B (2:00)

So you're noted for being probably one of the best live acts out there. A lot of these artists today, which are, you know, kind of developing so quickly, they come off of TikTok, they have a big impact, but they've never played a live gig before, so they learn on certain platforms. You said you started in the bars? Yeah. Explain to me what it's like to earn an audience, because in those bars, you have to earn the audience, right? Yeah.

A (2:23)

For instance, this crowd denied wasn't even in the reality of anything I was dreaming of. We're playing for a bar tab, and we're also playing cover songs. You know what I mean? It's like cheating. It's like everybody knows those, and. But that honestly gave me a chance to kind of fall in love with performing and being on stage and seeing other people, you know, whether it was just a handful or one couple got up and danced from their table or something, you know, we were playing little dive bars. And knowing that, man, every crowd, you just. You don't know what to expect. And it makes you appreciate every single fan you have or people that are gonna spend their money or even time to come to come hang out and watch you play.

B (3:00)

So you kind of create a local fan base. In college, who discovered you? How did it happen?

A (3:05)

You know, it goes back to. I was playing the bars, and that's when I met Luke Bryan for the first time. We were in the same fraternity. He had already been to college, moved to Nashville writing songs. And I remember one of the first times I met him, he stopped by a fraternity house and needed to change his strengths. He had a show in town that night, and we were just a bunch of college kids. Sure. You know, drinking beer out on the porch like, luke Bryant's here, changing his guitar strings. You know, he plays a song that he has written, and I just remember being like, you wrote that. I was like, man, I have to get into this songwriting thing. I can't believe he wrote that. And it made me feel that way. And I think, is that the moment.

B (3:38)

You got bit by the bug?

A (3:39)

That was the moment that I knew that singing cover songs was great. But I knew I needed to be behind writing my own songs, because I wanted to be in charge of writing something that made somebody feel the way he just made me feel. And I think that's what influence people that have influenced us along the way. But there were many influences obviously before him, but Luke, you know, I kept in touch with him, and when I moved to Nashville, he needed a merch guy, I needed a job. You know, I was. I wanted to be in the music business somehow. I didn't know if I'd ever write a song good enough or ever get a record deal, but I knew I had to be around the business. And he, you know, gave me a job selling T shirts. I wasn't very good at that, thank God.

B (4:12)

He gave me Own a merch company right now. Yeah.

A (4:14)

I was writing songs out on the road, writing back in town when I could. When I was in town just doing anything I could to try to get a song, but I knew I just wasn't good enough yet. I knew the songs. I was a big enough fan of music and like, just in general that I knew that what I was right. Just. I knew I thought about things differently. I knew I could get there. I just. I wasn't quite there. And people ask me, like, how do you do it? How do you write a song? And I've. I've been doing it so long, I don't know. It'd be like asking somebody that does something, how do you do it? They just. It's just by now, but it's taken a lot of work and a lot of songs that people will never hear to. To get to this point, but it's. Man, I love it.

B (4:45)

So did you enjoy the process of writing with other songwriters?

A (4:47)

I do.

B (4:48)

Country music is probably one of the only communal songwriting community that there is in any form of music.

A (4:53)

I love it. I think it's one of the most special things about Nashville, just in music. I mean, obviously there are other genres are huge as well, and the way they do things are different. But that's the one thing I've always loved about it. I mean, the camaraderie in the room. And I try to explain to people, you know, when I'm on stage or writing people, what do you like doing better writing or singing? And you would think being out in front of thousands of people, I mean, that's obviously unlike anything else, but being in a room like this, this many people and coming up with a line, you're high five and you're just. That. That feeling is just almost as. As electric as being on stage. And it's just. You get to do that what you love and know that, man, this, this could be played live in front of like a crowd, like tonight. It's just. You get to see it happening from the room. And songwriters are just like. Like I said, man, I don't know if they get enough credit. And we've got some great ones in Nashville. I think that makes it unique, the co writing. You start ideas by yourself, but for me, it's more about who do I want to write this with or who am I idea for. And being in the room and just watching the magic happen. I wish people could be a fly on the wall because it's. It's hard to describe really.

