'DISCO COWBOY' CONVO WITH ADAM MAC

Country + R+B inspired, Adam Mac is modern-day Cowboy killer, and he’s taking us all the way to the dance floor with his new single “Disco Cowboy.” With gritty Chris Stapleton-esque vocal and a style that won’t quit - this new single is sure to keep you boogie-ing on down to that replay button.

ADAM MAC Q+A

1. We love your song “Disco Cowboy”! Can you share a little bit more about the story behind the song?

I wrote this song with a friend of mine, AJ Smith. On the surface this can just feel like an uptempo country disco track, and that’s really fun and cool, but at the heart of the song it’s about loving yourself enough to be yourself. It took me a long time to get to a place where I feel so comfortable in my skin, and I really think that’s reflected in Disco Cowboy.

2. There’s also going to be a music video for the song - anything you can share about what to expect from the video?

Oh she wants the tea… well, what I can tell you is that we are bringing you the choreography. We are bringing you the funk fashion. We are taking you to the disco… cowboy, and it’s premiering on CMT September 9th!!

3. Tell us a little bit about how you got started in music. Was there a particular moment where you knew that you wanted to do music?

It’s weird I don’t feel like there’s a particular moment in my life where I remember being like, ‘oh wow I love singing, I want to do this forever’ but I’ll always remember exactly when I knew I was a songwriter. It was the summer after my senior year of high school and my best friend had just passed away. I had a lot of feelings and there were a lot of places I could’ve channeled them, but I chose to write them down and put them to a melody. I didn’t even play the guitar at the time! That moment changed my life forever.

4. Who are some of your musical influences?

I am so all over the board on this one. I love 90s country, but I also grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Elvis because my mom was obsessed.

5. How do you think your music and/or writing has developed since you started making music?

Oh it’s been a total transformation. You can almost see the shift in my music over the 10 years I’ve been in Nashville. From coming out, the journey to loving myself and then falling in love with someone who magnifies all the best qualities in me. I think as I became a better version of myself, my music mirrored that.

6. What is your favorite part of the creative process (writing, recording, the music video, etc)?

For me it’s really being in the studio and hearing my work-tapes take on new life. I love playing with sounds and building vocals. Having all these ideas and not knowing how to get there until we hear it. I have been really fortunate with great collaborators like Nathan Cogan who produced this song with me.

7. What else is on the horizon that you can share with us?

I have been in the studio the past 9 months writing songs for a new album that I’m really excited about. I feel like for the first time I don’t have the pressure to fit into the mainstream male country artist mold. I’m making music that I love, that’s telling the stories of myself and so many others who have had a similar experience.

LISTEN TO “DISCO COWBOY” BELOW

FEATURE: STEPHAN HOGAN - "WOULDN'T WANT ME"

With influences like Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, California Native, Stephan Hogan is paving his own path to success in country music. His latest release, “Wouldn’t Want Me ” written with Neal Coty (Ashley McBride, Blake Shelton) is a reflection of just that!

“Wouldn’t Want Me’ engulfs you in a nostalgic trip with its classic country base and retro vibe that lives at the cutting edge and brings you right back to the late 80’s and early 90s”

LISTEN TO “WOULDN’T WANT ME” BELOW

'SOBER' CONVERSATIONS WITH RYMAN

Nashville-based Indie-pop artist, Ryman, releases new tune, ‘Sober.’ And talks sound, style and the Nashville scene. Stream the single below.

You recently released your single ‘Sober.' Tell us a bit about it.

I just released the second single “Sober”  from my upcoming EP this past week, It’s a tale as old as time. Trying to let go of a good love that went bad. I wrote it with one of my favorite co writers is Blake Ruby. He sent me this song one day and I was instantly hooked, no pun intended. We got together to build a bridge and it was done. I’m very grateful he, Jacob Blacker, and Callie Rose let me hop on this one.

For those unfamiliar, talk a bit about your sound and musical stylings.

I don’t like being pigeon holed into one genre, but I guess my music would be considered “indie pop”. I LOVE melody! It starts with melody for me. I want to write / make music that is memorable and gets stuck in your head. One of my favorite collaborators / co-writers also happens to be the producer on my latest project. His name is Cleve Wilson and he’s a genius and a kindred spirit for me in the creative process. He and I are finding our groove together and look so forward to our future together.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Life inspires my music. I try to always write from an authentic, vulnerable, and honest place. I know it sounds cliche, but I use songwriting as free therapy and typically write about whatever is going on in my life

I’m influenced on the daily by a ton of different artists. Rex Orange County was a huge influence early on for me, along with classics like the Beatles, Dylan, and several other artists like Childish Gambino, Boy Pablo, and Mac Demarco. These days I’ve been listening to a lot of Lany, Lauv, & Jeremy Zucker.

