From Backroom Bars to Broadway with Dustin Lynch

Summary

Podcast Summary: "From Backroom Bars to Broadway with Dustin Lynch"

On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer, hosted by Country Thunder | Pod People, features an in-depth conversation with multi-platinum country artist Dustin Lynch. Released on March 20, 2025, this episode delves into Dustin’s musical journey, career milestones, creative processes, and future aspirations.

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1. Introduction and Career Highlights

Troy Volhofer kicks off the episode by highlighting Dustin Lynch’s impressive achievements in the country music scene. With over ten number-one hits on country radio, including notable tracks like "Good Girl," "Seeing Red," "Stars Like Confetti," and "Chevrolet" featuring Jelly Roll, Dustin has established himself as one of the most consistent recording artists in modern country music. Troy mentions Dustin’s global reach, noting his 4.4 billion global streams, and warmly welcomes him to the show.

Notable Quote:

[00:32] Dustin Lynch: "I love making music that stands the test of time. That's always kind of been my goal since we put 'Cowboys and Angels' out—making songs that stick around."

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2. Crash My Playa Festival in Mexico

Dustin discusses the evolution of the "Crash My Playa" festival in Mexico, celebrating its tenth anniversary. Initially inspired by touring with Luke Bryan, Dustin and his team transformed their involvement into a signature event featuring elaborate entrances, themed performances, and a vibrant pool party atmosphere. This festival has become a fan favorite, known for its creativity and high-energy performances.

Notable Quote:

[02:21] Dustin Lynch: "Through the years, I always told my team I want this to become some sort of a parade into our pool party. We spray champagne all over everybody. It's like a mini Mardi Gras parade into the stage."

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3. Early Beginnings and Musical Journey

Dustin recounts his passion for music, which began at age eight with singing in church and school choirs. Despite taking a hiatus to pursue other interests like dirt biking, he returned to music at sixteen, playing his first gig at a high school senior picnic. These early experiences provided him with the confidence and drive to pursue a career in music, ultimately leading him to Nashville.

Notable Quote:

[03:12] Dustin Lynch: "I fell in love with singing and really had this want at age 8... Playing every chance we could at whatever fundraiser there was or tailgate."

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4. Breaking into Nashville and Overcoming Challenges

Dustin details his move to Nashville, initially aiming for Middle Tennessee State University. A scholarship opportunity to play golf at David Lipscomb brought him to the heart of the music scene. Despite early rejections and setbacks, including losing his champion at Big Machine Records, Dustin persevered, eventually signing with Broken Bow Records where his single "Cowboys and Angels" gained significant traction.

Notable Quote:

[08:15] Dustin Lynch: "I lost my champion, and I got to sit on the shelf for a couple of years... Once I got Broken Bow, they loved 'Cowboys and Angels.'"

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5. Achieving Record Deals and Early Success

The conversation shifts to Dustin’s first record deal, highlighting the challenges he faced before achieving success. His persistence paid off when Broken Bow Records embraced his music, leading to the release of "Cowboys and Angels," which remains one of his most streamed songs. Dustin emphasizes the importance of staying true to his artistic vision despite industry pressures.

Notable Quote:

[08:31] Dustin Lynch: "Once I got Broken Bow, they loved it. 'Cowboys and Angels' will continue to do so. That's my main focus."

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6. Evolution of Music and the Second Album

Dustin reflects on his second album, which achieved double and double-platinum status. Collaborating with producers Brett Beavers and Mickey Jack Cones, he navigated the balance between his authentic sound and industry expectations. This period marked significant growth in his live performances and securing a major tour with Luke Bryan.

Notable Quote:

[10:29] Dustin Lynch: "The second album was me trying to figure out how much I put my foot down and make it me versus listening to outside influence."

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7. Influences and Live Performance Style

Dustin shares his admiration for Garth Brooks and George Strait, citing Brooks as his live performance idol for his interactive and high-energy shows. He contrasts this with Strait’s more reserved yet powerful stage presence, aiming to blend both styles to create an engaging and memorable live experience for his fans.

Notable Quote:

[12:19] Dustin Lynch: "My hero is George Strait... the intensity and how much fun Garth is having."

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8. Recent Activities and Hosting New Year’s Eve

In 2025, Dustin took on the role of hosting New Year’s Eve in Times Square for the second consecutive year. Collaborating with Cody Allen and Lonnie, he embraced the challenge of engaging an international audience, reflecting on his year, and inspiring hope for the new year. This experience expanded his versatility beyond performing to include hosting and live audience interaction.

Notable Quote:

[13:51] Dustin Lynch: "Bringing that excitement of this is a dream come true to be in Times Square... reflecting on your year and giving people some hope."

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9. New Projects: DJ Sets and Nightlife Shows

Dustin reveals his foray into DJing and creating mashups, particularly targeting nightlife venues like Vegas’ Excess nightclub. This venture represents a fusion of dance music, hip-hop, and his country hits, aiming to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Plans are underway to expand these sets internationally, marking a new chapter in his musical exploration.

Notable Quote:

[17:01] Dustin Lynch: "We're the first country artists ever to get an offer to do a residency at their big nightclub... a mash of dance music, hip hop, my hits."

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10. Songwriting Process and Creative Insights

The episode delves into Dustin’s songwriting methodology, emphasizing the centrality of melody in crafting hits. He discusses how certain songs naturally resonate with him, leading him to prioritize them for release. Dustin also highlights the importance of collaboration and honesty within his creative team to ensure the best songs reach the audience.