B (5:53)

You know, Talking about songwriters, I have a quick story up. I play professional hockey at the end of my career in Nashville, and they used to bring out celebrities to drop the puck one. One day it was Garth Brooks, and then some night later, it was Harlan Howard. I had no idea. So there used to be this place called Skulls, which is now a steakhouse, but it used to be a. A bar on Printer's Alley. And Skull was a big fan of the Nashville Knights. This is pre Predators, and we drink beer there after. After the games. And he was in there, and I realized that he's probably one of the most notable songwriters, and I didn't understand what that meant. I'm a rock and roll kid at that time. Right. I mean, I. I know nothing about songwriting, and, you know, the bands all wrote their own songs. Yeah. And I met probably one of the most famous songwriters at that particular time. So let me ask you this question. Your first songwriting session, like, when you walked in that room, how nervous were you?

A (6:46)

Obviously nervous and just trying to be prepared as I could be.

B (6:50)

And did you bring in your own ideas? Did you already have melodies?

A (6:53)

I mean, that was kind of the. The thing where just ideas. And now looking back, having done this as long as I have, I'm the guy that's been around for a little bit, and I'm looking for the fresh ideas from the new guys in town. But I was the new guy, and I didn't really realize how important. But it. I mean, that's all they wanted from me. To get in a room with somebody like, you need to. You better have or better bring your best idea, which your best at that time might not have been good enough for whoever's sitting in the room with you, but it's just, you know. Yeah, I was trying to be as prepared as possible. Always tried to come in with an idea, be respectful, be on time. You know, it's just. Of course, I was nervous, and I. I think anything I've ever wanted to be good at or do good at, I always am a little nervous. And. And I think the more I did it, knowing the part, just that few hours in a room could change a lot of things. It's just wild to think of, you know, still get to write songs and. And kind of tell my story through. Through that. And I. But I was nervous the first time, and it's still. It's not comfortable. You're sitting in a room, you know, this guy. Oh, this guy wrote so and so, or she wrote this song or this song, and it's just you can't believe you're in the room with it right now, but it finally you realize that. But now you're the real people. And that's. Well, hey, well.

B (7:57)

Because it's changing the guard, right?

A (7:58)

I mean, yeah. If there's anybody out there that's ever heard a song of mine or that made him want to write a song, I mean, honestly, if that's just one person, I mean, that's kind of cool to me because that's what got me started.

B (8:07)

What was your first big hit that you penned?

A (8:09)

Like, three came around the same time. Roller coaster that I wrote for Luke. Always say going from selling his T shirts to write the number one song for him was pretty, pretty cool. Thomas Rhett had a song called Give Me Some of that. That was my very first number one as a writer. Wrote it with his dad, who I was a huge fan. That was always one of my favorite. Only in Nashville moments, you know, love and Red.

B (8:29)

Freaking writer and.

A (8:30)

Yeah. And so, you know, growing up, being a fan of his, to write a song with him. First song we ever wrote. His son records it is a massive superstar and makes it my first as a writer. That doesn't even sound like a real story, but it is, you know, and then obviously, this is how we roll. Those three songs kind of came out around each other. That was really what propelled me. So I think getting a record deal, I think people were like, you're writing these, and they're hearing my demos of them.

B (8:52)

You're singing them, right?

A (8:53)

And they're like, why aren't you singing these? And I was like, that is a great question. I don't know. You, you know, tell me. And that really got the ball rolling, because then I wasn't playing shows. I was just like, hey, had some buddies I looked up to from Georgia that moved to town. That's all they did was write songs. I booked a show. I was like, let me just go back and book a show in Key West. We booked a little acoustic show and I got up there. And at that time was that part.

B (9:12)

Of that songwriters thing.

A (9:13)

It was. And I hadn't done a show since, you know, I played the bars years ago, and this was the first time back on stage. I didn't know how it was going to go. Just being back in front of people, playing my own songs and just a few that I had at that point that maybe people had heard on my website or something. Wasn't anything big. But I had the bug. I was like, this is what I was supposed to be Doing the whole time, man. This is. At that point, I, you know, I'd already had the experience performing, but I didn't have my songs then I had my songs. Perfect Storm, I feel like.

