Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:12] Speaker B: Come on.
[00:00:15] Speaker C: This is Outside the Round with Matt Burrill for Rage Rowdy Podcast.
What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Outside the Round with me, Matt Burrell. Today, a very special guest, a young buck who has become a homie for us at raised Rowdies from the great state of South Carolina, Cooper Ledford.
[00:00:33] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Thank you for having me.
[00:00:34] Speaker C: My dog. How you doing?
[00:00:35] Speaker A: I'm doing good, Doing good.
[00:00:37] Speaker C: And I am honored that this is one of the first podcasts.
[00:00:40] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:00:41] Speaker C: First of many that you'll be doing.
[00:00:42] Speaker A: Man, I hope so.
[00:00:43] Speaker C: No, dude, it's the truth. Buddy, how you been? You were just on the road with another guy who I believe I got to be one of his first podcasts was Cameron Marlowe.
[00:00:52] Speaker A: Yes, Sir.
[00:00:52] Speaker C: Back in 2020.
[00:00:53] Speaker A: Yes, sir. That was. That was awesome.
We were a little tired when we got back, but.
[00:00:59] Speaker C: Yeah, where all you guys go? I saw you were in Bogarts, right?
[00:01:01] Speaker A: Yeah, we played at Bogarts in Cincinnati. We played at Boondocks in Springfield, Illinois, and the Rave in Milwaukee, which was awesome.
[00:01:09] Speaker C: All right, we got to talk about the rave.
[00:01:11] Speaker A: They were all sold out. It was awesome.
[00:01:13] Speaker C: The rave is one of my favorite rooms in the world.
[00:01:15] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was sick. We got to go down there, and since it was sold out, we got to go down there and sign the wall and everything. Yeah.
[00:01:22] Speaker C: Did you feel the ghosts?
[00:01:24] Speaker A: It was a little weird in there. I will say. It was cold, so maybe.
[00:01:27] Speaker C: Yeah, dude, the rave. Which room were you guys in? Were you guys in the big ballroom upstairs, or.
[00:01:32] Speaker A: We. We were in just like. We were in this. One of the smaller rooms downstairs, but,
[00:01:38] Speaker C: like the club level room. So not like the little sidebar.
[00:01:40] Speaker A: No, no, not the. Not the really small one. The. The. I think it's the one right before you get to the Eagles Ballroom.
[00:01:46] Speaker C: Wow. I'm not sure, but good for Cameron, man.
[00:01:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:01:49] Speaker C: Had you been to a Cameron show before?
[00:01:51] Speaker A: I hadn't, but I got three free ones. That was sick.
[00:01:53] Speaker C: Dude. How good are him and Jake and the guys in the band? Like, to me, he's one of the most underrated artists in the world.
[00:02:04] Speaker A: Definitely. Yeah. I mean, it was really cool because I've been listening to Cameron for years now. Like, since even before I was doing music, I've been listening to Cameron Marlowe. So, you know, when I got that opportunity, it was really cool to, like. I was fangirling a little bit, but we kept it cool.
[00:02:17] Speaker C: That's the best for, like. That was, like, the first tour that you've Gotten to do, right?
[00:02:21] Speaker A: Yes, sir. I've done a little. A couple oneoffs, but that was the first time anybody's, like, taking me on tour. That was really cool.
[00:02:26] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:02:27] Speaker A: Dude.
[00:02:27] Speaker C: What were you guys riding around in?
[00:02:29] Speaker A: We had a little. We rented a little. A little sprinter van.
[00:02:32] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:02:33] Speaker A: Yeah. Ford Transit.
[00:02:34] Speaker C: That's. Hey, I mean, honestly, that's a bougie. I've. I've. I've seen people start out in way less than that. So who did a lot of the driving?
[00:02:44] Speaker A: Me and my buddy JD. Yeah.
[00:02:46] Speaker C: Okay. Is that JD? JD over there?
[00:02:49] Speaker A: JD's over here.
[00:02:50] Speaker C: Okay. How'd you guys split the driving up?
[00:02:53] Speaker A: He drove most of the way, I'm not gonna lie. And then I drove.
We. We got about an hour into the drive from Milwaukee to back here, and then I was like, I can take over if you want me to.
[00:03:03] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: And he didn't, you know, put up too much of a fight when he came.
[00:03:06] Speaker C: Yeah. So I don't know how much. How much we've talked about this, but I spent about five years on the road as a merch seller and as a tour manager.
[00:03:14] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:14] Speaker C: And going out, it's like you leave on that Wednesday for the Thursday, Friday, Saturday run, and it's so much fun. Like, you're just jacked up. Especially an opportunity like that for you and the boys in the band. Having a. Having a good buddy like JD with you, which is a huge blessing. I hope you're good to this guy for helping. Yeah. We're doing the driving and everything, but it's like, you're so excited. Then you get through show one, and you're like, that was freaking awesome. I can't wait for night two and then night two, and then it's like, it's Saturday night. I'm a little tired. Going to be awesome. And then that Sunday drive back, especially from being as far out as Milwaukee. Yeah, that's a haul, bro.
[00:03:49] Speaker A: Yeah, well, you know, it could have been worse. I think we're still riding high from. From just like, oh, my God, that was awesome, you know? Yeah, it was. It was a great experience. I mean, that was definitely, like, the. The best weekend I've ever had, you know, in my entire life. So that was. That was. That was awesome.
[00:04:03] Speaker C: Yeah, man. And you're. And you're 20 years old. Like, you're young, doing this stuff, and a native of Simpsonville, South Carolina, which is a very good musical state, South Carolina. You think of Darius and all the Hootie stuff. You think of the Marshall Tucker Band. You think of folks like Lee Bryce, you think of folks like Ashlyn Craft. I mean, there's so many talented artists that have come out of South Carolina. So take me back to growing up in Simpsonville. And I know you've only been out here for what now is less than a year, right?
[00:04:34] Speaker A: Yeah, about seven months. Yes, sir. So I was born in Simpsonville. I was born in, I guess, sort of raised in Simpsonville. I lived there till I was about 8 years old, but I lived all over South Carolina.
I grew up in. In Charleston. Myrtle Beach.
[00:04:51] Speaker C: Where in Charleston?
[00:04:52] Speaker A: Mount Pleasant.
[00:04:53] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: We lived there for a year, and then my dad is a. My dad was a preacher, and my mom is a teacher.
[00:04:58] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:58] Speaker A: And we figured out real fast, you know, you can't afford to live in a.
In Charleston with a preacher and a teacher salary. So we moved on to. To Myrtle beach, and then we sort of missed the upstate, so we moved back to. To the Upstate.
[00:05:10] Speaker C: Yeah. My girlfriend is originally from Goose Creek.
[00:05:13] Speaker A: Oh, really?
[00:05:13] Speaker C: So I've spent a lot of time out in that Charleston. Out in that Charleston area, man. Beautiful. I love it, man. There's the. What's cool about South Carolina is that there is such a difference between upstate and the low country.
Like, it could literally. And North Carolina's like this, too, where, like, you're out in, like, the. You're. You're out in along, like, the Outer Banks versus, like, Charlotte or Appalachia. Like, they're different things to where you could really cut a place like South Carolina in half. And the upstate, where Clemson's at and Greenville and Simpson, like, up there, it's such a different world from, like, the low country, even down where Columbia's at, you know, it's such a unique place and interesting spot to grow up, man.
[00:05:56] Speaker A: Yeah, it was. It was definitely weird. You got a little flavor of everything. Definitely. Like you said. I mean, it's. It was weird because. Because Simpsonville, like, I remember driving to school, and, you know, there's not a lot of mountains in South Carolina, but in the upstate, you can sort of see some. And I remember driving to school in the morning when I was a little kid and being able to see mountains. And then we moved to Charleston, and it's like, okay, we're in the swamp now.
[00:06:17] Speaker C: There's alligators here.
