Brett Kissel shares his new album, The Compass Project: West Album, out now, November 3rd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.
Canadian-country superstar, Brett Kissel kicked off a unique project earlier this year. The singer-songwriter expressed wanting to embark on the most ambitious project of his career so far. In January, the singer announced a four full-length album record called The Compass Project with each album showing off different ides of the singer’s talent. The newest release, The West Album is focused on the southern twang and classic country influences.
“The Compass Project is without question the most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken,” Kissel explains. “It’s also the one I’m most excited about, being that the complete project includes four full-length albums. At this point in my life and career, I want to tap into all of the different quadrants that represent and guide me as a person, husband, father, artist, and entertainer. Those themes resonate in the distinct direction I take on each album!”
Learn more about the project and listen to the brand new music below.
The Compass Project: West Album Tracklist:
Missin’ You in San Antone
Oil and Cattle ft. George Canyon, Don Amaro, Brad Johner
Legacy
Deer Blind
Wichita Lineman
The Crib Song
Strait Country
Black Eyed Susans
Behind Closed Doors
Queen on the River
Here’s Hoping There’ll (Always Be a Cowboy)
Brett Kissel shares his new album, ‘The Compass Project, West Album” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Brett Kissel announcements and releases.
The Compass Project: West Album 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bret-kissel-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:10:442023-11-03 00:10:44Here Is Brett Kissel’s Album ‘The Compass Project: West Album’
Kelsey Hart shares brand new song “Life With You,” out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.
A few months ago we introduced you to a new artist that we are loving, Kelsey Hart. Back in August, he released his fun-loving song, “Country In Business.” Today, the singer-songwriter is sharing one of his most heartfelt and touching songs to date called “Life With You.”
The new tune is truly love personified. A perfect song to dance to with your partner at your wedding, a touching song about love, and everything in between. The second Hart sings the first lyric, it is evident that “Life With You” is a heartfelt song that anyone who has been in love can relate to. The idea of having a love so steady and true is what everyone seeks, and “Life With You” is the song that describes that.
“If you’re on a porch swing, baby I’m on it // If you want a night out, baby I’m all in // If you want a coin flip, road-trip, anywhere you want to go // Baby just call it // If you’re on a dance floor, moving a mountain, want to find some laidback, let down your brown hair // You call the shots // If I’m ready or not // I don’t care // Baby I love doing life with you // You’re everything I want to wake up to // Give you all of my heart // the moon and the stars // til my time here on earth is through // Cause I just love // Baby I love, doing life with you”
While Hart was impressive before, “Life With You” showcases his range in a new and exciting away. The single may be his best to date, and we look forward to seeing how fans react to the romantic tune.
Kelsey Hart shares new song, “Life With You,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kelsey Hart releases.
“Life With 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kelsey-hart-song.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:10:032023-11-03 00:10:03Kelsey Hart Shares New Song “Life With You”
Blanco Brown shares his rendition of classic country song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.
Blanco Brown is one of the most creative artists in the country music genre. No matter what he is singing, he can reimagine any song to sound like a brand new track. Brown uses those skills on his rendition of the iconic country song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” out today.
Arguably one of the most recognizable songs in the country music landscape, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is a song that many artists like to cover at their shows. However, Brown delivers a rendition unlike any we have ever heard before. Bringing a more modern flair to the song, the singer shows off his effortless vocals, while keeling with the honesty that the song portrays.
“Almost heaven, West Virginia // Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River // Life is old there, older than the trees // Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze // Country roads, take me home // To the place I belong // West Virginia, mountain mama // Take me home, country roads”
On the new rendition of the classic, Brown brought his signature ‘Trailer trap” to the forefront, breathing new life into the already incredible song. Check it out below!
Blanco Browns shows off his rendition of the classic country song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Blanco Brown releases.
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/blanco-brown-song.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:09:172023-11-03 00:09:17Blanco Brown Shares Rendition of Classic Country Song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
Austin Burke shares brand new song “Boys Won’t Be Boys,” out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.
Country music is full of talented singer-songwriters, but it is truly the home of incredible storytellers. Austin Burke is one who has mastered the art. The rising entertainer has a knack for weaving nostalgia and storytelling into each and everyone of his songs, whether he had a hand in writing the track or not. Today, the singer is sharing a brand new tune called “Boys Won’t Be Boys.”