B (9:42)

But you didn't have a record deal yet.

A (9:43)

No, I still did not have a record deal. And I ended up writing this Is How We Roll. And I always laughed. I'm the only guy that wrote that that didn't get to sing on it because I didn't have a record deal. But I think it probably helped me get one. So that's pretty cool.

B (9:56)

Last time I saw you, you're actually out with Thomas Rhett and I saw you in Nashville. I was totally blown away. And I mean, it was such a high energy show from your show into.

A (10:05)

Thomas show, but that's what it was.

B (10:06)

You're a great entertainer. The transition from being a songwriter into being an artist, explain how that all went down. Because I don't think our listeners understand the dynamic between the two. Because it's two separate worlds.

A (10:18)

Oh, yeah. I mean, there's great songwriters that are phenomenal singers that could be artists, they could have. They just don't want to do it. And a lot of people don't understand all the stuff that goes into being an artist either. It's not all just up there on the stage for an hour and a half every night. There's a lot more that goes to it. But when that's your dream, it's amazing. You know, it doesn't feel like. Feel like we're being in a room writing a song. That's nerve wracking. Yeah, but you only have a person or two or three people in there that are in there. You know, you go from doing that to being on stage. And. And when I got back on stage, I went from 20 people to a few hundred maybe in college. And then, you know, I got thrown out there on tour with Luke Brown without a record deal in front of 20,000. My heart rate was high. You know what I mean? It's just. That was a. It was a tough transition, I think, because I'd been there before, but never at that level. Never with this kind of pressure. I mean, for me, thank God I had that experience of being on stage. I mean, somebody that just kind of moves to be a songwriter and they write some songs and people like you ought to do the artist. I am fortunate that I got to experience being on stage to a small level in college, but to be able to write them and sing them and like see them from the point they Are created to the. When I'm singing them out here tonight is just. I don't know. There's nothing else like it. It's hard to put. Put a. You know, put a finger on exactly what it is about it. I do respect the songwriting world and the way you talked about that, because it really is important. I mean, by the time I moved to Nashville, I was so into songwriting. I was more starstruck by meeting a songwriter than. Than artists. Just because that's what I wanted to do. That's how I wanted to make people feel the way they made me feel. And country music's just. I mean, it's like a family. I really think the fans, the artists, the people in the business, everybody, man, it. It takes everybody. And to still be getting to do this 10 plus years later in front of big crowds like this.

B (11:56)

So who was your mentor?

A (11:57)

Everybody that knows my story out there that's seeing this probably knows the connection with Luke, but he was a big part, but obviously, like growing. I mean, Randy Travis was my first artist that I ever, like, loved his music. My grandparents took me to his show. Yeah, Reba was another big influence of my. She was one of the only artists that came to my little small town in Albany, Georgia years ago every year. And she had everybody touring with her. Man, she was it. And Queen, you know? Yeah, the queen. I mean, honestly, it was just. It was just cool to get to. To see that, you know. But as far as like, you know, songwriters. When I got to Nashville, I met a guy named Shane Minor. I wrote my first hit with him. Song called Chilling It. That Shane. I remember listening to his music coming up. Big hit. He's an artist. Absolutely big hit. He's a, you know, phenomenal songwriter as well. And he was one of the first people that kind of took me under his wing. Because when you're at that level, what I was. I mean, nobody. Why would some big songwriter, right. Would you know anybody that kind of gives you a chance before you've done anything? I mean, you don't forget that. And Shane is one of my favorite people, so I'll never forget him. Kind of take me under his wing. But there's a lot of people. I mean, Ashley Gore.

B (12:59)

You worked with Ashley. Oh, he's my neighbor.

A (13:01)

Oh my. Really? He is. He's the goat.

B (13:04)

Is he a melody guy or a lyricist?

A (13:07)

He's a freak of nature.

