Up & Coming New Nashville- Meet Kelly Monrow & Watch Her New Music Video For "You're The Reason I Drink"

Kelly Monrow knows how to deliver a story. Already an established TV actress and film star, the multi-talented Texas native launched her music career in 2021, quickly earning more than one million streams with viral hits like "Mama Said" and "I'm Alive."

Now, one month after releasing her debut EP Pronoia, she returns with "You're the Reason I Drink." It's a smart, sharp-witted track that upends the traditional formula of a drinking song, with Kelly happily toasting the end of a no-good relationship. A celebration of confidence and freedom, the song showcases the songwriting savvy and a nuanced delivery of a musician who's built a thriving career not only onstage, but onscreen, too.

"'You’re the Reason I Drink' is a cheeky song about celebrating how far you have come while getting over an ex," says Monrow, who has starred in series like "Billions," "Lucifer," "American Crime Story," and the upcoming film Three Days Rising under the name Kelly Dowdle.

Like Charles Esten and Dolly Parton, Kelly Monrow seamlessly blends her careers in acting and country music. Both are natural extensions of her creative self, built around storytelling and an authentic delivery. She made her musical debut during the final months of 2021, releasing the singles "Mama Said" and "I'm Alive" in October and November, respectively, before returning in December with the three-song EP Pronoia. "You're the Reason I Drink" appears one month later, officially debuting on January 21st and shining new light on an entertainer who continues to evolve and electrify.

"During the pandemic, I decided if I can’t be hired to play the role of someone else I better discover ways I can be creative being the real me. Then the lyrics started pouring out of me and I decided I have a lot to say. Music has helped me through every phase of my life so maybe a lyric of mine can help the heart or mind of another. That’s when I fell in love with creating music," she adds.

Up & Coming New Nashville - Luke & Kaylee's New Music Video - "Little Town"

Luke and Kaylee’s mutual love for country music and passion for performing first led them both to Nashville to chase their musical dreams, then eventually into each other’s arms when their shared love of music turned their friendship into something more.

The talented duo first crossed paths as students at Nashville’s Belmont University, and soon found themselves performing together and writing songs. They each took unique paths that led them both to Music City. California native Kaylee hails from a musical family and grew up watching her father play the drums professionally, and it wasn’t long before she was sharing her gift, singing in both school and church. She later joined The Olson Band, and the group developed a strong following in the Pacific Northwest, racking up almost 5 million streams on Spotify with their songs and opening for acts like Dwight Yoakam, Dylan Scott, Phil Vassar, Love and Theft, and more.

Luke also spent time singing in choir and musicals growing up in Olympia, WA, and played sax in the marching band as well. In 2013, he formed a country band with his brother and began writing songs, and the two eventually won a national songwriting contest that earned them a trip to Nashville and an introduction on the hallowed Grand Ole Opry stage. By 2016, he was enrolled at Belmont as a student, where he met Kaylee, who would become his partner in both life and on stage.

The duo is releasing their newest single and music video “Little Town” this week on Black Sheep Records- and That Nashville Sound is thrilled to be able to share the new music video to the world today. 

Up & Coming New Nashville - Isaac Michaels - "Mystery Again"

This Christmas Eve morning, That Nashville Sound has something a little different for our readers. In this crazy year of 2020, most of us have been forced to see less of family and friends. Quarantining those at risk (including ourselves and our loved ones) has taken the place of social gatherings, backyard barbeques and vacation road trips to see extended family members. 

I would surmise that many of my readers have been in the same boat as I this year. We have used music as a way to find some semblance of normalcy. It's been a consistent safe place to find solace filled with messages that could shapeshift to whatever mood we're in. Favorite songs are a place to put us at ease. Music's acted partly as a healer.

So when the opportunity arose to share and combine a piece of my family and the passion of music that brings you here, I thought today, of all days, was probably most appropriate. This video below isn't a country or Americana artist you'll know. It's my nephew and his name is Isaac Michaels. He plays multiple instruments, writes his own music and inspires his Uncle Ken more than he'll ever know. He's got a poet's soul, as you'll see and hear if you'll give up four minutes of your day to hear something stunning and beautiful that he created.  Merry Christmas, ya'll. 

Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet Dark Water, Kristian Bush's New Trio

Band: Dark Water

Bandmates: Kristian Bush, Brandon Bush & Benji Shanks

Label: Architect Music Collective

Sugarland's Kristian Bush and his new bandmates have just revealed a few details about the new band he's started. It's called Dark Water, and it includes him, his brother Brandon Bush and their friend Benji Shanks:

"These songs don't feel like they have an expiration date, and neither does the production," says Dark Water's Benji Shanks. "In 10 or 20 years from now, they will still possess their sense of urgency."

"They feel like they existed before and now we have to be good servants to the songs," says the band's Kristian Bush. "If you were to make a comic book out of the Dark Water story, it's like we found them somewhere in a chest and were magically able to play them. And now they're here."

"You know enough to recognize when something becomes a band," says Brandon Bush, who rounds out the group. "I know when something is better than its individual parts and has a life of its own. That's when you just get out of the way and let it happen."

Once Brandon, Benji and Kristian surrendered themselves to the idea of Dark Water, they began writing material at a wicked clip, signaling the musicians' most prolific and inspired periods of creativity. For the wordsmith Kristian, that meant a return to writing poetry ("I was obsessed with the rhythm of the words," he says), which would mature into songs once he and his bandmates began experimenting on the studio floor with any instrument within their reach.