[00:06:19] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
[00:06:19] Speaker C: People don't realize that there are a lot of alligators in South Carolina.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:06:24] Speaker C: Like, that blew my mind. When you think alligators, you think of Florida or Louisiana. You don't think of South Carolina.
[00:06:30] Speaker A: No, you definitely don't and when I saw it, I was like, I don't know about this guy. I think. I think we need to go back to the upstate.
[00:06:36] Speaker C: But what's it like growing up in your. Your dad's a preacher and your mom's a teacher.
[00:06:40] Speaker A: Oh, man. It got a lot crazier than that.
So, I mean, there's always, you know, it's kind of not a strict household. I have two great parents.
[00:06:48] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:06:49] Speaker A: But definitely, you know, I was kept in check. You know what I mean?
And.
But my dad actually ended up being. So he was a preacher, and then he had sort of a career change when I was in, like, middle school, and he actually ended up being my high school principal, so.
[00:07:04] Speaker C: Wow.
[00:07:05] Speaker A: Doesn't get much worse than that.
So I had it. I know. He went from being a preacher to then be my principal, and I had to see him every single day in high school. And high school's rough as it is.
[00:07:15] Speaker C: How big. How big of a high school was it?
[00:07:16] Speaker A: I went to a big high school where we ended up moving. We moved to. It's funny, you talked about Charlotte. I lived in a town called Fort Mill, which is right outside of Charlotte, actually. It's. It's right across the South Carolina line,
[00:07:29] Speaker C: right on the border. Okay.
[00:07:30] Speaker A: Yeah. And it was. It was smaller when we moved there, but then by the time I got to high school, it kind of exploded because all these. All the people from. Like, there were a lot of people from New York and all that that moved down to work in Charlotte, and they all lived in Fort Mill. So my high school was ginormous.
[00:07:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: So. And I constantly got made fun of by my dad at school, you know, embarrassed and everything. So that was awesome, you know?
[00:07:51] Speaker C: But did you play sports in high school?
[00:07:53] Speaker A: I did. I played. That's actually how I kind of started music.
I played football my freshman year, high school, and then I went to. I went to Fort Mill High School my freshman year, high school. And then my dad got a job at Catawba Ridge, which is where I graduated. So I transferred there. And that was sort of the COVID The weird Covid years.
[00:08:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:13] Speaker A: So football was weird anyway. But I got a bunch of. I got, like, three really bad concussions when I was playing football, so I actually. I couldn't get cleared to play after that, so I had to quit. And I'd been playing football my entire life.
[00:08:26] Speaker C: Like, sports was a Pop Warner all the way up.
[00:08:29] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I love football. I love sports. Like, that just was my whole thing.
[00:08:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:33] Speaker A: And I come from A very, like, like, you got to do something household. I wasn't allowed to just, you know, sit around at the house now, so after I.
I couldn't play football anymore. My parents, like, you got to find something to do. You got to find something to do. So I always like singing because growing up, my. My. When my dad was preaching, my. My mom sang in church. So I was just saying with her and, like, everything, and.
And so I just decided to. You know, I got a little guitar that my parents bought me when I was, like, five, I think, or something like that. It, like, barely worked, and I. And I sort of tried to figure out how to, you know, strum some chords along and all that, and started writing a little bit, and I just got really into it and fell in love with it.
[00:09:12] Speaker C: That's awesome, man. There's so many guys and girls that come up in that world of being involved with worship.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:09:21] Speaker C: And find their way in, like, I think of, like, even as. As rough around the edges as he might seem, like Brantley Gilbert started out playing in churches in Northern Georgia. You know, the FGL guys were in a worship. Kind of got put together through leading worship in. At Belmont. You know, like, there's so much to that. And, like, growing up in that dynamic, it just leads to playing music in front of people.
[00:09:44] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I think it definitely teaches, you know, some very valuable lessons, too, being involved in that. I mean, you learn to have faith because there's a lot of. There's a lot of ups and downs that come with music, you know? So I think, you know, when you're in that world, it kind of just teaches you to put your faith in the Lord and trust that everything's gonna. Gonna work out the way. Even if it's not necessarily the way you want it to go, it's gonna work out the way it should go. And I think that's definitely a valuable lesson that, you know, a lot of people should learn.
[00:10:10] Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely, dude. So you say you're a big sports guy?
[00:10:12] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:10:13] Speaker C: South Carolina is a state that's divided. Are you a Tiger or a Gamecock?
[00:10:17] Speaker A: I. A Gamecock.
[00:10:18] Speaker C: Let's go. Spurs up.
[00:10:19] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:10:20] Speaker C: My girl. My girlfriend's a huge Gamecock fan.
[00:10:23] Speaker A: I am the biggest Gamecocks fan in the world.
[00:10:26] Speaker C: Well, you got to talk to me about this season, then, because this past season, there was so much hype. Man, Noris is so good.
[00:10:34] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:10:34] Speaker C: And I grew up a big Virginia Tech fan, so I was hopeful that we were going to get you that Game one and the Cox look strong. I had high hopes week one this past year.
[00:10:44] Speaker A: I think.
I think there were a lot of injuries. I think that really screwed us over. I think also we lost a lot of talent on defense. I mean, guys like Nikki McWurrie, Kyle Kennard, you know, TJ Sanders all went to the NFL.
[00:10:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:10:57] Speaker A: So it's definitely hard to replace all that talent in one year. But then with all the injuries and the sort of struggling, like, offensive line play, I mean, Lynnoris, I think still was great this year.
[00:11:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:08] Speaker A: I think, you know, stats maybe weren't that great, but he looked great.
And I think. But when you're under pressure, you're not going to play well. I mean, if you got, you know, one second to throw the football, that's a big ask, especially to a guy that's as young as he is. But, you know, we reloaded this year and hopefully, you know, we'll turn it around and make the playoffs or something. That'll be awesome.
[00:11:27] Speaker C: What is a game at William Bryce like? Because I haven't gotten to do that yet.
[00:11:30] Speaker A: You haven't?
[00:11:31] Speaker C: I haven't gotten to go.
[00:11:32] Speaker A: It's the. If you're going to go, you got to go at night because they did this. They just redid the stadium with like all these lights. They put these. These red LED lights that light up the entire stadium. It really is like. It's electric. It's crazy. Like, if you. If you go to like a SEC game or Clemson at night at Williams Bryce, it's. It's going to be the best game you've ever been to.
[00:11:54] Speaker C: Yeah, I've been to one sec. I guess technically two. I went to the Virginia Tech Tennessee game years ago when I was in college at the Battle of Bristol at Bristol Motor Speedway. That was cool. And then I went to the Iron Bowl a few years back in at. At Brian Denny, when I was working with Trey Lewis, he took me down there to Tuscaloos.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: That.
[00:12:10] Speaker C: And that was awesome and crazy. But Sandstorm, that's the big song for you guys, right?
[00:12:15] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
[00:12:16] Speaker C: And Cocky just goes nuts and I hear the cockabooses. You guys tailgate, like train cars and stuff.
[00:12:22] Speaker A: Well, yeah, that's an exclusive thing, but. But it is cool. It's really cool. Most people are just in, you know, a normal tailgate out in like, frat lots or whatever. But. But yeah, that was. That's awesome. I mean, last year they actually.
They used one of my songs before I moved here, they used one of my songs in their homecoming video. So that was. As a Gamecocks fan, that was like. Yeah. Coolest thing ever. Definitely.
[00:12:47] Speaker C: That's wild. Have you gotten to interact with my boy Ori Lee Cornbread Cowboy at all yet?
[00:12:52] Speaker A: I have not. I've not.
[00:12:53] Speaker C: You look like you could be his son.
[00:12:55] Speaker A: Do I?
[00:12:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:56] Speaker C: Yeah. You look like you and Cornbread could be like. You could be like. Cornbread could be like a family member to you with the stash and the hair. He might be.
[00:13:05] Speaker A: We might not know.
[00:13:06] Speaker C: And he's a Die Hard Cox fan.
