David Tucker’s new self-titled EP is a reflection on the road he’s traveled not only as an independent artist, but as a human being. The rising pop-country artist is no stranger to overcoming adversity, having battled an autoimmune disorder and surviving a near-fatal car wreck on his way to a place of gratitude, connection, and creative fulfillment.
David shares his courageous story with us on this week’s episode of The Quinn Spinn.
The purest form of love inspires us to find the best within ourselves; it causes us to confront and defeat our demons, so that we can show up better than we ever have.
Max McNown wrote about that type of life-changing love to create “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” from the forthcoming album Night Diving (out Jan. 24, 2025). The Billboard Country Rookie of the Month continues his scorching hot streak with an introspective pop-country ballad about rising to the occasion for the girl of his dreams.
“It’s more than just her alluring brown eyes that captivate him,” shares Max. “She imbues goodness and, above all, has a ‘heart of gold.’”
The release of “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” is accompanied by an official performance video, which you can watch below. If you want to catch McNown live, you won’t have to wait long — his debut headline tour kicks off in January. However, you’ll want to get tickets fast, as dates in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and other cities have already sold out.
Missing somebody means missing all of them — even the little things that make us crazy.
David Tucker explores the difficulties of moving on with “Forgetting Her,” a spacious pop-country waltz that makes us consider whether walking away is really the right move…
“I’m tired of getting eight hours cause she isn’t keeping me up I’m tired of not being late cause her hair don’t look good enough I wish I could still see the face that she makes When something I did isn’t going her way If you’re ever thinking that loving her is too much for you to take Try forgetting her.”
-David Tucker, “Forgetting Her”
Co-written alongsidelongtime collaborator Jake Saghi and seasoned Nashville artist Qvint, “Forgetting Her” has been making waves on the musical landscape. The single was exclusively premiered by PEOPLE Magazine last month — and, with its heartfelt subject matter and absolutely gorgeous vocal harmonies, it’s easy to understand why this one has gained traction — with listeners and media outlets alike!
Jess Antonette is an independent pop country artist, business owner, and (more recently) dog mom. The always-hustling New York native has worked hard to get to where she is — and, in the process, has had opportunities to learn from life’s twists and turns along the way.
Learn about the life events that have shaped Jess’ journey — and the gratitude she has found — on this episode of The Quinn Spinn.
This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve (H.O.M.E.), Nashville, TN.
We can’t forge ahead without leaving some things behind.
Paige Davis examines this reality — trading love and the starry night sky for big city dreams — with her new single, “The Stars & You.”
“I had this idea when I first moved to Nashville—this is the first time I’ve lived in a city and not a small town. I looked up to the sky one night hoping to get some inspiration the way I used to and couldn’t see any stars,” Davis said. “I was thinking about how, up until that moment, whenever I was missing someone, I could always look to the night sky and find some clarity. For the first time, I didn’t have that comfort or reassurance. I brought this idea to some of my besties, and luckily, we were totally on the same page.”
“The Stars & You” is a warm summer night wrapped up in an ambiance not unlike early, pop country Taylor Swift. Davis’ earnest storytelling details the hard truth that comes with moving on, while also looking ahead to new experiences.
“My hopes are for people in a similar situation to connect with this song and understand that it’s okay to take the road less traveled,” Davis said. “Sometimes, that road can even lead you to some of the best experiences of your life.”
We couldn’t let you step all the way into the weekend without some new tunes, could we?
The three songs here — while all unique from a sonic standpoint — have one thing in common: they challenge Music City’s status quo. Whether providing commentary on Lower Broadway’s culture, or testing the limits of what country music “should” be, there’s plenty for you rebels to dive into this week!
Artist: Gloom Girl MFG Song: Batshitlorette Genre: Punk/Alternative Why You Should Hear It: If you’ve been to downtown Nashville, you can probably already tell what this one is about, based on the title alone. If you haven’t, well… we’re pretty much the bachelorette party capital of the world right now — for better or worse.
‘Lead singer Paige McKinnon says: “‘Batshitlorette’ is a dogfight. Picture the Greasers vs. the Socs, except make it the Nashville Locals vs. the Bachelorettes. In this song, we’re at play with the idea of local insularity in contrast with bachelorette party mayhem here in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a song that is both dead serious and absolutely absurd all wrapped up in an epic punk package. On brand with the EP, we can’t help but expand our grief and frustration beyond our city walls, and turn it into a bigger declaration: Ignore the future of our youth, and you will pay the consequences.”