"The band is all us, playing everything," says Benji, an Allman Brothers enthusiast and veteran of the Southern jam scene who has shared the stage with the likes of Warren Haynes and Blackberry Smoke. His fluid guitar work ties the Dark Water material together and lends the group its earthy vibe.

"Every great band I've ever known had a guitar player that made me go, 'What?'" says Kristian of Benji's evocative playing. "The guitar is the soul of the band. The lyric can't ever get as close to the feeling as that instrument can."

But it's the way that Benji's guitar, pedal steel and bass gel with Brandon's drumming and keys, and Kristian's vocals and guitar that makes the music so immersive. Listen to the rustic "Scarecrow," the brooding "Goliath," the ebullient "Flowers on the Fire," or the hopeful "One of a Kind," all of them songs that envelop and cast a spell over the listener. To listen to Dark Water music is to have a transcendent experience.

In fact, the name of the band was inspired by an NPR report about magnetically charged water beneath the South Pole. The theory is that the "deep water," as scientists call it, absorbs energy and contains it forever.

"I think we'd all love to dip our whole bodies in that and let it wipe our troubles and mistakes away," says Kristian.

The hymn-like song titled "Dark Water" centers on that idea of restoring oneself. According to the band, it has a higher purpose. "That song exists to do something," says Kristian. "When we play it live, you can just feel it in the room."

Along with the magical material, it's the shared history of the members that solidifies Dark Water. Brandon, Benji and Kristian have been soundtracking the lives of listeners for nearly 20 years as members of various bands, from Brandon's tenure in the rock outfit Train and Benji's turns in the jam world, to Kristian's own Grammy-winning duo Sugarland and his solo project.

"That's what makes these songs all work," says Benji. "We combined our individual musical experiences into the collective Dark Water and it became what it is now. And then the songs just came to us."

"It's a high level of a musical relationship that is not easy to acquire," says Kristian of the group's chemistry. "But somehow we acquired it and now we do it. Dark Water is the embodiment of that."

But for all the talk about the songs being gifts from the universe, the reality is that this is a rare band of expert players and writers — the only type of musicians who could ever create such nuanced melodies and phrasings. To achieve that result, the members followed Brandon's discipline that "walls make better art. If you have a boundary," he says, "you work within it, or you push against it." The outcome, almost always, is art that is vibrant and effecting — and in this case, music that also comforts.

"I was interested in how music that I listened to affects us all and what it teaches us," says Kristian. "Why do we go back to listening to certain songs to comfort us?"

"This music is an emotional reset for everyone," Brandon says. "It's an opportunity to reconnect with what inspires and soothes us. And everybody needs that in their creative life."

Their first release is the effervescent positive message song "Paint it Blue." 

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Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet The Record Company

I love music for its rabbit holes.

It's profound for its discoveries, even if you're late to the party. When you find a new musical act that moves you, it's like a new novel full of chapters- or discographies, in this case. I had one of those moments this last week. Out on his last tour, Bob Seger made a stop through our hometown and delivered a terrific performance for the ages. Opening for him was a relatively new band - and all new to this listener. Full of blues, rock and roll, roots and southern rock influences, The Record Company made a terrific first impression and a delve through that rabbit hole of additional music has provided equal intriguing use of free time. Now it's your turn...

The Record Company’s story is a typical band story: a trio of musicians grit it out on their own for years in bars and clubs, join forces in LA, set up some microphones in a living room, and cut an album that turns their world upside down. Released in 2016, Give It Back To You spawned three Top Ten hits at Triple-A radio (including the #1 smash “Off The Ground”), earned the band a slew of festival appearances and sold-out headline dates around the world, and garnered a GRAMMY nomination. The group made the rounds on late night TV, shared bills with John Mayer, Zac Brown Band, My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff among others, and racked up more than ten million streams on Spotify. The critical response was just as ecstatic, with Rolling Stone raving that the band “kick[s] up a raw, rootsy racket” and Entertainment Weekly calling the album a “soul scorcher.”

Far from altering The Record Company’s DNA, success only served to enhance it, strengthening the band’s bonds and elevating the intangible chemistry that ignited their breakout. At its core, the group is a pure democracy: all the work, all the rewards, all the happiness and heartache and joy and pain are split evenly. Each member brings their own unique strengths to the table, and the three fit together seamlessly, filling in each other’s gaps like pieces of a puzzle.

“We’re a true band in that we all elevate each other,” explains Vos. “Our individual strengths cover each other’s individual weaknesses, so there’s no way to replace any one of us. We’d all played in bands before, but none of us found what we were looking for until we got together.”

Even at their first jam session, it was clear that the trio was on to something special. With a sound that blended the biting blues of John Lee Hooker with the charismatic swagger of the Rolling Stones, the band went from releasing their home-recorded debut to taking the stage at Madison Square Garden in the span of just 18 months. As the group’s audience grew, so did their artistry, and when it came time to record All Of This Life, it was clear that their approach in the studio would have to take a big step up to reflect the maturation they’d undergone on the road.

“What we did making that first record by ourselves in my living room, we wore that like a badge of pride,” says bassist Alex Stiff. “But we evolved so much as a band after that and our songwriting grew so much that we knew we had to take it out of the living room this time around.”

