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Kylie Morgan: ‘Making It Up As I Go’ Album Review

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Kyle Morgan’s brand new album, Making It Up As I Go is out now, October 13th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

“At what age do you feel like a grown up?” Kylie Morgan asks on the titular track of her debut album, immediately drawing listeners in and setting the stage for the 12 tracks to come. On Making It Up as I Go, Morgan is approachable and relatable, introspective and outspoken, vulnerable yet strong.

All of the tracks on the LP were written or co-written by the Oklahoma native who manages to tap into a confessional yet approachable style of songwriting, remnant of early Taylor Swift or Kelsea Ballerini. This is especially evident on tracks like the introspective “Quarter Life Crisis,” the stirring “Class Rings,” the moving “Don’t Stay Gone Too Long,” and the empowering “Ladies First.”

“This album is for the in-betweeners. The ones who pretend to have it all figured out but are still finding out where they want to go, who they want to be, and how to get there. Whether you’re a child who’s supposed to feel like a teenager, a teenager who’s supposed to feel like a grown up or a grown up that still feels like a child. We’re all just doing our best and I hope this is the soundtrack to your journey,” The EMI Records Nashville artist shares. “‘Cause if we’re all being honest… we’re just makin’ it up as we go.”  

That in-between feeling works its way through the title track, as well as songs like the ode to various goodbyes, “Don’t Stay Gone Too Long” and the reflective “Quarter Life Crisis,” which finds her wondering about her life and how she’s living it. Written alone in a hotel room, she shares. “I was living my dream, but I couldn’t have felt more alone in that moment. The closer you get to your dream, sometimes the further you get from yourself, and that’s how it felt.”   

Female empowerment is a theme on tracks like the up-tempo “Country Girl,” the make-your-own-money-anthem, “Sugar Daddy,” and the kiss-off, “If He Wanted to He Would.” While “Country Girl” and “Sugar Daddy” are both fun pop-tinted tracks, “If He Wanted to” is more straightforward country, Morgan warning a girl not to give a guy too much credit. “If he loved you, he would tell you // If he missed you, he would call,” She muses. “If he wants you to meet his momma // Then he would bring you home // Oh, there ain’t no excuse // He ain’t Mr. Misunderstood // Quit lying to yourself // If he wanted to, he would.”

Likewise, guys are on put on blast on songs like “Bad Girlfriend” and “Happy Ever After Me.” The former is a Carrie Underwood-esque, guitar-heavy and tongue-in-cheek banger that tries to convince a man to put a ring on it in the most unconventional ways. Meanwhile, Morgan describes  the sweet “Happy Ever After Me” as “the prettiest version of a middle finger to my ex.” With its sweet vocals and slide guitars, the description is right on the money.

Morgan is at her finest when she’s at her most vulnerable, evidenced on songs like “Class Rings,” “Ladies First,” “A Few Hearts Ago,” and the album’s closer, “Old Me.” While “Rings” is about a high school love that doesn’t stick around (“That’s why class rings aren’t made of diamonds // Even my mama believed him.”), “Ladies First” deals with the insecurities and stigmas that often come along with womanhood. “How do you expect someone to respect you if you don’t respect yourself?” She asks on the especially poignant track.

While “A Few Hearts Ago” is an earwormy and catchy take on meeting someone at the right time, the lyrics prove that Morgan knows her emotional maturity. “A few hearts ago // Would’ve broke yours, I’d be missing out // Wouldn’t have these lips I’m kissing now // Time did what it’s supposed to do // Thank God I didn’t meet you // A few hearts ago.”

Finally, the LP concludes with “Old Me,” a poignant letter to Morgan’s younger self, much in the vein of Brad Paisley’s “Letter to Me.” It’s the perfect closer for an album that takes you on a journey, in the best way.  “I’m going to continue to grow, continue to discover new things about myself, and continue to reach the people that I feel like I need to say things to that they feel but don’t know how to say.”   

