New Music Wrap Up: Jayne Denham, Dan + Shay, Jake Hoot and more!

As well as the featured new releases from Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Amber Lawrence to Ashleigh Dallas, and Natalie Henry to Dan Baker, there’s a handful of artists we’re still keen to share! From Dan + Shay to Jayne Denham, The Weeping Willows to Katrina Burgoyne, Andy Penkow to Chase Wright and so many more, here’s a wrap up of all the new releases in country world!

Jayne Denham – Wanted

The 3 x Golden Guitar nominee knew her next album was going to be called Wanted and when she pitched the title to her good friends and songwriter mates Troy Kemp and Matt Scullion, the result sparked the whole idea to create an album hailing back to the wild west - inspired by old western movie soundtracks yet blending it with modern day country rock. The title single is out now, with the album set for release on 13^th August.

Dan + Shay – Lying

Dan + Shay have announced their brand-new, fourth studio album Good Things, available on August 13. The new project features 12 songs produced by Dan Smyers, including the new single, Lying. In addition to Lying, the new album contains three hit songs: the multi-platinum, award-winning 10,000 Hours — a collaboration with Justin Bieber; the platinum-certified I Should Probably Go to Bed; and Glad You Exist.

Cassadee Pope – Say It First

Written by Pope, Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan, Say It First continues the genre-brewing she’s been doing lately, returning to her pop-punk roots with a pinch of country. Directed and edited by Ed Pryor, the music video is a colourful depiction of the inner storm that matches the song’s angst along with the vulnerability of its lyrics. Say It First is Pope’s second release from her new record, THRIVE.

The Weeping Willows – Hangman (The Gallows Tree)

Hangman (The Gallows Tree) finds The Weeping Willows delivering their own poignant take on Peter, Paul and Mary’s classic 1965 arrangement of folk traditional ‘The Maid Freed From the Gallows’. As they so eloquently express with Hangman (The Gallows Tree),when the fickle forces of fate marshal in the shadows around us, we are urged to keep heart until the last, gasping moment. The single is off their EP, Southern Gothic.

Katrina Burgoyne – Sirens

Written by Burgoyne and Rick Price, Sirens is a "classy sexy" song inspired by late 80's sounds, produced by Steve Kinney. With a goal to become the first Australian female artist to make an impact on American Country Music since Olivia Newton-John, Burgoyne moved to Nashville in 2017 with just three suitcases, a guitar, and her little Aussie battler spirit.

Andy Penkow – Before I Go

While becoming known for his beautiful and emotive ballads, Before I Go explores the more fun and versatile side to Penkow’s song writing and performing. He explains, “Before I Go is my bucket list song. Those who know me and who have followed my career over the past few years know how passionate I am – not just with my music – by in life. I wanted to write a song that incorporated this.”

Drake Milligan – Drake Milligan (the EP)

Milligan is the embodiment of true, authentic country music. Bursting with the sounds of a fervent fiddle and wailing steel guitar amplified by an intoxicatingly rich, new voice, the country music up-and-comer is forging his own path with the release of his debut five-track EP. Kicking off the EP is the alcohol-soaked, beer guzzling toe-tapper, Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’, where the Fort Worth native readily invites his fellow bar-goers to join him in drowning their troubles at the bottom of a bottle.

Ben McNeil – Delilah

Like all great country songs, Delilah tells a story of the imperfect lives of imperfect people. It is the tale of one of us, the people living on your street, a story filled with people that you recognise … Delilah might even be you. Delilah features Bill Chambers on electric guitar, banjo and lap steel, Nicole Brophy on backing vocals, and producer Syd Green on percussion and bass.

Chase Wright – Lying With You

Wright’s new single highlights his abilities as a songwriter and it ends with a confession. He says, “Honesty in lyrics is what allows a song to connect with the listener, I really wanted to lean into those hard truths with this song. I hope people can hear their own story and experiences in mine and feel less alone.” His previous single, Why Should We (our Song of the Day on January 21) recently hit 10,000,000 streams on Spotify.

Brian Kelley – Florida Boy Forever

Kelley, one half of superstar duo Florida Georgia Line, has dropped his latest single, Florida Boy Forever from his debut solo album, Sunshine State Of Mind. Kelley wrote most of the songs and co-produced it with his friend Corey Crowder. He says, “Corey was amazing, and all the musicians who play on the album absolutely rocked it. Due to COVID, instead of being all together in the studio for every song, the musicians each recorded their parts individually in their home studios, then we mixed them together. It really let us hear and focus on each instrument. We could tell someone, “Play this part casually, as if you’re a little buzzed on a boat. It all worked out great.”