[00:13:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:08] Speaker C: So we got. We got to. We got to get you in. Cornbread connected. He's. He's the man. I know he's a proud game. So talking about the music stuff, you kind of got your start just posting Acappella covers and just kind of singing and letting the world see you through their phones, right?
[00:13:22] Speaker A: Yes, sir. I mean, that. That's how I got on the camera tour, actually, is. I posted a video of me because I couldn't really. I just told you. You know, I got. I started playing guitar as a senior in high school.
[00:13:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:34] Speaker A: And so I could not play guitar very well. And so I was like, well, you know, I don't know if these covers are gonna do that great when I'm, you know, over here struggling to pick these songs. So I'm like, I'm just gonna get on here and sing. And so I put my phone up and I did When I Call youl Name by Vince Gill. And Cameron saw it, and he, I guess, really liked it. DM me and. And asked me to go on tour. And it was a long process of.
Of us sort of talking back and forth and trying to get it worked out. But, you know, it definitely worked out and for the best, I think.
[00:14:06] Speaker C: Yeah, man. And it's funny because that's part of his story was the. The Luke Combs, rowdy Rob Williford, who used to be in Luke's band. He's a great producer, songwriter. They saw Cameron back in the day and found him and kind of. He was. Rob told him, hey, get out to Nashville.
[00:14:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:22] Speaker C: You know, so it's similar kind of thing where. And it's cool to have that Carolina connection as well. Speaking of a Carolina connection, you got to meet one of your heroes recently. Oh, yeah, Yeah.
[00:14:31] Speaker A: I know.
[00:14:31] Speaker C: You saw the video that we did when you played over at the local. What was it like getting to meet Eric Church?
[00:14:38] Speaker A: I mean, I don't get very nervous meeting people.
[00:14:40] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:14:41] Speaker A: But I think I was shaking like a leaf on A tree. You know, when I met Eric Church, it was crazy.
[00:14:46] Speaker C: How big is a guy like that for you? Like, growing up as a. As a Carolina guy, A lover of songwriting, a lover of country music music. Oh, yeah. Talk about how important guys like Eric Church, Luke Combs, people like that have been for you in getting to where you're at now.
[00:15:00] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean. I mean, when I was little, I had one of those little, you know, ipod shuffles, and there were three songs on it, and one of them was like, Jesus does. So I used to. You know, growing up, I loved Eric Church. And then I think when I started writing songs, I just got even more into it because I started to really fall in love with songwriting and even. Yeah, like you said, like, Luke Combs. Luke Combs has some fantastic. Like that Fathers and Sons album.
[00:15:23] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:15:24] Speaker A: God, that was. That was killer. So, like, in. In just. Just knowing that they're from sort of the same area as me is really cool because I think looking at the songwriting and then seeing we have similar experiences, there's a lot to draw from.
You know, when it comes to, like, inspiration and things like that, it's really cool.
[00:15:40] Speaker C: Yeah, man. And you even dive back, like you're a fan of the classics, which is kind of. I got to talk about how you and I got connected, because it's my favorite way of getting to know young. Young guys and girls in town and artists is through other young girls that I meet. And we got connected through our good buddy, good mutual friend Colton Dawson. And I feel like you and Colton and there's a bunch of others like the Kenny Whitmyers, the Cole Goodwins. Like, there's all the Will Banisters, there's all these young folks that you have an appreciation for, the old stuff, definitely. You love your Eric Churches, you love your. Your Cameron Marlow, your Luke Combs, but you love your Keith Whitley's as well. You love your George Straits, you love your Tracy Lawrences. Like, the stuff that your parents were probably listening to growing up has resonated with you. So talk about, one, how you met Colton. And two, like, just what is. What it is about that solid country gold that, yeah, just. Just makes you light up and want to put your music in that.
[00:16:41] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean, me and Colton met, like, how I feel. I meet a lot of people now just through Tick Tock. And, you know, I had seen his covers a bunch and. And I. I DM'd him was like, hey, man, love your stuff. You know, I love to, you know, get together and write sometime or something like that. So then when I moved here and then I saw that he moved here, we just kind of started talking again, and we ended up hanging out at the local.
And then it just sort of led to, you know, he was playing the raised rowdy things. I was like, oh, that's awesome. How'd you get on those? And he was like. He was like, oh, you know. You know, whatever, Whatever. And he was like, you need to get on those. You know, they would love you over there. And so just a really, really awesome guy, you know, to help me out, like that. Really, really good dude.
But when it comes to traditional stuff, and I know, like, obviously Colton, you know, loves that stuff.
[00:17:28] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:17:29] Speaker A: But I think that's just. That's what I grew up on. My dad's favorite country singer is Conway Twitty. I used to listen to a lot of Conway when I was younger, a lot of George Jones. Because my mom and I think that the thing that really draws me to it is just the. The honesty in how authentic everything was.
I think that when you hear, you know, he stopped loving her today, you can tell, like, that's real. You know what I mean? That's not. That's not just some song that they wrote, and they're like, oh, that's a hit.
Like, you hear the stories about George Jones. It took him, like, a year to record the song. He's kept crying. That's real. You know what I mean? And I think that's what I love. And the songwriting, it feels real. And I think that's. When you're writing a song, that's what is most important is conveying the emotion and really making it feel real so that it'll connect with somebody. And I think that nobody's ever done it quite as well as those older guys.
[00:18:20] Speaker C: Yeah, man. And you're carrying that torch.
That's wild. There's all you guys that aren't even 21 years old yet doing this thing. Like, I. It has me so excited, having been in town as long as I've been here and seeing that come back around and whether it's, like, at the. At the level that a guy like Zach tops at right now, where it's like, really? He's waving the flag, playing those huge shows and taking us back to the 90s. But then even going back to the 80s, like, you're talking about with the old George Jones stuff. Oh, yeah. And the Conway Twitties and the. And the Keith Whitley's. And it just. It. It has me so excited. And I love that you. It's like a crew of you guys doing it. Like you're getting to. You're getting to write songs and do stuff with your friends who are also new to town and around your age. You're all experiencing this. Like, these are supposed to be your college years.
[00:19:12] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:19:13] Speaker C: And you guys are basically in a Honky tonk university and.
And being around this stuff and venues like the Local are great for it,
[00:19:23] Speaker A: you know, definitely only place I can get into, but that's what I'm saying.
[00:19:27] Speaker C: And it's funny because back in the day, that was when we. We used to host that event at Live Oak at their old location before they had moved. And then we bounced over to the Losers. Losers and Duck Blind. We do the full band stuff over at OD's, which has been great. But the local, there's something about. That's how you get that.
That Young Wave is.
[00:19:46] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:19:46] Speaker C: It becomes the spot that you guys hang out at. Whether it's. Whether it's Local Music City in, like, the palace and Scoreboards is another spot that's great for that style of music.
But, I mean, just having that community of, like, all you guys got here. Just got here.
[00:20:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:03] Speaker C: And you're getting to create cool stuff together.
[00:20:05] Speaker A: Yes, sir. It really is awesome. Yes, sir. I totally agree. I mean, when I. When I went to the local, it was. It was sort of like, oh, yeah, this is what. This is what I expected when I moved to Nashville.
[00:20:15] Speaker C: What was your first night there?
[00:20:17] Speaker A: I think. I think I went when Will Jones and Sam Banks were playing.
[00:20:20] Speaker C: Oh, the Monday night. The Denim Daddies, bro.
[00:20:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:20:23] Speaker C: Monday nights at the Local are special.
[00:20:26] Speaker A: Oh, they definitely are. You go. And it's just like. It's everything I grew up on. It's like, whoa, this is sick. You know what I mean? It's because you won't hear that on Broadway. And I think that's what's really cool, is that it's just so different in such a special experience to hear all that talent in one room, especially how small the Local is. Just hear it all in there and hear everybody. Like, nobody in there is just. It's not just like, it's background noise. Everybody in the Local is there to hear what's going on, you know what I mean? And it's. It's really sick to. To see something like that.
