Tag Archive for: Greylan James

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Here Are The New Country Songs You Need To Know This Week (10/31)

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Here are all of the new country songs that you need to know this week. Check-out the full list of incredible new songs that came out this new music Friday.

“Blessed” – Ernest

Ernest grows his impressive music catalog with brand new song, “Blessed.”

 

“Give Me A Second (the before)” – Greylan James

Songwriter turned artist, Greylan James shares captivating new song, “Give Me A Second (the before).”

 

“Therapy” – Mitchell Tenpenny

Mitchell Tenpenny gives fan a bitter anthem called “Therapy,” out now.

 

“Happen To Me” – Russell Dickerson ft. Jonas Brothers

Russell Dickerson joins forces with the Jonas Brothers on a new version of his hit song, “Happen To Me.”

 

“65 On The Interstate” – Christian Hayes

Christian Hayes impresses on brand new song, “65 On The Interstate.”

 

“Country Magic Spell” – KC Bruner

Continuing to show off her unique talent, KC Bruner shares new song, “Country Magic Spell.”

 

“Rebel” – Drew Baldridge

Drew Baldridge releases his brand new song, “Rebel,” out now.

 

“Did She Think of Me” – James McCann

James McCann shares new song, “Did She Think Of Me.”

 

“Killed The Man” – Lee Brice

Lee Brice continues to show off his talent on new song, “Killed The Man.”

 

“Drift Away” – Orville Peck

Orville Peck returns with brand new song, “Drift Away.”

 

“The Longer You Hold On” – Colter Wall

Colter Wall releases one of his best songs to date with “The Longer You Hold On.”

 

“Still Alive” – Rob Langdon

Rob Langdon releases brand new song, “Still Alive.”

 

“Smoke” – Jamey Johnson & Riley Green

Jamey Johnson and Riley Green join forces on “Smoke.”

 

“Best Western” – Joey Myron

Joey Myron gives fans a new song clearly titled, “Best Western.”

 

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

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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Greylan James Releases New Song “Give Me A Second (the before)”

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Greylan James shares new song “Give Me A Second (the before),” out now, October 31st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Nashville is home to many talented singer-songwriters. After writing hits like “Next Thing You Know” for Jordan Davis and “Happy Does” for Kenny Chesney, rising singer-songwriter, Greylan James is making a name for himself as an artist. His viral song, “Water At A Wedding” captivated fans everywhere with its anecdotal story. Today, James shares the prequel, giving fans an inside look at the “love story” in “Water At A Wedding.” “Give Me A Second (the before)” is out now.

Much like “Water At A Wedding,” “Give Me A Second” accounts for a former relationship James was in. On the new song, the singer-songwriter shares the love that they shared and ultimately asks for a second chance. The song is captivating, and the surprise at the end only adds to the jaw-dropping nature of this unfolding story.

“June 2019 // Naked by the river // Don’t hang up // give me a second to explain myself // I learned my lesson through a dive bar hell // just give me a second baby //You don’t owe me shit // but you know my secrets // and it’s 3AM. // I know you’re sleeping but // You’re still all that I got // I know I blew my first shot // But could you give me a second?”

Greylan James is one to look out for, and “Give Me A Second (the before)” is the perfect song to add to your music library ASAP!

greylan-james-give-me

Greylan James shares new song, “Give Me A Second (the before),” 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 Greylan James releases.

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Give Me A Second (the before)'” 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.

new-country-songs-10-24

Here Are The New Country Songs You Need To Know This Week (8/22)

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Here are all of the new country songs that you need to know this week. Check-out the full list of incredible new songs that came out this new music Friday.

“Average Joe & Plain Jane” – Lauren Watkins

Lauren Watkins unique talent shines on her brand new song, “Average Joe & Plain Jane.”

 

“Believe” – Kashus Culpepper

Kashus Culpepper grows his music catalog with his brand new song, “Believe.”

 

“About You” – BigXThatPlug ft. Tucker Wetmore

In BigXThatPlug’s country crossover album, he features collaborations with different country artists, including this fun new song, “About You” with Tucker Wetmore.

