntire, the two ladies jam about all the characteristics that badass redhead chicks possess “Oh, they got their hands full, trying to tame a pistol / Spitfire, freckles that could run among the dead.” Of course, “Preciatcha” has a quieter energy, but still hits just as hard metaphorically. The song is about Hammack heeding her mother’s advice, and holding on to the valuable lessons learned from pain and heartache.
Songs like “Just Like You” and “King Size Bed” showcase the sassy side of the singer-songwriter’s personality. “Just Like You” focuses on getting revenge on an ex-lover, similar to the vibe of Carrie Underwood’s smash hit “Before He Cheats.” On the other hand, “King Size Bed” is a sensual and cheeky jam about a romantic interest.
Family is clearly a central theme on the new record too. In “Family Tree,” Hammack’s debut song, the singer lets her fans in on the good, the bad, and the weird in her family. This type of humble honesty is refreshing in such a young talent. Similarly, in “Sister,” Hammack pays homage to her sibling, expressing the privilege of having a sister to look up to, cry with, and celebrate the good times with.
Hammack continues to hit her sweet spot on personal, yet relatable songs, where she divulges her truth. “Looking For A Lighter,” one of our favorites is a clever tale about heartbreak. The singer’s vocals shine on this track, but it is her creative way of personifying and comparing fire, smoke, and lighters with the painful demise of a push-pull relationship. Lyrics like “Spark up a memory / I’m burning for you so bad” are laced throughout the entire song.
“Forged In A Fire” is another personal anecdote that was put to music. Hammack finds inspiration in life’s journey throughout this song. She eventually draws the conclusion that she was meant to be a fighter. The song conveys a quiet sense of strength, which is refreshing. Hammack continues her story-telling with “Small Town Hypocrite,” a sonically pleasing song inspired by the singer’s move to Nashville and subsequent break-up. Although heartbreaking, the song is one of her best.
Similarly, the spectacular song, “Mean Something,” which features incredible fellow artists Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes, paints the picture of women trying their best to find their footing in life through all the adversity. The song is an anthem in the making, and completely relevant to the battle females in the industry are enduring in country music right now.
“Ain’t we all just trying to mean something, mean something / AIn’t we all just trying to be something, be something”
Ending with the song “New Level of Life,” Hammack seems to have made it full circle. She acknowledges her trials and tribulations in love and life but manages to come out the other side stronger, brighter, and happier. The uplifting and creative tune is the perfect way to end such a strong debut.
Hammack’s first full project was the perfect introduction to her talent. She truly created something that is unique to her and aesthetically pleasing in every area. This particular collection of songs is going to resonate with fans across the genre and beyond. Hammack is on fire, and we cannot wait to hear these songs live!
Mean Something (featuring Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes)
Small Town Hypocrite
Gold
New Level Of Life
If It Wasn’t For You is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/caylee-hammack-if-it-wasnt-for-you.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2020-08-14 00:17:082020-09-19 17:30:43NYCS First Impression: Caylee Hammack ‘If It Wasn’t For You’
Sophomore records are often the ones that make or break an artist, but for rising talent, Mo Pitney, his newest project, Ain’t Lookin’ Back is even more intriguing than his debut. The singer-songwriter knows his sound and his fanbase and delivers exactly what we want, a true-blue country album laced with a wide range of influences.
“So I took a long time to make the second album for a number of reasons,” Pitney began during our exclusive interview with the artist, “I wanted to find out how to have a common thread from the first album to the second album, but being open to introducing all of my influences and let them meet in one place.” It is safe to say that he accomplished that feat with this record.
Opening up with “A Music Man,” Pitney wastes no time showcasing his one of a kind talent. The single is a beautiful story about feeling like God put him on Earth to play music. The beautiful “three chords and the truth” song is everything fans could want to kick off the project.
Pitney continued to transition his vocal skills into a series of love songs, such as “Right Now With You,” “Boy Gets the Girl”, and “Mattress on the Floor.” Although all three are sublime in their own right, “Mattress on the Floor” is a standout track, where Pitney vocalizes that love is all you really need to get by.
