Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, Music Monday

Love at First Listen with Drake Milligan

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Drake Milligan Interview Love at First Listen 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

Giddy up, country music fans — there’s a fresh face on the scene ready to take over your playlist and your heart. Drake Milligan first caught the attention of the A-list judges on America’s Got Talent last year as the ever tough-to-crack Simon Cowell praised his “real charisma.” Quickly becoming an AGT fan favourite, his debut, critically acclaimed album ‘Dallas/Fort Worth’ grew his audience to more than 3.4 million Spotify listeners locally and internationally, including here in Canada. Did we mention he also scored his first Canadian country radio #1 with The Reklaws on their joint hit single, “Honky Tonkin’ About”?

Drake is days away from kicking off his first Canadian headlining tour with stops in Regina (Dec. 5), Saskatoon (Dec. 6), Edmonton (Dec. 7), and Calgary (Dec. 8) supported by Canadian country songstress Kalsey Kulyk (our next Love at First Listen feature!). He’s set to wrap up his whirlwind year at home with a performance at one of the world’s largest New Year’s Honky Tonks in Fort Worth, TX, before he opens for Cody Johnson on tour across the U.S. next spring.

Ahead of his final shows of the year, Love at First Listen caught up with Drake Milligan to chat all things AGT, #1 songs, and why, even if you’ve seen him live before, his next shows will be a whole new experience.

Welcome to Love at First Listen! You’ve had an absolutely stacked year and you continue to add to a seemingly never-ending string of milestones, having just landed your first-ever Canadian country radio #1 and kicking off a new tour. Is it even possible to take a moment and absorb all that action?

Not at all. It’s all happening so fast. I got a week off back home before gearing up for tour, so that was my one opportunity to sit back and kind of take it all in. With these Canadian shows coming up, this is my first time visiting some of these cities, so it’ll be a lot of fun.

Fans watched your America’s Got Talent journey play out on TV, but how was it for you? What was the biggest lesson you took from your time on the show and how did it help accelerate your career?

As a new artist that had been on the road, I had material recorded but not released yet, so that show was a perfect opportunity for me to showcase it to the world. After the show, I really learned that I can perform on a high level. Those live shows are no joke — it’s truly live. And you’re in front of not only a big theater of a few thousand fans, but you’re in front of millions of people who are watching live at home. So, it’s pretty daunting, but if you can get on the other side of it and pull it off, you feel like, okay, there’s really nothing I could be fazed by.

You were raised in Texas and moved to Nashville at the age of 19. What was going through your mind as you made that big leap and invested in yourself and your career at a young age? Take us through your first couple of months in Music City.

I think I was too naive to really know what I was doing. I really jumped in and started writing songs. My sole focus was finding great songwriters. People that had written some of my favorite songs and some of these ‘90s country songs that I love are still around Nashville writing great music. So, that was my first objective — finding them, seeking them out, and trying to learn from them. I was lucky enough to do that and learn a lot about songwriting and still am learning a lot.

What advice would you give someone who has watched your journey and wants to follow in your footsteps?

Go for it and stay true to yourself, and make sure you go in there knowing what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Coming back to that impressive and exciting Canadian country radio #1 for “Honky Tonkin’ About,” how did you initially connect with The Reklaws (our favourite Canadian country duo!) and how was it playing the song live for the first time to open the 2023 CCMA Awards?

It’s been incredible! My label first reached out and said there was a great Canadian group that wanted to do a song with me. I had heard a little bit about them before then, but as soon as I met them, we became fast friends. They’re amazing and I was really honoured that they wanted me to be a part of the song.

Who is on your bucket list of collaborators for 2024? How can we help you manifest them?!

There’s a few I’d love to work with. On my first record, ‘Dallas/Fort Worth,’ I got Vince Gill to come sing a song with me. He’s one of my heroes and we’re gearing up to hopefully cut another record. I would love to get another country music legend in there. Obviously for a Texan, George Strait is at the top of the list, but you know, any legend will do!

The end of the year always seems to inspire a lot of self-reflection and thanksgiving. When you think back on 2023, what was your career high—if it’s possible to pinpoint one—and what are you most looking forward to in 2024?