 

“swear words” – Ashley Cooke

Ashley Cooke continues to share her heart in this new era of music. “swear words” is a continuation of that.

 

“Something In The Way” – Stephen Wilson Jr.

Stephen Wilson Jr. shares new song, “Something In The Way” and announces brand new project.

 

“Water At A Wedding (Acoustic Version)” – Greylan James

Capitalizing on his viral hit, “Water At A Wedding,” James is going fans what they asked for. The acoustic version of the catchy new song is out now.

 

“Broken Man” – Eddie And the Gateway

In a final preview of his a final preview of his upcoming Tumbleweeds & Nicotine EP, Eddie And the Gateway shares new song, “Broken Man”

 

“Turned Into Missing You” – Avery Anna and Max McNown

Avery Anna joins forces with Max McNown on new song, “Turned Into Missing You.”

 

“Home Sweet Hell” – Austin Snell

Austin Snell’s brand new EP, Home Sweet Hell is officially out today, featuring seven songs in total, including the captivating title track.

 

“Stuff” – Joshua Ray Walker

Joshua Ray Walker readies new music, announcing new song, “Stuff” out today.

 

“season 2 of friends” – MaRynn Taylor

MaRynn Taylor officially drops her long-awaited debut project, MaRynn, out today, featuring songs like “season 2 of friends.”

 

“Life Like” – Roman Alexander

Roman Alexander embarks on a new era of music, releasing his brand new EP, Midwest Calling.

 

“My Side Of Town” – Josh Ross

As Josh Ross readies his debut album, fans can preview the record with new song, “My Side Of Town,” out today.

 

“Bite Back” – Remy Garrison

Remy Garnison shows off her sassy personality on brand new song, “Bite Back.”

 

“Like It Like That” – Dasha

Dasha brings her signature charm to her brand new song, “Like It Like That.”

 

“Famous Back Home” – Russell Dickerson

Russell Dickerson’s album is officially here featuring incredible songs including title track, “Famous Back Home.”

 

“Crying in a Beach Bar” – Old Dominion

Old Dominion’s sixth studio album, Barbara is officially out now, including new song, “Crying in a Beach Bar.”

 

“Deserve Her” – Drew Baldridge

Drew Baldridge stuns on brand new, prolific song, “Deserve Her.”

 

“10 & 2” – Tommy Acker

Rising country artist, Tommy Acker grows his catalog of music with new song, “10 & 2.”

 

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

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.

new-country-songs-10-24

Here Are The New Country Songs You Need To Know This Week (7/11)

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Here are all of the new country songs that you need to know this week. Check-out the full list of incredible new songs that came out this new music Friday.

“Water At A Wedding” – Greylan James

Greylan James trial hit, “Water At A Wedding” is officially out now!

 

“Oh, Anna!” – Dasha

Dasha shares her most vulnerable song to date with fans. “Oh, Anna!” is officially out now!

 

“You’re Breaking My Heart (Cecilia)” – Priscilla Block

Priscilla Block brings her A-game on her brand new song, “You’re Breaking My Heart (Cecilia).”

 

“Loneliest Man” – Shaylen

Shaylen continues to show off her one-of-a-kind talent with her brand new song, “Loneliest Man,” out today. The song feels confident, raw, and real!

 

“The Takedown” – Preston Cooper

As fans await his debut album, Preston Cooper shares his brand new song, “The Takedown.” A true story about grit, facing fears, and fulfilling his dreams, the new song is an incredible addition to his growing catalog.

 

“High Divin'” – Lanie Gardner

Lanie Gardner shares one of her most vulnerable and real songs to date, “High Divin'”.

 

“Thinkin’ Bout That” – Tigirlily Gold

Tigirlily Gold grows their musical catalog with their brand new song, “Thinkin’ Bout That.”

 

“the hell you are” – Ashley Cooke

Ashley Cooke shares a raw and real new song, which she’s been teasing on social media. “the hell you are” is officially here!

 

“Bartender In Destin” – Riley Green

Off of Riley Green’s surprise acoustic album, “Bartender In Destin” is another incredible song to add to the bunch!

 

“Easy to Leave” – Karley Scott Collins

Karley Scott Collins shares her newest song, “Easy to Leave.”