According to Pitney, most of the songs were inspired by the love he has for his wife. “Local Honey” is a sweet and sultry song about falling in love that everyone can relate to. “Plain and Simple” is another stellar example of how well Pitney can express a simple story through the song. The love song is the perfect simplest declaration of endearment. “Always have and always will love you / Plain and simple”
On the other hand, “Looks Like Rain” is arguably one of the best songs on the project. Written about mental health struggles, Pitney takes vulnerability to a whole new level on this gut-wrenching, but much needed track. In our exclusive interview, he deemed this song one of his favorites and even opened up about the inspiration, sharing; “I wanted to record it because it is a song about depression. It is a song about having the sun shining, and the birds are singing, but the whole world is grey. And I think that’s a common human experience, and I wanted to share that I’ve been through that and other people aren’t alone with that.”
Of course, family remained a tenant on this record. As a recent father of two girls and a touring musician, Pitney knows how it feels to be away from his family. In “’ Til I Get Back To You,” the singer expresses that sentiment through the lens of a truck driving industry. In our conversation, the singer-songwriter explained how effortless the songwriting process was for this song. “We talked about the history of country music and truck driving songs and we wanted to try to bring that to this record in a new way so I welded my story of traveling and wanting to get back to my wife with these truck driving industry.” “Old Stuff Better,” a fun country-folk jam about family roots and “Ain’t Bad for Good Ol’ Boy” also lend themselves to the family first mentality.
Overall the brand new project is a little bit of the old mixed with a whole lot of the new. Like most of us, Pitney is just on the journey called life, and constantly peeling back the layers that make him who he is. I’m sure true fans of music will continue to support his unmatched and refreshing talent.
Ain’t’ Lookin’ Back is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
The ‘Dark Horse’ himself, Devin Dawson is finally back with brand new music. Back in January 2019, we heard him sing “I Got A Truck” for the first time and learned about the touching story that inspired it during Dawson’s NYC Bowery Ballroom show. Check out a clip of the performance below. Now, we get to celebrate as the song is finally released to the public!
If there is one thing that sets Dawson apart from his peers, it is his meticulous attention to songwriting. His lyrics always have a deeper meaning, and “I Got A Truck” fits the bill. Dawson shared in an exclusive industry interview over Zoom that the song was inspired by none other than superstar, Tim McGraw.
“So the whole story started, I wrote this maybe 1.5-2 years ago. We were on tour with Tim McGraw. It essentially started with a conversation I had with Tim McGraw. It was the first night of the tour,” he explained, adding, “Somehow the conversation quickly turned to kinda like wisdom or advice or just like encouragement from the superstar to the new kid on the block. I think he saw a lot of himself in me.”
Dawson went on to share that he learned that McGraw cut his teeth in Nashville by finding one person to take a chance of him. Since the superstar never quite wrote the song of his story to greatness, Dawson took it upon himself to translate arguably one of the biggest stars in our format’s story from thought to lyrics. The singer ended up gifting the song and a handwritten copy of lyrics to McGraw at the end of the tour run.
“I got a song / I got something to say / I got a will to survive / I got a dollar to my name / I got a heart / I got a little bit of luck / I got this go and get it feeling in my gut / And I got a truck / I got a truck”
Like all of us, Dawson believes he has something to say and stories to tell. Although at first, it might masquerade as just another country song about a truck, “I Got A Truck” is a humble story about strength, perseverance, and belief in yourself. Of course, the song also boasts a killer guitar solo that we cannot wait to jam out to in-person when live music returns. To Dawson, the song stood out from the get-go, “It just felt like it had heart, it had tempo and it had lyric, and it had something that I hadn’t said before.” We tend to agree.
“I Got A Truck” marks the first release of Dawson’s highly anticipated next project, which should be out sometime at the top of 2021. Until then, make sure you’re supporting the singer-songwriter and streaming the new jam!
“I Got A Truck” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/devin-dawson-new-music.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttp://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2020-08-14 00:10:272020-09-19 17:30:43Devin Dawson is Back With New Music “I Got A Truck”
Country music is a genre built on storytelling and real life. Over the past few years, that definition has been watered down by some. It’s not that modern country isn’t fun or meaningful; it’s just that often artists are afraid to “go there” like they used to — they’re afraid to step on people’s toes. Lindsay Ell bared it all on her phenomenal sophomore project heart theory. Sonically, she made a stellar current country-pop record with influences of rock and blues, but conceptually, it’s as country as could be.
heart theory successfully covers the seven stages of grief: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance. Ell explores everything from a breakup that ended badly to working through trauma to finding yourself on the 12-track project. “If theory is the science of music, heart theory is the science of a heart,” Ell said of the record. “I hope this roadmap can be a comfort if you need it, reassurance when you need to remember to believe in yourself or maybe just a glimpse into a memory that’s made you who you are.”