Written by Ty Graham, Renee Blair, and Matt Alderman, Burke’s new song, “Boys Won’t Be Boys” proves to be another relatable and reminiscent country song. On the new track, the singer explores the idea that boys do not fully become who they are before they fall in love and find their person. The song touches on various life experiences, adding to the reliability of the catchy track.
“Boys are known for getting loud // Boys are known for going out // way too late, chasing girls from bar to bar downtown // Boys are known for getting drunk // Boys are known for too much fun // Tearing up a Friday like they just turned 21 // But when they meet somebody // who crashes their whole party // Boy won’t be boys”
“Boys Won’t Be Boys” is a great song to add to Burke’s growing catalog of music. It has all the elements that a great country song needs, so definitely give it a listen.
Austin Burke shares new song “Boys Won’t Be Boys,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Austin Burke releases.
“Boys Won’t Be Boys” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/austin-burke-new-song.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:08:232023-11-04 13:13:18Austin Burke Shares New Song “Boys Won’t Be Boys”
Cody Johnson shares his new album, Leather, out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.
On Leather, out now, Cody Johnson had one goal: to put out an album better than the last one. “This round of songs, I have to say, is the best round of songs I have ever recorded and I feel like that’s the way it should be,” Johnson revealed of the album, which he created alongside longtime producer Trent Willmon. “Each album should outdo the last one.”
With the release of Leather, the follow up to 2021’s Human The Double Album, Johnson has solidified his position as one of country’s most consistent and reliable superstars. Throughout the LP, which he promises will also become a double album in 2024, the former bull rider runs the gamut of emotions. There’s state pride on “That’s Texas,” despair over watching an ex move on with “Watching My Old Flame,” and the stunning prayer that is “Make Me a Mop.”
Interestingly, for the first time in his career, Johnson chose not to co-pen any of the album’s 12 tracks, instead enlisting Nashville’s best songwriters to offer up their best work to allow his vocals to shine through. The result is an album that still manages to sound pure Cody Johnson.
Leather opens with “Work Boots,” a catchy and clever twang-filled ode to a cowboy’s favorite footwear and their role in catching a special lady. “We got a little work to do // It looks like she wants to dance // I wouldn’t wanna miss our chance,” He sings. “She might be the one to change our world // But we ain’t gonna get the girl // Sittin’ on a stool // We gotta make our move // So come on, work, boots.”
The Texas native celebrates his home state on “That’s Texas,” offering a moment of levity in the form of a two steppin’, 90’s inspired fiddle and steel jaunt. Likewise, “Double Down” may be the most stylistically unique track, the crooner delivering the verses slowly and deliberately before launching into a raucous twang-infused chorus about drinking to move on. In a similar vein is “Long Live Country Music,” which pairs Johnson with Brooks & Dunn for the trio we didn’t know the world needed. Here, Johnson trades verses with the legendary duo on a track that was inspired by an off-the-cuff comment made during an awards show, when Johnson proclaimed “Long live country music.”
Another unexpected collaboration pairs Johnson with Jelly Roll, on “Whiskey Bent,” a stirring ode to facing one’s demons. Of the track, the singer revealed to Billboardthat he initially hated it simply because of the cliche title and Jelly was originally supposed to be on a different song (“Jesus Loves You”), but was stopped in his tracks by the lyrics to “Whiskey Bent.” “He just started crying and was like, ‘Bro, I ain’t never heard a song like that. If I’m gonna be on a song, can it be that one?’ Johnson shares. “I think we’ve both lived that song in our own ways. People look at me as this clean-cut, wholesome guy, but I’m no different than anybody else.”
Johnson continues to show his more vulnerable side on tracks like “Watching My Old Flame,” the piano-driven “Dirt Cheap,” and “The Painter.” While “Watching My Old Flame” is a heartbreak ballad with unique lyrics that chronicles the pain of watching an ex move on, “The Painter” is a gorgeous love song. “I think it’s the first song I’ve ever recorded where I sing it in my talking voice,” He shares. “I intentionally tried to stay out of the way of the song, so the listener could paint their own image, and have their own interpretation of it. But for me, obviously, it’s about my wife [Brandi]. Without her, my world wouldn’t be what it is. We’ve been together for 15 years, so we’ve had some real highs, had some real lows. We’ve been through a lot together. She has stuck with me through thick and thin, and I think she deserves for me to be able to say this song is for her.”