 

“These Days” – Tanner Usrey

Tanner Usrey shares his sophomore album These Days featuring the title track and nine other incredible songs.

 

“Scars” – Scotty Hasting

Prolific singer-songwriter, Scotty Hasting shares his brand new song, “Scars.”

 

“Damn Good Taste in Whiskey” – Hudson Westbrook

Hudson Westbrook shares brand new song, “Damn Good Taste in Whiskey,” one of his best so far.

 

“Sunset” – Gavin Adcock

Gavin Adcock continues to grow his musical library’s doing “Sunset” to the mix.

 

“Sweet Southern Summer” – The Band Loula

The Band Loula shares the title track of their debut EP coming August 22nd.

 

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

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.

Greylan James Shares New Song “Water At A Wedding”

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Greylan James shares new song “Water At A Wedding,” out now, July 11th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Nashville is home to many talented singer-songwriters. After writing hits like “Next Thing You Know” for Jordan Davis and “Happy Does” for Kenny Chesney, rising singer-songwriter, Greylan James adds to his own catalog of music with his brand new viral song, “Water At A Wedding”. A 2024 Country Swag Artist to Watch, James is one of those incredible artists and songwriters to pay attention to.

Since the moment, James started teasing the new song on social media, the song gained traction. An ode to the sassy music from the past, “Water At A Wedding” is an anecdotal song about figuring out that your ex is most likely pregnant at her wedding, one that the singer has to attend. Written by James alongside Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem, the song is one of the most clever tracks of 2025. While the whole song is catchy, the shocking bridge will leave listeners slack-jawed.

“You’re drinkin’ water at your wedding girl // Ain’t no bubbles up in that drink // If I’m a betting man, I’m bettin’ girl // Your’e scared to death of what this small own would think // Well I think them tears ain’t happy tears // I think you don’t love him at all // I think the two pink lines appeared // Now you can’t have no alcohol // Daddy’s shotgun & your momma’s pearls // Drinkin’ water at your wedding // Water at your wedding girl”

Greylan James is one to look out for, and “Water At A Wedding” is the perfect song to add to your music library ASAP!

greylan-james-water-at-a-wedding

Greylan James shares brand new song, “Water At A Wedding,’ 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 Greylan James releases.

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Water At A Wedding'” 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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Greylan James Collaborates with Cole Swindell on New Song

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Greylan James collaborates with Cole Swindell on new song “Things That I Can’t Change” out now, November 15th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

28-year-old Greylan James has already worked with many big-name artists throughout his young career, cutting songs for stars like Blake Shelton, Chris Janson, Kenny Chesney, and Jordan Davis. Today, he released his first song with a star featured on his track, “Things That I Can’t Change” with Cole Swindell.

In these beautifully written lyrics by James, alongside Jared Mullins, Rocky Block and Brock Berryhill, the singers recall several mistakes they made back in the day. While they are ashamed of them now, they both admit those poor decisions are helping shape the maturing men they are becoming. The humble, mid-tempo tune serves as an effective reminder for anyone who cringes at their past behavior to use the regret not as an anchor, but a catalyst for growth and self-improvement.

“I can’t turn back time but there’s those times that I look back // at myself in the mirror and wonder ‘who the hell is that?’ // ‘Cause I’m a shell of who I was but still ain’t who I’m gonna be // but the things I can’t change are changing me”

Swindell has been a big advocate for Greylan’s career as an artist and a songwriter. The two have a history—touring and writing songs together including Swindell’s “How Is She” and “Forever To Me.” Swindell agreed to feature on the track immediately after receiving the demo.

“I think ‘Things That I Can’t Change’ showcases what country music is all about and what I want my music to be about, telling stories that we have all lived,” Greylan expressed in a recent press release. “This song really makes me think about the things people do and the parts of their life that they aren’t insanely proud of. But we can take the lessons learned from those moments to grow from it and also accept that people can change from the other side of it. Sometimes forgiveness is hard, but it’s about seeing the best in people and giving them the opportunity to show that they can be better. It’s alright to let the things that you can’t change, change you.”