[00:20:53] Speaker C: And it's the kind of room, like the video that we did talking about you, man. It's. It's. It's a room that Once you win it over, you have a man like you shut the bar up. You know, they listen to what you had to say, man. And, and you're getting songs that are like that, man. Like, talk to me about different. After all, that's been one that seems like it's, it's been a big one for you.
[00:21:13] Speaker A: Yeah, I, I wrote that when I was in high school still. And, and I was just. I love really sad songs, so I've always, you know, I always, as my go to thing is these sad ballads and everything and, and I wanted to write one that really. I felt connected with people and I think that that sort of regret after a breakup is definitely something that a lot of people can resonate with. And when I put it out, I honestly didn't expect it to do that well, just because of what it is how, you know, sort of slow and sad and it doesn't have really any huge vocal moments or anything like that. But then I put it out and it's immediately like, it was my biggest release and it gets on Spotify's playlist. It went Country Central, Whiskey, Riff, all that. And I'm. I'm like, whoa, this is, this is awesome. That was my first taste of really like what my music can do and how it can resonate with people. And I think that was really sick. And that, that sort of made me fall in love with songwriting even more, you know, just saying, seeing the effect it can have.
[00:22:11] Speaker C: Yeah, man, it. And it's cool that you're, you're like. Because a lot of guys and girls will stay where they're at and not take the jump to move here, especially at such a young age, you know, like, what kind of led, what led you to pack up and leave upstate to come out here? And what was that process like, you leaving at. At 20 years old?
[00:22:30] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Well, I was.
So I was. I graduated high school and I was like, not completely. I never even applied to go to college because I'm just a big procrastinator when it comes to. When it comes to stuff like that. So I was like, I was like, I don't know. I don't know what I want to do. So I figured I'm going to go to tech school and I'll figure it out, you know, if I. Because then if I want to transfer to college, I can do that. And if I want to, you know, not.
Not go to college, no harm, no foul, you know what I mean?
It was free. So I started going and I think I got like, I Remember having a conversation.
[00:23:02] Speaker C: My mom.
[00:23:02] Speaker A: I had a Western history class, and my mom is a history teacher, by the way.
So I walked in there, I said. I said, mommy, you know, I've been in this class for, like, three weeks, and we haven't talked about, like, Billy the Kid or anything, like, once. And she's like, yeah, it's because Western history is about Russia, idiot.
So it was, like, kind of then I realized maybe school's not my thing. You.
[00:23:23] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:25] Speaker A: And I just decided, you know, I was really getting into songwriting at that point and singing and everything, and I was posting videos more consistently, and I was like, I'm just gonna. I'm gonna do it. I don't want to waste all this time, you know, trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, and then, you know, years from now, wish that I had moved to Nashville and spent that time. I'm just gonna go dive in and go 100%. And I think that's. That's the best thing I could have done. I think it's definitely been a great experience so far. So I just decided to move up here at 19 and just turned 20, you know, last month, and it's. It's been great so far.
[00:23:58] Speaker C: Yeah, man. Where in town are you?
[00:24:01] Speaker A: I started out in Madison, but I just moved to Antioch.
[00:24:04] Speaker C: Okay. All right, all right. I'd wear. Whereabouts in Antioch? Because I did. I did some time during Antioch. I lived there. I lived there during COVID Oh, yeah. I was in Covet. Antioch.
[00:24:14] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I'm. I don't actually know. I literally just moved there last week. I. I'm at, like.
[00:24:19] Speaker C: Are you, like, off Murfreesboro Pike? Are you over by Nolensville?
[00:24:23] Speaker A: I'm. I'm, like, over towards Brentwood.
[00:24:26] Speaker C: Okay, so you're in Brainiac. Yeah, that's what we call that. Branniac. So you're, like, not too far from the zoo?
[00:24:31] Speaker A: No, sir. No, sir. Yeah.
[00:24:33] Speaker C: Okay, cool.
[00:24:33] Speaker A: Right there.
[00:24:34] Speaker C: Okay. Yeah. So what I love about Antioch, man, I know you Southern folk love your Mexican food.
[00:24:38] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:24:39] Speaker C: You have got some of the best taco trucks.
[00:24:42] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:24:42] Speaker C: In. That I've ever seen in Antioch, man.
[00:24:46] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:24:46] Speaker C: The food scene in Antioch is a great place to be. And it's funny, you started out Madison. That's where my girlfriend's at. So I spent a lot of time over there in Madison, and it's nice because East Nashville is right there, and there's a bunch to do over there as well, man. But, yeah, when I first moved down here, I Lived in Spring Hill. So I know where that. That's down.
[00:25:02] Speaker A: Yeah, I was there yester. I was there, like, two days ago.
[00:25:05] Speaker C: Oh, really? What were you doing down there?
[00:25:06] Speaker A: I was in Columbia, and it took me back up through.
Through Spring Hill, and that was. That was cool.
[00:25:13] Speaker C: Yeah, I did. That's where I bought my first gun, was in Columbia.
[00:25:15] Speaker A: Really?
[00:25:16] Speaker C: Yeah, at King's Firearms. That was where my New York ass learned that you could finance a firearm. I bought a Mossberg 500 when I first moved down here. And the old guy at the shop looked the eye and said, son, welcome to America. All right, I'm here. I'm in Tennessee.
But yeah, I mean, because. And it's like I. I inch closer and closer to town, you know, and you'll see that as you live here, and then you'll get to the point where you figure out you don't want. If you don't want to be in town, like Kenny's way out in the boonies, you know, Colton's way out in the boonies, like.
Like you. But there's. There's something about. And I'm assuming you have. You have. Do you have roommates and stuff?
[00:25:51] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It's my. It's the guys that went on tour with me. My guitarist and my drummer are my armor roommates.
[00:25:57] Speaker C: See? And there's something special about you guys all grind in together and being together and being in those. Being in the trenches, you know?
[00:26:05] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Definitely.
[00:26:06] Speaker C: Are. Are your band guys. Are they guys that you met here or they guys that moved out here with you from South Carolina?
[00:26:11] Speaker A: Yeah, well, it's. It's funny. I met both of them here, but they're both from South Carolina.
[00:26:14] Speaker C: Oh, no way.
[00:26:15] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. One of them is actually. It's insane. One of them's from, like, 10 minutes from where I'm from, and we are. He's, like, months older than me. Not even a year. And we never knew each other until we. Until we got out here. It's crazy.
[00:26:29] Speaker C: That is crazy. That is wild, dude. And they're. And they're. They're new to town as well.
[00:26:33] Speaker A: They've been here for, I think, like a year and a half.
[00:26:35] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:26:36] Speaker A: They've been here a little bit longer than I have. Yes, sir.
[00:26:38] Speaker C: Nice. That's awesome, man. Yeah, you'll. And you'll see those memories that you make riding around in the van together.
[00:26:43] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:26:44] Speaker C: Is something special. Oh, yeah, it is something special. What do you like doing when you're not doing the music stuff?
[00:26:49] Speaker A: Oh, man, I I love. I love a good, like, antique store. Love a good thrill.
[00:26:53] Speaker C: Oh, you're in a great place for that. And you're in a great industry for that. Because you go into all these small towns and all these places, everywhere's got a pawn shop, man.
[00:27:02] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, yeah. I love stuff like that. I love fishing. Fishing, my thing.
And being right in Antioch by Percy Priest. That's great.
[00:27:09] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, yeah.
[00:27:10] Speaker A: Even in Madison, being up there by Old Hickory, like. Yes, it's good. It's good, good area.
But yeah, I mean, I'm. I just love doing anything where I can sort of like just be by myself and, you know, have. Have a clear head and roll song ideas around in my head all day and just walk around, you know, waste some time.
[00:27:28] Speaker C: Yeah. What's the. What's the best thing you've thrifted here lately?
[00:27:31] Speaker A: Oh, God, I got. I got a. I got a sick Harley shirt yesterday.
[00:27:34] Speaker C: Oh, really?