Johnson shows his heavier side on tunes like “Jesus Loves You” and “People in the Back.” While the latter is an ode to the special people who you may find in the back row of a concert or the back row of a church, “Jesus” puts a unique spin on anger and betrayal. Speaking to Billboard, he revealed, “I think this song will raise some eyebrows, but you don’t get to sing about anger very often. It’s about a guy whose home is broken into, and he basically tells the person who broke into their home that he’s lucky he wasn’t killed while trying to break in. He’s basically saying, ‘God must’ve been looking out for you, but if you try that again, it’s over for you.”
Two clear highlights of the album are its title track, “Leather” and its stunning final track, “Make Me a Mop.” Co-written by Ian Munsick, “Leather” was shared with Johnson while the pair toured together and he revealed the moment he first heard the song. “My jaw dropped,” Johnson recalls. “Everything about a cowboy has to do with leather, so lines about it taking ‘Years of work and dirt and hurt to make him,’ or ‘He’ll start out stiff and rough, but give him time and he’ll soften up/ And that just makes him twice as tough’… It is so well-written.”
Lastly, the album ends on the especially poignant “Make Me A Mop,” which is a sparse and chill-inducing prayer of vulnerability as the singer begs God to make him something more than he is. “Make me a mop to clean up the messes that I’ve made in my life.” He begins. “Lord make me a spoon, smooth on the edges, when my words want to reach for a knife.”
With the release of Leather, Cody Johnson promised an album to outdo his last one, and he’s done just that. The LP is a solid collection of tried and true country that is sure to even further launch Johnson into superstardom.
Leather Tracklist:
Work Boots (Jason Afable, Brett Beavers, Canaan Smith)
Double Down (Jeff Hyde, Adam James, Clint Daniels)
Watching My Old Flame (Kat Higgins, Wynn Varble, Clint Daniels)
That’s Texas (Andy Sheridan, Erik Dylan, Wyatt McCubbin)
Dirt Cheap (Josh Phillips)
Jesus Loves You (Mark Holman, Chase McGill, Michael Hardy)
Leather (Ian Munsick, Rivers Rutherford, Jeremy Spillman)
People In The Back (Devin Dawson, Austin Taylor Smith, Mark Trussell)
Long Live Country Music (feat. Brooks & Dunn) (Phil O’Donnell, Wade Kirby, Trent Willmon)
The Painter (Kat Higgins, Benjy Davis, Ryan Larkins)
Make Me A Mop (Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Alan Shamblin)
Country Swag Picks:
The Painter
Long Live Country Music
That’s Texas
Leather
Make Me a Mop
Cody Johnson shares his third studio album, ‘Leather,’ out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Cody Johnson announcements and releases.
Leather 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cody-johnson-leather.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2023-11-03 00:07:382023-11-03 00:07:38Cody Johnson: ‘Leather’ – Album Review
Griffen Palmer shares brand new song “Heart Of Exes,” out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.
Griffen Palmer won the hearts of music lovers everywhere on his episode of NBC’s songwriting competition show, Songland, just three years ago. Now, he is showcasing both his songwriting and vocal abilities through more new music that is distinctly his own. The rising artist is sharing a brand new song today called “Heart Of Exes.”
Written by Palmer with Hoskins, Jackson Morgan, and Ryan Vojtesak, the new song speaks to heartbreak in a way that feels deeply painful, yet relatable. Full of one liners that will keep you thinking, introspective lyrics, and a catchy hook and melody, “Heart Of Exes” hits all the right notes for a modern-day country song. Palmer continues to deliver new music that will grow his fanbase.
“Now I’m down here sippin’ tear filled beers // Holding back that I miss you message / Racked up tab halfway to hurt bad // Buying rounds for all of my questions // I guess this is what it looks like // When a good girl goodbyes // Now I’m 700 miles from her lone star smile confessin’ // I’m stuck deep in the heart of Exes // Down down down down down here // Deep in the heart of Exes // Down down down down down here”
As his stardom grows, the singer-songwriter continues to crank out more and more great music. We are excited to see what is on the horizon next for Palmer!