Already an ACM Award winner for his work on Davis’ “Next Thing You Know,” James has a bright future ahead of him. “Things That I Can’t Change” again showcases his keen and honest storytelling. He will perform this song and many others he has written as an opener for Ashley Cooke on her Your Place tour, stopping in NYC on February 26. For tickets, head to his website. To learn more about James, read The Story Behind His Journey to County Music.

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Greylan James and Cole Swindell collaborate on a brand new song called, “Things That I Can’t Change,” out now.

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

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

To keep up with Cole Swindell follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Things That I Can’t Change'” 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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Greylan James Shares New Song “Who Broke Up With You”

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Greylan James shares new song “Who Broke Up With You,” out now, July 26th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Nashville is home to many talented singer-songwriters. After writing hits like “Next Thing You Know” for Jordan Davis and “Happy Does” for Kenny Chesney, rising singer-songwriter, Greylan James adds to his own catalog of music with his brand new song “Who Broke Up With You”. A 2024 Country Swag Artist to Watch, James is one of those incredible artists and songwriters to pay attention to.

Written by James with Ashley Gorley and Brad Clawson, the song tells the story of actually approaching someone in person, rather than focusing on online-dating. Throughout the track, fans get a taste of James’ style both as a human and as a songwriter. “Who Broke Up With You” is clever and fun to listen to, a perfect song for the summer.

“‘Cause look at you smilin’ // look at you lightin’ up this dark little bar // Feelin’ that Tito’s with lime // Lookin’ like Hell on the heart // Sounds a little crazy // but baby right when you walked in the room // by yourself, I thought, who the hell broke up with you // What was he thinkin? // What was he drinkin’? // What was he smokin’?”

Greylan James is one to look out for, and “Who Broke Up With You” is the perfect song to add to your music library ASAP!

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Greylan James shares new song, “Who Broke Up 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 Greylan James releases.

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Who Broke Up 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.

2024 Country Artists to Watch

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Introducing our 2024 Country Artists to Watch!

Over the past 7+ years of Country Swag, we have always loved to support rising artists and introduce our followers to the best new music in the genre. Since our first Artists to Watch list back in 2017, we have pinned rising stars like Luke Combs, Brett Young, Russell Dickerson, Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, HARDY, Gabby Barrett, Ernest, and more. Each year we choose ten new artists that we believe are destined for killer careers, our only rule when choosing is the artist can NOT already have a number one song.

Check out our picks in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2o2o, 2021, 2022, and 2023 before checking out the 10 artists we picked to have a huge 2024 below.

 

Country Swag’s 2024 Artists to Watch

WYATT FLORES –

Wyatt Flores // Photo Credit: Matt Paskert

Listen: “Milwaukee”
Stay Connected: @officialwyattflores

From the moment Wyatt Flores came onto our radar, we were all in! Flores has the undeniable “it factor.” His songs are catchy, yet real and his songwriting is emotive, special, and personal. The singer-songwriter has garnered a loyal fanbase both on social media and live shows as he performed to packed out rooms during his sold-out headlining tour in 2023. Flores is primed for a huge 2024, and if you jump on his bandwagon now, you can say you were here from the beginning!

 

DYLAN SCHNEIDER –

Dylan Schneider // Photo Credit: Peyton Dollar

Listen: “Bad Decisions”
Stay Connected: @dylanschneidermusic

Dylan Schneider is one of the more exciting new artists in Nashville today. In 2023, he grew his fanbase, released new music, and grew his reach across the genre. Schneider continues to release songs that lean into his cool, yet country sound. The BBR recording artist appears to be working on new music, so we anticipate that 2024 will be his biggest year yet!

 

LAUREN WATKINS –

Lauren Watkins // Photo Credit: Brayln Kelly

Listen: “Anybody But You”
Stay Connected: @lauren.watkins

Lauren Watkins is the type of artist that makes you stop and listen, the second you hear her sing. Much like Megan Moroney, who made our list last year, Watkins has this undeniable poise and knack for songwriting that increases her staying power. The songstress released two EPs last year, which spoke to her talent as both a vocalist and a songwriter. We can only hope that more music is coming down the pipeline soon from the incredible rising artist.

