Nashville Lifestyles Top 25 To Watch in 2016

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Cam

The title of newcomer Cam’s debut LP, Untamed, couldn’t be more appropriate. After making a splash with her frisky single “My Mistake, x93 the California transplant is taking her haunting summer scorcher, “Burning House, x93 all the way to the Grammys—it’s up for Best Solo Country Performance. And the rest of the record, which dropped in December, is just as eclectic. “My album starts off with the sound of the bugs singin’ on a warm Tennessee summer night, x93 Cam says. “It’s a bonfire party in the woods, in our own world, with our own rules—being ourselves and being free. x93 camcountry.com
Photo by Ninelle Efremova

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Erin McCarley

Since parting ways with Universal, pop songstress Erin McCarley has been releasing music entirely on her own—including the singles “I Can Be Somebody x93 and “Out of the Fog x93—from a new record due early this year. Both songs explore a thrilling, contemporary landscape, mixing her pristine vocals with beats fit for both dancing and deep thought. Instead of piling up managers and producers, she’s been working with a tight circle of friends to push genre boundaries—and her own imagination. “This record has a foundation that isn’t fear based, x93 says McCarley. “It’s a liftoff of sorts, into another suit of skin, hoping to pull people up with me. x93 erinmccarley.com
Photo by Fairlight Hubbard

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Drake White

After teasing fans with a live EP last fall, Drake White is anxious to release his first full-length album in 2016. The record, White says, is a product of his Alabama upbringing and current Nashville residency. “I grew up in northeast Alabama, where the Appalachian mountains are in the top half of the state, and I think a lot of the way my music sounds has to do with that, x93 he explains. “But being in Nashville, being around great writers and musicians, and being part of such a creative group of folks has definitely influenced my sound. I’d had to have been dead to not soak that in. x93 drakewhite.com
Photo by David McClister

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Top 25 To Watch Playlist

Judah & the Lion

Judah Akers, Brian Macdonald, Nate Zuercher, and Spencer Cross recorded their upcoming sophomore album in just two weeks—a whirlwind fitting of their frenetic live shows. On next month’s Folk Hop N Roll, the rock-folk quartet adds a layer of old-school hip-hop, à la Run-DMC, to their banjo-friendly groove. Judah & Co. also embark on their first headlining tour next month and vow to bring that energy to audiences across the U.S. “The truth is we love to have fun, x93 says Akers. “We do go through stuff too, but at the end of the day we’re pretty happy and love getting to do what we do every day. x93 judahandthelion.com
Photo by Chris Hershman

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Smooth Hound Smith

With gigs at last year’s Bonnaroo and Live on the Green festivals, California natives Zack Smith and Caitlin Doyle are settling into their adopted state just fine. To make it official, the rising rootsy two-piece named their latest full-length, out January 15, Sweet Tennessee Honey. “This is such a Nashville album, from the players to the recording, x93 notes Smith. (Two songs on the LP, which features guests like Natalie Maines and Sarah Jarosz, were recorded in the duo’s living room.) Immediately after the launch, Smooth Hound Smith zips off on a national tour that includes a pit stop at their first-ever SXSW. smoothhoundsmith.com
Photo by Kellie Dirks

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Keith Urban

The known details of Keith Urban’s eighth studio album are sparse: It’s called Ripcord, it’ll be out in 2016…and that’s about it. But the Aussie isn’t being cagey—even he isn’t sure what direction his new set of tunes will take. “It isn’t easy to put it into one category, x93 he says. “I found myself recording a lot of songs, and I’ve got to try and let them all make sense to what will constitute a record. x93 Urban has already released two well-received singles from Ripcord, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 x93 and “Break on Me. x93 keithurban.net

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Aubrie Sellers

Aubrie Sellers could easily rest on her musical pedigree, but the daughter of country queen Lee Ann Womack and songwriter Jason Sellers has instead gained industry cred by lending her vocals to tracks by Miranda Lambert and David Nail. This month, the songbird releases her debut album, New City Blues; she wrote or cowrote all 14 tracks and sought inspiration from her hometown. “I am influenced by bluegrass, country, rock, blues, and so many other types of music, x93 Sellers says. “You can see any of those in Nashville on any given night, which is pretty awesome. x93 aubriesellers.com
Photo by Allister Ann

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ELEL

Since winning 2014’s Road to Bonnaroo competition with their kinetic, layered sound, ELEL has whipped up a frenzy of anticipation for their debut LP. The seven-piece, fronted by Ben Elkins, will finally release Geode on the prestigious Mom + Pop label early this year. Mixing diverse elements like two drummers, synth beats, classical guitar, and complex vocals, it makes for a unique, super-modern point of view. “Our songs are full of energy, but it’s been important to me to keep some tenderness in the recordings, x93 says Elkins. “I like music that has some restraint—it actually seems more powerful to me. x93 elelmusic.com
Photo by Rebecca Adler

