49 Winchester

This Virginia band offer a unique and fresh alt-country – rock-n-roll meets Appalachian folk sound.

Listen to: Russell County Line

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo, The Barrelhouse at Town Square, The Saloon

Adam Doleac

Listen to: Coulda Loved You Longer

See him at: The Barrelhouse at Town Square, The Saloon, Big Entrance

Ashley Cooke

Do not mistake Cooke for another TikTok sensation, she is much more than that, offering incredibly fresh songwriting, an easy and understated vocal and a modern country sound.

Listen to: Never Til Now

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo

Catie Offerman

Listen to: Don’t Do It In Texas

See her at: The Saloon, Big Entrance, The Wayside

Corey Kent

Listen to: Wild as Her

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo, The Barrelhouse at Town Square

Drake Milligan

Listen to: Sounds Like Something I’d Do

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo, The Saloon

Kameron Marlowe

Listen to: Giving You Up

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo

Mackenzie Porter

Porter burst onto the scene with her duet with Dustin Lynch, but Porter is a phenomenal solo artist, offering slick pop-country beats and an effortless vocal.

Listen to: These Days

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo

Madeline Edwards

California-born and Texas-raised artist, Madeline Edwards released her astonishing debut album – Crashlanded – last year, a sensational introduction to an interesting and unique artist. Now, we can not wait to see how those songs translate in her live set.

Listen to: Mama, Dolly, Jesus

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo, The Saloon

Nate Smith

Listen to: Whiskey on You

See them at: BBC Radio 2 Stage at Indigo, The Barrelhouse at Town Square, The Saloon

Smithfield

Smithfield are an underappreciated gem in the country scene, offering tight harmonies and an easy chemistry that comes through in their live recordings. Now, they’re making the trip to the UK to deliver those harmonies in person.

Listen to: Hope You’re Happy

See them at: Big Entrance, The Wayside, Icon Stage

Tigirlily Gold

Known for their faultless, tight harmonies, Tigirlily offer a fresh voice in country with their fun and upbeat tracks.

Listen to: Somebody Does

See her at: The Saloon, Icon Stage

The post The Ultimate Guide to C2C 2023: The Debut Artists appeared first on off the record.

10. Chappell Roan

For fans of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and fletcher, comes new breakout talent Chappell Roan (she opened for the two latter artists this year). The stunning viral hit ‘Casual’ went viral on TikTok – but don’t discredit it for a viral moment – there’s real depth and punch to her songwriting that packs an emotional hit.

Listen to: Casual

9. Hemlocke Springs

There’s something unique and special about Hemlocke Springs that makes her one of the most likeable voices to have emerged of late. With only two tracks to be released so far, we have high hopes, 2023 will be full of legions more music from the singer. The music is glorious, 80s styled pop music at its best – and it is delightfully charming.

Listen to: Girlfriend

8. Raffaella

We’re not ashamed to admit our love already for Raffaella – it’s joyful, effervescent pop music that will have you reaching for your Scooby Doos, Tamagotchis and jelly shoes to fully experience this nostalgic infused pop explosion.

Listen to: Blonde

7. Jackson Dean

When Jackson Dean released Greenbroke, there were glimmers of magic littered throughout the project – those songs have staying power. The magic has not gone unnoticed, with opening spots for the likes of Miranda Lambert amongst others.

Listen to: Don’t Take Much

6. Kim Petras

Think you’ve heard of Kim Petras? She’s the one featured on one of the most widely distributed tracks of the moment – her collaboration with Sam Smith – making her the first openly transgender artist with a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She’s finally getting the attention she deserves and hopefully this is just the start of a growing acclaim for her name.

5. Samia

Samia offers pure poetry in her plaintive, emotional tracks that will have you wanting to wallow in your emotions for weeks to come. With an album to come in 2023 – honey – she seems poised to dominate legions of fans, who will pore over her lyrics throughout the duration of the year to come.

Listen to: Kill Her Freak Out

3. Caity Baser

There’s something about Caity Baser’s no nonsense candour that is reminiscent of a young Lily Allen – with her slew of references, she’s hard to resist and we give up trying in 2023.

2. Ashley Cooke

Currently holding the No. 1 spot on the iTunes chart, Ashley Cooke has had a year. Now, with the force of her fans behind her, this seems to just be the start for this delightfully charming Nashville star.

1.Flo

Given their win at the BRITs for the Rising Star Award, Flo are a widely publicised secret – but this seems to just scratch the surface of what this three-piece duo are capable of, with 2023 set to shine bright for this dynamic trio.

Listen to: Immature

The post 10 Artists on our Radar to Watch in 2023 appeared first on off the record.