Making It Up As I Go Tracklist:

  1. Making It Up As I Go (Kylie Morgan, KK Johnson, Jordan Minton)
  2. Class Rings (Kylie Morgan, Ben Foster and Jack Newsome)
  3. Country Girl (Kylie Morgan, Gabe Foust, Nate Kenyon and Lance Miller)
  4. Sugar Daddy (Kylie Morgan, James McNair and Seth Mosley)
  5. Ladies First (Kylie Morgan, Ben Goldsmith, Josh Jenkins)
  6. Happy Ever After Me (Kylie Morgan)
  7. Bad Girlfriend (Kylie Morgan, Emily Earle, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram)
  8. A Few Hearts Ago (Kylie Morgan, Casey Brown, James McNair)
  9. Quarter Life Crisis (Kylie Morgan)
  10. If He Wanted To He Would (Kylie Morgan, Zandi Holup, Ben Johnson)
  11. Don’t Stay Gone Too Long (Kylie Morgan, Nelly Joy, Jason Massey)
  12. Old Me (Kylie Morgan, Megan Conner, Jeff Garrison)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Making It Up As I Go”
  2. “A Few Hearts Ago”
  3. “Class Rings”
Kylie-morgan-album

Kylie Morgan’s new album, “Making It Up As I Go,’ 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 Kylie Morgan announcements and releases.

To keep up with Kylie Morgan, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Making It Up As I Go 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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Lainey Wilson Goes Number One with “Watermelon Moonshine”

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Lainey Wilson lands another number one song at country radio this week with “Watermelon Moonshine.” Learn all the details here.

Lainey Wilson in an absolute superstar in country music. She is a talented vocalist and songwriter, as well as, one of the most fun entertainers to see live. So far in her career, she has been recognized for her talent both at award shows and at country radio. Today, she adds to her catalog of hits with “Watermelon Moonshine” going number one at country radio this week.

Written by Wilson with Josh Kear, and Jordan Schmidt, “Watermelon Moonshine” is a story about reckless love. The singer has previously shared that the song embodies exactly what she values in country music: the story and the timeless connection to the music. “Watermelon Moonshine” is one of Wilson’s best songs to date.

“Drinkin’ watermelon moonshine // We cut the burn with a little lime // Parkin’ back in them kudzu vines // I was his and every bit of that boy was mine // Too young to know what love was // But we were learnin’ on a sweet buzz // There’s never nothin’ like the first time // And mine’s always gonna taste like // Watermelon moonshine”

Congratulations to Wilson and her team on their accomplishment. We are excited to see what song becomes Wilson’s next number one!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Lainey Wilson announcements and releases.

To keep up with Lainey Wilson, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Watermelon Moonshine” 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 Ryan Larkins? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Ryan Larkins
Birthday – October 5th
Hometown – Nashville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Label – Red Street Records
Current Single – “King Of Country Music” (Out 10/13/23)

The Beginning:

Country music is a true art form, and this week’s spotlight artist abides by that. Ryan Larkins is a true student of country music. Beginning his career as a songwriter, and now venturing out on his own as an artist, his journey is an incredible display of talent and drive.

“I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, which is Music City, and we’re known for country music,” began the singer.” Despite growing up in Nashville, Larkins was not introduced to the country music genre in his youth. “My dad was a Pentecostal pastor, so it was a very strict childhood. I didn’t listen to anything except gospel music.”

Even though country music was not on his radar back in the day, Larkins did fall in love with music. “I started playing guitar when I was twelve years old, and I started singing in church.” He even began songwriting at the tender age, just for fun. Although Larkins did not grow up learning about country music, he did understand the power of music.

Eventually, he would go on to discover country music and fall in love with the storytelling aspect that the genre is known for. “I love Willie Nelson and the reason I love him is not only is he a great artist, he is a great songwriter, and he has written songs for other people, and he’s so unique. […] I love Randy Travis, I think he has one of the coolest, most unique voices in music history. George Strait, he’s another one who’s up there for me. […] I love Dolly Parton. She’s a great songwriter, a great artist,” he shared, adding, “And then with new people, I love Cody Johnson. He’s staying true to that authentic country sound. Lainey Wilson is another one. I think she’s incredible. Tim McGraw, I love all of those artists.”