Griffen Palmer shares new song, “Heart Of Exes,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Griffen Palmer releases.
“Heart Of Exes” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/griffen-palmer-song-heart-of-exes.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:05:162023-11-03 00:05:16Griffen Palmer Shares New Song “Heart Of Exes”
Conner Smith announces debut album and drops title track, “Smoky Mountains,” out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new song below.
One of our favorite rising country artists has officially announced the release date for his debut album! Conner Smith‘s debut album, titled Smoky Mountains is coming out January 26th. Featuring twelve songs, including fan favorites, “I Hate Alabama” and “Creek Will Rise,” the album is one of the most anticipated records by a new artist. In celebration of the news, Smith shares the title track of the record, out today.
“Smoky Mountains” seems to set the tone for what fans can expect on the upcoming record. The classic meets modern country song starts off contained, until it explodes with rhythmic lyrics and incredible instrumentals. The new song is fun, nostalgic, heartfelt, and carefree, qualities that we love in country music.
In a recent press release Smith shared, ““There’s an image in my head that’s so inspiring. You got your family and your best friends, drinking some whiskey on a front porch, picking a banjo. And then as I was writing it, it really became a sense of longing, because this whole year has been about being gone an infinite amount, traveling and chasing the dream.” The sentiment perfectly describes the single and the aforementioned album.
“Smoky Mountains” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/conner-smith-smokey-mountains.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-11-03 00:04:192023-11-03 00:04:19Conner Smith Announces Debut Album + Drops Title Track “Smoky Mountains”
Jason Aldean shares his new album, Highway Desperado, out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.
Fresh off his remarkable 28th number-one radio single, the polarizing yet popular “Try That In A Small Town,” the reigning ACM Artist of the Decade adds to his already impressive resume with another full-length project. Aldean shared the inspiration for the album’s title came from his latest sold-out headlining tour that just ended last weekend.
“I think when I look back on it, I built my career early on my live show, and have been on the road touring since I was 18 years old. For us, touring is our favorite part,” Aldean confessed in a recent press release. “Getting on the bus and going town to town and playing our shows and doing our thing and seeing the fans…the title for the tour and album was really inspired from that.”
That inspiration is exhibited immediately in the project’s opening song, “Tough Crowd.” The phrase, “tough crowd,” typically describes a disengaged audience, but the writers flip it into a favorable attribute. Aldean highlights the veterans and blue collar 9-to-5ers in the audience, giving them credit for partying hard at the show even after working hard all day. The track is filled with crowd cheers to give it that real, live concert feel.
The next song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” is a PSA to all the moms out there to, like the title says, let their boys be country—let them hunt, drive trucks, fall in love with the girl next door, and be proud of where they’re from.
Alcohol-aided heartbreak is a prominent theme throughout the record, expressed on tracks such as “I Knew You’d Come Around,” “Whiskey Drink”and “From This Beer On.” In the former, the singer got to the bar early to get a head start on his buzz, because he had a feeling his ex would show up and wreck his good time later that night. The upbeat melody contradicts the somber subject matter, creating a unique and interesting sound. In “Whiskey Drink,” the singer is begging his substances to drown out his feelings and regret. In the latter, the singer pledges to himself that her leaving won’t affect his good time, and from this beer on, it’s all good vibes.
Love is represented in a positive light on the album as well. In the soothing “Rather Watch You,” the singer is in front of the most beautiful and scenic view imaginable, but all he can focus on is the woman next to him—a cute sentiment emphasizing the effect of true love.The title of the snap-track, “I’m Over You,” suggests the singer has officially moved on from his ex, but instead, he’s over her being just his girlfriend.
“I’m over you not leaving your car parked out in the yard // Not stealing my t-shirts every night // I’m over your boots not next to my boots // I’m over my whiskey not next to your wine // My life could use some forever, and your name could use some new letters // You’ve had yours your whole life // I’m over you not having mine”
Aldean, whose last contribution to song lyrics was on “Keep the Girl”from his third album, Wide Open, has three cuts on this record in “Breakup Breakdown,” Hungover In A Hotel,” and the concluding title track. The former is a rocking tune that features the singer in the middle of an emotional breakdown caused from his former relationship. In the title track, the singer reflects on his lifestyle and the high he gets from being out on the road. He admits he has no intention of changing his ways. The song ends with a 75 second guitar solo.
