Country music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. While most people at age 13 were jamming to Lil Wayne, I was jamming to well know artists such as Kenny Chesney. I grew up on singing about corn fields, small towns, and beer. Being raised on this genre has taught me some of the best life lessons that many people my age didn't learn through listening to Drake and Eminem. And I'm not sorry about it. So in light of these dog days of Summer, I figured I would give all you country fans reading this some new eye candy, and songs that hopefully inspire you as much as they did me. And obviously Summer is country music season. Listen to these artists with the windows down and the summer sun shining. Side note: I chose to do solo artists for this article, i'm planning on doing upcoming bands for a different time.
1. Maren Morris
For those of you that actually listen to country music (I hope you all do), you’ve probably already her song “My Church”. Singing every single verse, that's my church. Her voice is to die for. Check out her newest album titled “Hero”, with some of my personal favorites “Sugar”, and “I Could Use A Love Song”. Of course both of these songs have very different meanings, but whether you've met someone new, or just plain tired of the same guy's shit (see "Drunk Girls Don't Cry"), you`ll have a new girl crush. This newcomer has the potential to become the next Kacey Musgraves (another personal favorite), with her upbeat and fun songs about the problems that all us women go through, with men and in general.
2. Dustin Lynch
Sure you’ve probably heard “Cowboys and Angels”, his number 1 single from 2012, but if you don't know any of his other hidden gems, please get on that. His second debut album His debut album "Where It's At", released in 2014 will have you hit that repeat button real quick. My personal favorites are "Sing It To Me", and "All Night" ("Cops were pretty quick but we were pretty quicker") I'm sure all of us could relate to that lyric in our teen years at some point. His latest single, released this month, "Seein Red" has been put on my new summer jam list. Lynch is one of my personal favorites because of the small town feel in his songs, such as with "World To Me" and "American Prayer". For those of us who grew up in one red light towns, we can relate to the pride in these songs for where we grew up. Also, "Your Daddy's Boots" will have you rethinking your future father and daughter song for at your wedding. So sweet.
3. Kane Brown
With his deep smokey voice, and babyface, every country girl in America is bound to fall in love with him. Who can't resist a country boy with tattoos and muscles to die for? His Chapter 1 EP album, which was released this year features my personal favorite "Used To Love You Sober". This song helped me get through a bad breakup this past year, as many country songs have the power to do. He also will charm ladies with "Last Minute Date Night", which explains a guy not being able to wait to see his girl. Kane Brown has a bright future ahead of him in this industry, as many of his songs talk about real relationship problems, like with "Excuses". We see these alot in modern day dating. "All your excuses, they're always in the way". Ever said that to an ex boy/girlfriend? I love listening to Kane Brown when I want that downhome country boy fix.
4. Brett Young
A newcomer onto the seen, his latest single "Sleep Without You" was recently released to radio. "I'll be staying up, cause I can't sleep without you." The catchy chorus will have you singing it all day. I recently had to chance to check out his new EP(released this year) in it's entirety, and I was not dissapointed. "In Case You Didn't Know" will make all the girls want to marry him, or at least someone, like now. Relationship goals to have a guy sing that to a girl. "Even though I don't tell you all the time, you had my heart a long, long time ago. In case you didn't know." Amazing. On the other end, there are songs such as "Like I Loved You", which portrays the end of a relationship and not being sure if that one person even cared about you to begin with. Super relatable. I think that's what I like the most about this genre, that almost every song is relatable to every person in one way or another.
So drop everything you're doing right now, and go give these hardworking amazing artists the credit they deserve! After all, they may be what your children grow up listening to. Nashville's future legends.
