Troy Cartwright’s new EP, Etc. All The Rest is out now, March 20th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

With the sensibilities of a seasoned songwriter and a voice laced with both passion and pain, Troy Cartwright lays it all out on his new EP, Etc. All the Rest. The five-track collection showcases the Texas native’s sharp storytelling and emotional honesty, anchored by standout cuts like “That’s Alright” and “Whiskey Ginger.” 

Cartwright is one of those artists who perfectly toes the line between hit songwriter and independent hitmaker. With credits on songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and Lee Brice, he shines as a lyricist, but with projects like this, he shines as an artist in his own right.

On the follow up to his 2024 full-length LP, Bygones, Cartwright tells a tale of love gone wrong. The EP’s five tracks follow much of that theme, his rootsy Texan drawl anchored surprisingly in late 90’s alt-pop-rock-county.

Opening with “That’s Alright,” Cartwright dives in with an anthemic reflection of moving forward and knowing when to cut your losses. Driven by impassioned vocals and ringing guitars, the track magically captures that restless urge to escape without looking back.

“’That’s Alright’ is about leaving it all behind, or maybe just cutting your losses,” Cartwright shares in a statement. “When I wrote it, I was having one of those days where I thought, ‘What if I just get in my truck, drive away, and never come back?’. I think we all feel that way sometimes: underappreciated, misunderstood, and looking for a change of scenery. This song is the soundtrack to that getaway, a reminder that sometimes the best move is to stop looking over your shoulder and just drive.”

“How Missin’ You Sounds” takes a more literal look at heartbreak, exploring how even the most mundane moments can trigger memories of someone who’s gone. The track cleverly juxtaposes melancholy lyrics with upbeat instrumentation, building toward a soaring chorus that captures the emotional push and pull of moving on.

Meanwhile, “Whiskey Ginger” offers one of the EP’s most forlorn and poignant moments. Here, Cartwright dives into the moody ballad, wondering if a former lover is moving on much in the same way she enraptured him.

“Yeah, wonder whose heart you’re breaking now // Is he fallin’ in love while you’re takin’ one down // Yeah, is he wrapped ’round your finger // With your blonde hair, red lips, red straw,  // Sippin’ on // Whiskey Ginger”

“You’ve Got a Way” shifts the mood again, pairing breezy, blues-tinged guitars with a melody that feels both light and restless. Lyrically, Cartwright explores the magnetic pull of someone who knows exactly how to draw him in, only to let him go again. 

Lastly, the EP closes with its title track, easily the project’s most unique moment. Framed like a hungover voicemail from the road, the song captures the bittersweet loneliness that often comes with life as a traveling musician. “I am calling from a hotel in the middle of Palm Springs, I’m hungover as a dog, and I hate everything,” He begins, and listeners are immediately drawn in. “My recall of arrival is hazy at its best// Well anyway, I love you baby, Etc. all the rest.” With his lyrics, he paints a clear picture of life on the road, a lonely troubadour singing postcards of heartbreak.

Across Etc. All the Rest, Troy Cartwright proves why he’s one of Nashville’s biggest hitmakers. Yet, on the five song collection, he proves that he’s even more than a songwriter, but a true artist in his own right.

Etc. All The Rest Track List:

Troy Cartwright’s new album, Bygones is out now, August 30th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Rising country star Troy Cartwright describes himself on social media as “a heart break troubadour,” who hasn’t “fit in since 1990.” For those reasons, the singer-songwriter made the leap from major label to independent artist and hasn’t slowed down since.

The Dallas, Texas native’s new album, Bygones, out now, takes listeners on a musical journey, as heartbreak weaves its way through ten new tracks. The title track immediately sets the stage, its lush and melodic arrangement accompanying clever lyrics and punctuated by a warm female background vocalist. Here, he’s leaving the past in the past, considering making an old flame new again, musing “Let bygones be bygones, and don’t let a good thing gone too long.”

That unfinished business weaves its way through much of the album, as the hip-hop infused “How Smart I Am” finds him kicking himself for letting a girl go, while “Same” finds him stuck in a rut after a relationship ended, wishing things could be better. Likewise, the poignant and impassioned “Over You By Now” shows him desperate but unable to move on, admitting that he’s “still in love and it don’t make sense.”

“I think it was late September, when I threw away your picture // Somehow, girl, I still see you // I really thought I knew better // When I let you keep my sweatshirt // But I still smell your perfume // I did everything I could to get you off my mind // But your still on my mind // Yeah you’d think after all this time // After all these sleepless nights // I’d be getting there”

“Unlove You” may be the album’s most single-worth track, its catchy melody building as he admits, “If I could unlove you, I would’ve done it by now.” Meanwhile, “Wild One” allows him to give himself grace, accepting the inevitable outcome of playing with fire. 

“Married Now” offers a clever take on the breakup song, as Cartwright wishes happiness for the one that got away, grappling with the questions of what could’ve and should’ve been. 

“And we could have stayed together// Maybe in another life// Yeah, I’m glad you found each other// And I hope he treats you right// Sometimes I’d like to call you up// But some roads you don’t go down// You loved me once but time don’t turn around// And you’re married now.”

It’s not all heartbreak and heartache on Bygones, however, with “One That You Want” offering an exhilarating highlight. The building midtempo has an almost anthemic chorus that finds you immediately ready to drive to a live show and lift your cell phone light in the air.

“I want to be the one // When you’re riding high on as good as it gets // and your whole world is a tangled mess // When your mind runs and you can’t sleep // in those sheets, I wanna be the one that you want // When you get down // wanna go for a drive at midnight // I wanna be the one that you want // If you need somebody the rest of your life or tonight // I wanna be the one that you want”

“Lincoln Continental” is a beautiful story song, Cartwright’s lyrics telling the tale of his grandparents in a way that’s sure to warm even the coldest of hearts. Here, he recounts the story of his Nanny and Papa, longing for that type of love of his own. Meanwhile, the album’s final track, “Deathbed,” is a stunning piano ballad about a moment that lives rent free in his mind. Here, he’s passionate and emotive, reflecting on a moment that he’s sure to remember forever,

 “When all the sand in the hourglass // Runs out and my race is run // St. Peter calls me home // And all my work down here is done // It could be nine or 90 years // But when I’m down to my last breath // I’ll remember this on my deathbed.”

While much of Bygones is centered around heartbreak, there are no two moments that are alike. Between his honeyed vocals, melodic instrumentation, and stirring lyrics, Troy Cartwright is a rising star worth watching.  He may be an independent artist, but he’s truly as talented as they come.

Bygones Track List:

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

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“Lincoln Center” 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.

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

To keep up with Troy Cartwright, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“How Smart I Am” 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.

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

To keep up with Troy Cartwright, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Deathbed” 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.