The Turning Point:

When Larkins was 21 years old, his friend convinced him to audition for a singing competition show called ‘Can You Duet?’ on CMT. “A friend of mine from church was like ‘man we need to go try out for this show, and we’ll be the next Brooks & Dunn.’ I was like “That sounds great! Who’s Brooks & Dunn?.”

After finishing in third place, Larkins began to write songs for a living, discovering more and more music along the way. “I love those classic country artists like Randy Travis, George Strait, Merle Haggard, and I just remember thinking, there were preachers that came through our church when I was a kid and they would tell these stories that I would be on the edge of my seat wanting to hear, and then I heard “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis, and I thought it was so similar. The storytelling is really what I fell in love with.” He added, “I really had no clue about the history, but I got a record player and I started learning about the history, and I put myself through school listening to some of those old albums.”

Eventually, with the support and encouragement of his wife, Larkins earned his first publishing deal and then later, a record deal. “Five years ago I signed my first publishing deal. […] and then last year I met with Red Street Records, and I loved the people over there, and I feel so thankful to be able to release my own music. I’m living the dream.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Larkins is releasing his debut EP, Meet Ryan Larkins this Friday (10/13) under Red Street Records. “I’ve been writing songs for a long time, and these five songs are like my favorite songs that I have ever written,” he shared about the record. “When I signed my record deal with Red Street Records, I knew it was the right home because of Jay DeMarcus, he just got me from day one. He knew exactly what to do with these songs, and he produced this EP, and I’m so excited that these songs are going to be out in the world.”

Each of the five songs showcase different sides of Larkins and his talent as an artist, which is exactly what he has set out to do. “I think it’s a great representation of who I am an artist, and I’m just so thankful to have that opportunity. Hopefully when people hear that song that feels like they have been introduced to me not only as a songwriter and as an artist, but to me as a person.”

Fans can look forward to songs like “Dream Baby” that has some tempo, as well as, “Paid For It” which is a great example of a storytelling song. However, one of the best off the project is a song called, “King Of Country Music.”

““King Of Country Music” is probably my favorite song that I’ve ever written,” shared Larkins. “I got that idea just sitting in my car, driving around, listening to some classic country music. My oldest boy, he looked up and asked “Dad, who is the king of country music? Who is the greatest singer in the history of country music?” And he kind of caught me off guard, ya know, there’s so many great singers […] And that idea just hit me. I knew exactly who the king of country music is. [the song].”

It is safe to say that the rest of this year is going to be a big step in Larkins career. Check back on Friday for our full review of Meet Ryan Larkins, and keep your eyes and ears pealed for live shows, coming soon too!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Ryan Larkins, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Ryan Larkin’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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John Morgan: ‘Remember Us?’ – Debut EP Review

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John Morgan releases his brand new debut EP, Remember Us?, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.

For BBR Music Group recording artist and acclaimed songwriter John Morgan, Remember Us? marks his debut EP as an artist. Featuring six new songs co-written by Morgan, the collection features a wide range of anthemic country and heartbreak tunes.

The North Carolina native is best known for writing Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping duet, “If I Didn’t Love You,” and partnered with Aldean and his bandmates Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy to co-write and co-produce select tracks. Other contributors on the project include Rodney Clawson, Will Bundy, Justin Wilson, Ben Hayslip, and David Lee Murphy, but at the end of the day, it’s pure Morgan.

“I’m proud to put out this project, so people can really see what I’ve been doing the last couple of years,” says Morgan in a statement. “I haven’t just been writing songs for other people. I hope they see the time that’s put into the details. A lot of these songs are two or three years old. They’ve stood the test of time and are still some of my favorites. They are special to me in different ways. I hope the EP really gives people an opportunity to see me establishing myself as an artist and not just a songwriter. These songs are true to me, and I hope people connect with them.”