[00:27:35] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I got this. This, like, Harley. It's like a Sweater to like 150, 150th anniversary or something like that. I mean, I looked it up, it's worth like 200. I was like, what'd you get it?
[00:27:47] Speaker C: Bucks. You got it for six bucks?
[00:27:48] Speaker A: Yeah, bro.
[00:27:50] Speaker C: Yeah. That's awesome, man. Yeah, there's some good spots. Like, there's a spot up in White House called Tennessee Flea.
[00:27:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:27:56] Speaker C: And it's wild, man. Like the stuff you find in there. And just over the Kentucky line up there by that casino, if you go up I65, there's a ton right there on the border. They're all right next to. Yeah, dude, there's some crazy old stuff you can find in there, man. Because it's just. It's cool. It's like. It takes you back to a place in time to where it's like, this is. You just see stuff that you don't find anywhere.
[00:28:19] Speaker A: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Things were definitely better quality back in the day, so I love finding some. You know, you find it for cheap. Pretty good stuff.
[00:28:27] Speaker C: Yeah. You can find a lot of gear, too. Music.
[00:28:29] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:28:29] Speaker C: Amps and guitars and.
[00:28:30] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Facebook Marketplace menace over here.
[00:28:33] Speaker C: Oh, you're a Facebook Marketplace guy. How often are you on there? Is that something you check every day?
[00:28:36] Speaker A: I mean, every 30 minutes you constantly. We're trying to. We have a little building out behind my house right now that we're. We're using for band practice. So we've been on there, like, searching for sound panels and everything like crazy. But we've got a few. We got A few. But we. We've been on. We've been on there a good bit.
[00:28:52] Speaker C: That's awesome, man. Yeah. And there's a lot of Facebook Marketplace stuff out here in Nashville.
[00:28:57] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:28:57] Speaker C: This is a heavy Facebook Marketplace.
[00:28:59] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:29:00] Speaker C: That's how I furnished most of my first couch here.
[00:29:05] Speaker A: TV here. Exactly.
[00:29:07] Speaker C: Can you take a few bucks off of me and my buddies with the truck? Come pick it up.
[00:29:11] Speaker A: Exact. That's what we're, like, sitting like, oh, like, we got these sound panels yesterday or a couple days ago, and this dude was like, it was seven sound panels for 300 bucks. We were like, we'll do 250 if you let us come get them right now. 250 cash. You know what I mean?
[00:29:24] Speaker C: And you got them?
[00:29:24] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, we got them. Yeah. It's just a lot of stuff like that.
[00:29:27] Speaker C: Yeah, that's awesome, man. It's the haggling.
The haggling back and forth. Do you ever, like, see something crazy and you put, like, a dollar or two on it just to see what they do?
[00:29:37] Speaker A: No, I haven't done, like.
[00:29:38] Speaker C: Have you lowballed people?
[00:29:39] Speaker A: Oh, I've definitely lowballed a little bit. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, it hadn't worked out yet, but I know what I got, you know?
[00:29:47] Speaker C: So what are we. What are we excited about for. For coming up? I know you're playing.
You're playing Carolina Country Music Fest.
[00:29:54] Speaker A: Yes, sir. That's definitely going to be awesome going. Getting to go home, even. Like, like I said, I lived in Myrtle beach for a little bit, and I remember it always, you know, going on and everything, but I never got to go. So it's gonna be awesome to get to go to the concert, but also be a part of it and get to come home, you know, it's gonna be. It's gonna be really sick. I'm really excited for that. Got some big rights coming up, all that kind of stuff.
[00:30:16] Speaker C: Yeah. What have been. Aside from the Cameron Marlowe tour, what have been some, like, pinch me moments so far?
[00:30:22] Speaker A: I mean, two days ago, I was down in Chattanooga. I got to open for Ella Langley, Tucker Wetmore.
[00:30:30] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, that radio show.
[00:30:31] Speaker A: Yeah. Mitchell Tenpenny, Lauren, Elena and Kelly Lovelace.
[00:30:34] Speaker C: How'd you get it? How'd that all happen?
[00:30:36] Speaker A: Just JD JD My buddy JD it's pretty much everything I've gotten on has just been me and him sort of DMing and email and emailing people over and over and over and texting and sort of walking that line between, you know, I'm either Gonna get an opportunity or restraining order. It's like, you know, you hope it's the opportunity.
[00:30:56] Speaker C: You miss a home, 100 of the shots you don't take.
[00:30:59] Speaker A: Exactly. Exactly. And I think. I think he actually said something to me the other day about, like, you know, you always take that chance, because if they say no, you're just back at square one. It's not like they're gonna. It's not like anything bad is gonna happen from you missing an opportunity.
[00:31:12] Speaker C: You don't lose anything.
[00:31:13] Speaker A: Exactly. Exactly. So. So it's definitely. That's definitely been some valuable advice.
[00:31:17] Speaker C: That's awesome, man. What was Chattanooga? What was that experience like? Getting to be around Ella and Tucker?
[00:31:23] Speaker A: That was sick. Lauren, Elena, and being back there and just like, it was kind of weird hearing them all just backstage warming up. It's like, wow. I've only ever heard these people, you know, through Apple music, and I just, like, backstage with them while they're just goofing off and warming up and everything. It was weird, but they were. They were all extremely kind and incredible people. So it was. It was really great experience.
[00:31:44] Speaker C: Yeah. You know, it's wild and it's kind of full circle that you got to have that moment with, like, Cameron, Ella, they were folks like. Because I see on our notes that your team had sent over, like, upcoming shows, it says outside the round, which, of course, the name of this podcast and the round that we had, the round that you're gonna. You're gonna be playing St. Patrick's Day with us.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:32:02] Speaker C: Which is gonna be unbelievable. You're playing with Colton, by the way. I don't know if you know that you're in that same round.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: Yeah, he texted me.
[00:32:07] Speaker C: Nine o', clock, St Patty's Day at the local. It's gonna be electric.
[00:32:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:11] Speaker C: Like, it's gonna be a wild time. But it's like, Ella and Cameron used to be the kids that were playing the Tuesday writers rounds.
[00:32:19] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:32:20] Speaker C: They just weren't at the local yet. They were over at Live Oaks. So it's like.
It makes me feel old, you know, like, that I've been here. That I've been here to see where they're now, where they're where they're at. And in a kid like you, who's someone that were. If it were up to me, I'd have you on every week. Like, you're. You're really good at what you're doing, man. You're grinding and you're killing it. And you and Colton and, like, the rest of Your crew, and it's just, it's awesome to see folks like that be the folks that you're looking up to now.
[00:32:47] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:32:47] Speaker C: I remember when they were at where you're at right now.
[00:32:50] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yeah, definitely. Cool.
[00:32:51] Speaker C: Yes, it's really cool. Tell me about these, These big songwriting things that you have coming up.
[00:32:56] Speaker A: Oh, man. I, I, I mean, I have a couple rights with, With John Pierce.
[00:33:01] Speaker C: Nice. Oh, dude.
[00:33:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:03] Speaker C: John's the home. John's a legend.
[00:33:05] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm really, I'm really excited for those.
I don't want to say too much, but, but we got, we got a. I got a bunch of cool ideas I'm really excited to throw around and, and see if we, we come up with something.
[00:33:16] Speaker C: What's it like being the kid but also being the artist in the room with some of these, like, legendary songwriters?
[00:33:22] Speaker A: It's weird because it's one of those things, like, you know, you want to go in the room and write for you, but then also, you have to, you have to go in and be like, okay, I got to prove myself, too.
[00:33:31] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:32] Speaker A: It's not just like they're gonna, they're gonna come in and give you their best ideas, because who are you? You know what I mean?
[00:33:37] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:33:37] Speaker A: You got to go in and be like, okay, this is my great idea. Now I got to show you how good of a songwriter I am on top of that and make you want to write with me. You know what I mean? It's one of those things, and it's definitely weird, but it's a great experience if it goes well, because then, Then, you know, if they end up liking the song, then they're going to want to put stock in you, and they're going to want to write with you more and more and introduce you to people, and it's just really cool experience getting to write with these guys.