While the group still worked up the core of most songs at home and produced themselves like the old days, they headed to nearby Boulevard Recording in Hollywood on a quest to break new sonic ground. The eclectic array of analog gear in the studio, which had previously hosted everyone from Pink Floyd to Fleetwood Mac to The War on Drugs, enabled the band to push the limits of their productions and arrangements while still capturing all the scintillating power and spontaneity of their live show.

“We want to be known as the best live band on Earth,” says drummer Marc Cazorla, “and the only way to do that is to believe it. We were an opening band for five years, and we made it our goal every night when we took the stage to be remembered.”

Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet Alexis Taylor

Canadian born singer and songwriter Alexis Taylor was raised in the small town of Huntsville, Ontario. From a young age she showed a great love and passion for music through her songwriting and acoustic guitar playing. “Both my parents are songwriters, and are very musical. Music is a part of me - it has always been in my blood.”

It wasn’t until Alexis had graduated high school that she decided to make a visit to Nashville, Tennessee in 2012. Upon walking along the streets of Broadway, Alexis fell in love with the city and decided to move to Nashville and pursue music full time.

Summer 2016 saw the launch of Alexis' international career with a tour throughout Scandinavia opening for renowned singer/songwriter Doug Seegers. "Being able to open for someone as talented and genuine as Doug Seegers along with his incredibly gifted band has been an experience of a lifetime," she says. "The opportunity truly allowed me to grow as a performer, and I am so grateful that Doug took me under his wing."

At the beginning of 2018, Alexis released her debut single "Blame The Whiskey" which allowed her to appear live on numerous radio stations throughout North America, and take part in events such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and CMA Fest in Nashville. The release of "Blame The Whiskey" also lead to Alexis taking home the award for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2018 Tennessee Music Awards, performing at the USO Northwest Gala, and take the #1 position for six consecutive weeks on Reverb Nation's provincially ranked country artists charts.

Currently Alexis is continuing to follow her dream as a musician; performing at a variety of venues all over North America, and working on writing new music in the studio which she is planning on releasing shortly.

Up & Coming New Nashville - Liv Waters

That Nashville Sound gets dozens of new artists send us new material and it never ceases to amaze the amount of talent and creativity that lies within those aspiring singer/songwriters. It's doubly hard then to cut through that talent and create a name for yourself independently. Liv Waters has done just that with a powerful new song she'll be releasing shortly.

Waters has a new single releasing December 7th that comes with a mission: "I want to make a change with this song. It's called "When The Young Die" and it is about all of these senseless acts of violence out of pure hate and it's in the eyes of a victim. All proceeds of this song will go to helping all those effected in hate crimes, more specifically the Thousand Oaks tragedy that happened this past week in our backyards in California. I want to spread love, healing, and happiness with this single and I hope that you can help me do so."




Liv Waters is from a small town in upstate New York called Lagrangeville. When Liv was younger and her friends dreamed about boys and white picket fences, Liv dreamed of bright lights and music behind each corner. Liv began learning piano at age 5, followed by flute and clarinet at age 7, and guitar at age 12. She followed her father, a drummer in a local cover band, to gigs and soon enough, Liv was playing her own.

Music is my life--the only thing with me through the high school drama, the highs and lows of life, fights with friends, breakups, loss, the very best and the very worst days of my life. I haven't had anything make me feel quite like I do while I am making music. An indescribable comfort and passion that I wouldn't trade for the world."
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Liv began writing songs at the early age of 8 years old with the musical influences of Country Artists Martina McBride, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, and later, Taylor Swift and Kelsea Ballerini. "I thought it was normal," Liv says, "singing was just like talking to me like it is now, I thought everyone wrote poems and songs like they do sentences." She continues "It wasn't until I sang to my Piano teacher at age 11 a song I wrote about a friend of mine always being sad that I realized that I was different, God had given me a talent that not everyone possessed."

In her career, Liv has had the opportunity to perform on world famous stages including Carnegie Hall in New York City and The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and she also was a 2015 finalist in The Texaco Country Music Showdown. Liv is known for her large social media presence with over 32k followers on various social media accounts including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. She has her music digitally released on websites including but not limited to iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music.

Now, Liv plays anywhere between 2-5 gigs a week ranging from local bar and brewery gigs, to county fairs and opening acts, to performance venues. She says “I write music because when I was younger I would hear strangers singing about things that I could relate to, almost like they wrote them for me to get me through. Wide Open Spaces by The Dixie Chicks specifically stood out to me because I loved my family, but I was just so ready to leave and run into my own life and music career in Nashville.” Liv concludes, “I want to make people feel love, heartbreak, and life in my music, and I want to make a difference in hearts around the world.”

Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet Heidi Raye

Harlan Howard Records’ artist Heidi Raye is gearing up to release her sophomore EP Blame It On The Radio this fall. Her debut EP, Worth A Shot, was produced by GRAMMY award-winning producer Chuck Ainlay, and the title track and debut single reached the Top 45 on the Music Row charts. The country riser’s hit track, “Sweat,” has garnered over 150,000 streams on Spotify and is currently spinning on Spotify’s Wild Country playlist.

The talented singer and songwriter is a native of the Western Canadian province of British Columbia and started out working the family farm, proving she earned those hard miles that show the true metal of a songwriter.  She grew up sing in church and performing in front of crowds at a very early age.  At age 13, she was a semi finalist in the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Talent Search in Vancouver, BC.  At 17, she made it to the top 100 for Canadian Idol (Canada's version of American Idol).  But she visited Nashville early on and knew that would be home.