Heartbreak and longing are common themes on Remember Us?, weaving their way through the nostalgic title track, as well as songs like “Cold Summer in San Antone” and “Ain’t the Leaving.” “Remember Us” finds him forgetting the bad and reminiscing about only the good parts of a past love, as he’s a man “stuck here in the could’ve been, caught up in the used to be.” 

“Cold Summer in San Antone” is an immediate standout, a stirring country ballad that finds him dealing with the ice around a broken heart.

“It’s been a cold summer in San Antone // Well, that Texas sun don’t even feel like it’s on // It’s a hundred and somethin’, damn near record high //  But it’s minus one in this bedroom tonight // I wonder if she even knows // That it’s been a cold, cold summer in San Antone”

Meanwhile, “Ain’t the Leaving” may also be about a broken relationship, but it’s a blistering and stadium-ready anthem that finds him grappling with goodbye. “It ain’t the goodbye, it ain’t two taillights that keep me up all night, with a half empty glass, girl it’s the knowing, you won’t stop going, it’s starting to sink in,” He proclaims. “It ain’t the leaving, it’s the not coming back.”

Clever lyrics are commonplace on Remember Us?, especially noticeable on “Friends Like That” and “Won’t Be As Good.” The latter is a gritty and almost swampy stomp about how someone special makes life a whole lot better, while “Friends Like That” finds him seeking solace in friends like Willie and Jack.

“I’m doing alright for the shape I’m in //  Sitting by a fire with some damn good friends //  Willie on my left, Jack on my right //  Blowin’ that smoke on a Friday night // Waylon turned up on the JBL //  Girl, you probably think I’m going through hell //  But I don’t care, if you never come back  ‘Cause who needs you when I got friends like that”

The final song on the EP is “Ain’t Been There Yet,” starting with a Sam Hunt-esque spoken word intro that segues into a full out mid-tempo country tune as Morgan looks for somewhere to forget an ex. “There’s gotta be somewhere I can go…Where I can just go to forget, Wherever it is, I ain’t been there yet.”

For John Morgan, Remember Us? may mark his debut EP, but it’s certainly one that won’t be forgotten.

Remember Us? EP Tracklist:

  1. Won’t Be As Good (John Morgan, Will Bundy, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)
  2. Remember Us (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)
  3. Friends Like That (John Morgan, Brent Anderson, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)
  4. Cold Summer In San Antone (John Morgan, Ben Hayslip, Will Bundy)
  5. It Ain’t the Leavin’ (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Casey Beathard, Josh Thompson, Rocky Block)
  6. Ain’t Been There Yet (John Morgan, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Cold Summer in San Antone
  2. Won’t Be As Good
  3. Friends Like That
John-morgan-debut-ep

John Morgan shares his debut EP, ‘Remember Us?,’ 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 John Morgan releases.

To keep up with John Morgan, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Remember Us? is 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.

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Jason Aldean Shares New Song “Whiskey Drink” Ahead of Album

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Jason Aldean releases new song, “Whiskey Drink,” out now, October 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

While fans await Jason Aldean’s upcoming album, Highway Desperado, out on November 3rd, the singer is sharing a taste of the record with fans. Last month, he released “Let Your Boys Be Country.” Today, the entertainer is sharing another new song called, “Whiskey Drink.”

Aldean excels at delivering both energetic anthems and heart-filled slow jams. “Whiskey Drink” fits in with the latter. The new song is a slower-tempo track about heartbreak and drinking away the pain. Written almost as a letter or a conversation to whiskey, Aldean laments about needing the drink to drown out the heartbreak, something anyone who has experienced heartbreak can relate to.

“Hey whiskey drink // I know it’s been a while // Gotta talk to you, gotta catch you up on the hell I’m in right now // Yeah, whiskey drink // Now you won’t believe // The things I said, the way she left, the way the leaving all went down // It might take all night to get her off my mind // I need you one more time // Yeah, be a good friend // Come on, Kick in whiskey drink // I don’t want to think, think think”

Aldean is a true mainstay in country music, creating music that is unapologetically him. Fans will definitely flock to this new one. “Whiskey Drink” is one of Aldean’s best songs as of late.

