NYCS Swag Spotlight: Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen

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Wade Bowen Randy Rogers

In the midst of all the chaos in the world, it was a pleasure to speak to our Swag Spotlight artists this week, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. Both men have established profound careers in the Texas country scene in their own right with Randy Rogers Band and Wade Bowen music, but together, they are relatable, personable, and of course, make some great country music.

Rogers and Bowen both hail from Texas but grew up with a different attachment to music. For Rogers, music was always in his blood. “I grew up a son of a preacher,” he tells us, “ I was in church at a young age performing piano, guitar, and singing. […] I learned all the melodies of all those songs.” For Bowen, he showed his creative side by writing short stories and poems, calling himself “late” to music. “I didn’t really get into guitar until I was about 17,” he shared. Despite that notion, Bowen added, “I knew I wanted to play music.”

Little did either of the singers know, that they were soon to cross paths. When he was 19, Bowen started a band, playing gigs throughout college in towns like San Marcos, where Rogers went to school. After seeing Bowen gig, Rogers invited him and the band to come party with them, and the rest is history.

“I went up to them after the show and said I have a keg and they came over to my house […] and we were playing music until 5 in the morning most nights. And we started talking about stuff and playing music and stuff, and that was really it,” Rogers exclaims.

Flash forward to almost 20 years later, the two men have created some incredible traditional Texas country music together, as they promised each other years before. “We met through music,” they shared, “We’ve been friends ever since that night and made a pact that we were going to hang out and write songs and stick by each other’s side.”

Their newest record, HOLD MY BEER, VOL. 2 is slated for release this Friday. After a five year wait, fans can expect the record to be exactly what they need right now. For the men, the record and their projects together are a chance to challenge themselves through both the writing and recording processes. The newest record is all about having some fun.

“We focused on lifting people up and making people smile,” they shared, “That’s what this album’s about. Grab a beer with your friends and just listen to this record, and just have some fun.”

Despite not being able to tour just yet, the talented artists made the tough decision to keep their original album release date, and we are so glad they did. Music is something that inspires us all, and Rogers and Bowen truly embody that sentiment. “Country music is the blues,” Bowen shares, “It’s the blue-collar, the working man telling the story, it’s most times- it’s the stories of true life. People make country music a part of their lives. […] It’s crazy how songs just find their way into our lives.”

We are confident that when live music is played again and shows are scheduled, that country music fans, especially New York country music fans will come out in droves to support their favorite acts such as Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen because as Rogers says “We share the same passion for country.”

To keep up with Randy Rogers follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Wade Bowen follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 Check back on Friday for our full review of HOLD MY BEER, VOL 2.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Ron Pope

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Ron Pope

Photo Credit: Nicole Mago

This week we shine our spotlight on a talented singer-songwriter who writes from his heart, Ron Pope. Although a talented singer and an incredible songwriter Pope is first and foremost a doting father and husband. His life experiences and journey has led him to be able to share his stories with a wider audience, but he still remains humble and true to his soul.

The country-rock, soul singer, was born in the Northeast in Newark, New Jersey, but moved to Georgia after his parents divorced. Despite an avid interest in music from a young age, Pope never focused on music as a career or even knew any ‘real’ musicians. “I was always making music,” he tells us, “but it was something I did for fun.” That hobby turned into a way to hang out with his friends, during his teenage years.

He ended up starting his very first band ‘Longfellow,’ while in high school. Together, they played at a dive bar where having fun was the first priority. “We were embarrassingly bad, but it was a laugh,” he shared, “We’d get rip-roaring drunk in the parking lot and then get up on stage and let it ride.” Despite the nature of performing, Pope and his friends were on to something in their younger days.

The singer ended up taking music more seriously, during his third year of college, when he joined a songwriting circle. Although he had been writing music for several years prior, with the encouragement from the older kids in the group, he began to take it more seriously. “That was when I started to consider the idea that I might be a songwriter. Being a songwriter felt different than just being someone who wrote songs.”