“Every cowboy knows you can’t hang your hat in just one place // You’re a highway desperado”
In an industry that is constantly evolving, Jason Aldean continues to follow the same musical formula. Yet he continues to enthrall listeners and remains one of country music’s most popular figures—a true testament to his vocal talent, his team of writers and producers, and his showmanship on stage. Not many country artists have been at their peak as long as Aldean, and whether you appreciate his candid attitude, you must acknowledge the impact and the joy he’s had on our beloved genre.
Highway Desperado Tracklist:
Tough Crowd – Kurt Allison, Marv Green, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
Let Your Boys Be Country – Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, Micah Wilshire
Knew You’d Come Around – Kurt Allison, Ben Hayslip, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
Hungover In A Hotel – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy, Neil Thrasher
Try That In A Small Town – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
Whiskey Drink – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
Whose Rearview – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn
I’m Over You – Josh Phillips, Michael Tyler, Micah Wilshire
Rather Watch You – Jessi Alexander, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
Breakup Breakdown – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughan
Get Away From You – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn
Changing Bars – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
From This Beer On – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
Highway Desperado – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
Country Swag Picks:
Tough Crowd
Breakup Breakdown
Whose Rearview
I’m Over You
Jason Aldean’s new album, ‘Highway Desperado’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Jason Aldean announcements and releases.
Highway Desperado 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 Troy Cartwright? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…
Troy Cartwright | Photo credit: Erika Rock
Quick Facts:
Full Name – Troy Cartwright Dixon
Birthday – 04/03/1990
Hometown – Dallas, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffett, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton
Current Single – “Girl I Loved Before” (Out 10/30/23)
The Beginning:
Back in 2021, we introduced you to singer-songwriter Troy Cartwright. At the time Cartwright had just released his project called, Halfway To Houston. Much of Cartwright’s career has evolved since, but for the singer, it is all good things! We caught up with the artist and chatted about the last two years and what fans can expect moving forward.
Growing up in Dallas, Texas, he recalls always loving music. “I’ve always been into music. I always joke that writing songs is the only thing that nobody told me to do.”
At just twelve years old, Cartwright started playing guitar. “Once I could play, I just kind of stopped practicing, and just started writing songs,” shared Cartwright. “I always sort of had a knack for that part of it.” Despite loving music, interestingly he tried to avoid the country genre at first because it was his older sister’s favorite.
“When I was kid, it was just sort of whatever was popular at the time like Simple Plan and New Found Glory and stuff like that […] There was some singer-songwriter stuff that I fell in love with like Pete Yorn.” On the contrary, now, Cartwright also draws inspirations from artists that his parents listened to when he was younger like, Tom Petty.
“I find that I’m doing even more and more digging into the stuff that has stood the test of time. I have probably listened to more Tom Petty in the last two years, then I have my whole life,” he shared. Adding, “At a certain point, like an artist that is a legend like that, it’s something that your parents listened to and then it changes over to something you choose to listen to. I guess for me, I don’t why, but it’s hitting different these days.”
The Turning Point:
Cartwright loved music so much that he took a leap of faith. He headed to Boston for college to pursue a degree in music business. Little did he know, this move would soon change the trajectory of his life.
During his junior year of college, Cartwright participated in an internship that became a major turning point for him. “I realized that was not the path that I wanted to go down,” shared the singer about the business-oriented job. “I realized through that process like ‘hey if you’re going to be an artist’ you just got to go for it.”
Upon graduating college, Cartwright headed back to Dallas to pursue his career as an artist.“ I was able to pretty quickly string together enough shows to pay the bills. […] That was kind of my start in country music, just playing the honky tonks and the bars that would have me.”
“After I came to Nashville for the first time and got to co-write, I knew I was going to move to Nashville no matter what… I just had to figure out how to get there,” Cartwright explains. Eventually, he caught the ear of a publisher in town who offered him the opportunity to write. He also landed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville; however, now, the singer is happily an independent artist.