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Jason Aldean shares new song, “Whiskey Drink,” ahead of next studio album, ‘Highway Desperado.’

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Whiskey Drink” 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.

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Drake White: ‘The Bridge’ – EP Review

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Drake White releases his brand new EP, The Bridge, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.

With one of country music’s most compelling voices and stories, Drake White is back with his new EP, The Bridge. The 7-song collection marks the followup to 2022’s LP, The Optimystic, which chronicled White’s recovery from a career and life-altering stroke.

For the Alabama native, The Bridge is a collection of both the old and new. “The Webster dictionary defines a bridge as a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle,” White says. “This is the bridge taking me [to] back to why I started making music in the first place.” 

All seven songs were co-written by the Alabama native, including reimagined versions of “50 Years Too Late” and “Power of a Woman,” both which appeared on The Optimystic. While the newly released version of “50 Years” is a gritty and soulful “ruff cut” of the ode to simpler times, “Power” is reimagined as a duet with Colbie Caillat. Here, the breezy singer-songwriter’s warm voice perfectly complements the grit and gravel of White, breathing new life into the track that celebrates an amazing woman.

“Makin’ Me Look Good Again” is also a new version, originally appearing on White’s debut album, Spark. On the new take, aptly dubbed a “wedding version,” his stunning vocals soar over slowed and stripped down instrumentation, making it perfect for a first dance. “And then those loving arms, they pull me back in,” He croons, voice full of emotion. “Oh there you go, baby, yeah, Oh making me look good again.”

“Turn You On” offers another romantic moment, with a seductive invitation to slow things down and enjoy the moment. Co-written with Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, the track can be likened to a modern day “Let’s Get It On,” with White seductively offering to “turn it all off so I can turn you on.”

As one of country music’s most prolific optimists, Drake White shines on introspection in the forms of “Spirit” and “Ladder to the Sky.” The former finds White as a drifter, his soul meant to wander, while “Ladder” offers an especially poignant moment of reflection as a small part in a bigger picture.

“Where it leads nobody knows //  Past the stars and left at the rainbow //  Ya everybody, everywhere, everyday is trying to climb //  Up that ladder //  The ladder to the sky // Ya the view gets better from way up high //  So climb that ladder // the ladder to the sky”

While the Alabama native shines on romance and introspection, he also knows how to have fun, as evidenced on the EP’s final track, his collaboration with Hayes Carll, “Happy Hour.” On the twangy up-tempo, the pair find themselves asking life’s biggest questions, musing “Who says happy only gets to last an hour?”

“Why do mommas always worry? // Why can’t payday come on time // Why does agave tequila taste, better with salt and lime // Why are sunsets so romantic? // Why are fun things all so wrong? // Why can’t I ever stop singing them sad ol’ country songs? // And why can’t stopping time be my superpower? // And who says happy only gets to last an hour? “

On his new EP, Drake White continues to prove why he’s one of music’s most unique and powerful artists. With his unique output on life and his patented blend of country, soul and Muscle Shoals, each new release offers listeners something truly special, and The Bridge is no exception.

The Bridge EP Tracklist:

  1. 50 Years Too Late (Ruff Cut) (Leith Loftin, Drake White) 
  2. Spirit (Drake White, Phil Pence, Leslie Satcher) 
  3. Power of a Woman (ft. Colbie Caillat) (Kelli Johnson, Lindsey Hinkle, Drake White) 
  4. Makin’ Me Look Good Again (Wedding Version) (Drake White, Monty Criswell, Shane Minor) 
  5. Turn You On (Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Drake White) 
  6. Ladder To The Sky (Drake White, Vanessa Olivarez, Andy Skib) 
  7. Happy Hour (Drake White, Hayes Carll) 

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Ladder to the Sky
  2. Happy Hour
  3. Makin’ Me Look Good Again
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Drake White shares new EP, ‘The Bridge,’ 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 Drake White releases.

To keep up with Drake White, follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

The Bridge is 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.