Flash forward to today, Pope creates music with a songwriter first mentality. Taking inspiration from various musical influences from the classic rock genre like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, and R&B artists like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, and Eric Clapton, the singer has truly created his own unique cocktail of music. He also draws inspiration from other greats like Elvis and Johnny Cash. Interestingly enough, Pope also credits famed rapper Tupac as an integral influence. “The way he used pieces of words to keep his phrasing incredibly rhythmic was pretty revelatory to me when I was starting out as a writer,” he shares.

Pope’s unique and eclectic influences have surely manifested in his own music. Most recently, he released a personal record entitled Bone Structure. Even after just one listen it is evident how honest, gritty, emotive, and talented he truly is as a singer and as a songwriter. After a traumatic event occurred in his life, where his driver was attacked by masked men just minutes after he walked inside his house to his baby girl and wife, the singer decided to scrap his original finished project.

The terrifying event shifted his focus and perspective in such a profound way. “I couldn’t shake the terror for a long time afterwards. There’s nothing like fearing for your child,” he vulnerably shares, “I couldn’t get away from the idea that if I were to die, I wouldn’t be there to talk to my daughter when she needed advice as she grew up.” From that point on, he focused on writing and recording a record for what he called, “an audience of one.” The entire Bone Structure project was directed towards his daughter, as he recounts past experiences and lessons learned in each of the fifteen songs, leaving no stone unturned and nothing off limits. Despite his checkered past and various challenges, Pope lays it all out in an honest and pure way for his daughter.

Even though Bone Structure is receiving accolades and media attention, Pope remains humble. Regardless of the praise or admiration his songs receive, he remains unequivocally true to himself and yearns to create music that embraces human connection. “Music has always helped me feel less alone in the world and more connected to those around me,” he says, “If my music can do that for other people, then maybe I’m helping in my tiny way and that feels like something worth doing.” We are sure his music is accomplishing that feat.

As we head into the second half of 2020, Pope, like most of us, does not have a plan. Though the future may be uncertain, the singer how vowed to appreciate the joy in every day and try to quiet the darker moments that can sometimes cloud our heads. When the time is right, Pope would love to be back on the road playing music with friends, but until then, he remains exactly where he should be, with his biggest inspirations, his wife and daughter.

To keep up with Ron Pope follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Bone Structure 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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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Parker McKay

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Parker McKay

If you are looking for a talented female rising artist to support, look no further than this week’s Swag Spotlight, songstress Parker McKay. The northeast native has carved out her niche in Nashville’s country music scene and her eclectic taste of music has surely influenced her singing, songwriting, and pop-country sound.

Growing up in Northeastern New Hampshire, McKay found herself drawn to music on the radio airwaves. She listened to singers like Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks, while simultaneously liking pop-radio and artists like John Mayer. Little did she know that these experiences would influence her and her music in the future. “I feel like back then pop radio had kinda everything on it,” she tells us, “I really was able to cherry-pick what I have liked from each genre to create the cocktail of what I do musically.”

Although she always knew that music and singing was something she wanted to do, McKay did not originally follow the path to becoming a singer-songwriter. After high school, she left home to attend college in New York City to study theatre. After finding success in NYC, the songstress came to a crossroads. “I just realized I needed a place with a bigger music community, so I moved to Nashville.”

For the last five years, McKay has resided in Music City, where she has pounded the pavement, working as a singer-songwriter in the country genre. Her dream of telling her own story in her music was coming to fruition. Though she was lucky enough to find success and her place in Nashville quicker than some, the singer shared that it has definitely been a journey. “I just went everywhere I could and met everyone I could,” she shares, “It was definitely a huge, huge change of pace on every level.”

Despite the winding path, McKay has found her voice in Nashville. She is able to create music that feels like her, and she is able to write lyrics that she is passionate about. Most recently, the songstress released “Pity Party”, a single that is both an absolute bop and a song with an impactful and meaningful lyrical message.