“I’ve since gone independent, and that happened pretty soon after we put out that record. That’s been pretty life-changing for me. I think at the time it was pretty scary, but it’s actually been great. The results have hopefully spoke for themselves, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to forge my own path in my career and with the music and get to release whatever is inspiring me at the time,” shared the singer.
In the last two years, since we last spoke, Cartwright has reinvented himself, drawing on new inspirations both as a songwriter and as an artist. “It’s interesting like I write so often, I’m probably writing 3 or 4 days a week that like you actually oddly listen to less music, which seems counterintuitive, but from a songwriting perspective, I think I’ve been spending a lot more time trying to source interesting topics. […] I’ve been reading a lot more books and trying to watch more film and TV to get different ideas, and for all my melodies and stuff, I’m constantly trying to switch it up.”
Today:
Flash forward to today, Cartwright is cranking out new music. “It’s been a really wild two years. If you would have told me the ride it was going to be, I wouldn’t have believed you, but it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been a lot of rewarding work,” he shared.
Most recently, Cartwright released two songs called, “Girl I Loved Before” and “Can’t Stop Falling Apart.” The former was inspired by the crossroads between possibly breaking-up and falling in love.
“Well “Girl I Loved Before” more or less I was just kind of chasing this idea of there’s a lot of songs about break-ups and about being in love, but there’s not a lot of songs about trying to accept where a relationship might be at, if it’s going to workout or now,” he shared. Adding, “To me in the song, the person is deciding that we’re going to do this thing and make it work, and there’s a spark in that, a rekindling of a frame that’s an exciting concept to tackle as a writer and an as artist for me.”
On the other hand, “Can’t Stop Falling Apart” is an introspective song that uncovers the messy truth of being human in today’s day and age. “Then “Can’t Stop Falling Apart” is one of the most honest songs I’ve written,” began Cartwright. “It was really just a day where the advantages of the new music landscape with TikTok and Instagram reels are so amazing, but it’s also really exhausting because you feel like you never have any rest period. It’s always I have to create today, and you can choose to say I have to or I get too, and most days I say “I get to,” but some days it gets to me, and that day I was coming from this place of ‘man, I’m super burnt out right now’.”
Both songs really speak to Cartwright’s growth as both a vocalist and as a songwriter. According to the singer, more new music is coming down the pipeline soon. Fans can get excited for more authenticity and honesty showcased throughout the singer’s music.
“I’m really excited about the future and some of the music that I’m making. I think one of the things that I love about being independent is getting to try different things, and I really look forward to getting to continue that and trying some different angles, and experimenting with releasing stuff not just as singles but a whole project or something like that.”
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Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Troy Cartwright announcements and releases.
Troy Cartwright’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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/who-is-troy-cartwright.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-10-31 14:24:032023-10-31 14:24:03Who Is Troy Cartwright? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music (2023)
Morgan Wallen continues his streak of number ones with his tenth song to top the country charts, “Thinkin’ Bout Me.” Get all the details here.
Morgan Wallen continues his streak of number ones. It seems every song he sends to country radio quickly finds its way to the top of the charts. Following his songs “You Proof” and “Last Night,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me” officially marks Wallen’s tenth number one single at country radio.
A fan-favorite song from Wallen’s latest album, “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” conveys the story about having a spark with someone. Filled with appeal and a catchy tempo that we have grown to love form Wallen, the song fits the bill as the perfect track to add to the singer’s catalog.
“When you’re tastin’ what he’s drinkin’, are you thinkin’ bout me? // Comin’ over tonight, wish that truck in your drive was mine // Just like you know it’s supposed to be // When you’re up in his bed, am I up in your head? // Making you crazy, tell me, baby, are you thinkin’ ’bout me? // Are you thinkin’ ’bout, are you thinkin’ ’bout // When you’re tastin’ what he’s drinkin’, are you thinkin’ ’bout me?”
There is truly no stopping Wallen! His career continues to catapult him to superstardom. While we celebrate, “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” the singer-songwriter also has another song currently sitting in the top ten of the charts too. Congrats to Wallen and his team on their tenth number one! There is surely more to come!
Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Morgan Wallen announcements and releases.
“Thinkin’ Bout Me” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/morgan-wallen-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-10-31 13:42:592023-12-17 13:31:05Morgan Wallen’s Song “Thinkin’ Bout Me” Goes Number One at Country Radio