Artist: Jess Antonette Song: Three Two One Genre: Pop Country Why You Should Hear It: Inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey, this sultry, smoky tune “delves into the theme of bold exploration of sexuality in a genre widely known for its reputation for more conservative ideologies.”
About the creative process, Jess tells us: “The weekend before we got into the writing room, I had just watched Fifty Shades of Grey. I was never interested in seeing it, but figured I’d give it a chance. What struck me was that I personally felt the soundtrack didn’t quite match the essence of the movie. When my co-writers and I got into the writing room together, I thought it would be fun to try something completely different from anything I’ve done before in my artistry. I wanted to take listeners on an unexpected journey, pushing the bounds, a topic that is not seen or common in country music. Fortunately, my co-writers were fully on board with the idea. I’ll be honest, I was a bit nervous. Despite being outgoing and expressive, I usually don’t talk openly about my sexuality. Writing these lyrics with two of my platonic guy friends made for a ton of awkward giggling, but it was super fun. And no, I don’t have a ‘red room,’ but it was fun to play this character.”
Artist: Surtsey Song: Knot to Force Genre: Alt-Country Why You Should Hear It: Rich vocal harmonies, well-crafted guitar arrangements, and some beautiful pedal steel experimentation are the salient features of this prime cut of Americana. From their new EP, Nothing Doing, this is far from your run-of-the-mill country song, as it offers a well-read assessment of the human condition.
“Lyrical references involve the universal human experience of not forcing things that aren’t meant to be or out of our control, derived heavily from Alan Watts’ books, excerpts, and lectures,” said frontman and songsmith Joe Bassa.
Got something you think we should hear? What are you waiting for?! Shoot it our way, and you could be featured in an upcoming edition of Songs You Should Hear!
Twin brothers The Kentucky Gentlemen share a reverance for country music, and a penchant for expressing that love with their own unique flair.
Now… who does that sound like?
These Gentlemen channel the one and only Dolly Parton on their new single, “Beg Your Parton,” as a way of expressing the important role the universally-beloved Queen of Country has always played in shaping their artistic journey.
“Her remarkable career has been a constant source of inspiration and blueprint for us. Watching her has taught us to unapologetically embrace our own unique style and voices,” they said. “Over the years, whenever folks hint at us as being a little over the top, the two of us started joking saying to each other ‘I Beg Your Parton?,’ and after a while that phrase started to serve as a reminder to keep going and doing our thing, no matter the obstacle or whispers we may hear.”
They continued, “Her infectious positivity has shown us the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to who we are, regardless of others’ expectations. We are forever grateful for the inspiration that she has provided, and the lessons she has taught us along the way.”
The up-tempo pop country single begins with a progression reminiscent of Parton’s 1973 mega-hit, “Jolene.” From there, this 2 1/2-minute romp features several lyrical nods to some of Dolly’s most iconic moments, musically or otherwise. In the process, The Kentucky Gentlemen showcase their own tenacity, as they fearlessly continue to blaze their own trail across the Americana landscape.
Our old pal Jess Antonette is back with a new name, and a new, devastatingly introspective single.
The artist formerly known as J. Antonette released “Run Girl Run” on January 17. Co-written at SoNash Publishing House alongside Travis Chaney, Keifer Wiley, and Gabe Walsh, the wistful country pop tune gives Jess a chance to ruminate on her previous relationships — and her own role in their demise.
“The timing of both the name change and the creation of ‘Run Girl Run’ couldn’t have been more serendipitous,” she said. “If you know my co-writer, Travis, you understand the magnitude of his heart and how he loves to delve deep into the artists’ vulnerabilities, which is why I gravitate towards working with him. It’s almost like a therapy session.”
The creative process proved cathartic, and required Jess to stretch well past her comfort zone to tell a true-to-life story.
“There were moments when writing this where I was cringing and sinking into the corner of the couch, uncomfortable because (Travis) would push me to get real with my issues,” she said. “I’ve always been self-reflective, but not outwardly; not sharing my issues about my own trauma with my co-writers in the room. The lyrics are exactly what I’m working on fixing within my own heart.“
Run over to Spotify to check this one out. Perhaps it will help you uncover the keys to your own heart…
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