Ashley Cooke has today released her delightful new track ‘getting into,’ a light-hearted warning to a new love interest of exactly what they’re signing up for. Co-written by Cooke, alongside frequent collaborators Emily Weisband and Will Weatherly – she continues her journey in establishing her trademark sound, one focussed around real and authentic songwriting, lyrically driven with a deeply personal touch. Her lyrics are specific and universal in a very real way and thus allow a deeper relationship with her fans and her listeners.

‘For your sanity’s sake, you should know some things

I can run it down, be a dive bar closer

Sunday sitting in a pew hungover

I want love, but I don’t know how

I fall so fast, but I fall right out

Some bad habits, some old baggage,

Hell we’ve all got issues.

Before you get into my car, into my bed, into my heart, into my head

Know what you’re getting into.’

This summer, Cooke has hit the road hard with fellow rising artists BRELAND and Spencer Crandall, having spent the first half of 2022 touring alongside Cole Swindell, Brett Young and Jordan Davis. Then, she will head out on the road this autumn with Cole Swindell again as part of his Back Down to the Bar Tour.

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Rising star Ashley Cooke has signed a co-venture record deal with Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music. Under the new deal, Cooke will be represented by Big Loud / Back Blocks Music for both label and publishing. Of the news, Cooke shares,“From the second I walked into Big Loud, it felt like home. They met me where I was, recognizing all I had built independently while also showing me how they could pour gasoline on the fire that had already started… Getting to partner with not only Big Loud but also my champion since day 1, Rakiyah Marshall/Back Blocks, is an absolute dream team and I couldn’t be more excited and confident to be joining the roster.”

Cooke hit the ground running on TikTok in 2020 and has since amassed a stealthy following of over 885K followers and nearly 12M likes. Last year, she released her debut project titled Already Drank That Beer that included cuts from Nashville’s hottest songwriters and a feature from Jimmie Allen. Cooke has now been named as one of Spotify’s ‘Hot Country Artist To Watch’ and is on Cole Swindell’s Down To The Bar Tour, with additional dates to be announced soon.

The post Ashley Cooke Signs Co-Venture Record Deal appeared first on off the record.

Ashley Cooke has teamed up with Brett Young for a heartfelt new take on Cooke’s lovestruck hit-single “Never Til Now,” available everywhere now.via Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music / BMLG Records. Originally released as part of Cooke’s debut project Already Drank That Beer last year, the romantic love song has experienced viral success across TikTok and digital streaming platforms, notching over 46K user-generated videos and over 30­M streams.

“‘Never Til Now’ is a song that has opened so many doors for me already and really changed my life. To be able to bring a superstar like Brett Young onto this song with me is such an honor,” shares Cooke. “I’ve been a fan of Brett’s music since the start and I feel very honored that he believes in the song the way that I do.”

“I first heard this song through my good friend and trusted collaborator Jimmy Robbins,” Young adds. “I loved it immediately and I’m honored to be a part of it with Ashley!”

Written by Cooke alongside Matt Roy and produced by award-winner Jimmy Robbins, “Never Til Now” effortlessly captures the feelings of falling in love when you least expect it. Cooke adds superstar power to her already viral single with the addition Country’s music master over matter of the heart for the swoon-worthy duet. The new song comes just days after the announcement of her co-venture record deal with Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music.

The post Ashley Cooke Enlists Brett Young on Heartfelt Duet appeared first on off the record.

“Up-and-coming singer” (Rolling Stone) Ashley Cooke drops her highly anticipated debut project, Already Drank That Beer, Side A, available here. The eight-track project, produced by award-winner Jimmy Robbins, includes four new songs co-written by some of Nashville’s hottest hit songwriters like Nicolle Galyon, Jameson Rodgers, Matt Roy and Hunter Phelps. The eight track project showcases an artist in full command of her own artistry – both sonically and lyrically – showing the breadth of her character and artistic vision, squarely positioned to conquer the commercial side of the country industry, without conceding any of her customary unique flair, carving out her own path in the industry.

“I can’t wait to finally have a project out in the world,” shares Cooke. “These songs are pages out of my journal put to music. They’re my stories over the last year or so, and they feel like an extension of me. I hope people find themselves in them and love them as much as I do.”

Already Drank That Beer track listing: 
1. “Gettin’ Somewhere” (Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rogers, Alysa Vanderheym)
2. “Under” (Ashley Cooke, John Byron, Rocky Block)
3. “Sunday Morning Kinda Saturday Night” (Craig Wiseman, Matt Roy)
4. “Already Drank That Beer” (Jessio Jo Dillion, Wendell Mobley, Jessi Alexander)
5. “Opposite Of Love” (Ashley Cooke, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins)
6. “Good Goodbye” feat. Jimmie Allen (Ashley Cooke, Blake Pendergrass)
7. “First Time, Last Night” (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy)
8. “Never Til Now” (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy)

The post REVIEW: Already Drank That Beer, Side A – Ashley Cooke appeared first on off the record.

The post INTERVIEW: Ashley Cooke on The 615 House appeared first on off the record.