Heidi’s latest release, “Lay Me On Down,” paints a fun and flirty picture of the quirky art of falling in love and was co-written with Jason Afable, Phil Barton and Johnny Bulford (Lee Brice/Chris Young). Raye recently got engaged to Bulford, making promising songwriting collaborators and a special couple for years to come.

The songstress has shared the stage with country legends Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Jason Aldean, Reba McEntire and Terri Clark, and she is currently touring across the US, Canada and Australia.

 

New Music Video From Abby Anderson - "Make Him Wait"

I heard this track on Sirius/XM's The Highway On The Horizon feature and thought it phenomenally well-done. It's written really well, has a great message and is very well executed. Put Abby Anderson on your radar.

Up & Coming New Nashville - Meet Avalon Kali

It's hard to remember when Avalon Kali didn't have a guitar in her hands.  From early on in the second grade, the Northern California girl from Folsom (not far from Sacramento) would learn new chords on her flat top and pour over lyrics, first creating melodies and then writing poetic songs that went far beyond her years.

On a trip to Nashville with her parents while late in high school, Kali toured the campus of Belmont University and received a Music Row tour from artist/songwriter Chris Roberts (One Flew South). She immediately knew what her future would hold and that was a move to Music City. Her grades were great and acceptance to the illustrious music institution wasn't far behind.

While at Belmont, Kali became an Entertainment Industry Studies major.  Extremely driven, she was a member of various organizations on Belmont University's campus while also volunteering over the last three and a half years in the Nashville community. But the music business called as well and she spent a year interning first at Catch This Music (a small collective of songwriters, producers and musicians that are skilled in providing a new song one day, record a demo the next, produce an independent album the following day as a recording studio) and then later rubbing elbows with Paul Williams at ASCAP (where nearly ever song that gets paid a royalty travels through).  With her education and work history, Kali has analyzed the industry from the outside in and has gained a full understanding of how the business part of it works.

But while studying the business side of things, Kali was also perfecting her songwriting. In June of 2012, 10 Belmont University juniors and seniors set out, joining professor and legendary musician Mark Volman, a founding member of the band The Turtles, on the road for an East Coast run of the “Happy Together Tour.” The tour’s “classroom” and schedule looks something like this: one tour bus, a precious few hotel rooms, long hours and many stages—for two and a half weeks and a grade. Kali was only a freshman, but immersing herself with all of the other aspiring musicians was an inspiration.

With graduation in her immediate future, Kali has been actively playing songwriter's rooms in and around Nashville, perfecting her craft. Summer of 2017 was spent in the music studio, recording her very first EP and on November 17, she drops her very first single on the world called "Speechless."

Below is a sample of another track off of the EP entitled "Heartbeat" where Kali's voice shows off her soaring versatility and range. Big things are coming from this young lady. She has a unique ability at a very young age to tell deep and profound emotional storytelling through her songwriting.
 

Sneak peek "Heartbeat" on my new EP coming out soon.
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.#countrypop #artist #newmusic #ep #nashville #vibes #heartbeat pic.twitter.com/qxKzQ3b49j

— Avalon Kali (@avalonkalimusic) October 10, 2017

Up & Coming New Nashville- Seth Ennis Releases Mabelle EP

Artist: Seth Ennis
Album: Mabelle
Label: Arista Nashville
Release date: March 3, 2017

The new EP was produced by Corey Crowder and recorded in Nashville, and its title is a nod to the building where Ennis first resided when he first moved to Nashville with his three best friends. The four slept in bunk bed setups in the tiny one bedroom apartment, which is where the Georgia native was inspired to pen his new single, “Woke Up In Nashville.” The 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist co-produced and played all musical parts on his debut single.

Mabelle Tracks:

“Play It Cool”
Written by Seth Ennis/Femke/Phil Barton

“Think & Drive”
Written by Seth Ennis/Jonny Price/Emily Shackelton

“Fast Girl”
Written by Seth Ennis/Corey Crowder/Andrew Dorff

“Woke Up in Nashville”
Written by Seth Ennis/Blair Daly/David Hodges
 

Up & Coming New Nashville- Meet Jared Deck

In this day and age where it seems every other song on the country mainstream radio dial is talking about backroads and gravel roads, there's something refreshing when there's an artist who utilizes their authenticity of being raised on the dusty plains of an Oklahoma family farm to influence their music, careful to highlight the positives and the negatives.

"In a community of 1,200 people, big dreams seem impossible. We're taught to manage expectations, put our nose down, and get to work. I was an (oil) roughneck - a worm hand, really - throwing back tongs on the drilling rig floor. Sure, it was tough, but so were we. I saw the sun set and rise each day; that kept me going."

When the recession hit that business, Jared unknowingly started his musical career with simply answering the classified ad of a small church in need of a pianist.

"I called the number, and the pastor asked if I'd ever played at a black church before. I told him, no, but I can play the blues. He said that would probably work. It felt like relearning the piano, so I applied that concept to my songwriting." 

Deck's writing has evolved and now presents the maturity of a man who has learned the hard way.

"It rattles me, reflecting moments and things about myself I might rather forget. But it also inspires me to face myself and become the man I'd rather be writing about." That attitude is apparent in the writing of Jared's self-titled, solo debut. 