We chatted with McKay about the new single, and it was easy to see how special the song is to her. “Honestly I had the idea for “Pity Party” come into my head one day, out of nowhere really,” she tells us about how the song came to fruition. She brought the idea to a write one day and was able to finish the song.

Although disguised as a break-up song, “Pity Party” is much more about what weighs on the singer’s heart, as well as, how she feels about herself. Although personal, the song is extremely relevant to women everywhere. “As a woman,” she tells us, “We’re made to feel like if we make someone else uncomfortable in any way, that we owe them an apology because it’s our job to caretake all the time. Empathy is, of course, important but you also don’t have to take responsibility for everyone else’s problems all the time.” McKay demands respect in her relationships and carries herself with grace and confidence.

The song’s message is so prevalent in today’s society, and it is exciting and refreshing to see a new artist have the courage to express that narrative. Heading into the future, McKay hopes to continue to surprise fans and keep them guessing. She revealed to us that her next single, a song about mental health and relationships, will be out sometime in the summer.

Additionally, this summer, New Yorkers can look forward to McKay’s rescheduled Rockwood Music Hall show on August 6th. The intimate New York City venue will be the perfect setting to fall in love with a new musician or to continue your support of McKay and her one of a kind talent.

To keep with Parker McKay, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Pity Party” 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.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Nikki Briar

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Nikki Briar

This week we shine our spotlight on New Jersey country artist, Nikki Briar. Her unique brand of country music has resonated across the genre and the United States. She fully put her career in God’s hands, but it’s evident that music has been in her soul since birth.

Growing up, Briar was consumed by music. Her father worked as a touring musician, while her mother played classical piano. She tells us “I learned how to play the drums because of him and I learned how to play the piano because of her,” adding later, that her early exposure to music helped to mold her, while also assisting her with working through her own struggles with a speech impediment.

Taking the influences from her parents, Briar’s first introduction to music was in the style of Motown and Jazz. She credits artists like Frankie Valli and Frank Sinatra as early influences. As her musical style evolved, the singer-songwriter found herself listening to boy bands like Hanson, Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block. It wasn’t until middle school that Briar found a connection to country music.

“Country music kinda came into the picture when I started playing the guitar in middle school,” she tell us. The singer’s uncle taught her to play acoustic guitar, which of course, lends itself to country music. Because of the likes of artists like Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, and Garth Brooks, “I fell in love with country music.”

Despite her appreciation for music and natural talent, Briar decided to pursue a career as a teacher, even getting her master’s degree. It wasn’t until she was invited to sing the national anthem at a military event that her path in life started to shift. Her boyfriend was overseas serving our country, and a fellow soldier took a liking to the singer’s voice. The soldier happened to also be a producer and writer in Nashville and invited Briar to come down to work on music.

On a whim, the songstress decided to take the risk. She headed to Nashville to write and has not turned back since. On that trip, Briar ended up writing her first single “A Soldier’s Princess,” which found its way to radio. “That’s when I realized, wow, that’s how it easy it is,” she shared, “I just told [him] a story about my email address and that right there, started a title of a song.”

Her first writing experience combined with her first trip to Nashville and the support of her now, husband helped her to find the courage to put all of her energy into music. With newfound confidence and instilled faith, Briar tells us she realized, “I love country music and I do have a story to tell,” adding later, “If God wants it to happen, it’s going to happen. I’ll work on it and I’ll do what I gotta do and if it works out, okay, let’s see what happens.”

Flash forward to today, Briar has been in the business for over thirteen years. Most recently she released a new song called “MAMA’S BOY,’ to her fans via Facebook. The new single will be apart of her upcoming EP FOREVER YOUNG. The singer drew inspiration from her daily life as a mom, and it is a beautiful ode to her 1 and 3-year-old sons. “So Mama’s Boy came probably about a week ago when I just was determined to finish a song that I wanted to write about being a mother,” Briar tells us. Utilizing the downtime of this national crisis, the singer was finally able to finish a song that she has been wanting to write, since becoming a mother.