B (13:08)

Yeah.

A (13:09)

But he also. He works harder than anybody else I know. I mean, it's one of those things that, like, he's so talented but he also works hard, and that combination is. You're not going to beat that. But he's just, you know, some of my most special songs, my career been with Ashley. So I was like, you should be here. We. We wrote that song at the football stadium when I was on tour with Luke and Gillette Stadium.

B (13:27)

Really?

A (13:28)

He walked in the stadium and took a video of a stage set up in a football stadium, sent it to his daughter and just said, you should be here. You know, she loved that. And then I just lost my dad and he told me the title. And I obviously thought of, my dad should be there at this stadium show and just the way songs happen. And if he wouldn't have said that or given me that idea, you know, that song changed a lot of things. And there had been a meet and greet since that song came out that somebody didn't mention it or tell me.

B (13:53)

I can relate to their own story.

A (13:54)

Yeah. You know, I always say on stage every night that I moved to Nashville back in August 2007 to be a songwriter, and that's the song I wish I'd never had to write. But then the more you think about that, I think songs like that are why we really love country music anyway. Songs that can speak to you and touch you and say things that maybe you didn't have the words for. And for me to be able to share things I've been through, fun and sad, whatever it may be, and for people to relate. That's the whole point. That's why I love music. Music's always been there for me, especially country music. So to be on the other side of it, whether it's in a writing room, on stage, that's a pinch myself moment. Almost every time. It's best feeling in the world.

B (14:30)

So let's talk about 25, because it's an exciting year for you.

A (14:32)

Yeah. New album took. Took a little while to finish this one, but I really do think it was. Was worth the wait. Spanish Moss, the title of that, y'. All. Check it out. Absolutely. Just so happy it's out. Got a new single. We can always move on. The whole album's great. Got 21 songs, got a baby on the way. So gonna. Gonna take a little break and become a dad. Then we're gonna have a fall tour, happy hour, sad tour with Priscilla Block. Got my buddies Graylon James and Logan Crosby coming along on select shows as well. It's a big year, like, career wise. Personally, just all of it. It's. It's pretty crazy to finally have some sense Of a balance.

B (15:05)

When you added the new kids to the tour, was that your idea, or.

A (15:08)

Yeah, Grayling.

B (15:09)

I always call them the kids.

A (15:10)

Yeah. No, I. I've been. Been right there, you know, and first of three and somebody that you believe in, and Graylin's actually done some shows with us already. He was responsible for writing a handful of Grayland's.

B (15:21)

A talented young man.

A (15:22)

So great. I believe in what he's doing as an artist. I think I'm one of the first people that told him, hey, you got a cool voice. You should look at singing and doing your. And the. Always. To hear him say that, it just. That makes me more proud than anything, because somebody said that to me, hey, you ought to be singing these things. What are you doing? And everybody's got to have, you know, a little somebody that believes in them to open some door. And I think if I can bring people I love what they're doing out to put them in front of my fans for a little bit. I mean, geez, look at how many people have taken me out on tour. And I think in our business, that's how you say thank you. I think you pass it on. You find somebody that you love what they're doing, and you realize you were right there, and it just. Man, that makes me emotional thinking about it, because it's been a pretty dang good ride.

B (16:00)

Well, I just hope that you keep writing great songs, which I'm sure you will, and I've seen you live, and I'm blown away. And tonight at Country Thunder, we're in for an exciting night. And I just want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come and hang out with me.

A (16:13)

It's about time.

B (16:14)

Tell me your story.

A (16:15)

Oh, I appreciate you, you know, letting me hang here some more stuff together. Let's do it. No, like I said, I'm a big fan of what you do, and we wouldn't have this crowd out there to listen all these songs and.

B (16:25)

And just, you know, we have a songwriter's tent. Some of the greatest songwriters in Nashville that come out to these gigs. It's so interesting to see how high the attendance is on those. On those moments. Right? And they play two shows a day, and they're writing the songs that some of the dudes are playing on the stage or the women are playing on the stage. It's fantastic moments.