Who are some of your favorite collaborators in Nashville?

I genuinely love all my co writers and producers. My circle is fairly small right now being that I’m still in high school and have a limited time for sessions, but I’m looking very forward to branching out after graduation. I am very appreciative that everyone I write with, most I’ve been working with since I was 15 and didn’t even have a record deal yet. I want to thank Marla Cannon Goodman, Buddy Cannon, Sam Bergeson, Oscar Charles, Matt Warren, Cleve Wilson, Val Hoyt, Blake Ruby & Chris Donlin for believing in me and sharing so generously of their creativity.

Any advice or info on being a non-country artist and navigating the Nashville music scene?

I love the Nashville music community. Although we’re known for country, every genre is represented somewhere. And I have found that musicians are musicians, and most of the time they appreciate all styles of music at some level. Country may pay the bills for most, but there is quite an indie and pop scene as well in town. I love how everyone supports each other, works together, goes to each others shows, writes together, and genuinely wants to see each other succeed. We realize a win for one of us is a win for all of us.

Aside from music, you’ve also got a killer style and aesthetic. How important is that to you?

I love vintage clothing and thrifting. I am pretty big into fashion, clothes, and making sure my style carries over into the music. I love to go to estate sales, Thrift stores, and garage sales looking for one of a kind vintage clothing pieces

I do have a little thrift business / side hustle and sell vintage clothing online and occasionally do pop up shops. @RWTHRIFT

Anything else fans show know?

I just released the music video for ‘Sober’ and you can check it out on YouTube now! (or below)

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STREAM ‘SOBER’ BELOW

'MIDNIGHT BLUE' WITH BONNER BLACK - Q+A

Classically trained ballerina turned indie pop bad ass, Bonner Black has released another dreamy bop! The Nasa inspired tune was written by Black and co-producer Izaac Burkhart, and is just the most recent in a string of epic, lyrically driven releases from the independent artist.

Stream “Midnight Blue” below

How was “Midnight Blue” written?

“All my dreams are technicolor” popped into my head while I was standing in front of the microwave one night at 8pm. My friend had just started making *special* gummy bears at the start of the pandemic, so that might have had something to do with it. I grabbed my guitar and wrote verse 1 and verse 2 to a completely different chorus. I sent the song to my producers, Izaac Burkhart and Taylor Bray, and they liked the verses, but didn’t love the chorus, so Izaac and I wrote the “Midnight Blue” chorus on my back porch a few nights later. We scribbled out the bridge over lunch in the studio right before we recorded the vocals.

The first verse takes place at a “party in the backyard.” Is this a true story?

Yes, but a romanticized version of a true story. The original chorus lyrics I had before we wrote the final one were “in my deepest thoughts I can have what I want,” so I was looking back on real scenarios and creating alternate outcomes. “Sipping on a 40” was actually a 40 of White Claw and I would like to publicly apologize for dishonoring my family name by that. “Champagne seats” was just tan pleather in a 2004 Toyota Avalon.

You’ve been in Nashville for almost 10 years. What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you?

My last single, “Light Me Up”, was featured in People.com and half the article was about my past life as a ballerina. I had even told my manager, Kelsey Wise, I wasn’t sure we should even talk about my ballet stuff, but she thought it was an interesting angle. It turns out, Tracy Lawerence (#1 country artist who sang “Paint Me A Birmingham” and “Stars Over Texas”), was looking for a ballerina to star in his new music video. His manager, Lindsey Ray, googled “Nashville Ballerina” and I was the first thing that came up. After 9 years, I got to choreograph and dance again AND THEN the music video played on Times Square. So, in a funny way...my childhood dream of being a professional ballerina in New York City came true. I cried.

If you could follow in any artist’s footsteps, who would it be?

Miley Cyrus, because she’s so true to herself and has no filter. I just love her energy and I’ve been a fan through thick and thin, since the first Hannah Montana episode. I cuss a lot on the internet and make a lot of inappropriate jokes, but I’ve found that if you are just yourself, you allow other people to feel comfortable being themselves too.

How would you describe your music and what makes it different?