Old and new fans of Briar alike should keep their eyes peeled for more from the singer as we head into the later part of the year. She is scheduled to play at some festivals, as well as, shows across the Northeast, Nashville, and Florida in the summer and fall months. For current dates and times head to nikkibriar.com.

To keep up with Nikki Briar follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: Chevel Shepherd

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Chevel Shepherd

Photo Credit: Shutterstreek

“I think music is the food of the soul and can heal people in a lot of different ways…”

 

One of our youngest, brightest stars that we have interviewed, Chevel Shepherd is this week’s Swag Spotlight and we are thrilled to tell her story. As a child, Shepherd started singing when she was only two years old, following in the footsteps of her mother and sister who also loved to sing. When she was four, she learned “Fly Away” by Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood’s “Before He He Cheats”, using the latter to try and audition for a high school talent competition in her hometown of La Plata, New Mexico. The judges felt that song was was “inappropriate” she tells us and laughs as she explains she went on to sing “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella. She fell in love with country music from the very start of her life, listening to the greats with her parents like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Tanya Tucker, and Merle Haggard. Ambitious from such a young age, Shepherd would wake up early on Friday mornings and go perform at radio stations before school.

She tells us that her upbringing in New Mexico was very “country”, she grew up on a 3-acre farm, barrel racing and raising horses.  Growing up she loved to watch American Idol and was too young to audition for both Idol and The Voice until they changed their policies. “I would sit in front of the TV and watch the people singing, and I would tell my mom,  ‘I could turn a chair,’ ” she recalls. She eventually saved up her money and went to audition for season 13 of The Voice in Las Vegas, unfortunately not making it past the open call. She was determined to follow her dreams as a singer and then something amazing happened: her mother received an email requested that Chevel, now 16 would audition for season 15.  “It was a blessing really, I am grateful to have gotten the opportunity again,” she tells us.

Talk about timing, this time around Shepherd did turn those chairs, three, in fact, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, and Jennifer Hudson all hit their buttons for the young singer. Surprising even herself, she chose Kelly Clarkson as her coach instead of Blake Shelton. “it was a gut decision to pick Kelly and I feel like it was a great decision, shes helped me a lot, she knows a lot about pop and country music,” she tells us.  Her sassy personality, remarkable vocals, and genuine charisma took her all the way to the end of the show where she ultimately took home the top prize.

Since winning the singing competition show, Shepherd has played live shows across the country, met some of her idols like Loretta Lynn and attended the ACM Awards with Kelly Clarkson. She has also loved being able to craft and perform her own songs. Earlier this year she recorded and released two songs, “Everybody’s Got A Story” which was written by some of Nashville’s best songwriters, Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, and Brandy Clark and “Mama Got The Chair” which is a nod to George Strait’s number one hit, “The Chair”.

Both songs keep the traditional country roots that Shepherd has loved since she was a child. “I loved listening to the classic country sound, as I got older things started changing and the different genres were incorporated in the genre but I want to keep the traditional sound as long as I can,” she says. Looking into the future, she is dipping her toes in the acting world as well as playing more shows across the nation.

She may be young but her old soul and impeccable talent will certainly carry her far in her career.

To keep up with Chevel Shepherd, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

“Everybody’s Got a Story” and “Mama Got The Chair” are now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS Swag Spotlight: James Dupré

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James Dupré

This week our Swag Spotlight shines on rising artist, James Dupré. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his path to find music, his stint on The Voice, his hopes for his career going forward, and everything in between.

Growing up in small-town Bayou Chicot, Louisiana, Dupré remembers his parents listening to a lot of different styles of music, but for the singer, one particular voice transcends all for him. “I remember hearing Vince Gill sing for the first time,” he told us, “I remember his voice just absolutely amazed me, and I knew from then, I wanted to be a singer.” Other artists that he credits for his love of music includes greats like Merle Haggard and Randy Travis, and more modern artists like Eric Church and John Mayer, who he draws inspiration from for his own music.