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Top 25 To Watch Playlist

Kelsea Ballerini

Singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini’s debut album, The First Time, took radio airwaves by storm in 2015 thanks to the number one smash “Love Me Like You Mean It x93 and its follow-up, “Dibs. x93 In addition to being toasted by tastemakers from Billboard to CMT, Ballerini was invited into an elite group—Taylor Swift’s squad—and cameo’ed at her fellow blonde songbird’s sold-out Bridgestone show in October. And though it doesn’t look like Kelsea will get much of a breather in 2016, she loves her time in Nashville. “Having lived here for eight years, it’s becoming home, x93 says the Knoxville native. “I’m constantly falling more in love with the lifestyle here. x93 kelseaballerini.com
Photo by Jeremy Ryan

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Levi Hummon

We’re calling it: Rising Big Machine artist Levi Hummon, who is signed to the label’s Valory imprint, is going to explode in 2016. Last year saw him opening for country stars like Sam Hunt and teaming up with red-hot writer-producer Jimmy Robbins—the two have “nailed it creatively, x93 he reports. Early this year, he’ll release his first-ever single, “Life’s for Livin’, x93 which he wrote with Robbins and Matt Jenkins. “I come from an organic country storytelling background, x93 he explains, “so it has those elements but also the pop elements that Jimmy brings to the table. x93 That storytelling background, by the way, includes his Grammy-winning father, songwriter Marcus Hummon. levihummon.com
Photo by Joseph Llanes

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The Railers

The Railers hail from Missouri, Arizona, and Indiana but now proudly call Music City home. The country-tinged foursome—that’s brothers Jordan and Jonathan Lawson, Jonathan’s wife Cassandra Lawson, and Tyler Oban—has spent the past decade collectively honing their craft and will finally release their highly anticipated freshman album early this year. “We have been involved in the Nashville music community since coming here as bright-eyed students in 2003, x93 says Cassandra Lawson. “Back then, there was no way of knowing we would be lucky enough to get to make music with such a truly creative and diverse class of peers. x93 therailers.com
Photo by Jack Guy

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Morgan Myles

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Morgan Myles was inspired by what she calls music’s big belters. “Bonnie Raitt, Shania Twain, Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin—back in the day, we had so many, x93 she says. Relocating to Nashville allowed her to tap into her own powerhouse pipes, and the industry is now catching on: Last fall, CMT premiered the video for her gauzy single “Whiskey Dreaming, x93 and this month the Belmont grad unveils her debut EP, Miss Morgan Myles. Its title reflects her blend of country sweetheart and soul diva—and is also an homage to the two children she nannies when she’s not in the studio or on stage. morganmyleslive.com
Photo by Jeremy Ryan

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Brothers Osborne

The debut album from Brothers Osborne, Pawn Shop , is a reflection of the Maryland-born siblings’ life experiences—before their Grammy nod, they spent years as struggling artists. “If you’re a musician, more than likely you’ve been on both sides of a pawn shop, x93 says TJ Osborne. “Having to pawn a guitar, the thing you love and need in order to pursue music, is a sobering experience. We’ve been there. x93 Adds John: “Pawn Shop consists of 11 songs that are held together by what we do as a band. We try to be honest and do things a little differently, but from our own perspective. x93 brothersosborne.com
Photo by Jim Wright

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Top 25 To Watch Playlist

Ryan Beaver

From his brooding looks to his deep, sultry drawl, Texas-bred Ryan Beaver is country to his core. After earning his marketing degree at Texas State, he turned his lifelong love of music—he grew up playing drums, piano, and guitar—into a pair of album releases in 2008 and 2011. Now he’s gearing up to share his cathartic third, Rx. Though he’s a Texan at heart, Beaver has fully embraced his newer surroundings. “It’s a great time to be a Nashvillian, x93 he says. “I love the music community’s closeness and [the] inspiration that drives it. There is a support system that exists for musicians like no place else in the world. x93 ryanbeavermusic.tumblr.com

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Lauren Daigle

Soulful CCM artist Lauren Daigle is steering her breakout 2015—which included a number one album on Billboard’s Christian chart and three Dove Awards—toward something even bigger. This spring, the free-spirited Louisiana native looks forward to being the sole female on the Winter Jam tour alongside established acts like Matthew West and Crowder. But the real highlights of her swelling career, she says, are “story after story after story, heart after heart after heart x93 of listeners engaging with her music. “Not only are the people connecting, but now the industry is welcoming me in, x93 she adds. “It was huge for me to see that their support is so genuine. x93 laurendaigle.com
Photo by Steve Taylor

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Angel Snow

There’s no shortage of acoustic-driven folk music in Music City, but the Georgia-born, East Nashville–residing Angel Snow stands out for the ethereal web she weaves with her moody plucks, keen songcraft, and finely scuffed, velvety vocals. For her third album, due in February, the singer continues to bend her progressive sound around stirring and honest lyrics, taking her music to a more experimental place while retaining a human connection. “I want to make music that is meaningful and shares important, often overlooked messages, x93 says Snow, who’s written for Alison Krauss. “My greatest hope is that my music evokes emotion and makes you feel something. x93 angelsnow.net
Photo by Fairlight Hubbard