 

DYLAN GOSSETT –

Dylan Gossett // Photo Credit: William Basnett

Listen: “Coal”
Stay Connected:@dylangossett

Dylan Gossett is a bonafide superstar in Texas, but his talents are finally being introduced to the mainstream country genre. Gossett is unapologetically himself and releases music that fans flock to in droves. His folky and red-dirt songwriting appeal to the country music fanbase. At the top of this year, Gossett landed a record deal with Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records. Additionally, fans can catch the singer on the road this year as part of his ‘No Better Time Tour’!

 

GRAHAM BARHAM –

Graham Barham // Photo Credit: Jesse Deflorio

Listen: “BAYOU BOY”
Stay Connected: @grahambarham

Last year, Graham Barham bursted on to the country music scene with his debut project, North Of Hell, which featured six undeniably great songs. One of our favorites, “Preachers Need People” showed off his incredible songwriting prowess, while other songs showed off his personality and knack for performing live. Throughout 2023, Barham achieved viral success and began to be noticed by the country music industry. In 2024, we expect that the singer will continue to grow his fanbase and share even more music.

 

ELLA LANGLEY –

Ella Langley // Photo Credit: Caylee Robillard

Listen: “Paint The Town Blue”
Stay Connected: @ellalangleymusic

Columbia Records and Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter, Ella Langley is primed for stardom. Much like Lainey Wilson, Langley is rooted in traditional country; however, she still explores different aspects to her talent through her story-telling and production. While many of the singer’s songs deserve a pedestal, one of our favorites is her recent collaboration with Kameron Marlowe called “Strangers.” We suspect that Langley will have an even bigger 2024!

 

CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN –

Charles Wesley Godwin // Photo Credit: David McClister

Listen: “All Again”
Stay Connected: @charlesgodwin

Country-folk artist, Charles Wesley Godwin is a gem in country music right now. While Godwin has been on the scene for a few years, 2023 was a break-out year for the artist, with 2024, looking even brighter! Fans of artists like Zach Bryan are sure to garner a liking for Godwin too. While it is unclear exactly how 2024 will shape up for the artist, we can only hope that more new music is coming down the pipeline soon!

 

GREYLAN JAMES –

Greylan James // Photo Credit: Trea Allen

Listen: “Ain’t Thinkin’ About You”
Stay Connected: @greylanjames

Big Machine Label Group artist, Greylan James knows a thing or two about hard work and dedication. The budding singer-songwriter worked as a professional songwriter for two years, until he was fired for “not having what it takes”. Subsequently that hardship led him to delve even deeper into music, studying the craft and ultimately landing huge cuts like Kenny Chesney’s “Happy Does” and Jordan Davis’ “Next Thing You Know”. Like a snowball effect, soon after, James secured a record deal of his own. We believe the talented singer-songwriter is primed for a great future in country music.

 

ZACH TOP –

Zach Top // Photo Credit: Citizen Kane Wayne

Listen: “Sounds Like the Radio”
Stay Connected: @zach_top

Zach Top is revitalizing traditional, 90s-esque country music! The singer draws inspiration from artists like George Strait and Keith Whitley, which is appealing to country music lovers everywhere. In 2023, Top’s single “Sounds Like the Radio” speaks to his talent, as well as, the fun and good energy he brings to music. We are excited to see what 2024 looks like for the rising artist!

 

DASHA –

Dasha // Photo Credit: Adam Budd

Listen: “Austin”
Stay Connected: @officialwyattflores

If you are on social media even a little bit then you know who Dasha is. Her viral hit song, “Austin” became a fan-favorite almost overnight and continues to rapidly grow. While we love “Austin,” we have believed in Dasha even before the release of the single. Dasha has honed her talents as a singer and as a songwriter and with each release, we believe she has what it takes to keep her star rising!

 

What other new artists are you enjoying? Make sure to follow us on Instagram, @CountrySwag for the latest in new music. Fans can also join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming announcements and releases.