Ashley Cooke will join forces with Jimmie Allen for an upcoming duet of “Good Goodbye” feat. Jimmie Allen, available everywhere on Friday, Aug. 6. Cooke also announces a date for her debut EP, Already Drank That Beer, arriving Aug. 27.

“Good Goodbye” feat. Jimmie Allen portrays Cooke and Allen’s blend of perfect melodies as they untangle themselves from a relationship that’s ending. Written by Cooke and Blake Pendergrass, the duet touches on the complicated feelings of wanting to soak up the last moments of something that’s already over.

“We originally recorded ‘Good Goodbye’ as an individual song with just my voice on it, but something felt missing to give the song the depth it deserves,” shares Cooke. “I knew Jimmie would be the perfect addition and I’m just honored to get to collaborate with such an unbelievably talented artist. His tone, harmonies, riffs, storytelling, etc. adds so much to the song and I’m so proud to be releasing this with him.”

The forthcoming eight-track project released via Back Blocks Music and produced by Jimmy Robbinswill include four new songs and boasts a lineup of writers including Nicolle Galyon, Craig Wiseman, Matt Roy and Hunter Phelps. The announcement comes on the heels of Cooke’s previous summer releases of title-track “Already Drank That Beer” which was tapped as a Rolling Stone ‘Pick of the Week’ and fan-favorite single “Under.” Gaining serious traction this summer, Cooke has been named as Spotify’s Radar Country artist of the month for July, made her second appearance on Bobby Bones’ Bobbycast, and has been featured on SiriusXM The Highway. Cooke continues to gear up for her opening slot on BRELAND’s tour this Sept. For more information, visit www.ashleycooke.com and keep up with her on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The post Ashley Cooke and Jimmie Allen Team Up on ‘Good Goodbye’ out 6th August appeared first on off the record.

Hi, Ashley, how are you doing?

Good. How are you?

Not too bad – the sun is finally shining in the UK, so we’re all happy over here. What a year it’s been for you, how are you wrapping your head around the past year or so and everything that’s happened for you?

The answer is I can’t, honestly, I’ve had to really take some time lately to just sit in it and realise what’s going on. My parents are in corporate and I feel like my whole family’s have always been go-getters and I’m the most artistic of the family. We’re such a family of ‘what’s next?, which is the fun part and I think a lot of this has happened because I am just so driven, but it’s also important to sit in it and really think about what’s going on.

It’s hard to know almost which moment to sit back in, because you’ve had so many successes and so much has been happening. Now you’re going on tour with BRELAND and all these things are happening. It must just be like, ‘okay, but when do I fit in the time to pause and reflect?’

Yeah, it’s been a crazy year, especially because I’m still independent, I don’t have a record label and so much has happened. It’s nuts.

I feel like out of everyone you’ve made the best out of it. It’s amazing the creative ways you’ve approached the industry – not just being creative in your songwriting but in the content you’ve created and the way you’ve done that. Can we talk a bit about the 615 House and how that came to be? People talk about the downfalls of social media but we don’t celebrate the actual cool things that can come out of it. 

For sure, so 615 was born out of the pandemic. I think all of us in the house, we didn’t really know what to do because for the longest time we were pursuing artistry and we’d go into writers’ rounds and go into shows write in Nashville and we couldn’t do any of that anymore. So, before I was a creator on TikTok, I was a consumer. So, the Hype House is an influencer-centred house in LA and I had been watching that whole house come together – everybody was individual, and I was just so infatuated with it with how they could bring so many different platforms together. I loved watching it because they were influencers, they weren’t musicians – some of them were dancers, but it was so interesting to me. I was sitting there and around that time frame, there really only were like six or seven people on TikTok that were country-centered that were really pursuing and building a fan base and really being on top of it. I was sitting there thinking about how there’s such an infatuation with Nashville already with songwriters and thinking what it takes to break a new country artist is a kind of mythical thing. I mean, there’s been so many reality shows about it and it’s insane. Why don’t we get everybody together and cross-promote and cross-collaborate? It makes no sense not to,  especially in this pandemic world. I called my friend Chris Ruediger, ‘I was like, hey this is crazy but we should start a hype house in Nashville and keep it centred around the songwriters and collaborate together’. We got a house here in Nashville and we all got together and made content and it kind of just blew up. It’s interesting now trying to figure out how that works.

I love that idea of collaborating together and making something together and supporting each other. Obviously this Friday, you will release ‘Already Drank That Beer’ and I love it – your music is just getting better and better. Can you talk a bit about that track as it was co-written with one of my favourite songwriters, Jessi Alexander, who is just a magician? Can you talk about hearing that song for the first time and knowing that you had to cut it?