Notable Quote:

[20:56] Dustin Lynch: "If we get an idea and a good melody out front, I'm literally saying to myself, don't screw this up. Don't screw this up."

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11. Touring Experiences and Aspirations

Dustin outlines his extensive touring schedule, typically spanning seven to eight months annually within North America. A significant milestone discussed is his performance at Red Rocks, a venue he long aspired to headline. This achievement symbolizes his growth and dedication to delivering exceptional live performances.

Notable Quote:

[25:32] Dustin Lynch: "It's just a special to invite the original band members out to have them sit on stage and us play."

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12. Personal Goals and Work-Life Balance

Addressing the demands of touring, Dustin talks about striving for a balance between his professional and personal life. He expresses a desire to remain open to new experiences while also considering settling down and nurturing personal relationships. Dustin emphasizes the importance of maintaining fun and enthusiasm to prevent burnout.

Notable Quote:

[31:08] Dustin Lynch: "Continue to be open and receive and be present and whatever the universe brings me. Be okay with that."

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13. Future Outlook and Closing Thoughts

Looking ahead, Dustin envisions continued success in both traditional and new musical ventures. He aims to expand his international presence through his nightlife projects while maintaining his stronghold in the country music arena. Dustin aspires to keep his live shows fresh and engaging, ensuring lasting connections with his fans.

Notable Quote:

[30:25] Dustin Lynch: "In five years, I would like to see that kind of grow internationally and let us really take our music to new markets."

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Conclusion

The episode offers a comprehensive look into Dustin Lynch’s evolution as an artist, his strategic career moves, and his dedication to creating enduring country music. From humble beginnings in backroom bars to commanding stages like Red Rocks and Times Square, Dustin’s journey exemplifies passion, resilience, and continuous innovation in the music industry.

Final Remarks: Troy concludes by celebrating Dustin’s roots in the bar scene and his ability to engage audiences, wishing him continued success in 2025. The episode wraps up with a highlight of a new segment, Thunderstrike, featuring Riley Green’s single "Damn Good Day to Leap," and encourages listeners to stay connected with Country Thunder’s platforms.

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For more insights and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Country Thunder’s podcast and follow their social media channels.

Transcript

[Dustin Lynch]

I love making music that stands the test of time. That's always kind of been my goal since we put cowboys and angels out is making songs that stick around. They're not just that flash in the pan. We've gotten lucky a handful of times at this point. I've had some songs that I think have stood the test of time will continue to do so. So that's my main focus. I don't want to let anything really steer me away from what I'm here to do, and that's make awesome country.

[Troy Volhofer]

Well, I hope everybody's in party mode because we have a great show today. This artist has been working hard over the past decade, cranking out 10 number one hits on country radio, including Good Girl, Seeing Red Stars Like Confetti and Chevrolet featuring none other than Jelly Roll. It is quoted that he has built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music. He's logged over 4.4 billion global streams. There's no stopping him. Please welcome gold, platinum and multi platinum recording artist Dustin Lynch. Great to meet you. Absolutely. So let's talk about what you've been doing lately. I saw that you were down in Mexico, and I think I came in the same plane. The, like the plane behind you.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

And you guys are loading your gear out and you and your tour manager, I believe, the other day. And let's talk about that. Talk about Mexico.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah. That was our 10th year for this festival called Crash my Playa. And it's something that has just kind of snowballed into one of our favorite weeks of the year. Luke Bryan is, I guess, the prez of it all down there, but we started. We were the first band ever to go on stage at that festival 10 years ago and just kind of went down there and was having fun. I was brand new to the scene a couple songs out at the time and had really never met Luke, but we were going on tour with him later that year, so I was excited to be down there with him and hopefully impress him. Kind of just try to try to do my thing and have fun and. And it seemed like it went well. So we got invited back to second year and then we really kind of started making it our own thing. The pool party down there is kind of what is our claim to fame and has become one of the events that everybody talks about and looks forward to.

[Troy Volhofer]

I heard it was quite an entrance you made.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

Paired on your shoulder in the mariachi band.

[Dustin Lynch]

That's right. Yeah. So through the years, I always told my team, you know, I want this to become some sort of a parade into our pool party. Because year by year we've got to make it bigger and better and bigger and better. And so we've got just an incredible amount of talent that's there. People shooting, fire, you know, dancers, animals, thrones, everything. We're spraying champagne all over everybody. Nobody lines up. We kind of do a, like a mini Mardi Gras parade into the stage and then we start the show. But it's a three hour set. It's a lot of fun. We try to do a theme every year and this year's theme was getting nautical. So we played a bunch of yacht rock and had a good time with it.

[Troy Volhofer]

We show is there. Let's go back to like the beginning. I mean, very few artists are actually from Tennessee who, you know, you're from Tullahoma. Tell me about the beginning. Tell me about when you started you started playing guitar, then you gave it up for a bit and then came back around 16, I believe, and started playing guitar again. And just elaborate on. On the beginnings of Dustin lynch as an artist.