I feel like this whole summer has been on a high. We played so many shows this year; I know it’s over 100 shows all over the States. We played in London, across the UK, and we played in Glasgow, Scotland, which was definitely a highlight. But I just feel like being on the road was all one big highlight for me — playing so many shows, watching the shows get bigger, and watching as our show got better. The more we play, the better we are, so it’s been a really great year for just keeping the train rolling.

Are you working on anything else that fans can look forward to as you wrap up this jam-packed year and prep for the next one?

With all of the shows we played this year, I feel like mostly everybody’s got to see a little bit of it. So, we’re going to change things up and totally revamp the live show. We have some new songs recorded and I’m hopefully going back in again and cutting some more songs soon. So, there’ll be new music coming out and lots to look forward to in the new year. I want to be doing this for a long time, and this year felt like the first one of a long career.

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with Hailey Benedict

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Hailey Benedict Interview Love at First Listen 2023

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

When country superstar Keith Urban pulled a then 14-year-old Hailey Benedict out of the crowd and up on stage at a 2016 concert, neither of them could’ve predicted the series of life-changing events that would follow. His question to Hailey: “What’s the dream job in life?” Her answer, without hesitation: “Be a singer-songwriter.” An enthusiastic “Yes!” in response led to Keith shining the spotlight on Hailey, passing her a guitar, and letting her sing an original song for a packed arena. Since then, Hailey has grown into a full-fledged performer making that dream—and so many others—come true.

Fans of fellow country pop songstresses Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, and Lainey Wilson will gravitate towards Hailey’s smooth vocals and autobiographical lyrics, which shine on songs like “Wanted You To” and her recent summer single “Damn You July.” As testament to her rising star status, Hailey is vying for victory at this week’s Canadian Country Music Awards (Sept. 16) and in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition (Sept. 14), both part of Country Music Week. Her industry buzz and growing fan love (264K TikTok followers and counting!) are further proof she’s destined for big things, and you can be sure the now 21-year-old is just getting started.

In this edition of Love at First Listen, we’re celebrating Hailey’s biggest Country Music Week yet as she prepares for a jam-packed weekend, reflects on her American Idol journey, and reveals which ‘Era’ of her life she’s embracing this fall.

“Damn You July” was your first single after almost two years and has been the catalyst to multiple career milestones (not to mention that it’s currently Top 50 on Canadian country radio!). How did you know it was the right song at the right time?

I’d written with my friends, Rich Cloke and Elias James, and the moment we finished it, it was one of those feelings of like, we’ve got a special song here. I started playing it while on tour with Aaron Goodvin and found people really resonated with it. It also felt like something completely different than I had written or recorded before. All of that led to me bringing it into the studio and making it part of the Top of the Country competition, and I’m really proud of how it all turned out.

Building on that success, you’re nominated for the CCMA Innovative Campaign of the Year Award and are a Top 3 finalist in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. What does it mean to you to be part of this special week for Canadian country music while enjoying these major accomplishments?

It’s absolutely insane and I feel very grateful that I get to just be part of it. I’ve been attending the CCMAs since I was 14. Even with the Top of the Country competition, I’ve gone every year and thought it’d be really cool to be part of. I’m excited to soak it all in.

The Top of the Country concert features a headlining performance by The Reklaws. Considering the country scene is always described as a family, have you met them before?

I’ve met Jenna, and I’m a big Reklaws fan. They don’t put out a bad song. Jenna and I were supposed to write in Nashville back in May and then schedules got moved, so I think that’s still in the cards for one day when I’m back down there. I can’t wait to watch their performance.

You were invited to audition for American Idol in 2020, so you’re no stranger to rocking a singing competition. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

What’s so awesome about music is there are so many different paths you can take and so many things you can explore. I say experiment and do the things that feel right and make you happy, whether it is a local competition, performing for your friends and family, or trying to get on every show you can — whatever is going to make your heart the most excited and ready for your career.

Your CCMA nomination is for a TikTok challenge you created to test your own guitar playing skills and “empower others to take [a] leap.” Having amassed a following online, is it still a shock to come out from behind the screen and see everything come to life?