[00:33:58] Speaker C: It's like being a freshman or jv and you're getting an opportunity to practice with varsity.
[00:34:02] Speaker A: Exactly. That's exactly what it's like.
[00:34:05] Speaker C: It's you, It's. You got to look at it like. That's why I think being an athlete translates so well.
[00:34:10] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:34:10] Speaker C: To being someone in the music industry.
[00:34:13] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:34:14] Speaker C: There's a lot of stuff that you learned, which is funny. You brought up the concussions, too. I had the same thing.
[00:34:20] Speaker A: I was.
[00:34:20] Speaker C: I had. I think I had two, maybe three my senior year as well. Playing football.
[00:34:26] Speaker A: Yeah. That's crazy.
[00:34:27] Speaker C: You know, so it's. But again, it's. The Lord works in mysterious ways. And who knows where you would have been if that hadn't happened to you?
The NFL. But he's definitely. Probably not music.
[00:34:42] Speaker A: Yeah, definitely, you know. Yeah, I probably would have been. You know, I probably would have gone and walked on at some. Some little school and gone to college and gotten a degree in some job
[00:34:50] Speaker C: I didn't want to work or be. Or be working a job and whatever in. In the town that you're from and that you were living in, which there's nothing wrong with. You know, there's nothing wrong with that at all. All. But how do, like, talk about some of how your faith has factored into just where you're at now? Because you're a guy that's very humble, very, very respectful. Like, I can tell you, you're a man of faith. But talk about how you've seen the Lord work in. In your journey.
[00:35:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I think. I think a lot of things like that, like the concussions. I mean. I mean, because like I said, I. I love football. It's like, next to music, football is my. My thing, you know what I mean? And. And I think that my dream was always to go play college football at South Carolina. That was always my dream. I wanted to do that. So then when I got all these concussions and I couldn't get clear to play anymore at the moment, you know, that seemed like, okay, well, I don't even know what I'm. What I'm doing anymore. Like, this is all. I put all my eggs into this basket, you know, and now I have to kind of like, start from, you know, square one and figure out what I'm doing.
And like I said at the time, that was. I was distraught because it was like everything I've worked for, all my dreams are just, like, broken now.
And.
But then, you know, it's led me to fall in love with something. I will say I have the way I love music. I never love football the way I love music. So it's. It's definitely, you know, the Lord used that, the concussions and everything to show me, like, no, this is what you're supposed to do. This is the plan I have for you, you know? And I think in this business, there's a lot of risks you have to take and a lot of praying you got to do, you know, pray about it and see, okay, is this right? Is this what I'm supposed to do? And then if you feel like it is, then you gotta trust, you know, the Lord and take that jump. And you definitely need faith for that, you know? And I think that's definitely. That's definitely played a big part in.
In where I am now and where I'm going.
[00:36:49] Speaker C: Yeah, man, because you read the. You read the good book, and I'll be honest, I don't pick it up as often as I should, but there's a lot of trials and tribulations in there.
[00:36:55] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:36:56] Speaker C: And it relates a lot, man. And it's like, you would have made a lot of people happy and brought a lot of joy to the world if he had gotten to run out on the field in that. In that USC uniform.
[00:37:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:06] Speaker C: But think of all the joy and all the difference you're making to people with your music.
Powerful stuff.
[00:37:13] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:37:14] Speaker C: It really is powerful stuff. What have some of the comments been? And, like, interactions with followers and fans and even getting to open up for a guy like Cameron Marlowe or that experience down in Chattanooga where you're getting. You're seeing people react to your songs.
[00:37:29] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, it's been. I will say the absolute coolest thing ever happened to me when I was on the Cameron Marlowe show, because, like I said, we played.
We played in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. That's nowhere near South Carolina, you know, and at every single show, I played a song that I have out called one more heartbreak.
every single show, there were multiple people in the crowd that knew the words and were singing it back to me. Not after I had sang the chorus once. They were singing it before I was singing it.
[00:38:00] Speaker C: Wow.
[00:38:00] Speaker A: And that was like, the coolest thing ever. Standing on stage and seeing people sing the words that. That I wrote at a show that wasn't even. You know, nobody's buying those tickets to come see Cooper Ladford. They're coming to see Cameron Marlowe.
[00:38:13] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:38:13] Speaker A: So at least not yet, you know, but.
But that. That was the. The absolute coolest thing. And it really showed me, like you said, like, how. How the songs can resonate with people. And it. That was just. That was awesome. And seeing the. The followers on social media, like people that comment on every video, seeing how they resonate with it. People make videos with. With the songs, you know, in the background. And in all that. All that good stuff is. It's really, really crazy and really a dream come true, really.
[00:38:41] Speaker C: I mean, you have an unlimited reach.
[00:38:43] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:38:43] Speaker C: Anybody in the world can. A video. Your video could pop up.
[00:38:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:38:48] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:38:49] Speaker A: It's crazy.
[00:38:49] Speaker C: And it seems like you've used that tool very well.
[00:38:52] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:38:53] Speaker C: It's hard to figure out, but it's. But again, you just took A chance. And you were just up there singing covers acapella before you knew how to play guitar, which I think is genius, you know, because you weren't comfortable, but you were confident, and you knew the words, and you knew how to sing the songs, you know?
[00:39:09] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Definitely.
[00:39:10] Speaker C: That's awesome, man. Where have some of your favorite spots been? I know we talked about the local, but since you've been out here in Nashville, where do you like going and hanging out?
[00:39:17] Speaker A: Oh, man. I will say I'm a. I'm a big food guy.
[00:39:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:39:21] Speaker A: And I love the. You've been redheaded stranger.
[00:39:24] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:39:25] Speaker A: Oh, my God. That place is good.
[00:39:27] Speaker C: Good stuff.
[00:39:29] Speaker A: I love that place. But I'm. I'm excited. Like you said in Antioch, I. I pass, like, probably 30 Mexican restaurants anytime I go anywhere. So I'm excited to try, you know, try that out. See. See what that's about.
[00:39:40] Speaker C: Yeah, there's those. And especially, like, late night. And it's funny, a lot of them have. There was one, I think it was on Nolensville. Nikki T. Used to live over in Antioch, and him and I would be hanging out late night, and we'd get to the point where we're like, oh, we got to get something to eat, and then we'd go over to. And on the menu, it's called the Gringas. That's like. They make specific street tacos for the gringos, and they were fantastic. So, like, there's just so many. And it's affordable because you're bowling on a budget right now, man.
[00:40:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:40:07] Speaker C: Touring is expensive.
[00:40:08] Speaker A: Definitely.
[00:40:08] Speaker C: It's like, music's expensive. You're in the.
[00:40:10] Speaker A: You're.
[00:40:10] Speaker C: You're independent and grinding right now.
[00:40:12] Speaker A: You know, Pick between a meal and gas sometimes.
[00:40:14] Speaker C: Yeah, dude. Yeah. What's it. What's it been like, the. Like, coming out here? Like, what. Have some of the. The situations, like, the. The. Oh, shoot. I'm out here. I'm out of the nest. I'm really. I'm betting on myself.
[00:40:27] Speaker A: I mean, during this snowstorm was crazy because, I mean, just locked in your house. And I ran out of grocery. I was out. I didn't have power for six days.
[00:40:38] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:39] Speaker A: And I ran out of groceries, like, day two.
So I went, like, four days without eating anything. And I'm just sitting there.
The lights are out. I'm sitting in my dark room. You know, all I had was my guitar, and I'm like, this is the kind of story I'm gonna be telling in years from now. You know what I mean? And this is the kind of stuff that I guess teaches perseverance. That's how I do it.
[00:41:00] Speaker C: Were you just practicing guitar during that, or did you end up writing some stuff?
[00:41:03] Speaker A: I wrote some stuff. I wrote some stuff. I think I played one of them at the last round.
I wrote a song called Rosie's Finger that. That I like pretty good. It's really bluegrassy. But.