Colbie Caillat: ‘Along The Way’ Album Review

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Colbie Caillat’s brand new album, Along The Way is out now, October 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

After having success in pop music from 2007-2014 with hits such as “Brighter Than The Sun,” and “Bubbly,” California-native, Colbie Caillat is expanding her craft into the country scene. Although this is her first solo-country project, Caillat was a part of the former pop-country group, Gone West when they released their debut album Canyons in 2020. 

Caillat penned all thirteen songs on the record, with AJ Pruis and Liz Rose contributing to six of them. There are several common themes but none more significant than “change.” The album kicks off with the reflective “Wide Open,” a mid-tempo track about enjoying the moment without worry. Life is constantly changing, so don’t get discouraged when things don’t go exactly your way—a symbol of her new career path. “Sometimes You Need a Change” is also an illustration of this.

The next track, “Pretend,” contains a lot of traditional country elements like fiddle and steel guitar. While the lyrics check-off the boxes of classic country stereotypes, the overall meaning is very clever. When looking back on the last relationship, she realizes that their love wasn’t pretend, so her and her former love interest should pretend they didn’t make those crucial mistakes and try again. 

“Of that first summer night in the back of your truck // Kissin’ in the moonlight, stars above // Dancin’ in a field with the radio on // The moment we found our favorite song // Burnin’ like a fire that would never go out // Heartache wasn’t somethin’ we were thinkin’ about”

Along The Way’s secondary theme is “acceptance,” and this is displayed in “For Someone,” “Meant For Me,” and the lead single, “Worth It.” All songs discuss breakups where the singer was initially disappointed but admits she has no regrets and accepts the fact that they weren’t meant to be. In the former, the singer “fixed” the other, just so he can run off and be with someone else. She must remind herself that everything happens for a reason, and at the end of the day, they are probably better off on their own.

“We teach him how to walk and then he runs // Love’s cruel, but it’s cool // For me he might not be the right one // But I made him the right one for someone”

Every good country album needs a few lighthearted tunes to balance out the deeper and more vulnerable ones — “Two Birds” and “I’ll Be Here” provide this. The former is about sticking with the people you love no matter what. A Caillat solo write, the track is layered with traditional country instruments like harmonica and banjo to round out the fun and uplifting message. Caillat recruited country music legend, Sheryl Crow for the feel-good, “I’ll Be Here.” Its message is all about supporting one another through tough times. 

It would be great if we could choose the people we love, but unfortunately life doesn’t work like that. The final theme is nostalgia and longing for people in your past.  “Blue,” another Caillat solo wrote, and “Still Gonna Miss You” represent the singer’s feelings of coping with heartbreak. The latter paints the picture of how difficult it is to end true love, even if it’s for the best. The singer hopes that one day she’ll understand why leaving was the right thing to do.

The closing songs, “Old and New” and “The Other Side,” wrap up the project nicely. The singer conveyed her eagerness to begin her new journey but expresses how she’ll never forget the people and things in her past that helped shape the person she is today. If there’s one line to describe the album, it’s “It’s okay to miss the past while wanting something new.”

Whether this was just a fun project for Caillat or the start of a new, resurrected career, Along The Way is everything that’s good about pop-country—a fresh sound combined with real, meaningful lyrics. On behalf of country music fans, we would love to see Colbie Caillat as a mainstay in the genre. 

Along The Way Tracklist:

  1. Wide Open | Colbie Caillat, Alysa Vanderheym, Jordyn Shellhart
  2. Pretend | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  3. Worth It | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  4. Sometimes You Need a Change | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  5. For Someone | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  6. Meant For Me | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  7. Still Gonna Miss You | Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves
  8. I’ll Be Here featuring Sheryl Crow | Colbie Caillat, Brett James, Jason Reeves, Kenny Edmonds
  9. Buying Time | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  10. Blue | Colbie Caillat
  11. Two Birds | Colbie Caillat
  12. Old and New | Colbie Caillat
  13. The Other Side | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Worth It
  2. For Someone
  3. Two Birds
  4. Old and New
colbie-caillat-album

Colbie Caillat shares her new album, ‘Along The Way,’ out not 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 Colbie Caillat announcements and releases.