[Dustin Lynch]

I fell in love with singing and, and really had this, this want to at age 8. And so, you know, I started singing in church and then school choir and chorus and stuff. And then I got really into acapella music and was in an acapella quartet. And one of my buddies that was in that group's dad was like, why don't you learn how to play some instruments and actually be a band? So like, well, that sounds cool. I tried to start learning guitar. Giving it up for, you know, dirt bikes and whatever else was fun at the time. And so when he said that, I was like, all right, I'll pick the guitar back up. So I started learning and at the age of 15 was playing my first gig with. With some of those guys and it was like the butterflies and then overcoming those and seeing people sing along and dance. Our first show was for a senior picnic. So we were the younger high school kids playing for the seniors. So that was kind of a. A way to feel better about yourself, you know, in those tough high school years. And we were all dating, you know, above us in. In class, which is unheard of.

[Troy Volhofer]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[Dustin Lynch]

We started dating the older girls and that becomes addicting, you know, the attention becomes addicting.

[Troy Volhofer]

And so it helps me know how to play guitar.

[Dustin Lynch]

That's it. Yeah. And learning those songs and. Yeah, so for the beginning for us was kind of just playing every chance we could at whatever fundraiser there was or tailgate or we Kind of had a rotation, a steady gig down at the pavilion at our park. That's next to the high school football field that we would play at. And the dream was to get to Nashville and, you know, continue to grow. That high school band went at separate ways. Everybody went to different colleges. The guitar player, myself, kind of. We were thinking we were headed to Middle Tennessee State. He ended up going and not lasting even a whole, whole freshman year. He screwed it up. I got a call to play golf at David Lipscomb here in Nashville, and I got that scholarship and I couldn't turn it down. It was. It was pretty much going to pay for, you know, college. And it got me to Nashville, which was my dream. So that's really what got me to Nashville and started. I was already playing shows and music, but. And writing my own original music. But that's what got me to Nashville and really got me in the scene.

[Troy Volhofer]

So were you writing when you were. When you were in your high school band?

[Dustin Lynch]

We were fantastic. Yeah, we were writing. It was. It's an interesting. I know it's like kind of a pop, rockish, pop punk type of thing that we were doing. All those guys hated country music. I loved it. So they would give me, like, one country song to play tonight. You know, I could cover an Alan Jackson song. They. They kind of got to choose the song, but they would give me one of those. And when I got to Nashville, it was all about the Blueberry Cafe and trying to figure out how to get on lower Broadway and play those bars.

[Troy Volhofer]

So when you came to Nashville, Lipscomb, is that when you made your entree into the Bluebird?

[Dustin Lynch]

That was it. We had come up in high school and played it before. We didn't open mic up there, but. But, you know, the Bluebird was like my first stop. It's right down the street from Lipscomb, so it's very easy to get to as a kid from a small town. I'd never really been outside of. Of the big. Of my town and into the big city. So it was scary to, like, even when you got your own car and you're in college, be like, I don't know where to drive in Nashville. And it's very intimidating. The Bluebird was right there by me, and it felt safe, you know, so go over there and hang out and really just try to learn the craft. And it was in between the songs what I fell in love with. Those stories, the songwriters would say about, you know, this is what inspired this song. Even if I haven't lived those things. Inspired me to think about, okay, what am I living right now? What could I write about? And then try to go home and. And starting a song was easy. Finishing a song was tough, you know, and that. That was kind of the. The training that I needed to. To really get through in just those repetitions and still do. I think as songwriters, you always got.

[Troy Volhofer]

Shocking the pin just for our listeners. The Blueberry Cafe is an iconic room in Nashville that is primarily utilized for songwriters. And it has been. It's historic. I mean, it's like the cathedral for songwriters, I would say it is.

[Dustin Lynch]

You know, they've done a great job of preserving what it was and kind of keeping it the same and those traditions alive. I think that keeps it special and is why it's going to continue to be around for us.

[Troy Volhofer]

So let's talk about when you got your record deal. The very first record. I mean, it went to number one. It was, you know, great success. How did that come about?

[Dustin Lynch]

Lots of hard years of being told no. I graduated college at that time. I'd already started kind of growing my. My cover band business in the frat scene and sorority scene, and then that would turn into wedding receptions. And so we were traveling all over the Southeast playing those. I was making some good money in college, getting paid to go party at frat houses.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah.

[Dustin Lynch]

Like the best gig ever.

[Troy Volhofer]

And girls. Girls, girls.

[Dustin Lynch]

That's right. And so I knew that that was a good living. But how do I get my original music, you know, better and to a. To a level where people will pay attention on music, grow and give me a chance? And I started knocking on doors and went to BMI because it seemed like the thing to do. And once I met certain, you know, once you meet this person, they turn around to that person, start kind of connecting the dots. And then I started writing a little bit more original music and performing that in my frat shows, in the Greek life shows. And out of nowhere, I got a cold call from. From a guy, and he left me a voicemail. I was. I was at a day job at the time, and it was a manager of an artist that I recognized on this new label called Big Machine and Valerie Records. And within two weeks, I had a meeting in there, and they told me they're like, you're not leaving this office to you. We've got to offer you some sort of deal. We're big fans.

[Troy Volhofer]

With Scott Bruschetta behind that.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yep. And John Lobo.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah. Great.

[Dustin Lynch]

And that was. That was flooring to me. I didn't think that was going to happen at all. So that kind of put me in a tailspin of like, oh, my God, it's finally happening.

[Troy Volhofer]

Right?

[Dustin Lynch]

Just kind of like in the blink of an eye. Here we go. And so, you know, you got through all those deals and everything, and John is who actually signed me, and he ended up leaving that label. So I lost. I lost my champion, and I got to sit on the shelf for a couple years over there trying to figure out.

[Troy Volhofer]

He went over to Broken Bow at that point.

