Not even a year out since his last album, Never Give In, Will Hoge returns with new music. His latest release, from an upcoming project, is "Middle of America." 
The song is a rock and roll ode to small town America and the everyman and everywoman who live there. Written by Hoge, along with Jessi Alexander and Tommy Lee James, "Middle of America" is a highly relatable tune that reflects many a person's upbringing and highlights the fact that many of us are chasing our dreams and "trying to get by" in life, mistakes and all.
After an acoustic introduction, Will's distinct vocals are supported by piano, guitar, drums and....hand claps (as I have said before, who doesn't love those!). The melody and lyrics paint a clear picture of small town life, a picture that might even include Will and his band playing this song in a club somewhere, chasing their dreams too.

"We're lettin' our freedom ring
Chasin' these small town dreams
Doin' what our parents did
Watchin' them shake their heads
Thinkin' we've all gone crazy lately
But we know it'll be alright
It's just another night in the middle of America"

Click the link below to purchase the single

I have enjoyed every single song I have heard from Joel Crouse and his newest, "Don't Tell Me," is no exception. The song, which he co-wrote with James Dean Hicks and Jamie Houston, is a plea to his girl to take him back. She can tell him that he may be a "no good thoughtless jerk", (or any other name for that matter), but he just doesn't want to hear that she doesn't love him anymore. 

While we are still hearing a lot of the same themes in the songs on country radio, Joel refreshingly makes his own path. The youthful, up tempo song has a rollicking throwback feel, yet is also current. He sings with confidence while electric guitar and piano make that request to "open the door" feel exuberant.

"Your door is locked girl and I deserve it
I knocked and knocked til my hand is hurting sore
It's just a quarter to four
I'm more than late by eight little hours
But I got a handful of thirsty flowers now
Baby can we talk it out."

"Don't Tell Me" was featured on the CW's Hart of Dixie and is on Joel's album Even The River Runs which was released on August 19th. For more information visit here.

J. Michael Harter, former member of the brother-sister trio, The Harters, is in the midst of launching his career as a solo artist with his debut single, “Holy Cowgirl.” The single is Harter’s first release from his forthcoming EP, Ride On, which will be released on Sept 30, 2014.

J. Michael Harter, Scott Harter, Earl Bud Lee, Scott Laurent, and Bruce Wallace co-wrote the up-tempo song during a songwriting retreat in Alaska. J. Michael commented about the day the song came to life, “I had the title in my phone for years and often brought the idea up when I’d do co-writes, but I had a hard time getting people to understand where I was going with it. While brainstorming for ideas with my co-writers at our retreat in Alaska, I thought, what the heck maybe they would get it. At first when I said the title, they were all silent, pondering what I’d just said. Scott Laurent laughed and said, ‘You mean like a really religious Cowgirl?’ I said no man, but that’s funny! I mean like you see a woman all dolled up in tight jeans and boots and you think, Holy Cow Girl!!! At that moment, Bruce Wallace started playing that very infectious guitar hook and the song came to life.”

Lyrically "Holy Cowgirl" contains much of what we continue to hear on the radio. Sonically, the song is heavy on electric guitar with an up tempo driving beat that should make dancers everywhere happy. 

“The boys been checkin’ you out all night
Looks like they’re in for a hell of a fight
Holy cowgirl
Where you been all my life
Holy cowgirl
You’re doing everything right
Rockin’ them jeans yeah ain’t nothing like I’ve ever seen
Struttin’ round like a cowboy’s dream
Holy cowgirl”

Mr. Harter has said that with his new music “I am striving to be part of the pendulum swinging the other way to lyrically driven songs that would make you cry, laugh, or make you remember something that touches your heart.” I myself look forward to hearing those lyrically driven songs on the EP which he says contains “some of the most special and refreshing music” that he has ever written.

Listen to the single here