“how good” falls under the denial category and is a groovy, almost funk-pop inspired Brandy Clark co-write. Her vocal range is on full display, from a controlled, mellow verse to a soaring chorus. “You don’t know how good I could love you/Boy if you just would let me love you/You might not think you should/but if I were you I would”, she sings on the chorus.
Ell shows off her bolder side on the three-song anger stage. “wAnt me back”, the current single is an addictively catchy tune. She tells her ex that she knows she’s worth it in a relationship, and if she were in his shoes, she’d miss her too. “You ain’t gonna find nobody like me/I’m the best you ever had and I’m always gonna be, so/If I were you… if I were you/I’d want me back too.”
Sitting in the middle of the album is the fourth stage: bargaining. Written by Ell, Sam Ellis, and Laura Veltz is “body language of a breakup”, a clever representation of watching a relationship fall apart from the outside. Although there are plenty of songs about breakups, this hits the nail right on the head in a completely fresh way. The craftsmanship of heart theory is incredibly unique. None of the 12 tracks sound exactly like something heard on the radio, yet at the same time, they all feel familiar. The lyrics are smartly written, and with Ell’s guitar solos that catch you off guard in the best way, it makes it even more interesting. She’s clearly grown as a writer and artist since her debut, The Project.
The most vulnerable and heartbreaking moment is the second-to-last song, “make you”, which is filed under acceptance. Written by Ell and Clark, is Ell’s story of being a sexual assault survivor. At 13, and again at 21, she was raped. When she decided to make an album as personal as heart theory, she knew she had to tell her story. “I called Brandy, an absolute wordsmith and songwriter genius, and asked her if she would write this song with me. She fearlessly and immediately said yes,” Ell said in a press release. “The day we wrote ‘make you’ I knew we had written something special that will hopefully help others to not feel alone in their survival. And more personally, it was finally the moment in my life where I got to validate that little girl inside – letting her know that ‘I see her and I love her.”
The album ends on a hopeful note. “ReadY to love” is an empowering, upbeat jam about owning who you are and taking back the power after being hurt so many times before. “I’m ready to love again/Ready to trust again/Ready to put my heart back out there/If your heart is out there”, she sings on the chorus. It’s at this moment that you can hear how truly free Ell feels.
Lindsay Ell has been making music for more than half of her life, and with each release, she digs deeper. Not letting a genre or sound define her, she poured her heart out and it paid off big time. Part of what makes this an outstanding and authentic record is that it is the very definition of three chords and the truth. She shared the ups and downs of life, letting every scar show and heal. As she sings on her cover of John Mayer’s “The Heart of Life”, “Pain throws your heart to the ground/Love turned the whole thing around/No, it won’t all go the way it should/But I know the heart of life is good.”
denial
2. “how good” (Lindsay Ell, Brandy Clark)
3. “i don’t lovE you” (Adam Hambrick, Melissa Fuller, Neil Medley)
anger
4. “wAnt me back” (Lindsay Ell, Kane Brown, Matt McGinn, Lindsay Rimes)
5. “get oveR you” (Lindsay Ell, Gordie Sampson, Kelly Archer)
6. “wrong girl” (Lindsay Ell, Steph Jones, Matt McGinn, Luke Niccoli)
bargaining
7. “body language of a breakup” (Lindsay Ell, Laura Veltz, Sam Ellis)
depression
8. “good on you” (Lindsay Ell, Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath)
testing
9. “The oTHEr side” (Lindsay Ell, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt McGinn)
10. “gO to” (Lindsay Ell, Nicolle Gaylon, Jordan Reynolds)
acceptance
11. “make you” (Lindsay Ell, Brandy Clark)
12. “ReadY to love” (Lindsay Ell, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt McGinn, Joey Hyde)
NYCS Staff Picks:
“make you”
“i don’t lovE you”
“how good”
“ReadY to love”
“wAnt me back”
‘heart theory’ is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.
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