To keep up with Colbie Caillat, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Along The Way 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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Dylan Scott Shares New Song “I’ll Be A Bartender”

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Dylan Scott shares brand new song, “I’ll Be A Bartender,” out now, October 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Dylan Scott is back with more new music. The entertainer loves to infuse different sounds and styles of music into his songs and story-teller. Today’s new song, “I’ll Be A Bartender” fits that bill.

Scott serves up the remedy for heartbreak in this hip-hop infused country track, “I’ll Be A
Bartender.” The 32-year-old from Louisiana sings from the perspective of someone who hopes
to be another’s rebound after the woman calls him in distress over her new relationship. The
man volunteers to comfort her while pouring her some drinks to help her move on, citing “it’s happy hour at my kitchen counter.”

“Make it alright, put some bourbon in your hurtin’ on ice // I ain’t got the neon, or smoke in the
room // But if you need a drink as bad as I need you // Baby, I’ll be a bartender”

“I’ll Be A Bartender” follows the single, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” released in June.
Scott will debut these new songs on his headlining tour of the same name this fall featuring
special guests, Matt Schuster and Tayler Holder. For tickets, head to his website.

Dylan-scott-bartender

Dylan Scott shares new song, “I’ll Be A Bartender,” 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 Dylan Scott releases.

To keep up with Dylan Scott, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“I’ll Be A Bartender” 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.

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Parmalee Goes Number One at Country Radio with “Girl In Mine”

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Parmalee secures another number one song at country radio with their romantic single, “Take My Name.” Learn more about the success below.

Platinum-selling country band, Parmalee has hit their stride. Last year, Parmalee secured their third number one single at country radio with their song, “Take My Name.” Today, Parmalee keeps the momentum going, landing their fourth number one with their song, “Girl In Mine.”

Written by Matt Thomas with Ashley Gorley, David Fanning, Travis Wood, and Casey Brown, “Girl In Mine” hooks listeners from the get-go. Clever, catchy, and fun, the song is a top tier song in Parmalee’s impressive catalog of music. “Girl In Mine” showcases exactly how everyone deserves to be treated in a relationship, and portrays the bright side of liking someone.

“You took the single // Out of my life  // Now I can’t wait to // See you tonight //  In my CJ seat // Messin’ with my rearview // No I don’t feel like me // Girl If I ain’t got you // In my t-shirt, in my ride  // Runnin’ circles in my mind  // Couple billion in the world // Baby you’re the only girl // In that picture in my pocket // On my cell phone when I lock it // It’s all you, no lie // Baby you’re the only girl in mine”

This makes Parmalee’s third number one song of their career. We wonder what song will be next! Congrats to Parmalee and their team!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Parmalee announcements and releases.

To keep up with Parmalee, follow them on Instagram, X / Twitter, and Facebook.

“Girl In Mine” 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 Anne Wilson? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

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Quick Facts:

Full Name – Anne Wilson
Birthdate – 2/21/2002
Hometown – Lexington, Kentucky
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash
Label – Capitol Christian Music Group / UMG Nashville
Current Single – “Rain in the Rearview”  (Impacting country radio) // as of date of article: 10/2/23

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight shines on an artist that is seemingly an incredible human and artist. Anne Wilson may be best known for her Christian music; however, she is blazing her own path, adding country music to her impressive repertoire. Anyone who appreciates an artist who is unapologetically themselves no matter what genre they are slated in will fall in love with Wilson.

The singer-songwriter hails from Lexington, Kentucky. “I grew up going to my family’s farm on the weekends. We have 700 acres in Kentucky, it’s absolutely beautiful. I’m so grateful and blessed to have that land,” she began. “I have two siblings, my brother Jacob and my sister, Elizabeth. We grew up as a really tight-knit family, always together.”