His debut album tells 11 heartfelt stories of life on the road. Starting with "17 Miles," a tale of broken dreams, Jared shares his story. "As a teenager, all I wanted was to leave Oklahoma and never look back. The day I worked up the nerve to go, I had a flat tire just 17 miles down the road. Never got any further than that." All of the songs reflect a sense of wry understanding of life and an indomitable spirit, from the fractured family in "Wrong Side Of The Night," to the working-man's fight in "The American Dream;" from the crisis of faith in "Grace," to the torn heart of an oilfield father in "Unusually Blessed," Deck's songs illustrate life in the rural heartland. And because this is the life he knows only too well, these songs ring true - the honest voice of midland America. 

 

That Nashville Sound had an opportunity to sit down with Jared and talk about his new project and the inspiration that sits behind it pushing him through his music.

 

That Nashville Sound: For someone who hasn't yet had the privileged of hearing your music, how would you describe it from the artist's perspective?

Jared Deck: A while back, I came up with the term, Midamericana: American music from the middle of nowhere, the heartland, where the work gets done. It's the story of our people, our triumphs and our failures, set to the sounds that originated here: rock-n-roll, country, and blues.

This project seems awfully autobiographical with extremely personal lyrics. Is that a true assessment?

Writing this album started out as telling the story of where I came from, but ended up telling my own. "Grace" was the first in the cycle and the most honest I'd ever been in a song, admitting how I've changed and that I wasn't who or where I thought I'd be. Most of the songs are about dealing with failure. I wouldn't say "overcoming" failure, more about the day-to-day drudge of falling down and learning your lesson. I've learned so much the hard way, and that struggle wove it's way into these songs.

How much has your home of western Oklahoma influenced your music?

Most folks have a love/hate relationship with their hometown. Those places shape us more than we often wish to admit. They seem to push us out, then suck us back in. That's what "17 Miles" is all about, coming to grips with your origins and the person you've become along the way.

You helmed a cowpunk band before this solo singer/songwriter venture- what impact did that experience have on your solo project?

In that band, I was working to create and arrange a sound that, too often, took priority to the writing. My goals as a solo artist are to focus on writing stories, not to get caught up in arranging the band, and allow the songs to stand on their own.

What is country music to Jared Deck?

To me, folk music is who we should be, rock-n-roll is who we wish we could be, and country music is who we really are. Country isn't merely the sound of twang, it's the sound of hard work and hard luck. Like the sawdust on a carpenter's floor, it's what's left of us when the day is done. I never set out to be Country, it's just who I found myself to be.

 

Up and Coming New Nashville - Meet Kayla Ray

Music for me is about discovery. It's about connecting the dots between songwriters, producers, musicians and artists. It's about finding out who plays in whose sandbox, making music together. It's about recommendations from those that you trust. So when Erin Enderlin (writer for the likes of Randy Travis, Joey+Rory, Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack and whose I Let Her Talk was one of the best things we put in our ears in 2013) reaches out to you and suggests that you need to listen to a new artist... well... you listen. Literally. When you discover that her debut record and upcoming sophomore project were helmed by the preeminent singer/songwriter out of Texas, Jason Eady, it gets your attention and draws you in more. Lucky for you, I'm paying forward that favor regarding Kayla Ray.

Texan Kayla Ray comes by her classic country roots honestly. Immersed in the likes country music giants from an early age, her influences are legends such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Willie Nelson. Growing up in the Waco area, she had countless opportunities to perform with Johnny, Dick and Emily Gimble. And with the help of Tommy Allsup, at 19 she toured two Christmas Ball circuits with The Texas Playboys. In 2012 Kayla began tour managing and with Jason Eady’s full band. In August 2014, Kayla released her first full length album, Love and Liquor. This album, produced by her employer, and mentor, Jason Eady, is a collection of all original- and traditional- country songs. It's raw and fraught with emotional deliveries.

In 2015 Kayla was named TRRMA’s “New Female Vocalist of the Year”. She is a 4 time MACT Female Vocalist of the year and the album Love and Liquor made many top ten lists in both 2014 and 2015.

And now she's back in the studio recording her sophomore album and is looking for fans of good music to be a part of it. For another week, Kayla will be hard at work promoting her Kickstarter effort to raise the funds to go back in and cut her follow-up to that outstanding debut album.  Says, Ray, "I am thrilled to say that my friend and mentor Jason Eady will sit, yet again, in the producer's chair. His presence in the studio is an asset I cannot put a monetary value on and I am so thankful to have him. I cannot thank you all enough for your continued love and support. To call you all fans feels a gross understatement. My friends, I truly am so grateful, you make my life something I only dreamed it could be. As always, I believe in country music, what it was and what it will be again!"  (Editor's note: I've contributed and I'd encourage my readers to do the same.)

That Nashville Sound had a chance to sit down with Kayla and discuss her music and musical direction in an interview:

That Nashville Sound: From the artist's perspective, describe your music for someone who hasn't had the privilege.

Kayla Ray: Well, often I struggle with this since my music is traditionally country-based. With the current state of country music it often isn't enough to just say "country music" although I do believe there will be a day when that will no longer be an issue. Someone in a recent interview called it something to the tune of "Unapologetic, Real, Country Music". I think that's as big of a compliment as any and, it is certainly what I am striving to create.

How will this new second project be different from Love and Liquor?

Mainly due to my experiences since the release of the first album, the subject matter will be equally as truthful, but it will have over tones of the coming to age joys of jaded acceptance of the passing of time, and the losses and gains of such. Rather than the tone of Love and Liquor, which I feel as a whole, represented an endless barroom night.