[Dustin Lynch]

Finally, John got me out of the Big Machine deal and I went to Broken Bow. And we had already had Cowboys and Angels written, and I couldn't get anybody excited about it over at Big Machine. But once I got the Broken Bow, they loved it. And we kind of went in and started finishing out that first album around Cowboys and Angels being the anchor song. And, yeah, like you said, it went out and we put that song out and it really did amazing things. I didn't know how big it was or what it was doing at the time because I'd never done it. But now that I know a little bit about the, you know, the struggles of the chart and the, you know, impact of a song, has that song had and still has incredible impact. It's still one of my most streamed songs to date.

[Troy Volhofer]

Let's talk about playing that song live right now. Like, what's that, 10 years after two? That was 2012.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, 12 years.

[Troy Volhofer]

12 years ago. Still resonates, doesn't it?

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, it's still a monster for us. It's still the song that people bring up the most and meet and greet. I think the song that couples come to see us play and they're counting down the minutes, you know, so they can have their dance together. It's been a song that's become a part of so many people's wedding day and anniversaries or whatever brought them together. And. Yeah, that's special. You know, not every song can be that for us. It's Cowboys and Angels.

[Troy Volhofer]

That's fantastic. So the second record, you had amazing success. It went double. Double platinum, I believe. Let's talk about that record.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, really just finding my own. My own voice, you know, I think the first album was. I can. I can literally remember driving to the studio going, how do I sing these songs? You know, I'd been. I'd recorded a lot of songs at that point, but it was demos. And I think the added pressure of.

[Troy Volhofer]

Did you have any cuts on that second record?

[Dustin Lynch]

Yes. Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

Great.

[Dustin Lynch]

Just added pressure of this is A. This is an album. This means more.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah.

[Dustin Lynch]

You still should just go in and be you and sing.

[Troy Volhofer]

Right.

[Dustin Lynch]

And deliver. You know, how the emotion, how you feel it. Yeah. The second album was. Was one where it was me trying to figure out, okay, how much do I put my foot down and make it me versus listening to outside influence, you know, in the building.

[Troy Volhofer]

Who produced that record?

[Dustin Lynch]

It was between Brett Beavers.

[Troy Volhofer]

He started.

[Dustin Lynch]

He did the first album, and then we brought in some. We brought in Mickey Jack Cones as well. The sound between the first record and the second album had started to shift a little bit in our genre, and so we were trying to find a good mix of even some of the technology of how we were recording and mixing all the way down to the. The writing rooms. You know, on our first record, we put in some drum loops, and we're scared to death people would get mad at us by that. The second record, it was kind of how you. Everybody was writing songs.

[Troy Volhofer]

Everyone was doing it that way. Right.

[Dustin Lynch]

So, you know, we're kind of trying to find that, but at the same time, he really learning about how to be a better communicator in the studio, but also in these meetings where we're. The A and R meetings where we're picking the music, and I want to sing about this. I don't want to sing about that. Well, we think you should do this. And it's like, yeah, but you're not singing it every night. I am. And just the push and pull of. Of that relationship, that. That happens. And so it was a lot of fun. I think we. We ended up really kind of finding the next chapter of sound through that process, and things really started opening, and we started really, I think, streaking our number ones together. The live show energy really swelled with that record, and we landed a giant tour with Luke Bryan off of that album, too.

[Troy Volhofer]

Being in the studio is one thing. Playing live is a whole other aspect of show business. Who would you say was your. Who you model yourself after live? Who. You would watch the videos and watch them live, and, you know, who was that for you?

[Dustin Lynch]

It was Garth Brooks.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, I love that. I love the intensity and how much fun not only Garth is having. You know, he's got you in the palm of his hand, but it's band members. I always remember watching those shows, and, you know, when Garth's way out here on the Thrust, maybe his bands over here, and even. Even the. The guitar player, the fiddle player, they. They're captivating, and they've got you, and you're watching them and they're smiling at you and they're pointing at you. And I just love a very interactive show. And, you know, my hero is George Strait. But not, not a great interacting show. It's kind of, they, they do their thing and, and they songs kind of.

[Troy Volhofer]

Speak for themselves, which they do. It's a magical moment. But there's not a lot of movement from.

[Dustin Lynch]

But not. That's also part of the mystique and the fun of that set. But yeah, I think, you know, best of both worlds, the George Strait songs and melodies with the Garth Brooks antics on stage. And that's my perfect night of music for me.

[Troy Volhofer]

Well, that's fantastic. Well, you've achieved that. I mean, I saw your show live. I was totally blown away.

[Dustin Lynch]

Thank you.

[Troy Volhofer]

I think it's a great live show. It's got all the components in that show. So, moving on to today. So let's talk about Dustin lynch and 2025. Here we are getting ready for a big year.

[Dustin Lynch]

I'm assuming we're ramping up.

[Troy Volhofer]

Tour starts in April.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, a lot of momentum right now.

[Troy Volhofer]

Let's talk about that for, for a sec.

[Dustin Lynch]

This is the biggest gaff I've had of not touring. It seems like we've always.

[Troy Volhofer]

New Year's Eve.

[Dustin Lynch]

We did. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's.

[Troy Volhofer]

Let's go back to New Year's Eve. Let's start on New Year's Eve. Okay. How did that go? And tell me how you got involved in New Year's Eve. Because that's a big impact. I mean, that's an international audience watching.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah. So I got to host for my second year in a row, Times Square.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yes.