A (16:42)

I mean, one for y' all to shine that light on. Songwriters is. That's huge. I mean, they don't get that. They deserve that, but it's just A such a unique thing, and. But what I'm even more just thankful for is the people that show up and the fact that it's packed and they care. The people that are realizing, like, you know, you grow up, you're a kid, you think you don't even care who wrote this, so you just know you like the song, and that's fine.

B (17:02)

Right?

A (17:02)

That's fine. There's people out there that. That's how they listen to music. But then when you start appreciating and realize that, hey, this person you never even heard of was responsible, if weren't for them, you'd never have that song, you start appreciating that. And that's a. Nashville is all about the songwriters. And I appreciate you. You know, y' all shining that light on them Beaver series. Yeah.

B (17:20)

And Benji's here.

A (17:21)

Okay, good.

B (17:22)

Yeah.

A (17:22)

I gotta check and see who else.

B (17:23)

No, yeah, it's. It's. It's so cool. The deep dive in, that was so much fun because we would have, you know, artists go out. They. They wrote the song, and then the artists would go out and sing their song in that tent, and it became a real phenomena.

A (17:36)

Yeah.

B (17:36)

And it's working great. And, I mean, those guys have been supportive of us allowing ourselves to be able to present that, and I'm just pretty proud to be able to introduce this to the masses across America and Canada. And last week in Canada, we had Canadian songwriter, which is a whole different vibe, and there's a whole different market, but they're all country music songwriters and aspiring to be in Nashville, Tennessee, and hopefully someday they can be there. But the live thing is a whole different deal. You have been an amazing performer, and I guess as a songwriter, you need someone to present your song. Right? Who has the magic?

A (18:06)

Yeah. And being able to deliver a song, well, that's. I don't know. Oh, damn.

B (18:11)

Right here.

A (18:11)

The magic.

B (18:12)

That's amazing.

A (18:12)

Well, thank you. We hadn't had that many shows this year. We're getting back, getting ready to go. So this crowd tonight, I'm. I'm pumped up, so I think you'll be able to pleasure me.

B (18:21)

A lot of folks out there tonight.

A (18:22)

Can't wait, brother. Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thanks.

B (18:26)

I've been in this business for over three decades now, and when I'm not on the road hanging out with you country Thunder fans, I'm back at home in Nashville, Tennessee. It's an incredible town that has grown and changed so much over the years. So we have a new segment to our show called One Time in Nashville where I share a story. One of my favorite nights in Music City, I'm at the Grand Ole Opry, I'm at Marty Stewart's special show prior to the midnight jamboree prior to CMA Fest, and I get a phone call from Toby Keith's agent saying, toby wants to meet with you at his manager's house. And it's T.K. kimbrough's house and it's a beautiful mansion. Get through all of the record execs and meet Toby Keith. And Toby and I had been friends for a long time and he said to me, why don't you come to Cabo with me tomorrow? We go to Cabo Wabo, which he's great friends with Sammy Hager. He gets up on stage, rocks out in front of a sold out house who had no idea that tubby kids.

A (19:26)

Was going to perform.

B (19:27)

And after that we go back to his house, we have a few drinks and we're sitting down and he said to me, troy, I want to do 365 shows in 365 days. Can we do this together? And I was floored by it. And I said, can you do 365 and 365 and what's your concept? He said, well, let me put it into perspective for you. Said I dug ditches and I sang every day of my life and I had a day job so I can do 365 and 365. And unfortunately our friend didn't make it to do 365 and 365. But I'm telling you, I missed the hell out of them and he was one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Big thanks again to Cole Swindell for joining me on the Bus today. He's just a guy who continues to put in the work and still is grinding. I loved hearing about how he got his start working with Luke Bryan and all the heartfelt stories and memorable songs he's written in his career. He's an amazing artist, an amazing entertainer and I look forward to you all catching him alive. You can check his website, coleswindell.com for tour dates. I'm Troy Ballhoffer and thanks always for joining me here on the bus. 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. Love hearing your story.

A (20:56)

Well, thank you, man. I always said I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't lived it.