Despite having a passion for music, Dupré’s life took a different turn. The singer actually went to college to study meteorology, where he subsequently also joined a band. At that time, he felt like he should be putting his focus on music, so he went back home, where he worked as a paramedic, all while, writing songs and recording Youtube videos.

Due to his popularity on YouTube, daytime and comedic sensation, Ellen Degeneres invited him on to her show. According to Dupré, “That was the first time I’ve ever been on television. […] It was an amazing experience being backstage and just kinda diving in to see how a major network TV show works behind the scenes. I was hooked after that.”

Dupré found himself moving to Nashville, Tennessee shortly after that. He signed with Warner Music Nashville and released his first debut project. Still being young and trying to cultivate his voice and his message, Dupré ended up leaving the label. With music still his passion, a friend of his, encouraged him to try out for Season 9 of NBC’s The Voice.

After a successful stint on the show, Dupré’s passion was reignited, and he knew once again that music was his calling. “You hear people, old-timers that have been in Nashville for decades- they say that really perseverance is the key because there are so many people that come here, and it’s easy to get discouraged,” adding, “But the people that stick it out no matter what- there’s gong to be ups and downs, those are the people that end up making it. And I don’t have a plan B. I don’t have anything to fall back on and I just love what I do. And I’m so lucky that I’ve had the opportunities that I’ve had, and I’m just going to continue doing it,” he declares.

Within the past year, Dupré has garnered many new fans of his own. Over the summer, the singer released a single to country radio called “Another Love Song,” after the song performed really well digitally on streaming platforms. He also was handpicked by his icon and now friend, Randy Travis for his ‘The Music of Randy Travis 2019 Tour.’

“The only way I can describe it is like going to Disney World like every day,” he tells us about the tour, “Randy Travis is an icon and I grew up listening to him and to be on stage- and to be on stage, including the Ryman Auditorium, with his original band, singing all these great songs, it was just a dream come true.”

According to Dupré, there is talk about the tour adding some more shows this year as well. Additionally, the singer released another song that just went to country radio called “You’re Probably Drunk Right Now.” The song showcases how a break-up feels on both sides of the dissolution of a relationship, and luckily for Dupré fans, both the new single and “Another Love Song” are part of a full-length album that is in the works, and slated to be released in summer, 2020. Fans are sure to be hearing a lot more from Dupré as the year continues, and we are excited to see how his career continues to blossom.

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

“Another Love Song” and “You’re Probably Drunk Right Now” are 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.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Who Is Matt Ferranti? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

Matt Ferranti

The Beginning:

This week’s Swag Spotlight might be a new solo-artist, but Matt Ferranti has been performing and grinding in the music industry for over a decade. The singer-songwriter has been a staple in superstar, Brett Young’s band, as his guitarist, for a few years now but he is finally embracing stepping out on his own. We spoke with Ferranti about everything from how he got his start in the music industry to where he hopes his solo-career will take him over the next year, and everything in between.

Growing up in Bay City, Michigan, music was a huge part of his upbringing. Ferranti’s father worked as a minister and his mother was a worship leader, so contemporary Christian music was his first introduction to music. As his taste developed, the singer became interested in all different types of artistry from John Mayer to Steven Curtis Chapman to Warped Tour bands, and even boy bands. “I am a hell of boy band fan,” laughed Ferranti, “Justin Timberlake is my jam. I grew up singing that all the time too.” Early fans of Ferranti might know that he often throws an *NSYNC cover into his longer sets.

After playing in many bands all through school, Ferranti found himself in a band that leaned more towards the contemporary country sound. The Detroit-based band found success, opening up for groups like Thompson Square and Gloriana. On a whim and a suggestion from Gloriana, Ferranti and his band finally picked up and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with hopes of furthering their careers.

The Turning Point:

Knowing virtually no one in Music City, the rising artist found himself humbly working as a bar-back in downtown Nashville and working on improving his songwriting skills. He soaked up as much of the Nashville scene as he could, all while trying to hone his craft.