[Dustin Lynch]

And the ball dropped there with cbs. And it is, it's a huge stage. I've always loved hosting. You know, I've had experience on the carpets and I've got to host some radio shows and I don't know, just. It's something that's a new challenge for me. But also it's, it's. I love the banter in between songs. I love, you know, work in a crowd and just bringing some life and energy to, to an audience. And that's what that is for me. I got asked to do it. Cody Allen actually is. Who recommended me or requested me for ringing in 2024 and went up there and had a good time. And I was nervous because I hadn't been on a stage like that. I hadn't worked with the top of the top pros on, on a. On a. I mean, I'd done A bunch of interviews, but usually I'm kind of letting them lead the show. This time around, we're on equal playing field, and I'm kind of having to pull my own weight whenever the camera turns on down to the second. But this year, I got to go back up. Cody was back in Nashville, but Lonnie and I ran it back out in Times Square, and. And it just feels natural to me. It's fun bringing an audience from all over the world into, hey, we're right here on the sidewalk with all these fans. It's a very interactive experience, but just bringing that excitement of this is a dream come true. To be in Times Square, watching this ball drop with all this energy and trying to bring that into the homes of everybody is just something I love doing. And we get to reflect, too, on your year and hopefully give people some hope in the new year. So that's how we kick the year off. But now I have this gap I've never had before. I'm usually right into touring, and this year we're not really touring until April and really getting after it in. In May and June. So I've got a bit of a gap here of. Of time that I thought I was going to vacation on. We were joking earlier. You know, I was talking to my agent. I was like, what do people do when they don't tour? I've never had a break. And he's like, man, go live a little bit. But it seems like I'm. I'm living a lot. I'm just. I'm focusing on writing songs and. And recording music right now. We're going to put out a few different projects this year is our plan.

[Troy Volhofer]

Who are you writing with right now?

[Dustin Lynch]

You know, a lot of my same crew. You know, a lot of guys and girls that are hall of Famers are going to be hall of Famers. But the fun part is identifying the new blood that's kind of graduating into the level we need it and those guys and girls. And that's cool because, you know, when it seems like two albums ago, it was kind of my group was kind of the crew that had just started bubbling and popping. And now you got to recognize, okay, we're getting on up in our years, and we need to bring in some new, young energy and. And follow a little bit of their inspiration and their lead. So I'm doing that and that. That's a fun process, you know, identifying some new talent to bring in and following their lead melodically and. And. And really how they phrase, you know, their Melodies is. Is what I pay attention to the most.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah, I agree. I. It's an interesting time right now. And it seems like every decade there seems to be this time period where we have kind of a shift.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

You know, and I guess my question to you would be, Dustin lynch, from a music standpoint, do you. Where do you see you fitting into the next five years of music in your career? What path are you going down? Because there's so many different paths right now. So many and so many different styles of country music, you know, What's Dustin lynch going to do?

[Dustin Lynch]

Well, I discovered a new style. I didn't. I didn't see, you know, was going to be a part of my world, but kind of stumbled into it. At the end of last year. We started doing DJ sets, essentially mashups for when Nightlife out in Vegas. And we just announced that residency. I guess it's going well because they asked us to do a residency this year. I'm proud of that. We're the first.

[Troy Volhofer]

Congratulations.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah. We're the first country artists ever to get an offer. So we're doing their. Their big nightclub, their excess nightclub. And then we're also doing some encore beach shows, which is their daytime pool party. But it's straight up a DJ set. I'm singing live most of the show.

[Troy Volhofer]

Right.

[Dustin Lynch]

But it's. It's a mash of dance music, hip hop, my hits. It's just a big blender of what I love. Party.

[Troy Volhofer]

Into how long that set last?

[Dustin Lynch]

Right now we're at about 35 minutes, but we're going to. We're going to grow it into an easy hour, which is. It's easy to do. It's kind of hard to scratch it down. It's easier to extend a little bit. So we'll probably do a full hour set. The way this format works, I don't really get a breath. So that's a. That's a tough go going the whole time. There's not a lot of. There's no storytelling really. And so, you know, with our, our big shows, there's time in between songs to tell a story, introduce a song or let a. Let a guy take a solo. In this show, it's all me. So it's, It's a high impact show, but I love it. So that's a. That's a new type of music that I'm now starting to write and curate a record around. So that's one of the projects I'll be releasing this year, probably in July. But my main focus is Going to continue to be. I'm proud of. Of being one of the top 10 most consumed artists last year on. On country radio, and I want to continue that trend.

[Troy Volhofer]

Your streams are like 2.2 billion with a B.

[Dustin Lynch]

Right?

[Troy Volhofer]

Congratulations.

[Dustin Lynch]

Thank you. Not.

[Troy Volhofer]

Not a lot of artists who have that badge of honor. I mean, that's. That's a very impressive number.

[Dustin Lynch]

Thank you. Yeah, I love making music that stands the test of time. That's always kind of been my goal since we put Cowboys and Angels out is. Is making songs that stick around. They're not just that. That flash in the pan. And we've got lucky a handful of times at this point. And I've had some songs that I think have stood the test of time, will continue to do so. So that's my main focus. I don't want to. I don't want to let you know any. Anything really steer me away from what I. What I'm here to do, and that's make awesome country music. But these new projects that we're doing are fun. And I think, you know, my nightlife, my Edmund, you know, edm, for the lack of better terms, I guess, is what they're starting to brand it is. Is going to bring in a whole new audience all over the world because it's so accessible for, you know, maybe somebody's like, I don't know if I like country music. This is blending in a world that I know they love and sounds they're used to hearing with a little bit more of a storytelling type of lyric. And. And so that's. That's going to be fun, too. And I think we're going to touch a lot of new ears this year all over the world with this format that we're kind of making up right now.

