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Josh Kerr Releases His Debut Single “Still Our Town”

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Josh Kerr Still our Town

Last Friday, Josh Kerr released his debut single “Still Our Town.” If his name sounds familiar, it’s because it should! Kerr has worked as a producer and songwriter in Nashville for the past several years. He has produced songs and music videos for many artists, such as Dylan Scott, Abby Anderson, Keith Urban, and Kelsea Ballerini. Now, he is making his debut as a singer-songwriter on his newest song, “Still Our Town,” and boy it’s a good one.

Kerr’s debut single is contemporary and current. He relies on cleverly strung together lyrics and smooth vocals to tell the story effortlessly. The song’s message is relatable, as Kerr sings about feeling like his own town, no longer feels like his after a break-up. Everything reminds him of his ex, which tends to happen to most people after a breakup. Although a melancholy theme, the newcomer delivers a mid-tempo sound, which is refreshing for a song about this subject.

“I still smell the magnolia / Feel you lean over / Head on my shoulder / See the sunrise / Hear the sound of the dirt flying off the tires / And I still look for that old taste of corona / Kiss on that sofa / See your blue eyes/ Wherever I go / I’m still running into you / Even though I Know that /You’re not here, you’re still around / And I tell myself / that it’s mine now / But it’s still our town / It’s still our town”

The New York native is definitely one to look out for. We’re excited to see how all his experience working with other successful artists will culminate in his own songs and projects. According to his social media, “Still Our Town’ is the first of approximately 12 songs off his upcoming record. Kerr shared “Nashville I decided to release my first song I produced it and sang it and played on it alongside my favorite musicians. It’s been the most amazing, overwhelming, l inspiring, stress, fun process, and the record is almost done.”

To keep up with Kerr, follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

“Still Our Town” 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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Josh Kerr Hosts Songwriter Round at The Listening Room in Nashville

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For those in Nashville on Saturday night, the Listening Room Cafe was the place to be. The intimate venue featured an all-star cast of songwriting talent, sharing their songs and the stories behind them. Led by Josh Kerr, the round also included Jordan Minton, Nick Wayne, and a surprise appearance by Parker Welling.

While these names may not be familiar to you, we can guarantee that their songs are. Kerr is the most well-known of the group, having written the likes of Kelsea Ballerini’s hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs” and Dylan Scott’s “My Girl.” However, Minton has had cuts by Dan + Shay (“What Keeps You Up at Night” and Keith Urban (“Never Coming Down”), while Nick Wayne is poised to become one of country music’s next big superstars, having just released his own Two Sides EP.

A highlight of the night came in the form of a guest appearance by Parker Welling, who has had two huge hits with one of NYCountrySwag’s favorites, Russell Dickerson. Welling performed “Blue Tacoma” and “Yours,” eliciting some of the night’s biggest cheers.

Another highlight of the night was Minton revealing the story behind “What Keeps You Up at Night,” which appears on Dan + Shay’s latest self-titled album. The songwriter revealed that the track was originally on hold by Blake Shelton, who then decided not to record it. It was immediately snatched up by Keith Urban, but when Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney heard the song, they just had to have it, calling Urban and asking to record it. He obliged, and it became Minton’s first album cut.

Kerr also played a song that was recently cut by a mystery artist he revealed to be named “Enny Esney,” as to not jinx the song. Hopefully, everyone will get to hear this song soon. Kerr also played “Backburner,” one of his older songs, admitting that he “felt a lot of things in 2016” when the song was written.

Wayne was the true revelation of the night, his soulful voice and unique style truly lighting up the room. We fully expect big things from him, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for his future. If you haven’t heard of him yet, run (don’t walk!) to Spotify or iTunes, and take a listen to “If You Wanna” and “How Do I Get Close.” You will not be disappointed.

During the incredible round, the writers revealed that they perform together monthly, usually joined by Jordan Reynolds (Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.”) If you happen to live in Nashville or be visiting, make sure to get down to the Listening Room for a future round. It’s one not to be missed.

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NYCS Swag Spotlight: Abby Anderson

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Abby Anderson

“It takes a certain kind of weird to want to leave a social life to play music all day, but that’s me, just a big ol’ nerd that loves to sing,” says our next Swag Spotlight artist, Abby Anderson.  She laughs as she chats with New York Country Swag about her life leading up to releasing her very first single out to the world.

Anderson, born and raised in Dallas, Texas was the second oldest of seven kids, six girls, and one boy.  Growing up around music, she sang, played piano, and nurtured her creative side from an early point in life. After receiving some attention from playing piano one day, Anderson knew in her bones that she wanted to perform in front of an audience. Confidently, when she was just fifteen years old, she walked into her dad’s office and told him that she wanted to be homeschooled the rest of high school and move to Nashville.  Being the supportive parent she needed, he told her to graduate a year early and move there when she was seventeen and that is exactly what she did.  “My parents are awesome, they always taught us as kids, burn the ships, there’s no such thing as a plan B, you’re going to do something you better do it the best you can and you better be successful at it,” she explained.

Right upon her arrival into town she got to hustling, making connections and networking. “That is what’s so beautiful about Nashville, it’s so easy to meet not just people, but kind people who genuinely want to help you out,” she says of Music City.  Focusing on songwriting and getting into rooms with the right people, Anderson was signed to Black River Entertainment, after her friends pitched her songs to their A&R team.  Label head, Gordon Kerr sat her down and said he wanted to sign her, following the conversation, Anderson signed her record deal on the stage at the famed Ryman Auditorium.  “I am the luckiest girl to be over there, they are my family and my team and they are brilliant,” she exclaimed.

Her debut single, which was released last month “Make Him Wait” was written with Josh Kerr and Tom Douglas.  Kerr is a songwriter on Kelsea Ballerini’s smash hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs” and Tom Douglas is a songwriter on Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” as well as songs for Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack and many more country artists. Their latest collaboration, Anderson’s “Make Him Wait” started out a simple song about her current crush at the time. “Josh turned around to me and said ‘Well Abby, how do you get the guys what are your moves?’ and I told him ‘I make him wait for it, I make him work for it a little bit.’ He turned around and all of the sudden he was like “Make Him Wait” this is the song,” she tells us.  After the three discussed growing up what they had learned about relationships, and Anderson explained what her father taught her about her value and worth, the song was written in 45 minutes.

Anderson’s gentle vocals add such depth to the song, which takes you through courtship and eventually through the wedding day of a couple where the female realized chivalry is not dead and to expect it. It is empowering and a great reminder for women of all ages.  In a time when incredible music is being made by young females in the country music world, she is excited to be a part of this generation of well-respected women. “It’s so exciting and there is great music being made every single day by all kinds of artists and I’m just lucky that mine has a shot at being heard by a bunch of people,” she tells us.

This summer, fans all over the country will get to hear her new music, playing the Breakout Stage during CMAFest as well as shows in California, Boston, and Country Jam in Wisconsin. Hitting the radio tour circuit and opening shows for LANco and Russell Dickerson, Anderson has a busy summer ahead of her.  “It’s just so weird, I mean this in the most humble way, but I knew it was going to happen, in the fact that I knew I was going to be a performer, I knew I was going to get a record deal, but it was always a matter of okay but how, and okay but when? The how and when is what has me absolutely humbled, because I would never have thought this would happen this way this fast as it did, so I am very blessed.”

Be sure to follow Abby Anderson’s journey on her Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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