So, it was written by Wendell Mobley, Jessi Alexander and Jessie Jo Dillon, of course I would have loved to have written that song but I always believed that best song wins. I’ve been writing since I was 11, but it’s always a case of the right song. I heard the song and I got to hear it as a consumer when I first listened to it. I got to hear it as the listener will when they first hear it – at least the demo version. I just loved how that that first verse really hit me because I’ve been there. I’ve been exactly where they are. Jessi Alexander was talking about she’s been through the exact same experience, too. I don’t know, I mean it was one of those songs I just knew I had to cut when I heard it, because I’ve been through it and I understood the emotion of it. I knew that other people would also relate to it. I posted it on TikTok and it kind of blew up and it’s just crazy to see.

You also released ‘Under’ recently and you’ve had such momentum around that song. It feels like you mapped out exactly where you wanted to get to with all the tracks, how did you choose which order to release things in when you have so much great material in your hands?

Honestly, that’s a great question. I kind of fly by the seat of my pants a lot, like well this one sound cool, put it out! I have a really small team and I’m still independent, so I love getting to have that creative control to just know which one feels the most right, I kind of go by what I feel makes sense in the storyline. I think ‘Under’ was a natural first one, we had written it a month or two before, so it was a pretty new track.

That’s a such a quick turnaround!

It was crazy how quick it happened.

I guess that’s the beauty of being an independent artist, in some ways. It’s great to have a major label backing you, but when you are independent, you have that flexibility to be able to release a great song as soon as you write it.

Exactly, I really do love being independent. I’m really pumped to eventually team with the right label, but I love the speed, I love being able to give people something and give them the full product soon after that.

Exactly and it has to be the right fit too. Back in April you joined Roman Alexander on his new track ‘Between You and Me,’ I loved the way your voices melded together. Can you talk about joining that track and how it evolved? 

I came to be a part of it, which is the crazy part. Basically, he put out ‘Between You and Me’ a few months before and it got a lot of traction. I love that song. We’ve been friends for a long time, so I’ve always loved him and his music. We were always friends in Nashville, but never really collaborated. The way he describes it, he loved the track, but there was a female narrative missing. He called me and our team and he loved my voice and said he would really love to have my voice on the song. In the next week, I came down and lay down the vocals and it was just the easiest process. It’s crazy how much of a life of it’s own it’s taken on in every show that I play. People know every word – it’s insane.

That’s what you want – that energy in live shows. How has it been getting back out there? Obviously you’ve had all these months where your career has been growing and growing, and now you’re going back out and people know the songs?

It’s been the best thing in the entire world. It’s crazy, because I graduated from my college – Belmont University – in 2019. I was pumped to hit artistry full force and played some shows and Nashville and just kind of getting my feet wet and then the pandemic hit. We had this whole space of time and I released music and and I went from really nobody really knowing what I was doing and being a newer artist in town – playing half-filled shows or whatever. Now we’re coming back from the pandemic and I’m  playing Whiskey Jam and it’s packed and people are singing my lyrics back. I’m so excited because I’m also going on tour with BRELAND. I’m just so used to playing shows playing new songs, but there is this electricity that happens when the people in the crowd know your music. I can’t even remotely begin to explain that feeling.

In terms of new music, you’ve got the single out tomorrow, are you planning on doing this semi regular cadence of releases? Is that the plan going into the fall and summer?

Absolutely. I’m working on a project that’s all together, but my goal for the next few years is to get as much top quality music that I possibly can out in the world. It’s a fun spot to be in, because I think for so long Nashville functioned on a album-tour cycle and I think the LA pop world and social media have changed that and I love it.

I think it’s really refreshing. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. Good luck with the release!

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you.

Follow Ashley Cooke on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

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Up and coming singer Ashley Cooke has released her fresh new track ‘Under’ accompanied by a lyric video. “Under” explores the fresh and raw emotions that follow a breakup while the singer begs the question of what it’ll take to finally get over her last relationship, sharing that she’s done everything she knows how to do. It’s a stunning track that showcases Cooke as an artist to watch, with a gorgeously unique tone to her vocal that is deeply engaging.

“Under” was released via Back Blocks Music and written by Cooke, Rocky Block and John Byron, and comes on the heels of her March 2021 single “Sunday Morning Kinda Saturday Night” which debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart. Her April 2021 feature on Roman Alexander’s hit song “Between You & Me,” notched over two million streams in less than three weeks.

“The day we wrote ‘Under’ I felt like I had gotten something off my chest,” shares Cooke.  “Heartbreak is freakin’ exhausting and in that moment it felt like I had tried everything everyone suggested to move on but nothing made it easier, and we simply wrote that truth to a melody.”

Continuing her noteworthy year, Cooke’s release of “Under” marks the second track from her forthcoming project to be released this summer produced by award-winner Jimmy Robbins. Cooke will join BRELAND on tour for nine select dates in Sept. For more information, visit ashleycooke.com and follow her onTikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

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