[Troy Volhofer]

I mean, that's very exciting. Congratulations. I think, you know, you've seen country music go in so many different ways, and, you know, I've been fortunate enough to see it, you know, where. Where everybody was country and everybody was a fan of everybody's. And now we kind of have, you know, segregation in that.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

I mean, I'm a Dustin lynch fan or I'm a Wallen fan or I'm, you know, whoever else. And it seems like that's changing, so you got to fight for that. That piece of territory or real estate in the marketplace, right?

[Dustin Lynch]

Without a doubt. Yeah. There's. There's a lot of great lanes right now. You know, we're seeing a lot of the. The more rootsy rock, Americana, those genres come in, too, which Is great. I love. I think there's room for all of it.

[Troy Volhofer]

Oh, I agree. I think it's more exciting now than it's ever been. And I think it offers more from an artist standpoint to have the ability to take their career and move in different directions. Let's talk about the songwriting process. When you're writing a song with whoever you're writing with whoever's in the room, do you know you have a hit the day you write that hit that becomes a hit? Did you know that that day?

[Dustin Lynch]

Sometimes. Not all the times. Sometimes I've got to go live with it. But there are certain days where it just feels special. Even from. Like, if we get the chorus, if there's a chorus melody, or an idea of a chorus, if we start there, that's usually. That's usually where we start is. Is trying to get that chorus right. And then we can kind of piece our verses around it. But if we get an idea and a good melody out front, I'm literally saying to myself, don't screw this up. Don't screw this up. We got a chance to make one great. So from that moment, it feels like.

[Troy Volhofer]

So you're influenced by melody, not you're a melody guy.

[Dustin Lynch]

I am, yeah. I definitely am. But then once you. Once you have that moment. I've also had songs where, you know, I've had the don't screw this up. This is a smash feeling. And then I live with the song as I drive around town or whatever, and for whatever reason, it burns, you know? And you don't find yourself going back to it.

[Troy Volhofer]

Right.

[Dustin Lynch]

It's the songs that I find myself going back to. Or I'll literally, like, have an outburst in my truck and just like this pump.

[Troy Volhofer]

So what is your process after you cut it or the demo of it, Then you drive around in your truck.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, I just live with it, you know, And I pay attention to what I come back to do.

[Troy Volhofer]

You play it on different speaker systems to make sure Absolutely is the same.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, I love being on the water. So a lot of my songs are tested on the water, on the boat. You know, if we're out drinking or surfing or whatever it is. And that's where I can really find. Narrow down to a group of songs. I'll sprinkle in some originals throughout our day with a group of friends, even strangers, of demos. I. I like me not to be singing them. So people don't realize what it is. And sometimes people just ask about it.

[Troy Volhofer]

Whose song is that?

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, what is that? Can we Hear that again. What was that? Most of the time they don't, you know, and that's fine. That's. That's kind of my process of. Of going, okay. Because in the real world, people aren't going to know who's singing it at first, and they don't have to ask about it again. But if that happens organically, you know, you have something special. And so that's. That's been the moments where it seems like, you know, the cream rises to the top always. And songs just, for whatever reason, raise attention and raise their hand and it's kind of undeniable what. What's going to be next level.

[Troy Volhofer]

So in the process, the songs that you don't write on the, on the record, who picks. Who picks the songs? The producer or are you fully involved in that? Dustin?

[Dustin Lynch]

I'm completely involved in it. Yeah. I try to make sure that I'm not too involved. As far as, like, I love this. I love this. I love this. I don't care what you all think. I like, you know, and we've had success. I think while we are. Where we are is I've got a group of people that aren't afraid to be honest about if I'm passionate about a song. But maybe a. Lyrics a little dull or it hits them a weird way they speak up about Seems like if, if my certain group of. Of folks, we all agree on a song, we're excited about a song. We've had great success and a great batting average together. So I just got to remember that, you know, there's been a lot of songs where maybe I'm excited about it, but I can't get their interest up and vice versa. And we just gotta pay. You gotta. You gotta bow out and go, okay, maybe this isn't for us. You know, I want everybody in my creative circle to be excited. And then once we get to that point, you know, you get out to the bigger group of listeners and then, you know, which is my friends on the boat or even a bigger group of listeners. Whenever a record comes out and you let the market determine it and like, for us, you know, a big hit for us was Thinking about yout. And that was a song that came out of the gate. I knew I loved it. I didn't realize what it was until the record came out. Boom. Straight at the top it went. Everybody's talking about it. How do we get it? Oh, my goodness, here we've done it again, right? You don't see that coming. That's kind of the. That's the one you can't really, you know, you can know maybe you have a song that you think is going to be a hit and people want to hear, but it's those moments where you go, oh wait, this is going to change the game for us. Oh wait, this is going to change the set list. Like we're closing with this thing this year. Those are the, those are the ones that you can't, I don't think really if we could identify what that is.

[Troy Volhofer]

We'D have a lot more of them, 100%. So, so speaking of closing with that song, touring. So how many months a year are you touring?