I remember during the first show back after COVID I was like, this is weird. I felt at home, but because I’d been so used to doing Zoom performances, I almost forgot I had a whole body and real people were watching. As I’ve gone to more shows, even down in Nashville, I’ve had a couple fans who’ve followed me from my very first videos say hi. You see numbers on a screen, but you don’t totally know what that means until you start going out and playing and people recognize your music. It’s been really fulfilling and exciting.

Country fans in Alberta will get to catch you opening for Tim Hicks on a six-show run across the province this October. What experience do you hope to bring to those audiences?

One thing that I love about music and especially country music is the storytelling aspect, and I think with Tim’s upcoming tour, that campfire troubadour feeling is going to probably be a big focus. I hope to just add to that experience and give people something to make them feel a little more celebrated or a little more loved and seen. It’s going to be a fun time.

You’ve shared the stage with several amazing country legends and friends. Has there been one concert that’s stuck with you and inspired your own stage presence?

I saw Taylor Swift on the Speak Now tour when I was eight or nine. That definitely inspired me because she was doing everything that a young country artist could dream of, and she was paving the way for so many artists.

Speaking of Taylor, have you scored tickets to The Eras Tour?

I did, in Nashville! My sister and I ended up getting floor tickets through the Ticketmaster lottery for my birthday. It was everything and more. Taylor is incredible. I’m going to watch the Eras movie when it’s out because I’m sad that the show went so fast.

What Taylor Swift ‘Era’ would you say that you’re in?

My gosh, that’s a good question. I would probably say my ‘Red’ era. Maybe it’s the fall vibes right now, but I also feel like her ‘Red’ era was her exploring different types of genres and that’s where I’m at right now — just experimenting with lots of different sounds and finding my sound.

Do you have a message to send to your fans heading into CCMAs weekend?

I’m very grateful for everyone’s support, and hopefully I’ll get to see you at a show near you soon.

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen with Manny Blu

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Manny Blu Interview

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

A little bit of country, a dash of punk, and a whole lot of heart — Manny Blu has the total package. With over one million global music streams and features on CMT and some of the biggest playlists in country music, the rising Canadian country singer, who’s also a familiar face in the Nashville music scene, has seamlessly transitioned from being a trained MMA fighter, to an emerging country singer, to a full-fledged country punk star.

Fresh off the success of two 2021 EPs, Manny is the definition of booked and busy and has a lot for fans to be excited about, including a stellar addition to their concert calendar. In addition to working on his upcoming full-length album, Manny is living out his dream and joining fellow Canadian country rocker Dallas Smith—alongside a star-studded lineup in James Barker Band, Meghan Patrick, Jojo Mason, Shawn Austin, and Kelly Prescott—on an epic Canadian tour to kick off the summer concert season.

For your latest Love at First Listen introduction, I caught up with Manny at the start of his cross-country trek to talk all things ‘Country Punk,’ his love for Travis Barker and Mod Sun, and surprise airport bearhugs.

You released a new EP titled ‘Country Punk’ on December 31st and now 2022 has been nothing but a complete whirlwind for you. The world’s opening back up and you’re reaching new audiences. Fill us in on how this all started!

I wanted to co-produce and steer a ship into exactly what I had sonically in my head, and that was the ‘Country Punk’ EP. I was tired of being called too loud for country and too country for rock, and there had been a growing space for taking the concepts of country and the storytelling approach to songwriting and making it whatever you want it to be.

When Machine Gun Kelly put out ‘Tickets to My Downfall,’ I fell in love with that entire record. I was going back and forth with my manager and I was like, ‘Maybe we can add a little bit of this sound to ‘DEViL’ (the first EP),’ but it was too late and we had to hold off for the next project. I said, ‘Alright, let’s make the next one now and put out two in a year.’ To me, country punk is more of a vibe and a feeling than it really is a genre. I don’t feel like I’m reinventing the wheel in any way, but this is who I am, this is what I like, and I don’t feel like I have to choose between genres or sounds.

How did the Country Punk catchphrase come to be?