“I just kinda loved being in Music City. I just like being around it. It’s always kinda popping around. It’s crazy I use to want to be a writer at first,” he explained, “ Nashville humbles you real quick […] I had to bust my tail to really improve so that, basically it’s what they say when preparation meets opportunity […] realizing how damn prepared I have to be.”

For the next five years, Ferranti worked playing every gig and writer’s round that he could, even adding that he would write over 125 songs a year at times. Recognizing his talent and passion for music, his friend and bandmate, Brett Young told him that he was going to help him introduce fans to his own music.

Today:

This catapulted Ferranti into writing five songs he called “the best songs I’ve written in my life,” all in one weekend, and getting to work with Jimmie Robbins to help produce his debut self-titled EP. Out of the six songs on the project, “Make It to the Bedroom,” featuring Hannah Ellis is the only song he didn’t write. According to the singer, it was written by Ellis, with Nick Wayne and Josh Kerr. Ferranti loved the song so much that he knew he had to put it on his EP almost instantly; despite, almost losing it to another artist.

When it comes to the other five songs, he shared, “…I just wrote love songs about my wife. We’ve been together nine years and basically, it’s like, when I wrote these songs, I finally had a vibe.” Ferranti went on to conclude, “I feel like the whole record has a vibe and once we kinda curated that vibe, the lyrics just start coming. We had a story to tell, we had something to say.”

Currently, Ferranti is not only playing in Young’s band still, but he is also the opening act for him on ‘The Chapters Tour.’ We caught the singer last month in New York City, and it’s safe to say that fans resonated with him and his sound. As he continues to garner more and more fans, the artist hopes to work his way towards earning a record deal and hopefully playing shows with other artists or his own shows, in between shows with Young. He even mentioned that he would love to play with his good buddy and fellow singer-songwriter, Filmore.

Additionally, Ferranti hopes to deliver a full-length project sometime in 2020. “I felt like that was the perfect little click before the record comes out of who I am and what I have to say,” he says about the EP, “ And I can’t wait to finish the record. I think the whole story is going to be dope,” he added mentioning that he has seven more songs to record.

It’s clear from his debut record that Ferranti is the real deal. With just six songs, he has cultivated a clear voice and message for fans to get on board with. The passion that he has for music simply rivals that of any established artists in the industry, and we’re excited to see where that passion and talent takes him.

To keep up with Matt Ferranti follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Matt Ferranti EP 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.

 

NYCS Swag Spotlight Paulina Jayne

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Paulina Jayne

“I think that music and the ability to write it, is truly something that is a gift from God. I say that in an extremely humble way. He has certain people that he gives songs to and some of those songs get heard and some are just for the writer.”

For our Swag Spotlight feature this week, we got to interview a talented singer-songwriter, who has been in the business since high school. Paulina Jayne is an incredible country music artist, who has a way with words, beautiful vocals, and the wit, drive, and passion that is necessary to make it in the music world.

Born in Michigan, Jayne fell in love with music and songwriting before she even recognized what she was doing. After her mother made her take piano lessons, she began writing songs on the piano rather than playing the notes created by different composers. It wasn’t until a sixth-grade talent show that the songstress realized she was given a gift, “I realized after I played that I really loved doing that.”

Her love for music only grew when she played a show at a dive in Detroit. “One of my family members actually brought a few people from the music industry in Detroit to my show,” she told us, only to add, “The next thing I know, six months later, I wind up signing with my first management [company] the day before going into high school. That was the true beginning of [music] turning into an actual career for me.”

Although she grew up on more Motown inspired artists, such as Bob Seger and Stevie Wonder, Jayne also loved artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Shania Twain, but it was not until her management company told her, that she realized what she was doing. “I started to write these lyrics that were stories in a song and so I think what my management company saw was that I was writing country music before I had even realized it.” Even crazier, Jayne didn’t even consider herself to be a country fan until she fell in love with Kenny Chesney’s hit single “Beer in Mexico.”