Wilson credits her family for introducing her to a wide variety of music at an early age. “I had actually been listening to quite a bit of music growing up. My parents would always play Christian radio and my brother would always play country music in the car. I felt like I got a really big dose of both of those genres. My brother would also play classic rock, and super old country songs, so that was always something that I loved,” she shared.

Despite being a music fan and playing classical piano for her entire childhood, at her mother’s request, Wilson never dreamed of being an artist. “I took piano lessons from six years old until graduating high school, like classical piano, and that was pretty much all the music I had. I didn’t do any other instruments. I didn’t sing in the choir. I didn’t sing in the car. I didn’t sing in the church. I really didn’t sing anywhere,” Wilson said.

Instead, Wilson focused on her dream of becoming an astronaut, finding herself more attracted to science and math. However, at age fifteen, when tragedy struck her family, her life and its path flipped on its axis.

The Turning Point:

The summer before her sophomore year of high school, Wilson learned that her older brother was killed in a tragic car accident. In order to cope with the tremendous loss, the songstress found comfort in the piano.

“I was singing at the piano one day, just a couple of days after he passed away, and I was really just worshiping God and having a moment to myself. I was processing all those things that had happened with my brother and my mom overheard me singing, and she came into the room, and said, “Anne I had no clue you could sing,” she shared. Adding, “I was super embarrassed and frustrated [at the time], but she asked me to sing at the funeral for my brother, because we couldn’t find anyone to sing, and I just decided to do it. I couldn’t help but do it, I wanted to honor my brother in that way, I sang publicly for the first time ever at my brother’s funeral.”

From that point on, Wilson started to fall in love with music and singing. “This whole thing kind of came out of nowhere for me, which makes it really cool,” she shared. “It started in 2017. Six months after my brother passed away, I got a call from a manager in Nashville. […] They had heard my voice because I posted one video of me singing on Youtube, and it went viral.”

After working with her manager for four years, Wilson was ready to introduce herself to the world through music. “In 2021, I released my very first single to Christian Radio. It was called, “My Jesus.” I was not expecting a thing out of it, I thought maybe it would land on the radio somewhere, and within 24 hours, it had nine million views on Facebook, and was just a viral song over night,” she shared. Adding, “My career took off immediately. I was nineteen at a time, and just moved out to Nashville the year prior all by myself. My life just changed over night.”

God moment after God moment, doors continued to open for Wilson. At the top of 2023, Wilson got a call from the head of UMG Nashville, who pitched her a joint record deal with her current label. “She wanted to work with me and do a co-record deal with my current record label. They said, “we want to take Anne to country radio, and we don’t want to change who she is. We don’t want her to do anything different. We just want her to put a song to country radio and give Anne an opportunity to really broaden her horizon and her audience.” That led into me writing songs and really figuring out if it was something I wanted to do and what I was passionate about, and it was such an immediate yes.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Wilson is a duel artist, creating music that appeals to her Christian and country fanbase. With a record completed and finished, and coming out sooner rather than later, the songstress is showcasing how she has evolved as an artist over the years.

“I wrote the entire record in two months. […] All of the record was really birthed out of the place of being a “rebel,” which is the title to the record,” she shared. “To me [my music is] more of an extension of who I am as an artist, and now being 21 writing this record, it’s just a different chapter of who I am as an artist.”

Wilson doubles down adding that it is important for her to remain true to herself. “I’m not going to water down my message for country radio, and I’m not going to water down my country production for Christian radio, but I’m going to be authentically who I am as an artist.”

Wilson just released three brand new songs under the title, REBEL (The Beginning), including, “REBEL,” “Strong,” and “Rain in the Rearview.” The latter is the first song to go to country radio, while “Strong” will head to Christian radio later next month. “Every single song was written with rebel in mind for the record,” she shared. “What does it mean to be a rebel in today’s day and age? And it means to not back down from your faith, to be a leader, to not follow the crowds, to do your own thing, and to be who you are.”

Fans can anticipate more new music coming down the pipeline from Wilson. For now, she is embarking on her first headlining tour. Find tickets here.

Connect:

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

To keep up with Anne Wilson follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X / Twitter.

Anne Wilson’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.