[Dustin Lynch]

We usually try to do, you know, we're at a point now the crowds get bigger and the shows get bigger. So we have, we only have so much market space we can go in. So it seems like about seven months out of the year, eight months out of the year, we can, we can do a healthy tour in North America. That's great. You know, I've got my, my life goals of touring internationally and I think with this new project I'm working on, it's going to allow us to go tour some more markets, a little bit more easier.

[Troy Volhofer]

I think you hit one of your goals last year, you're going to hit it again this year playing Red Rocks.

[Dustin Lynch]

That's right.

[Troy Volhofer]

From an artist standpoint, standing on that stage playing to a sold out house. What's the vibe like? Explain it to, to our audience because that's the dream.

[Dustin Lynch]

I mean it is the dream. It's, it goes back, it's, it's, that's a, that's a, these special spot for me because my, one of my favorite bands in the world is Incubus.

[Troy Volhofer]

Okay.

[Dustin Lynch]

And they taped a dvd. They're called a Live at Red Rocks. And whenever I was in my original band in high school, those were the guys that were kind of popping off and that DVD came out and we played that dvd. We dressed like, we, you know, we did everything like, and, and always said from day one, I'm going to play Red Rocks and, and I don't want to open for anyone there until I headline it. So yeah, the goal, the goal came and you know, it's, it's, it's just a special to invite the original band members out to have them sit on stage and us play. You know, the original four guys, they're all great musicians.

[Troy Volhofer]

Did you bring your high school band over?

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, they still play in church. They play like my guitar player will still go busk in the park. So they all have different professions. One's an architect, one's an attorney, one's an art teacher, one's, um. But they all still are still playing music, just not, you know, at, you know, I guess for a full time living. But they're all still great musicians and love it. And I can see us, like, later in life, you know, when we're way out in our years, having a regular gig down in Key west somewhere, just chilling, playing. Yeah, just go.

[Troy Volhofer]

Do a Bulldozer Orange song.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, right.

[Troy Volhofer]

Playing some Jimmy Buffett do.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah. Do one night a month down there at whatever bar. Would be fun.

[Troy Volhofer]

Well, I think there's absolutely a future in that. You know, playing those old tunes and coming back. So heading into the touring season, when you create your show, when you say, all right, this song's gonna. What we're gonna open with, and this is what we're close with. And this. These are two encores.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, it's. It's at this point, it's how. Okay, how do we. How do we do something different, you know, because we've been around for 12 years. How do we walk out on Country Thunder, you know, in Arizona, and go.

[Troy Volhofer]

All right, that's a competitive market.

[Dustin Lynch]

Absolutely. How can we come out and give them something different we didn't give them last time? It starts early on in the rehears, and there's just some. There's a magic about it. I think it's what I fell in love with when I was 15 in my buddy's garage when we were trying to put our first show together. There's that magic of just shedding it, feeling it. You gotta get in the garage and get your hands in the grease and then create an experience, an emotional experience and connection with your fans. You want to hit them a certain way out of the gate, and then you want to bring them to a certain point. And the ups and downs of that show, the ebb and flow of the show, and then creating those moments of interaction, you know? Cause you know what I think people love about concerts and love that they'll never go away. It's the human experience and that human connection. And some of those conversations can lead people to certain places. And then you hit them with this song and it means a little something different. Or maybe they thought it was this, but it means that now. So, yeah, it's just getting in there with the band, guys. We're still old school. We still just get in as a band. I've never really. And maybe I should try this to give us A new chapter. But I've never really had a music director, an art director, I don't know, come in and help design a show. It's always just me and. Me and the band guys with our instruments.

[Troy Volhofer]

There's something. There's something said for that. I mean, there's some great show creators, by all means, but I mean, personally, I'm a fan of the artist that the artist stamps it 100% because it's. That's who you're buying. The ticket to see is the artist, you know, Dustin Lynch. It's a Dustin lunch show. And it's. It's not. No outsiders are coming in trying to influence your way of thinking. I think it's brilliant. I love what you're doing. Right?

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah. And myself and my band guys, everybody has their own path into country music. Mine, I feel like it's pretty blue collar. Path of. We started in the bars, you know, we started in these college bars in Nashville. Then we got the frap scene going, and then we went to Broadway.

[Troy Volhofer]

That's how you learn to entertain.

[Dustin Lynch]

And that's it. I think that's why the shows we haven't tried to do, you know, the pool party, the pool situation, this. This nightlife show. I think all of those are just an accumulation of all the chops I've learned through the years in those bars. Playing to the bartender in one person, up to a packed bar on Broadway or, you know, a packed frat house, it's still a lot of the same antics, you know.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah, there's certain gags at work. Right?

[Dustin Lynch]

There are. And, but. And there's also certain ones that we never grow out of. Even if we haven't done a body shot off somebody since college, it's still in style. When you're 42 in Vegas.

[Troy Volhofer]

Oh, it is. However old you are, I think it's ageless.

[Dustin Lynch]

I love to pick on people, so I love getting people up, especially in those shows on stage and just making them, you know, taking them back to, like, remember when you're a frat dude and you shotgun a beer, like, hey, you're in Vegas for this conference right now, but tonight you're on my stage and we're running it back and you're singing Garth Brooks with me. Let's go. And it's those types of moments I think, that we create for our fans that. That, you know, are my favorites.

[Troy Volhofer]

That's fantastic. So where do you see best launch in five years?