But, yeah, just. Just writing it was a lot of sad songs, being in the dark for that long, you know, I think that's
[00:41:20] Speaker C: part of the reason that we've gotten into the spot that we're in with country music right now, too. And just music in general was coming out of COVID People were writing. They were locked in their places.
[00:41:32] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:41:32] Speaker C: And Covid was different for everybody. You know, it was for me. I was out touring and doing stuff with Trey Lewis. Like, the second half of 2020 for me was awesome. In certain states, he had more flexibility and stuff. But I think, like you said, like, there's something about that with the translating into the sad songs and the sad stuff. And what has me so excited right now is that I think we're getting to the point where it's. The upbeat is starting to come back, and that can be the traditional stuff like you do. That could be some of the more popular stuff as well. But I think it's. I think we're at the point where everybody wants to have fun again.
[00:42:06] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:42:07] Speaker C: You know?
[00:42:07] Speaker A: Yeah. I've been. I've been writing a lot of. A lot of upbeat stuff recently, and I'm really excited for people to hear the fully produced versions of them.
[00:42:15] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:42:15] Speaker A: Because I think that they're gonna hear a side of me they haven't heard before.
Whereas I think a lot of my stuff early that I released was very traditional and very traditionally inspired. And I think the stuff I'm writing now still is.
It's definitely now. I think when you hear these songs, you're gonna be like, oh, that's Cooper Ledford. You know, it doesn't sound like anybody but me. And I think that's something that I. Since moving to Nashville, I've really focused on, is trying to get a sound that. That is instantly identifiable and unique and just me. Because I don't. I don't really, in any, you know, aspect of life, I don't want to really be like anybody else. I just want to do me, you know? And I think that it's really, really exciting. The stuff that I'm putting together got a lot of rock influences, got a lot of bluegrass. Influences country, obviously.
I mean, if you like Travis Tritt and you like early Miranda Lambert, stuff like that, I think. I think you're gonna love, like, the stuff that I'm working on.
[00:43:13] Speaker C: Yeah. When can we look for. Look for some new music?
[00:43:15] Speaker A: We're trying to get a date right now to record the next song.
I think. I think I'm gonna try to record it next month, so. So sometime this summer, hopefully.
[00:43:24] Speaker C: Yeah. How's that process been of. Because you're so early into this whole thing. Yes, sir. Like, how's that process been? Like, where have you gotten to record and do some of your stuff? Like, what's happened?
[00:43:34] Speaker A: Like. Yeah. Yeah. So I.
Everything I have out, I recorded in South Carolina with a guy named Brad Phillips at Studio101. And I think I seriously would say if you're anywhere near South Carolina and you, you know, want to do music or you're thinking about it, I would seriously recommend Brad at Studio101. They're great, and it's really affordable, so that's really good. But they've got incredible pickers. Catelyn Owen, he. He tours with Brian Kelly. He's his guitarist. He's played on some Riley Green songs, but he plays on the songs. Like, incredible guys.
Really. Some of the nicest guys on the. On the planet. But that's where I recorded everything before I moved here. Since I moved here, I haven't recorded anything, so I've been sort of, like, weighing on my options, trying to figure out where I'm gonna go next, but. But I'm really excited to do it.
[00:44:25] Speaker C: That's awesome, dude. And there's something special about being from a place where you have the ability to work with great people. Like, I think of from Alabama, they've. There's a guy down there named Josh Bright that has been, like, huge for a lot of the artists coming up that are in the scene in Alabama. You know, like, Gavin Adcock has recorded a ton down with his guy in Georgia. The old 60 guys have their guy up in Kentucky that they had recorded a lot of their early stuff with. Like, there's something special to have that. And. And that's such a blessing to have, because without that, you might not be where you're at now.
[00:44:55] Speaker A: Definitely. You know, Definitely. Yes, sir. I think. I think those songs definitely sort of launched it to where I could get here. So that's.
That's. And, I mean, Brad has put me in contact with a bunch of incredible people, so.
[00:45:05] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:45:06] Speaker A: So that I'm really thankful for those for those people.
But, yeah, that's. It's. It's incredible.
[00:45:11] Speaker C: What is a Cooper Ledford show like? Because I haven't gotten to see a full band yet. But now that I know you have the band and you're here, we're gonna get you on a Wednesday, Odies. You come rip. You come rip. We'll figure that out. We'll get some dates after this, J.
We'll. We'll do that. But describe to me the live show, because you're mixing in some covers as well this early on.
[00:45:30] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. So when we were on tour with Cameron, we did. We did, I think, five. I want to say five originals and four covers.
[00:45:39] Speaker C: Yeah, that. That, to me, is a good mix because not everybody, like, if you're playing on unreleased stuff that you and the guys might not have yet, versus the stuff that you have released and, like, you were talking about with people singing the words back to you having a couple of those. But everybody's going to know the COVID song. And if you and the boys can hit home guns. Hit dingers with those. Exactly. So what are the covers that you mix in there?
[00:46:02] Speaker A: We started out, I think. I think when we play, we want to really just like, bring the energy.
[00:46:07] Speaker C: You have to.
[00:46:07] Speaker A: So we start out. You start out with. With Johnny Cash by Jason Aldean.
[00:46:11] Speaker C: Nice.
[00:46:12] Speaker A: Some super high intensity.
[00:46:14] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, dude.
[00:46:15] Speaker A: We did Ain't Living Long like this by Waylon Jennings, but we did it. Our version.
[00:46:20] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:46:20] Speaker A: Which is really cool.
[00:46:21] Speaker C: That's a fun one to do your own version.
[00:46:23] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, lots of. We did a little fast than. It's recorded. A lot of stops in there.
[00:46:27] Speaker C: Really nice.
[00:46:28] Speaker A: We did.
We. We did something really cool that everyone seemed to love at all the shows. We did it. I did a couple acoustic songs. I had the band walk off stage, and I played in an unreleased original acoustic. And then I did Cover Me up acoustic. But once we got to the solo, the band came back in, and everyone seemed to love that. I mean, that was. That was definitely a home run.
And then we did Trouble by Travis Trim. Super fun.
[00:46:56] Speaker C: Just a Honky Tonkin Barn.
[00:46:57] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, yeah, that one. That's one of my favorites. So just. Just a lot of high energy. Just really focused on entertaining, I'd say.
[00:47:05] Speaker C: Yeah, you got to have moments in the live show.
[00:47:07] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:47:08] Speaker C: Whether that's within one day. One day that will be the originals. But if you can give them those moments with the covers, too, because you win them over with a cover early, then you're going to have their attention for the original aftermath.
[00:47:19] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:47:19] Speaker C: It's that roller coaster. It's knowing, like, there's such an art to building out a show.
[00:47:23] Speaker A: Exactly, definitely. And that's something we sort of really focus on. This was actually my first time playing with a band, was going on tour, so I really, I had a vision. And these guys that I played with are some of those incredible and talented people I know. And they really brought my vision to life and we really rocked it up and I think we killed it. I think we did an awesome job and people seemed to love it, so it was really cool.
[00:47:50] Speaker C: That's awesome, dude. Hell, right? That's great.
Did you go to a lot of concerts growing up?
[00:47:54] Speaker A: I didn't actually, when I was younger.
I come from a very poor family.
[00:48:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:48:05] Speaker A: My parents were the first people in either of their families to go to college and, and they sort of have worked their way up. But when I was younger, I mean, it was always like, my parents got married very young.
[00:48:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:48:16] Speaker A: My dad was 19 and my mom was 25 when they got married, so, so sort of like figuring things out for a long time.
But I, I, I mean, I will say my, my parents are the most amazing people, like, ever. They, they're all.
[00:48:33] Speaker C: Usually when you grow up not having a lot, that usually translates to very giving people.
[00:48:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:48:39] Speaker C: And very, like, into the mission of helping others, which translates very well. Like, given what I know now about your background of, of preaching and teaching, you know, like, you gotta be a special person to have those careers that your parents have.