Tell me about the influence Jason Eady has had on both projects.

Wow. Where do I begin? I was in college at MCC majoring in Commercial Music Management in Waco, TX and I was given the opportunity to meet Jason.

This was prior to the release of his AM Country Heaven but I was already such a fan and couldn't wait for the release of his next album. Our meeting turned into me forming close relationships with the whole band, dating the tele picker for quite a few years, (what chick singer doesn't do that at least once right?!) But most importantly, it resulted in me tour managing for Jason for almost 3 years. If you can imagine a small frizzy headed woman, some what smart-mouthed, fresh-off-the-Waco-Texas turnip-truck and barely 21 managing a tour of men- whom I still love dearly,- all across the south and into the mid west, surely you will find I was fulfilling life long country music dreams.

That band and I became like family, a closer model to "family" than perhaps I had known before. I saw states and faces I never dreamed I would. I loaded gear, sang duets, opened shows, sold merchandise, (It was) anything and everything I could do or learn how to, to perpetuate the country music happenings.

Jason produced my first album with the patience and attentiveness of a protective older brother. He was around for the birth of most all of the tunes as we were always touring together. He is always open for any advice or help I need along the way and he is never fearful to be honest with me. Even when the truth isn't what I want to hear. Both professionally and platonically, I am so thankful to have Jason Eady present in my life. His wife Courtney is someone I love and respect just as much.

I am thrilled to see what Jason has in mind for the second album, with almost 30 originals to pick from I am anxious to get to work! We are currently in the process of raising money for the second album via Kickstarter. If we reach the goal, we have plans to be back in the studio in December. Jason will again sit in the producers chair. I have been touring my L&L album full time for the last two years and no longer tour managing for Jason.

And, although we haven't been around each other as much, we stay in touch and I cannot wait for chance to spend a few weeks with my buddies tracking this next album!

What or who else has been key influencers on your music and sound?

Dick Gimble, son of the legendary fiddle player Johnny Gimble, (a genius in his own right) remains a pillar in most all of my musical choices.

Although I am young to have a deep rooted history in traditional country music, I grew up with my grandmother Myrna Joyce Raborn. She loved all traditional country music. From Bob Wills and Jimmy Rogers, up to the slicker sounds of the late 70's- early 80's. I drench myself in this music still today and it is a heavy influence on my tunes.

As always, my unwavering favorite is the mighty Merle Haggard.

How does the unique Texas music scene play a role? 

I am thankful so much for the Texas scene. The folks at home are loyal and they are supportive. They encourage and nurture artists who aren't afraid of individuality. This is a great thing for me because in a white collar world of false perception,I tend to stick out like Minnie Pearls, younger less aware, twice removed cousin. Or.... Something equally as ridiculous.

What is country music to Kayla Ray?

This is a great question, one I love to attempt to tackle. I was raised in situations where I faced much adversity early on and very consistently. My grandmother showed me the music of adults endearing the same real world blues that can be devastating to the human psyche, much less that of a child. While I won't divulge the extremes, I will say than an outlet like a beautiful melody with truth marching clear through it saved my life. Positive people that such heart wrenching music has brought to my path, such as Jason Eady, Dick Gimble, and many many others only adds to the thought that it was God, or, the higher power of your choosing, throwing me a life preserver.

I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to create music that speaks of real life. It is my hope that I can help others not feel so isolated in their own journey, just as country music has always done for me. In a nutshell, country music is my lifeblood. The pounding of good back beat sends the fluid coursing through my veins and it is a spring that I pray never runs dry.

Up & Coming New Nashville- Meet Katie Buxton

Katie Buxton is an indie folk singer/songwriter originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and based out of Nashville, Tennessee. At age twelve, Katie picked up the guitar and wrote her first song, and since then has had experience with bands and songwriting in multiple genres.

 

In 2012, she was chosen as a finalist in the Sing for the Trees Songwriting Contest with her song “The World Moves By”. In the summer of 2013, Katie attended the Berklee Five Week Performance Program where she was a finalist in the Songwriting Showcase and received mentorship from Melissa Ferrick and Sally Taylor, daughter of James Taylor. 

 

After moving to Nashville to attend Belmont University as a songwriting major, Katie was invited to join Bear House Writers Management and was one of eight to play in the ASCAP Writers Showcase in the fall of 2015. Adding to her songwriting accomplishments, she was later chosen as a finalist in the 2016 American Songwriting Awards with her song "Painted Hearts". Katie’s debut EP “From Songbirds” was released in March of 2016. Her new single "You Flew" was recorded and mixed by Sal Oliveri and mastered by Luke Gilfeather.

 

As for the meaning of the song, Katie explains "The song is about caring deeply for someone who is not ready to love or be loved and runs out of fear, and focuses especially on the process of learning to let go". "You Flew" is now available on Soundcloud, Itunes and all streaming services. 

 

That Nashville Sound had an opportunity to do a brief interview with the singer-songwriter and chat about influences and what she sees as the difference between country and folk music genres.

 

Describe your music (from the artist's perspective) for someone who hasn't heard it before.

I’m an acoustic singer/songwriter with a delicate, mellow sound similar to Angus & Julia Stone or Liz Longley. The lyrics I write are always intentional and are my way of spreading my honest truth.

How does Pennsylvania play a role in your music?