Check out the latest tunes in country music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Who Is Greylan James? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

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Greylan James // Credit: Trea Allen

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Greylan James
Birthday – 06/18/1996
Hometown – Knoxville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Kenny Chesney, The Eagles, Brad Paisley, Waylon Jennings
Label – Big Machine Label Group
Current Single – “Undermine” (As of article date – 6/5/2023)

The Beginning:

The country music genre is full of rising talent that fans need to pay attention to. Singer-songwriter, Greylan James is definitely an artist, who should be on that list. The recording artist has dedicated his entire life to becoming a country music artist, and it truly shows in his songwriting and vocals.

“I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee,” began James. “You’ll find a bunch of country music artists going back hundreds of years, so growing up there it never felt like country music and moving to Nashville and doing the thing was a pipe dream. It felt something you could actually do like anything else.” According to the singer, he knew since he was five years old that country music was his calling.

“My Papaw got me a guitar when I was five, and I played that thing until my fingers bled the night that I got it,” he shared, adding later, “I never wavered with that all through school. I told everybody that ‘I was going to be a country music artist and when I graduate I’m going to move to Nashville.’ And that’s what I did.”

Armed with a dream to play music, James also listened to a ton of different artists and genres. “It was super diverse. I loved country music obviously and my brother who’s a year younger than me was a little bit more cultured growing up, as cultured as you can be, being from Knoxville. He was always listening to pop, top 40, and rap, so I’d hear that. […] For me it was always like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban.” The singer also credits his parents for introducing him to 70s and 80s rock and his grandfather for showing him classics like Johnny Cash.

James even drew inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift, who inspired him to start writing his own songs “When everyone talked about Taylor Swift and how she wrote all her songs, I was like alright, that’s what she’s doing and she’s crushing it, so that’s what I need to do too,” shared the singer, adding later, “I was always like I’m going to be a country music artist. Kenny Chesney is from Knoxville, Tennessee. […] I wanted to play stadiums like Kenny was and that’s just what I did even when I was playing at small, little restaurants patios, I acted as if I was playing in front of ten thousand people.”

The Turning Point:

After playing gigs across his hometown and the surrounding areas and a stint on The Voice, James found himself with a decision to make. “When I turned eighteen, I was kind of at a crossroads, ‘do I go to college now [or not.]’ I never thought I’d have to or ‘do I just keep doing it,’ and I chose Nashville. […] Luckily right in the nick of time, a publisher reached out and me and my dad drove to Nashville the next day, and I signed a publishing deal and started to write songs every single day with people I just met.”

The budding singer-songwriter worked as a professional songwriter for two years, until he was fired for “not having what it takes”. While some may have felt defeated, James took the let down as a sign to work even harder. “I started listening to a bunch of the new albums that were coming out and just studied them, trying to get better at songwriting,” he shared, crediting Old Dominion’s album Meat and Candy as a lightbulb moment for him.

“It kind of clicked for me what they were doing with writing songs. […] Since then, I started writing songs and became obsessed with it and songs kept getting better and people started to listen to them and Kenny Chesney cut my song and put it on the radio.” That song was Chesney’s smash hit “Happy Does”. James later had a hand in writing Jordan Davis’ current top ten hit, “Next Thing You Know” and several other notable tracks. Soon after, James went on to secure a record deal with a major label due to his new found confidence and incredible songs.

Today:

Flash forward to today, every song James has put out has been another notch in his belt. His most recent release, “Undermine” may be his best song to date.“It’s another one from the second I wrote it that I was like “I’m going to record this myself and put it out.” That was before I knew anything about a record label,” shared the singer-songwriter. “That was just a song from a cool title I had in my phone […] I felt like I could really try to flip the meaning of the word “undermine.”

“Undermine” is a creative song that truly speaks to James’ talent as a country music artist. It also is one of the songs that led the singer to ultimately sign his record deal. “I’m proud of it. I produced it in my bedroom, and it sounds bigger than that,” he shared.

This is just the beginning for James, who shared that more music is coming really soon. The singer is currently in studio working on his next batch of songs. We are hopeful that a record is in the works for later this year. Until then, fans can catch James on tour with Old Dominion, as well as, Jordan Davis and Cole Swindell in the fall. Get all the details 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 Greylan James releases.

To keep up with Greylan James follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

Greylan James’ 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.