This catapulted Jayne to the big stages, opening for artists like Sam Hunt and Sheryl Crow at the beginning of her career. She even got to write with some elite songwriters such as J.T. Harding and Shane McAnally. Eventually, after high school, she realized that she wanted to live in Nashville full-time, choosing to advance her career and knowledge of the industry by enrolling at Belmont University.

She spent her time at Belmont cultivating connections, playing shows, but more importantly, just being a passionate, college student. As a student, Jayne decided to rely on her peers and the student body to create what she originally wanted to be, a student run record label, using herself as the flagship artist. The business helped her song “Love’s Gonna Always Win” get not only national but international attention and caught the ear of major labels like Warner Music Nashville. Eventually, Jayne realized that what her and her peers had created was an artist management company. That company is still thriving today.

“It’s so special to know that a bunch of kids that were 18, 19, 20- that were willing to come together and do this crazy idea with me and believe in it. And then believe in me,” adding, “Like I said, there are just some things that I have experienced that are so hard to come by and I try to be worthy of them”.

Flash forward to today, Jayne has garnered a loyal following of fans, as well as, a unique perspective and experience about how the music industry works. She continues to garner partnerships, including partnering with Ford Motor Companies and continues to play shows across the country. In April, the rising artist will released one of her most meaningful songs to date entitled “Everybody’s Somebody.” The song was inspired by her late grandmother, who had late stages of dementia, which she revealed through a touching story that she shared with us, during our interview.

“My grandma was in the last few days of her life,” she tells us, “I played the melody for her […] and I’ll never forget how moved she was.” She knew right then and there that this song had to be lyrically about her relationship with her grandmother. “I want to write a song for people who maybe didn’t feel known in their time on earth, but definitely should have been. Because everybody has a story and some of them get heard, and some of them don’t get heard.” She later, eloquently added “I wrote this song for her and for the little girls in their bedrooms who are sitting there wondering if anyone ever remembers them. And for myself to.”

We are excited to see how fans react to Jayne’s soon to be released tune, and we know that she will continue to turn more and more country fans on to her music and her charm.

To keep up with Paulina Jayne follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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NYCS Swag Spotlight Rachele Lynae

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Rachele Lynae

Giving a voice to women in country music is something we take immense pride in, so shining our light on Rachele Lynae this week for our Swag Spotlight was just as exciting. We got the inside scoop about Lynae’s upcoming record, how she came to find success in the industry, and of course, how she feels about the importance of female artists in the genre.

Spending her childhood in Kodiak Alaska, Lynae remembers music being a staple in her household. Although one might assume that country music is not big in her home state, the singer-songwriter shares with us that she grew up on two types of music, with of course country being one of the two.

“I was told I started singing before I was really talking,” she tells us. “My dad played guitar and sings and he hasn’t really done it professionally, but I grew up with that constant influence, and he would just play a lot of country music. I grew up on two types of music, country and gospel. It’s always been a part of my roots.”

Although she did not grow up in the hub of country music per-say, Lynae cannot recall a time, where she didn’t want to sing for a living. After hearing about Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, the songstress knew that was where she belonged, and after graduating high school, she followed her path to Music City. “The idea of getting to go to school and studying music and not having to take a break from [my] career, and to go to school and further my career was really what brought me down here,” she explains.

Lynae grew up on 90s country, where female musicians ruled the airwaves. She has been inspired by mega-successful singers like Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, and of course, Reba. These talented superstars not only helped her to fall in love with the genre but also influenced how she creates her own sound and style in her music.

According to Lynae, “When you listen to [her] music you can hear the country roots, but you also hear a pop influence in it,” adding, “I think that a lot to those women, definitely Faith Hill and Shania have the same type of marriage of the genres.”

For Lynae, it took her six years after her self-titled release to finally nail down her artistry and perfectly blend her country and pop sound together. In May, the songstress will release her sophomore studio album entitled Every Reason. “It really will cover the spectrum of different places in relationships, but this album as a whole,” she tells us, “Is full of every reason that I love my husband, as well as, every reason I love making music.”