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Ron Pope

Georgia-born Ron Pope found mainstream success in 2009 with the ballad “A Drop in the Ocean. x93 Five years later, he ditched the plaintive solo act for a blues-inspired six-person band that came together in what he calls a “happy accident x93: He’d assembled his dream team of musicians for a tour and whisked them away to isolation in his home state; the plan was simply to rehearse, but the guys meshed so well that they began writing and recording. “Everyone was so inspired that we naturally fell into being a band, x93 Pope says. Ron Pope + the Nighthawks’ self-titled debut album drops January 2016. ronpopemusic.com
Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson

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Maggie Rose

After releasing the country-leaning Cut to Impress in 2013 and the bro-country-endorsing “Girl in Your Truck Song x93 a year later, Maggie Rose says she’s finally embracing everything that Nashville has to offer. The breakthrough armed her with the courage to make music that doesn’t cater to any specific genre, which she’ll cram into her next effort, a soon-to-be-released EP. “I am not a country artist. I am not a pop artist. I am a Nashville artist, x93 she says. “I need to blur the lines and be dynamic, and I feel that I have finally allowed myself to do that with this EP. x93 iammaggierose.com
Photo by Rob Norris

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Top 25 To Watch Playlist

Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes

At this point, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes are basically a local institution, consistently serving up rambunctious melodies and raucous live shows. So Nashville’s appetite for fresh DE&TGL music is rather insatiable—who doesn’t want to see a band wearing animal masks and busting a groove, as they do in their video for “Always/Never x93? “It’s a high-energy, feel-good track about a persistent young gentleman determined to chase down unrequited love, x93 explains Ellsworth. “It also might accidentally be about a stalker, though—your choice. x93 Luckily, we won’t have to stalk the quartet for new tunes: Their latest EP, Bemidji, drops on March 11. danielellsworthandthegreatlakes.com
Photo by Adam Gatchel

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Canaan Smith

His debut album, Bronco, has only been out for six months, but Canaan Smith already has a country music slam-dunk: His first single, “Love You Like That, x93 reached number one and went gold. Last year also brought the fan favorite’s inaugural headlining tour. “It’s a whole different ballgame when you get to bring out your own smoke, lights, and sound, x93 he says. “The biggest rush is when the crowd sings the last chorus of ‘Love You Like That’ by themselves—the volume always overwhelms me. x93 This month, Smith hits the road with Brantley Gilbert. canaansmith.com
Photo by Jim Wright

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Brooke Waggoner

Singer-songwriter Brooke Waggoner may not be a household name—yet—but even the casual music fan has heard her delicate piano-pop on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars. The Louisiana native came to Nashville a decade ago and has since fallen in with some talented locals, including Jack White. This month, she’ll release her fifth album, Sweven. “I’m excited about the new driving forces with my work, x93 she says. “My husband and son, a clear picture of where I fit into the musical landscape, [and] a revelation that a life of creative expression is not about building assets but about offering a service to people. x93 brookewaggoner.com
Photo by Heidi Ross

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The Shadowboxers

Some things come better in threes, and The Shadowboxers draw a knockout punch to the third power: three-part vocals (from Scott Schwartz, Matt Lipkins, and Adam Hoffman), three influences (soul, pop, and funk), and a third album, due this year. After a residency at the Basement East that included—yep—three themed shows and special guests from Reba to Clare Bowen, they head into the studio with a renewed focus. “We have spent the last year writing a ton of new material, incorporating much more soul and funk music into our sound, x93 says Hoffman. Three cheers for that. theshadowboxers.com
Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee

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EZA

With a million streams on Spotify, Belmont alum Ellery Bonham has electro-pop tunes that are as equally buzzy as her moniker. EZA (pronounced EH-zah) intensifies the growing hum of Nashville-based electronic music using vocal loops and synthesizers along with her keen sense of lyric. Energized by the challenge of what she calls “developing what you’ve already done while still holding onto that ‘thing’ that you do best, x93 Bonham is busy planning her 2016 national tour, writing for a new project, and releasing a single in February. ezamusic.com
Photo by Mikaela Hamilton

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Farro

Since splitting from Paramore in 2010, indie pop-rocker Josh Farro has reinvented himself as a one-man act. “I knew exactly what I wanted in my mind and the only person that could really pull it off was me—it was my passion, my idea, my vision, x93 says the longtime local musician. Most of his first album, the soon to be released Walkways, was recorded in mid-2014, although a last-minute stroke of songwriting genius produced “Cliffs, x93 its anthemic lead single. “You grow so much in two years as a writer and musician, so I’m chomping at the bit to get this out, x93 he says. farro.co
Photo by David O’Donohue

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Top 25 To Watch Playlist

Maren Morris

She’s written tunes for Kelly Clarkson and Tim McGraw, but Maren Morris is about to make her own noise. The on-the-verge star released a stellar self-titled EP last fall and drops her debut full-length later this year. Between touring dates with Charles Kelley, the Texas native is enjoying life in her new home. “The first week I moved here, I went to The Basement to see a songwriters’ round and was blown away at the level of talent this town presented, x93 she recalls. “Everyone I’ve met has been humble and supportive of their colleagues—it’s been a great lesson in not having to be a jerk to be good. x93 marenmorris.com
Photo by LeAnn Mueller