Driven, hooky, singer-songwriter, indie, pop boppity bops. If my genre was an animal, it would have the head of a cobra, the body of a swan, and the feet of a gazelle. I think some of my “signature” rhyme schemes and phrasing comes from listening to a lot of rap and hip hop. Megan Thee Stallion is my binge listen right now.

What’s your favorite line in “Midnight Blue” to sing?

“I wanna stay in a world where I don’t always lose.” Izaac actually wrote that line and it’s so melodramatic, but that line sums up the song for me. “Midnight Blue” is being pulled out of the most beautiful “what could have been” and just wanting to stay in it so bad. NOW GO LISTEN TO IT.

STREAM ‘MIDNIGHT BLUE’ BELOW

SPOTLIGHT: YOUNG MUSIC CITY 'ROOFTOP SOUNDS' ARTISTS - MARCH 2022

Photos by: Jonathon Sommer / @jsommer_photography

Young Music City is proud to showcase and celebrate dynamic top-tier Nashville talent without limitation every 3rd Wednesday at Music Row’s hottest rooftop. Check out the most recent crop of creatives featured at the March 2022 YMC / Virgin ‘Rooftop Sounds’ show.

Stay tuned for the next event atop Nashville’s Virgin Hotel Pool Club, April 20.

NICK BOYD

CHEY ROSE

MAD WELSLEY

SAM VARGA

HALIE

STEF

CATCH YOUNG MUSIC CITY’S ‘ROOFTOP SOUNDS’ SErIES EVERY 3RD WEDNESDAY AT THE VIRGIN HOTEL NASHVILLE POOL CLUB.

STAY TUNED TO YOUNG MUSIC CITY’S INSTAGRAM FOR INFO AND UPDATES:

19 INDEPENDENT NASHVILLE WOMEN AND NON-BINARY ARTISTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Inspired by International Woman’s day and in celebration of great humans making music - here’s a list of epic female and non-binary Nashville artists you need to know! check them out. Hype them up!

JULES PAYMER

GINA VENIER

DAISHA MCBRIDE

LEXIE HAYDEN

LOVE YOU LATER

KAYLIN ROBERSON

ROSEMARY JOAQUIN

CARTER FAITH

TANNER ADELL

LIV GREENE

ANDREA VASQUEZ

JULIA COLE

LINDSAY JAMES

PEYTAN PORTER

ANGIE K

ABIGAIL OSBORN

ABBY SILER

COCO KINNON

HALIE

VIDEO PREMIERE + Q+A: EMMA KLEIN - "MOOD SWING"

Twelve6 Ent, singer, songwriter Emma Klein infuses early 2000’s and modern-pop influences to bring us her vibey new single “Mood Swing.” Following up her momentum from American Idol and a tour with celebrity radio and TV host, Bobby Bones , “Mood Swing” currently stands at viral status on Tik Tok, with over 5 million views Want to know more? Check out our exclusive Q+A and the official premiere of the “Mood Swing” music video below.

Q+A

You recently released your single “Mood Swing,” tell us a bit about what inspired it.

In the past few years I’ve started to experience some pretty big mood swings and energy shifts. One day after getting really down on myself about my instability, I wrote down “Mood Swing” in my notes app where I keep my song ideas. I thought it would be fun to write a song called mood swing that would literally swing on the melody of the hook. The day of my session with Kline and McEwan I threw out the idea. As the kids say… they “understood the assignment.” Alex started building an awesome track and McEwan started to throw out really amazing rhythmic ideas. We had an absolute blast chasing it down. A few weeks later I posted it on Tik Tok and within one week it had over a million views… crazy!

It was really important to me that “Mood Swing” found a balance between self-aware, funny, and serious. This song is about something that legitimately debilitates me and many people. I’ve gotten a lot of responses on Tik Tok from individuals with bipolar disorder, other mood disorders, and mental illnesses. I personally have OCD and suffer from a particular theme of it that focuses on relationships specifically. The first line of this song takes the listener through what my brain thinks in a loop in regards to relationships on a daily basis. While I’ve written a few emotional songs that dive pretty deep into this, I had yet to write one that made light of it. Writing this song was like medicine to me. If I ever find myself starting to spiral now, I can think of this song, laugh it off, and get back to the present moment. “It’s just a mood swing, honey don’t freak out. If I go up, well I’ll come back down…” those words are being sung just as much to myself as they are to the love interest in the song. I’m so grateful to have a song that normalizes an experience that I’ve often felt very isolated in - and I’m over the moon that other people feel the same way about it.

Tell us about the writing process behind “Mood Swing.”