The singer-songwriter co-wrote all twelve of the tracks and will continue to release a song each month off the record, until its release date. Currently, Lynae has released two sassy tunes, “Braggin On Ya” and “Can You.” The former depicts her love for her husband, while the latter is basically a ‘you wish’ anthem to an ex, who realizes too little too late that they want you back.

Although topically the record is diverse, it is connected by authenticity. “This album is more just straight up me,” she declares, “I let myself really enjoy it and not worry about fitting into a box and made the music that was true to me and that I enjoy and I’m really excited to share it.” We cannot wait to see how the singer-songwriter continues to blossom this year.

To keep up with Rachele Lynae follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

“Braggin On Ya” and “Can You” are 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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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

NYCS Swag Spotlight Williams Honor

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Williams Honor

This week’s Swag Spotlight shines on two musicians, Gordon Brown and Reagan Richards, who call themselves Williams Honor, a name they told us honors their late fathers, William and Benard. We talked with them about everything from their influences, their journey as a duo, and how they view the ever-changing genre of country music.

Hailing from the Jersey Shore’s Asbury Park, Williams Honor has a unique rise in the industry. Richards made the big move from New Jersey to Nashville to further her career, where she worked with an impressive list of collaborators and sang back-up for rock artists, while Brown, spent decades writing, producing, and directing all in the realm of the music world.

Although the two have known of each other for years, the two met in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy ripped through New Jersey and New York. Both Richards and Brown performed on the same benefit show, bonding over their roots and Nashville, and the rest was history.

“Being that we had two separate careers, all of sudden we say ‘hey’ why don’t we look into doing something together and we started writing and that’ sorta how Williams Honor started. It was very organic. It just really happened with us realizing that we had the same interests, the same goals, and the same things that we really loved,” Richards tells us.

Their mutual love for country music both brought Williams Honor together and have kept them dedicated to the genre over the last few years too. “With country music, you listen to that song. And from the first word sang until the last word sang, you know what they’re talking about,” adding, “And 9 times out of 10 you can relate to it or your best friend can relate to it. So when we sit down to write, that’s what we write, we write country music. Because of just being able to resonate with it. It’s authentic, it’s truly authentic. We love it, we write it.”

The duo hopes to continue to be ambassadors for country music, as they show their loyal fans across many genres that at the heart of country music is a story and a message. This understanding truly resonates across their original music. Mixing old school country-rock influences of everyone from Pasty Cline, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Cash to Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, and Little Big Town, Williams Honor runs the gamut of the country music spectrum and have truly found a fresh, yet vulnerable sound.

With a new song, “Step!” just released, the duo also have a new full-length album on the horizon. The record will focus on themes of loss and grief while hoping to empower fans at the same time. The duo wrote every single song off the record together, with one exception, where they partnered with a talented songwriter to create the tune. According to Brown, “This second album that we are just finishing up right now is, of course, another bunch of building blocks on what Williams Honor is, what country music from the east coast is, what country music from Asbury Park is,” adding, “It’s got all the great ingredients that Reagan and I decided we wanted to infuse our music with from day one. This record is about grief and loss. It’s an empowering record for those who need it.”

In their time as a duo, Williams Honor has garnered quite the army of loyal and diehard fans to support them. As we anticipate the new record, we also looked back on the success they have already had as artists, recounting a magical time in their career, where the duo got to open for Bon Jovi at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City. “I did grow up in the shadows of Madison Square Garden,” Brown tells us, “[It’s] where Springsteen would play multiple night sin a row or where Bon Jovi exploded through the years. […]. How great for us, playing country music out of Asbury Park, one of the few artists to ever give that a real whirl, to get a tap on the shoulder by one of the areas’ biggest bands.” They later added, “To play The Garden and to have the support from our music community, there are no words to describe that.”

To keep up with William Honors follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

“Step!” 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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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook