by: Bee Delores
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
10 min read
10 min read
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In a world where country music is often more about glamour and glitz than grit and authenticity, Parker McCollum is a breath of fresh air. This Texas-born singer-songwriter is unapologetically himself, and his music is all the better for it.
McCollum talks about his approach to songwriting and his style in a recent interview. McCollum emphasizes that he doesn’t believe in forcing creativity and instead waits for inspiration to strike.
He also talks about his fashion sense, which is a tribute to his cowboy heritage and classic country music influences.
Additionally, he mentions his upcoming performances, including the ACM Lifting Lives concert and opening for George Strait’s “The King of Kyle Field” show.
The article touches on all of this and his excitement about becoming a father.
Keep reading to know more!
McCollum’s debut album, “The Limestone Kid,” released in 2015, found its audience in the heart of Texas, playing in those “dingiest but most quintessentially Texan music establishments.”
This environment served as a proving ground for his talent. The album showcased his “singing chops,” with his distinctive crooning voice taking center stage.
Since then, the now 31-year-old McCollum has racked up four studio albums.
This year, he’s been captivating audiences across the country with his electrifying live performance on the Burn It Down Tour .
While McCollum has experimented with different styles, there seems to be a return to his roots on the horizon. He’s hinted at a return to the “poetic lyrics” that characterized his early career, potentially reigniting the sound that first connected with audiences in those intimate dive bar settings.
This trend of dive bar-to-mainstream success suggests a growing appreciation for authenticity in country music. Fans are drawn to the raw talent and storytelling that thrives in these smaller venues.
“Never Enough” is the hit studio album by American country singer Parker McCollum. It was released on May 12, 2023, via MCA Nashville. Here’s a breakdown of the album:
The album follows McCollum’s breakout major-label debut, “Gold Chain Cowboy,” and features 15 tracks, with McCollum co-writing all but one of them. He collaborated with some notable songwriters including Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, and Jon Randall (who also produced the album).
The lead single, “Handle on You,” was released in August 2022 and reached number two on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in May 2023.
“If you can make Luke Bryan money and sing Chris Knight-caliber songs, well, then you got something, I believe you have to go for it,” McCollum said. “If you’re going to dream, dream big. I don’t know any other way.”
Said McCollum in recent interveiw .
Parker McCollum’s star continues to rise , and his summer schedule is packed with exciting milestones. Here’s a glimpse into what he has lined up:
Giving Back and Taking the Stage:McCollum is set to headline the ACM Lifting Lives concert. This prestigious event raises money for programs like music therapy, making it a chance for him to showcase his talent while supporting a worthy cause.
The concert takes place ahead of the 59th annual Academy Country Music Awards in Frisco, where McCollum has double the reason to celebrate – he’s nominated for both Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for his hit song “Burn It Down.”
Later this summer, McCollum lands a gig that many country musicians dream of – opening for the iconic George Strait. Strait’s concert, “ The King of Kyle Field ,” will be held at Texas A&M’s stadium and marks his only performance in Texas for the year. Sharing the stage with a legend like Strait will undoubtedly be a career highlight for McCollum.
And with a baby on the way, he’s got a whole new set of inspirations to draw from.
As he prepares to take the stage and share his music with the world, McCollum is keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.
“I’m just trying to make music that means something,” he says with a shrug. “If people connect with it, that’s the ultimate reward.”
In an industry that’s often more about flash than substance, Parker McCollum is a welcome respite. He’s a country singer who’s unafraid to be himself, and his music is all the better for it.
Parker McCollum is a man of his word. When the country singer-songwriter says he doesn’t believe in forcing it, he means it. Whether he’s talking about his music, his style, or his life in general, McCollum is all about letting things happen naturally.
This approach has served McCollum well. His latest singles, “Dallas” and “I Can’t Breathe,” are getting plenty of attention from country music fans and critics alike.
The songs are a testament to McCollum’s unique blend of country, folk, and rock influences, and his ability to craft a story that resonates with listeners.
McCollum’s love of the country is evident in his music, which often deals with themes of love, heartbreak, and the struggles of everyday life. His songs are relatable, and that’s something he takes pride in.
As he prepares to take the stage and share his music with the world, McCollum is keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He’s a country singer who’s unafraid to be himself, and his music is all the better for it.
Here a quick overview of Parker McCollum country music journey:
Detail | Information |
---|---|
Genre | Country |
Debut Album | The Limestone Kid (2015) |
Latest Album | Never Enough (2023) |
Recent Hit Singles | “Handle on You,” “Burn It Down,” “Dallas,” “I Can’t Breathe” |
Collaborations | Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Randall |
Upcoming Events | ACM Lifting Lives Concert, Opening for George Strait’s “The King of Kyle Field” |
Inspiration | Everyday life, love, heartbreak |
Known For | Unapologetic authenticity, poetic lyrics, electrifying live performances |
In a recent interview with Texas Monthly on a Zoom call the singer shared about touring, his fashion style including the story behind the gold chains, and what he is proud of most about “Burn It Down”?
While sharing about his fashion style in a recent interview he said:
“Man, if I can find a way to rock a black and white T-shirt, that just eliminates so much time and thinking on what I need to bring on the road.” I try to mix it up. I’m sure it gets boring. People are like, “Please wear something else.” But, you know, George [Strait] has been wearing the same thing for 15 years. I don’t have near the style that he does, and I’m not near as put together as he is, but it’s kind of that same idea. Simple.
Mentioning the gold chain he shared:
When I was a kid, I really wanted a gold chain and I couldn’t afford it. I went to Walmart one day. This is a true story—it’s kind of embarrassing. They were $7 or $8 or something. It’s fake gold chains, but they looked pretty legit. If you would go swimming in the pool, it would come off and it’d be kind of silver, so you’d have to be careful about that around the ladies back then.
But I would wear a fake gold chain. It sounds dumb, but it really worked for me. It was kind of an incentive and a reminder to just always work hard and maybe you could be successful one day and make enough money to buy a real one. The second that I could, I went to the jewelry store and I bought a real one.
On asking about the excitement of becoming a father and how McCollum feels about it he replied:
I have the greatest dad in the world. He’s one of my best friends. I really look forward to kind of passing that on. I take a lot of pride in my mom’s side of the family, in my dad’s side of the family, and coming from who I come from and where I come from, and just passing that down. The world today, more than ever, needs a generation of really, really well-raised, well-mannered, hardworking, respectful young men. The world could use that more than ever right now. Just a solid generation of young men, and young women, too.
He also shared about “Burn It Down”
I get really bored with what I do. It’s part of the reason that people are always asking about The Limestone Kid . When will that sound come back? I don’t know if that sound will ever exactly come back. I’ve been trying to get back there as a songwriter, and just try to write songs from that place again as close as I think I’ll ever get.
I write a whole record and sit there and truly, sincerely think that I’m just not talented, not good, and nothing that I write is good. Not a good singer, not a good performer. All these negative thoughts and it really pushes me to sit down and just try something different.
“Burn It Down” was the best effort I thought I’d had at that. I think it’s a well-written song. I think it does work on country radio, which, it’s hard to be poetic and be on country radio nowadays. There are keywords that a lot of songs on country radio have and I’ve always tried to avoid those.
If I can step outside of the box and rock out a little bit and have something that’s a little more entertaining than [a song off 2017 album Probably Wrong ] “Hell Of A Year,” then I kind of gravitate towards it naturally. It’s like I’m thirsty for it. I want to hear myself do something different. I want to prove to myself that I can get outside of my box. That’s really what I was most proud of when it came to “Burn It Down.”
Read the whole interview here
Check out the music video of Parker McCollum hit song:
Lover of hiking, biking, horror movies, cats and camping. Writer at Wide Open Country, Holler and Nashville Gab.
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