Alana Springsteen – Zero Trucks

Virginia Beach-born and currently Nashville-based country artist Alana Springsteen’s latest, Zero Trucks, is an anthemic song that offers hope where love has been lost. Credited as co-writer, co-producer, and acoustic guitarist, Springsteen says, “I’ve always relied on music to get me through. Sometimes you want to sit in the sadness and other times you want to escape. What I love about Zero Trucks is that it’s a light-hearted reminder that endings can bring freedom – nudging you closer to the person you want to be and the people you want to be with.”

Lily Rose – Know My Way Around

Know My Way Around – penned by Rose, Julian Bunetta and Savana Santos – captures the adventurous feeling of a new fling she wants to get to know. She explains, “We knew it was special the day we wrote Know My Way Around. There’s something so hooky about that chorus and the beat that draws you right in. Hell, I listen to the song nonstop like it’s not my own!” The track is the fourth label release for the singer, following Villain (Our Song of the Day on February 3). 

Jake Hoot – Night Left

Co-written with Kylie Sackley and Danny Myrick and produced by Myrick, Night Left is the latest single by Hoot, the winner of Season 17 of The Voice US. He explains, “Kylie had this idea that we got a whole lot of night left, and so we just kind of ran with the idea. I had heard the phrase ‘aight bet’ from my little brother last year and didn’t know what it meant, so I asked him, and he clarified what it meant. So, I was just like, ‘Oh, that’s a cool little phrase.’ I feel like it’s used a lot, but not put in music.”

NEEDTOBREATHE – Into The Mystery (the album)

The Grammy Award-nominated band, comprised of Bear Rinehart (vocals, guitar), Seth Bolt (bass, vocals), Josh Lovelace (keys, vocals), Randall Harris (drums) and Tyler Burkum (guitar), recorded their new album, Into The Mystery over the course of three weeks while all quarantined together in a Tennessee house last September amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It features the title track (our Song of he Day on May 13).

Sam Williams – 10-4

Nashville singer-songwriter, Williams, the grandson of Hank Williams and the son of outlaw legend Hank Jr., announced the track list for his forthcoming debut album, Glasshouse Children with the drop of his latest single 10-4. He explains, “With this video, I wanted to explore the complexity of relationships and the idea that things are not always as they seem. It’s not clear if the relationship portrayed is real or was all a dream of what love could be like. I love the abstractness of the video and hope it’s not what the listener would expect.”

Scott McCreery – Why You Gotta Be Like That

Ahead of his newly announced upcoming album, Same Truck, McCreery has released a brand=new song called Why You Gotta Be Like That. The playful tune was co-written with James McNair, and Jordan Schmidt, and is the second release from his upcoming album, which is due out in full in September. He says, “Writing with James and Jordan is always so much fun, and I think that genuine feeling comes through in the song as well.”

Petric – Safe With Me

Safe With Me is the follow up to the Canadian country band’s single, White Lyin’ – which we premiered here. Speaking about the heartbreaking music video, Petric says, “This one goes out to all our furry friends who have forever changed our lives ...” Composed of brothers Jason and Tom Petric, along with their long-time friend, Jordan Day, Safe With Me is off their latest EP, Flashbacks, which also features Kids and Déjà Vu.

Tenille Townes – Girl Who Didn’t Care

Townes has released the powerful and inspiring music video for her new song, Girl Who Didn’t Care. Her vision for the new clip is to inspire young girls to always chase their dreams, no matter how hard or how distant they may seem. She says, “For the music video, I knew I wanted to capture the wonder of a few different little dreamers in that sweet age spot of believing anything is possible in this music video. And then it became such an important part of my vision for the video to highlight real stories of real women who have made the seemingly impossible happen.”

Matt Cooper – This Room

This Room is a beautiful song from Matt Cooper’s debut self-titled EP. The country singer-songwriter from Jacksonville, Florida began writing songs as a Freshman in college after being inspired by artists like Dan + Shay, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Thomas Rhett. His debut single, Ain’t Met Us Yet went gangbusters with over 22 million views on TikTok and claiming the #1 slot on iTunes All-Genre Songs Chart.

Taylor Acorn – If You Could See Me Now

After the loss of her father at just eight-years-old, Acorn turned to writing songs in her journal as a coping mechanism. She taught herself to play guitar at 16, and eventually began competing in local talent shows. And, after receiving an overwhelmingly positive response to her covers of popular songs on YouTube, she auditioned for both American Idol and The Voice. Acorn’s If You Could See Me Now follows her previous single, True Crime (our Song of the Day on April 30).

Dylan Scott – New Truck

On the heels of his second smash hit, Nobody, the breakthrough country artist has dropped his new single, New Truck, penned by HARDY, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, and Ashley Gorley. Scott says, “It’s about a guy who gets in his truck after being in a relationship with this girl, and he’s still seeing memories of the past and the things they did. The lyrics talk about finding her chapstick or ponytail holder, and the only way to get away from that is to get a new truck. So, it’s a pretty cool spin on it, and I think it’s very relatable to everybody.”

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