From The Military To Country Music: Kashus Culpepper’s Unexpected Journey To CMC Rocks

Kashus Culpepper is making waves in the country music scene, and his journey to becoming an artist is anything but typical. In a recent interview, he opened up to Countrytown about his unconventional path to music and what lies ahead, including his upcoming appearance at Australia's largest country festival, CMC Rocks.

Culpepper shared that his love for music began at a young age, despite his initial career aspirations being elsewhere. “I grew up listening to music in my town… music was everything to me growing up,” he said. However, after high school, he tried his hand at a few different career paths, including joining the fire department and later the military. It wasn't until 2020, during the pandemic, that he picked up a guitar and began exploring his musical talents. “It wasn’t until then that I started, people started telling me that I should do music as a career,” he explained. He began performing at open mics and playing small shows, but even then, he didn’t see music as a career option. “I just wanted to write my own songs, maybe do some original shows,” he added.

Despite his late start, Culpepper’s music has quickly found an audience. His sound blends country, blues, R&B, soul, and folk influences into one beautiful sound. “The core of my songwriting is country and blues, but I also touch base with R&B, soul, and folk music,” he said. “I feel most welcome and comfortable in country music [sic] right now,” he continued, explaining which is why he gravitated towards country and Americana.

Looking ahead, Culpepper is gearing up for his first international appearance at CMC Rocks, a major festival in Australia. “I’ve heard everybody whose played CMC has had a blast… but in the back of my head, I’m thinking about the koala bears and the kangaroos,” he laughed. The excitement isn't just about the wildlife, though. Culpepper is ready to meet his international fans, many of whom have been eagerly messaging him. “I get messages all the time about, when are you coming to Australia?” he said. "It’s going to be super fun to meet everybody over there."

With his growing fan base and a string of songs under his belt, Culpepper is already feeling the excitement of having people sing his lyrics back to him. “It’ll pump me up. That’ll be pretty cool to see,” he said of his upcoming festival performances. And as for his Australian bucket list? It’s all about the koala bears. “I want to pick one up and take a picture,” he said with a grin.

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As he embarks on this new chapter of his career, Culpepper’s passion for his craft is evident, and his international journey is just beginning as he wins over fans from all across the globe.