I wrote “Mood Swing,” with Alex Kline and Steve McEwan - two absolute legends. Steve has landed cuts with Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunne, James Bay, Keith Urban, and even Eminem! Alex Kline just recently co-wrote and produced Tenille Arts’ number one hit single “Somebody Like That,” and her songs have been recorded by artists such as Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire, Mitchell Tenpenny, Terri Clark, Gary Allan, Bill Anderson, Meghan Patrick, Cassadee Pope, Jordan Rager, Mason Ramsey, Tara Thompson, and many others. While these writers have landed many hit songs in the country world, their writing and Kline’s production totally fit into the pop space, too. The “Mood Swing” session was my first time getting the opportunity to co-write with Kline, and the second session I had with McEwan.

You currently write for Nashville-based publishing company, Twelve6 Ent - tell us about your musical journey:

Here’s the story of how I got booked as an opener on my first tour: A few years ago, I was on season 2 of American Idol. Bobby Bones was the mentor on Idol at the time and he was doing interviews throughout Top 40 week. While the cameras were getting set up for our interview, Bobby and I were chatting and I told him I live in Nashville. In what I thought was just him being friendly, he said that if I got cut from the show he’d love to have me come play piano for his comedy band on the road. (I don’t know why, because I never played piano on the show, and I’m not great at it.) One week later I had gotten cut and was on a hike at Radnor Lake in Nashville. All of a sudden I hear my name being called by none other than Bobby Bones? He just so happened to be going on a hike at the exact same time in the exact same place as me. A few weeks later I was on tour playing keys for Bobby Bones! Eventually he caught on to the fact that I’m not that great of a keys player, so he hired Walker Burroughs. (Fun fact: Walker and I were in an a capella group together in college and were both on Idol together too.) Bobby asked me to be the opener for the tour instead, which I’d say was a pretty great deal for me!

As an artist and writer in Nashville, what challenges have you faced? Any advice?

I think the most difficult part about the Nashville scene, and maybe the music scene as a whole in the digital world that we live in, is feeling jaded and getting stuck in the comparison cycle. I’m 24 years old and there are days where I’m doubtful and not as excited as I want to be about what I’m doing, what I’m making, or what anyone’s making or doing. And it’s not that I don’t like what I’m doing or making or that I don’t like what other people are doing or making… I’m just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how much music there is, how many artists there are, how quickly things change, how good it all is, what good even is… is what I’m making good? Do I like what I’m doing? Or do I just know it’s what works so I’m doing it? I’m realizing that while these doubts are common among nearly all the musicians I know, escaping the jaded mindset is a choice. Each day I have to wake up and choose the mindset that stands in awe of what is possible. I have to remind myself of how incredible and beautiful it is that we live in a world where the creation and distribution of music and art is accessible to nearly everyone. On the comparison front… I’m learning that sometimes I have to respectfully place my blinders on so I can focus on my artistry and stop measuring myself up to others, but sometimes I have to shut off my artist brain entirely, sit back, and just listen to and enjoy music.

We’re excited to premiere the video for “Mood Swing” - what can you tell us about it?

The “Mood Swing” music video comes out this Friday, February 25th! It was a BLAST to dream up and create. I wanted the visual portrayal of this song to be as dramatic and over the top as possible. It probably doesn’t look like it, but when I’m in the thick of one of my mood swings, I feel like each of the characters in this video. I’ve always felt like there are all these different personalities inside of me, but I only let the softer, more easy-going, “sunny” version out. This video shoot gave me the opportunity to express the extremes that exist within me for the first time. It turns out that borrowing your roomies combat boots and aggressively ripping bananas in half can be pretty therapeutic.

CHECK OUT THE PREMIERE OF THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “MOOD SWING” BELOW

FEATURE: ANDREA VASQUEZ - "MADE ME CRY"

Latin Country artist, Andrea Vasquez give us all the feels with her empowering new single “Made Me Cry.” Following up her most recent release “Used To,” the song tells the redemptive tale of leaving a toxic relationship all the while showcasing her killer vocals. Check it out below!

I wrote this song with Nina Soro and David Espinoza. It takes the narrative
of being in a toxic relationship and shows that from those situations can come strength and tenacity. It shows that you shouldn’t have to bear the weight of feeling bad for the other person’s wrong doings. I wanted to share the perspective of coming out of that situation and saying ‘I’m good on my own.’ This is for those who are celebrating being empowered.
-Andrea

LISTEN TO “MADE ME CRY” BELOW