Congratulations on Sorry For Nothing! How does this album reflect your personal and musical growth since Who I Am?
This album is something special. I think it really possesses those rock and country elements that I love with Merle Haggard like songs “Late Night Of Drinking Again” to straight Ozzy/Nickelback vibes with “Lit Up”. They are stories of times in my life through the last 4-5 years and quite a bit has changed since then in both my personal and musical life. I loved my first album and what we did with it so I didn’t steer too far from that but working with producers like Kevin Churko over the last 5 years has certainly helped me push my vocals harder and write better in the rock lane.
Your sound seamlessly blends country and rock. How do you approach balancing these genres while staying authentic to both?
I think at first you want to find that hook or title and sometimes that helps with how the song is going to lean.. More rock or country. Sometimes it really just lands in both lanes and I think it’s just really who I am and how I’ve always done it or tried to do it. Even if it’s a “party song” I always try to write straight from the heart and I think that’s really important especially when it comes to the fans or the listeners and their connection with your song and music.
The two new singles, “Fast As I Can” and “Whiskey For Sale,” showcase different sides of your music. What inspired these tracks, and how do they set the tone for the album?
Both these songs are unique in their own ways “Fast As I Can” is an upbeat feel good love or falling in love type story about not letting her be “the one that got away” but I wanted it to feel good and upbeat and when I wrote it I had the idea of trying to make it a mix of Bryan Adams/Luke Combs. Whiskey For Sale is a fun and cool song that really mixes 3 genres.. Bluegrass, country and rock and it definitely sets the tone or gives you a good idea what the album will sound like.
You’ve collaborated with big names like Sully Erna, Mick Mars, and Travis Tritt on this record. How did these partnerships come about, and what was it like working with them?
I’ve been pretty lucky in my career to be able to collaborate with these artists, at times surreal but grateful to call them friends. With “Make My Country Rock” specifically I wanted to have that “Outlaws & Outsiders” feel so while I was in Nashville writing I had a solid recording of it I wanted to show Mick while visiting him at his home. He loved it and was happy to be part of it. I knew I had to ask Travis so he called me up while I was on tour across Canada at the start of the year and simply said “I’d love to be on this track and love the song and hey! worked out pretty good last time didn’t it? So that was cool. A few names were thrown around for the other rock feature and when I heard Sully Erna of God Smack it hit me right away. I grew up listening to them but I thought the fact that we are both lead singers who drum and do a drum solo during our live set, not to mention both big Rush fans, I knew this was the perfect fit. About a week later I got a text from Sully thanking me for having him on the song and that he thought the song is something special and should be another hit! I think we all sound great and as one on this track and certainly made my country rock!
The album’s title, Sorry For Nothing, feels bold and unapologetic. What message are you hoping to convey with it?
I’m just looking to put out another great record that connects with fans on a global scale again no matter what they listen to: country, rock, metal or jazz… It isn’t confined into sounding a certain way or fitting into some box. Just wanted a solid honest record from start to finish and I really do think this album will take the listeners for a ride they’ll want to ride over and over again.
You’ve toured with a diverse array of artists, from Five Finger Death Punch to Nickelback. How have these experiences shaped your live performances?
It keeps me driven to be touring with artists or bands like this. You see all the years of work and that road family makes me want that dream even more. Big arenas to pyro and thousands of fans every night singing your songs but most of all bringing all kinds of people together through the power of music!
On the tour with Theory of a Deadman, you’ll be performing an acoustic set. How do you adapt your high-energy tracks for a more intimate setting?
That’s the thing with my music most of it starts out on acoustic when writing them so the transition isn’t as tough. Of course I miss rockin out with the band and being loud but there’s also something very special about being able to go out and play those songs with just an acoustic guitar and sometimes just giving the song a different feel or voice and it’s been great seeing the fans connection to these songs every night.
Kevin Churko has been a long-time collaborator of yours. How has his production style influenced your sound on this album?
He is one of the GOAT’s He really helped me on the rock side and made me a better singer and more aggressive at times. The album he did with Ozzy “Black Rain” is one of my favourites and when I started this career I always wanted that sound and thought.. How kick ass would it be to a country album or artist with this type of rock production 6 years later we are making it happen and have ever since!
Country-rock often tells deeply personal stories. Are there any tracks on Sorry For Nothing that hold a special emotional significance for you?
There are a few actually and I think you’ll be able to hear them in the songs themselves. The title track “Sorry For Nothing” is one of them.
With this album and tour, what do you hope listeners and fans take away from your music and performances?
I hope they love what they see and hear and will go out and buy the album. The next time I come to their town or city they’ll all be there again with even more of their friends singing along with the songs I’m playing up there on that stage!
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