[00:48:54] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Definitely. I definitely agree. I mean, both of my, both my parents, like I said, they grew up very poor, but they made something of themselves. And it's made, I think they've always instilled in me to do better than they did and make something of myself and always to.
It's really awesome because neither of my parents, just because of what they come from, neither of them really ever got to chase their dreams.
So they've always told me since I was a little kid to just chase my dreams and do whatever I want to do, and it will always help me. And I'm truly, like, extremely grateful for that. But back to the concert thing, though.
[00:49:32] Speaker C: Yeah, back to the concert. Shout out to mom and dad, thank you, thank you for raising him just the right healthy dosage of rowdy. We appreciate it. I look forward to meeting your parents.
[00:49:40] Speaker A: Thank you, mom and dad.
[00:49:41] Speaker C: Yeah.
So first concerts.
[00:49:43] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. I went to. My first concert was Willie Nelson when I was like, 16.
[00:49:48] Speaker C: No way.
[00:49:49] Speaker A: I saw him at, I saw him at pnc. It was. It was Government Mule, Sturdle Simpson and Willie Nelson.
[00:49:55] Speaker C: Okay. A little jam band action.
What was. That's a hell of a first concert.
[00:50:01] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, it was awesome. It was that.
[00:50:03] Speaker C: That's a wild crowd for your first concert to go to. Yeah. You see some stuff, bro.
[00:50:09] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:50:09] Speaker C: Some people are there and some people are there, but they're not there.
[00:50:12] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:50:13] Speaker C: Where were you sitting for that? Was that. Was that like an amphitheater setting?
[00:50:16] Speaker A: It was an amphitheater, yeah. We were on. We were on the yard, dude.
[00:50:20] Speaker C: The yard of a Willie Nelson show.
[00:50:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:50:23] Speaker C: That's awesome, man.
[00:50:24] Speaker A: It was sick.
But, yeah, I mean, shortly after that, I got to see Cody Johnson.
[00:50:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:50:29] Speaker A: And I think going back to, like, how me and the band perform, I think I took a ton of inspiration from Cody.
[00:50:36] Speaker C: I hear a lot of Kojo.
I hear a lot. And that's a huge compliment, honestly.
[00:50:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I appreciate that. But. But I mean, when I. When. When you see him play, I mean, it's just like the entire time, like I said, high intensity, high energy. He's not there to just sing his songs and leave. I mean, he's there to entertain.
[00:50:52] Speaker C: He's there to give you a show.
[00:50:53] Speaker A: Exactly, exactly. I think that's something like that. That when we were on tour and when we were playing, we were really focused on. And I. I think that's. That's more valuable than. Than getting up there and playing a lot of songs, people, like, is entertaining them, you know, because that's all people really care about, even if they don't know the songs. Like, like I said, some of the original stuff that's not out. We have people cheering after, like. Like, we just played their favorite song because we were putting on a good show. So I think that's super important.
[00:51:21] Speaker C: Yeah, that's awesome, dude. Well, man, what are we. What are the big goals for this year? So it sounds like playing more shows, getting music out there. Anything else?
[00:51:29] Speaker A: Yes, sir. I mean, I. I just really focused on getting in front of more ears and. And, you know, allowing people to hear my music and. And. And hopefully it leads to some. To some other things. And, yeah, I'm really excited to. To see where these next couple years take me.
[00:51:44] Speaker C: Yeah, man, I'm excited to see where they take. This is going to be an episode that folks are going to go back to and be like, this is early Cooper Ledford.
[00:51:53] Speaker A: I hope so.
[00:51:53] Speaker C: It is. It is, man. I got. I got that feeling, man. And it's. It's my favorite part about what we get to do with Razor Audi is finding guys and girls from, like, square one. And just watching you go out and do your thing and getting to be there with you early on, and then watching my homies back home in New York be like, hey, so you know this Cooper Ledford kid? I'm like, yeah, I know.
So it's. It's awesome to. It's. It's awesome, man. And you're. You're someone that we believe in very highly, and you're someone that I think, like, your. Your work ethic. You're a great freaking dude. Like, I appreciate. Like, just keep doing what you're doing, man.
[00:52:32] Speaker A: I appreciate that.
[00:52:32] Speaker C: Keep doing what you're doing. And anything you. You or JD Ever need, like, you're. You got. You got the raise. Rowy family with you, man. Like, we. We. We appreciate you. And I can't wait to get out. One, to have you at Rowdy on the road, but two, to, like, once the thing really gets going, get out to a club show festival and watch you and the boys do your thing, man. What are some. What's like a bucket list thing that you want to go do?
[00:52:54] Speaker A: Oh, man. I think for me. Oh, God.
[00:52:57] Speaker C: It's like everybody says red rocks. Yeah, everybody says, like, this or that.
[00:53:01] Speaker A: I think pnc, actually, because that's. That's where my first concert was in Charlotte. So I think. I think if I ever got to headline a show at pnc, I think that would be the absolute sickest thing ever, you know, especially because so close to. That's in Charlotte, so it's so close to where I'm from. Yeah, that would be awesome.
[00:53:17] Speaker C: Awesome. Have you. Have you been to Coyote Joe's?
[00:53:19] Speaker A: I have. I saw Randall King play there. That was. That was awesome. Yeah.
[00:53:23] Speaker C: Yeah, that's one where I'm like, if. If. When you headline at Coyote Joe's.
[00:53:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:53:28] Speaker C: If I'm not doing any. If I don't have any obligations that weekend, I will make that trip out to Charlotte and. And pay my. Pay my money to go to that show.
[00:53:36] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:53:37] Speaker C: I would love. Like, there's just so much history there. And like, you guys have, like, being from that Charlotte, met that Charlotte area, even just over the border, like, so many great opportunities for you in the future, man. But, Cooper, when do. So we think new music by the summer?
[00:53:52] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Definitely.
[00:53:53] Speaker C: Do we know which song?
[00:53:54] Speaker A: We do, but I can't say it yet.
[00:53:56] Speaker C: You can't say you can't say it yet? Okay, okay, okay. I'll. I'll take that man. Well, we'll talk about that off the microphone. Y' all be sure to look up our man, Cooper Ledford. One of the best kids rising up in the scene right now. Y' all be sure to check out his music if you're out and plan to go to Carolina Country Music Fests. Go. Do we know which. Which day you're playing out there?
[00:54:17] Speaker A: Yes, sir. June 6th. Luke Bryan's day.
[00:54:20] Speaker C: Oh, wow.
[00:54:21] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:54:22] Speaker C: That's really cool.
[00:54:22] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:54:23] Speaker C: That's really cool. So get out there if you're in the Carolinas. Plan to go to that festival. Be sure to pop over and see our man Cooper Ledford. And be on the lookout for new music coming this summer. Thank you so much for coming on and hanging, buddy. Appreciate you. Shout out to our friends from Surfside. No bubbles, no troubles.
Vodka, lemonade, vodka iced tea. They just put out super light as well, which super light is wild. It's a vodka, like vodka Gatorade mix. So it's like Gatorade mixed with vodka.
[00:54:50] Speaker A: I feel like that would get me in trouble.
[00:54:51] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:54:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:54:52] Speaker C: Well, you're not drinking any of it. You're 20 years old. You've never had alcohol. We'll throw you.
[00:54:56] Speaker A: Hypothetically, if I could.
[00:54:58] Speaker C: We'll throw it. We'll throw you a big 21st birthday party one day. That's what we'll do. But shout out to our friends from Surfside, y' all be sure to go check him out. And like I said, check out Cooper Ledford. For more on us, visit rad.com for my boy Cooper, I'm Matt Brill. This has been outside the round
[00:55:14] Speaker B: I ain't never been the kind for st One place for too long I ain't never been the best at s I love you to a girl I love Only got a couple tricks on my sleeve they usually just make them leave so if you know me if you really know me you know I'm just a two trick pony but maybe they're drinking and the lack of money for show I'm just a two trick pony yeah.