I’m not sure if you can really hear any Pennsylvania influence in my music now, but growing up where I did I was lucky enough to be surrounded by all kinds of music. Philadelphia has a good music scene and bigger touring artists come through the city all the time, so I was always going to concerts and finding myself really immersed in the music that was there. I also had really great opportunities to be a part of after school music programs, like School of Rock for example, that encouraged and expanded my abilities through lessons and bands I was in. 

How would you say Belmont has played a role? 

Belmont has played a huge role. I’m a songwriting major and the classes I’ve taken have challenged me to write in ways I normally wouldn’t which has made me such a better writer. The songwriting faculty are incredible - they give criticism, encouragement and resources to help us succeed and they truly believe in every student’s abilities and dreams, which is huge and has given me a lot of confidence in my music as it’s gotten better and better. Aside from the songwriting program itself, being surrounded by so many students who are also musicians, artists and writers of all kinds and who share similar goals has opened me up to so much. It’s an incredible environment because instead of feeling competitive, it feels supportive and like everyone genuinely is rooting for each other. Feeling supported has allowed me to grow into who I am as an artist without spending so much energy worrying about competing. So many of the students are incredibly talented too, which has made me push myself to always be better and has set the bar so high for whatever I create - I feel like I can always improve because I’m constantly inspired by the talent around me.   

What do you see as the differences between folk and country music?

For me, I see country as being closer to pop than folk is. Contemporary country music, with a few exceptions, is all very similar and a lot of it is written with a very defined structure and formula. Being in Nashville and surrounded by songwriters, publishers and industry professionals, so much of it is about writing hits and songs that will sell, much like the pop world. I see folk as being more diverse musically and less driven by how commercial a song is. Compared to modern country, I think folk music is more story-oriented, but I see a lot more similarities between folk and old country, like Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash for example.

 

Up and Coming New Nashville - Meet Fiona Culley

From the far shores of England, Nashville transplant Fiona Culley is carving out her own space of music in Music City. We had the genuine opportunity to chat with her briefly about her career and look forward to our readers hearing her voice.

Discovering her love for Country from a young age, Culley has been penning her own songs since early 2008. Finding inspiration from her countryside home in Staffordshire and the wandering landscapes of England, Fiona’s move to Nashville shaped her music for good.

Blending a collection of old and new influences, from the likes of Johnny Cash to Carrie Underwood, She is bringing her fresh sound to the country music genre. Fiona has just completed her EP with a hit team of musicians and the legendary producer Paul Worley at the helm.

Expect to go through a sea of emotions from songs such as 'What Whiskey Does' written by Brandy Clark & Bob Dipiero that is guaranteed to make you chuckle with its lyrical content but also make you want to bob your head, while 'Better Alone' written by Fiona cuts straight to the heart.

"In a sea of talented female artists Fiona shines through. She demonstrates both a powerful vocal ability and unique artistry to have a long and bright future in the genre.”- Darius Rucker

 

 

That Nashville Sound: What drew you to Nashville from the far shores of England?

 

Fiona Culley: Initially when I first met with my label it was their idea for me to come to Nashville for 6 months. That was four years ago. This town now feels like home. I feel like it's a timeless, ageless bubble of creativity which keeps me forever inspired.

TNS: Describe your EP from the artist's perspective for someone who may not have heard your music.

FC: I feel like my music takes the listener through a journey of emotions. From happy to sad to thoughtful to angry.. When I play a show my goal is to make the audience feel something.

TNS: Who would you say your biggest influences are in your music today?

FC: My father growing up introduced me to so many different genres of music and artists. Trisha Yearwood, Allison Krauss, Glen Campbell, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, etc. After moving to Nashville and working with my producer, I have found new influences. There are too many to mention.

TNS: Tell us about your experience with Paul Worley. 

FC: Paul and I met when I first moved to town. He told me that I was a great singer, but I need to live and grow in Nashville. He was right. I needed the years of writing and playing to work out exactly who I am as an artist.  Working with Paul is incredible, he always has such amazing ideas and is brutally honest. One time when we were cutting vocals he sent me home because he said I didn't have the right tone that day.. I didn't know weather to laugh or cry but that's what I love about him. He's become my Nashville champion. We are both earlier risers so if conversations need to be had it's usually at 7 in the morning. We are about to go into the studio and cut more songs to complete a full album. I can't wait to get into the creative process with him again.

 

Up & Coming New Nashville- The Shires Prep New Album, My Universe

Artist: The Shires
Album: My Universe
Label: Decca
Release date: Oct. 7, 2016

Their name might not be readily recognized here in the US or Canada, but the work that The Shires have exercised here in Nashville certainly has paid big dividends in their native UK. The duo will release their hotly anticipated second album My Universe, out on 10/7.

The debut track, entitled "Beats To Your Rhythm," is a heartfelt but infectious summer smash which will have fans across the UK singing along in seconds with its handclaps, catchy chorus, stomping drums and rousing backing vocal hook. The tune and album alike showcase The Shires trademark beautiful harmonies, which come naturally to Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes who share lead vocals.

With the release of their debut album Brave in 2015, The Shires became the biggest-selling country act in the UK last year (including US artists), and one of the biggest-selling breakthrough UK acts of any genre along with James Bay, Years and Years and Jess Glynn.

Ben and Crissie continued to build a huge following, in fans and critics alike, landing 5 A list singles at BBC Radio 2 and appearing on a string of high profile TV shows including Graham Norton, BBC Music Awards, Children in Need Rocks and many more. The band were then given their first headline slot at Glastonbury this summer, topping the bill on the Acoustic Stage on Saturday night.