[Dustin Lynch]

Pretty much the same spot, you know, touring and still chasing big hit songs. I would Love to see this new project of, of what we're bringing out to Vegas continue to grow. We just came back, we're in Toronto last week with it, so it's catching on.

[Troy Volhofer]

So is that the, the electronic thing that you did?

[Dustin Lynch]

It is, yeah. Yeah. We've played, we've played the biggest club in Miami, this popping club in Toronto. And, and I, like I said, I think in five years I would like to see that kind of grow internationally and, and let us really take our music to new markets and just have some fun because we're always going to tour the, the, the hardcore country music fan with our country show. I'm single. I don't have, I don't even have a pet. No. No wife, no kids, no pets. So it allows me in these, in these months where the road is.

[Troy Volhofer]

Your wife.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah, where we've got to rest. I can still travel the world and go experience amazing places and if I get to play music along the way and pick up a bar tab. Yeah. As we go, that's great.

[Troy Volhofer]

Oh, man, that's fantastic. So my last question for you would be, what do you think Dustin lynch goals are? You just stated your touring goals, your career goals, but your personal goals. What, what do you want to improve on? What do you want to get more of? What do you want to golf more? You want to be more on the water a little bit more? Because, I mean, touring is hard on the body.

[Dustin Lynch]

It is.

[Troy Volhofer]

We all know that. And, you know, people think that, you know, being on a beautiful tour bus and going down the road and stopping at truck stops is great, but it.

[Dustin Lynch]

Is great in its own way.

[Troy Volhofer]

Yeah, it sure is. But it does tax you.

[Dustin Lynch]

It definitely does. I, I think personally, they and Dale grind, that's it. But finding that balance, I think I've gotten better at blocking out a little me time. I'm still all over the place having fun, you know, doing events. But I think personal goals for me is continue to be present in what I want out of life. And I think my search right now is, you know, I have this incredible freedom. I'm doing all these fun things. I'm embracing those things right now. At some point, I'm probably going to get tired of embracing all those things because it'll become normal and then it's what's next and it's being open to what's next. You know, maybe it is finally settling down with, with, you know, my forever plus one, you know, look, I'm just constantly asking myself, like, am I giving myself enough personal time in my love life to, like, find someone, or am I saying yes to too many fun things to where I'm not really, you know, I'm not putting an effort into going, meeting somebody. So I don't know. I think just to answer your question, just continue to be open and receive and be present and whatever the universe brings me. Be okay with that.

[Troy Volhofer]

Fabulous.

[Dustin Lynch]

And never, never lose the fun of it. I think, you know, I look up to my. My big brothers in the genre right now that have been doing a lot longer than I have, and they're still playing a bunch of shows a year and they don't have to. And so I think, you know, if we keep the shows fun, if we keep touring just enough to where we're great, but we're not getting burnt out and we're giving our fans what they deserve, I think that's the balance I'm looking for. I don't know exactly what that number of shows is, but I think as we go, we'll find it.

[Troy Volhofer]

You know, I laughed talking about your big brothers in the business. You take Tim McGraw, for instance. I remember having a conversation with Tim McGraw probably 15 years ago. He's like, man, when I hit 50, I'm done. Well, now you're 50 in late 50s. And. And he's still rocking.

[Dustin Lynch]

Oh, yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

And as good. Better than ever, at least in my opinion. I think he's absolutely brilliant and still rocking out there. And you got Kenny Chesney.

[Dustin Lynch]

Chesney's better than ever. He's another one. And those are the guys, you know, as a. As a little kid, it's like they. They kind of really started blowing up and doing the stadiums together. And to have those two that you mentioned right there in great shape, still touring around and having fun on stage and loving, you know, the chase of the next song and the next show. It's so inspiring, man, to. To get to be their age and that. That shape, doing it at that level. That's my goal. I'm glad to have them in front of me.

[Troy Volhofer]

Well, I would like to thank you very much for coming over today and having this conversation. It was great, and I wish you the best in 25.

[Dustin Lynch]

And here's some fun on the road this year.

[Troy Volhofer]

Absolutely. It's great to see you.

[Dustin Lynch]

Thanks so much.

[Troy Volhofer]

Thanks, Dustin.

[Dustin Lynch]

Yeah.

[Troy Volhofer]

Before we wrap up the show today, I wanted to introduce you to a new segment called Thunderstrike. In this segment, it's where we're going to share a song with one of the artists that's playing the festival this year. This week, it's Riley Green. Damn Good Day to Leap. Released In March of 24, this single is one of the most added singles to radio with 84 in its first week of ads. This song's about a man who breaks up with his girlfriend and instead of the gray sky above, it's blue. And he continues to experience the opposite of every love song. The song was the second single released off the album Ain't My Last Rodeo. Riley V8 Country Thunder Thursday, April 10 in Arizona, May 2 in Florida and August 17 in Calgary, Alberta. Make sure you check out countrythunder.com for tickets. Until next time, we're on the bus. This is Troy Volhofer. Take it away, Riley. We'd like to thank Dustin lynch for coming over today and having this great interview. We got to know a lot about Dustin lynch today. One of my favorite things about Dustin is he actually came from the bar scene where you actually have to entertain to get that one person who's talking to his girlfriend to actually pay attention to you as an artist. Fabulous interview, great guy, great career and I wish him the best going forward. Be sure to follow Country Thunder on all our social platforms. At Country Thunder, we have new episodes dropping bi monthly. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you know when the new episodes hit the feed.