My manager used to say Punk Country, but I thought Country Punk might sound cooler. I was wearing a pink hat at the time and I said, ‘Why don’t we just make pink Country Punk hats?’ And it worked out well! Also, it originally started when I came to Nashville and thought pop country was country. That’s what all my friends were listening to and I wanted to make music that my friends liked, and as I started discovering more I realized that I’d always loved blues and rock and roll and I felt like we could blend the two together in some way. Obviously, there’s always going to be the traditional country sound, which I think is important, but it would be inauthentic for me to be doing that. I have a buddy who loves ‘90s country and he does his thing, and the two of us see country music so differently but also vibe with each other’s music in such a funny way.

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If someone searches for Country Punk on a streaming service, you’re the first artist that pops up. Have you heard from any country or punk fans who developed a new appreciation for the other genre with your EP?

When we started saying Country Punk, we had a little moment on TikTok and people were telling me, ‘I love metal and I’ve got purple hair, but I work on my family’s farm in the day and go to metal shows at night, so finally my two worlds are blending together.’ I don’t know if my music is necessarily for any hardcore, traditional fans of either of the genres, but I think it’s a fun blend of the two. I also don’t take it that seriously; it is whatever you want it to be. A lot of people are calling it “y’allternative,” I call it country punk, but people are vibing with it and feel like they’re finally being seen. So, if I can be part of that then that’s the whole point really.

If you were to do a remix of one of the tracks on this EP featuring another artist who you think embodies the Country Punk personality, which song would it be and who would it feature? Let’s manifest this!

Oh man, there are so many! There’s a girl here in Nashville, Charlotte Sands, who’s popping off in the alt-rock space, and then you’ve got the big guys. “95” on the ‘Country Punk’ EP has some complex drum things going on, so I would love to see how Travis Barker could do it even bigger. Mod Sun’s a drummer too, so even him playing drums and belting some vocals would be really cool. I mean, they can listen to all the songs and pick whichever they would prefer really! And why not, let’s get them both on a track!

You’re officially back out on the road opening for Dallas Smith across Canada on his Some Things Never Change tour. What are you most excited about, having gone so long without being able to perform for your fans?

All of it! Literally all of it. I had met or at least had some type of conversation with almost everyone on the tour, especially around the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). I met Dallas Smith a couple of years ago. I ran into James Barker Band at the airport going to the CCMAs, and Jojo Mason also walked up to me and gave me a hug. I was looking somewhere else and just got bearhugged. I looked up and it was Jojo and he said he couldn’t wait to be on tour. I went to see Meghan Patrick here too in Nashville and after she was done I went to say what’s up, she gave me a hug and was super cool, so the vibe already felt like it was going to be really exciting, really friendly, and just super supportive of one another. These are also going to be the biggest stages I’ve ever played on, so I’m just looking forward to that new experience.

This tour is also like a festival every night. There are so many amazing artists all doing sort of different things, but you can get all the stuff you love as a music consumer in one night and just go down the list of everybody on the bill and see that it’s incredible.

Pictured above: Manny Blu with Kelly Prescott and Jojo Mason backstage at a tour stop.

How does your Country Punk energy translate to the live stage?

I think it’s just me being me. I love performing and my main focus has always been live shows, so I can’t wait to be able to give that experience to more people at once. The country punk energy just comes with the songs, and hopefully people can sing along and we can all party together. I’m also just looking forward to actually playing shows consecutively. The one-offs are fine, but once you get on tour and you’re doing it almost every night, it becomes this really fun rhythm of like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing for this period of time and all that matters right now is making these shows the best we possibly can.’ That’s super exciting for me.

After years of playing shows, what are some of your current tour essentials?

Water, Bud Light, and coffee are on the top of the list. Other than that, we’ve always been treated very well and I think it’s making sure I don’t get too into the shows where I start yelling along to everyone’s songs and screw myself for the next day. The biggest thing in my head is just to make sure that I keep my voice where it needs to be.

As a music fan yourself, do you have an all-time favourite concert memory?

Boots and Hearts Music Festival in 2018. I don’t remember much of it, but I remember I was there! I was with a bunch of buddies and we had a really good weekend, from what I’m told. Actually, we saw James Barker Band play that year, which is really crazy to be now sharing the stage with them on tour, so I’m really happy about that.

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