The new album will appeal to both pop and country fans, with high profile co-writes involving top country music writers, including Kip Moore, and with the album recorded at Sound Stage Studios (one of the most prestigious recording studios in Nashville, which has cut records for other country superstars such as Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum).
 

Up & Comin': Several New Recent Music Videos & Key Live Performances

Over the course of the last month or so, many new music videos and a handful of key live performances have been released by a multitude of artists that might normally go under the radar. If you're so inclined, check some of these out and let us know of which are your favorites. Click on the song title to watch the video.

The Henrys - "A Weaker One"
Mo Pitney - "Country"
Cady Groves - "Crying Game"
Whiskey Rodeo - "Old School Cool"
Charlie Bonnet III -  "Hillbilly Rock Star"
The Lacs - "Make the Rooster Crow"
Chance Anderson Band - "Two Red Lights"
Charly - "Everybody's Pretty When They're 18"
Kyle Park - "What Goes Around Comes Around"
Jon Wolfe - "Smile On Mine"
Andrew Johnston - "Night Owl"
Josh Goodlett - "Why You Gotta Be That Way"
Sofia - "Note To Tennessee"
Rachel Potter - "Tail Lights"
Lonesome River Band - "Lila Mae"
Kaitlyn Baker - "Burn"
Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road Featuring The Kentucky Headhunters - "Runnin' Water"













 

15 New Music Videos For Your Viewing Pleasure

Over the course of the last couple of weeks

or so, many new music videos and a handful of key live performances have been released by a multitude of artists that might normally go under the radar. If you're so inclined, check some of these out and let us know of which are your favorites. Click on the song title to watch the video.

Cole Swindell - Ain't Worth the Whiskey
Kelsea Ballerini - Love Me Like You Mean It
Andrew Combs - Pearl
Ryan Culwell - Flatlands
Lowland Hum - Odell
Humming House - Great Divide
Pokey LaFarge - Something in the Water
Needtobreathe - Brother
Karli Whetstone - Frozen
Elizabeth Lyons - Party Rules
Sarah Ross - You're No Good
Gill Landry - Just Like You
Anderson East - Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em and Forget ‘Em [Live from Fame Studios]
Macy Martin - Back to Reality
Allie Louise - It's Gettin' Old



 

Several New Music Videos From Up & Coming New Artists

Over the course of the last week or so, many new music videos have been released by a multitude of artists that might normally go under the radar. If you're so inclined, check some of these out and let us know of which are your favorites. Click on the song title to watch the video.

Briana Tyson - "Moonshine"

Brother Dege - "Too Old To Die Young"

Tyler Hilton - "Indian Summer"

Kelleigh Bannen - "Smoke When I Drink"

SHEL - "Sleigh Ride"

Annie Bosko - "Crooked Halo" 

Morgan Shaughnessy - "February Moon"

MaryLeigh Roohan - "Oh Brother" 

Larkin Poe - "Don't" 

Up & Coming New Nashville- Stephanie Quayle

Born and raised on a farm in Bozeman, Montana, Stephanie Quayle made the move from the Big Sky in 2011 and now proudly calls Nashville her home. Her active fan base of over 35,000 fans led her to perform at both the 2012 and 2013 CMA Music Festival. A vibrant new face on the scene, Stephanie has already logged an impressive performance portfolio including multiple appearances at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, US Navy's Fleet Week and a personal invitation from Maria Shriver to perform before an audience of thousands at Shriver's National Women's Conference.  In 2013, the Montana singer/songwriter released an EP, Stand Back which featured 6 songs which were all co-written and co-produced by Stephanie

Stephanie seems to turn every encounter into a meaningful moment. Her friendship with Kelley Lovelace, one of the most successful songwriters in music having 15 #1 songs, came from a chance encounter with a man named John at a dive bar she was performing at in Los Angeles. John told her she belonged in Nashville. Shortly after moving to Nashville, John introduced her to Lovelace. After developing a friendship and trust, Stephanie built enough courage to ask him if he would let her record one of his songs. And they found her debut radio-single song, "Sugar High." 

The award-winning songwriters feel their song has found it's home with Stephanie. "As writers, we hold on to the hope that our favorite songs will someday find a home," says Lovelace. "Well, this is one of those times where hope became reality. Stephanie Quayle is the perfect artist for "Sugar High." In fact, she delivers it so well it's as if she wrote it with me and my co-writers, Ashley Gorley and Steve McEwan. We might have given the song birth, but Stephanie gave it life."

While she has yet to realize her dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry or performing at the legendary Ryman Auditorium, Stephanie has already logged an unusually impressive performance portfolio. She’s appeared three times at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, sung at the U.S. Navy’s “Fleet Week” in San Francisco, and was personally asked by Maria Shriver to perform for an audience of over 14,000 at Shriver’s National Women’s Conference in 2010 and 2011. The Girls for a Change organization featured one of her self-penned songs, “Be Who You Are,” as an inspirational conference theme. Last year, the Amway Corporation licensed her song, “You Inspire Me,” inviting Stephanie to perform the song live for over 3,500 people at its annual Amway Achievers event. She has also written and recorded a theme song (“Big Blue Town”) for Sea Save Foundation, which features the artist in a public service video shot in the Cayman Islands. True to her charitable nature, Stephanie has just joined forces to become a national spokesperson for the Soles 4 Souls organization that is dedicated to fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty around the globe.