New Music from Sam Hunt, MacKenzie Porter, Andrew Hyatt, Whitney Rose, and Bowling For Soup

It was a banner week for new music, so here I am with a second edition of the New Music Spotlight to share with you all!

Related: New Music Spotlight with Odario, Terell Safadi, Classified ft DAX & SNAK THE RIPPER and More

In this post, I’ve got four new country songs lined up for you, and then a rock/punk track that puts a giant smile on my face to cap it all off. It’s a mix of men and women. It’s a mix of Canadians and Americans. And it’s mini-playlist I hope you enjoy.

Ready? Let’s do this!

Artist: Sam Hunt
Hometown: Cedartown, GA
Genre: Country
Related: Michael Ray, Dylan Scott, Jordan Davis
Song: Hard To Forget
Notes: Sam Hunt announced a new album, Southside (April 3, 2020) and tour this week, and then capped it off with a brand new single for kicks. Hard To Forget is the new country music songwriting sensibilities of Hunt, with the classic honky-tonk sample of Webb Pierce, and the genre blending and bending beats that we’ve come to know. There are fans that are going to hate it – and there are fans that are super excited for this song and the new album and for Sam Hunt to be back!

Related: Sam Hunt Announces Southside Album Release & Tour Dates

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: MacKenzie Porter
Hometown: Medicine Hat, AB
Genre: Country
Related: Madeline Merlo, Meghan Patrick, Tenille Arts
Song: Seeing Other People
Notes: MacKenzie Porter is back with Seeing Other People, and it hits hard with the heartbreaking kinda bang country music does best. There’s a lot of honesty, regret, pain, and real life in there and she gets it. Some love also has to be given to MacKenzie Porter for going to “that place” and using her significant acting chops in this stripped-down lyric video.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: Andrew Hyatt
Hometown: Sudbury, ON
Genre: Country
Related: Dallas Smith, Shawn Austin, Dean Brody
Song: I Needed That
Notes: Andrew Hyatt just came back and did what he does best, putting his heart on his sleeve and being unafraid to be vulnerable. The song is well-produced and well sung which makes it easy to listen to on a regular basis (put it on your playlists) and enjoy. And if I Needed That is the next step in the next album from Andrew Hyatt, I’m into that.

Like a town needs a church, like a drunk needs a drink, like a rockstar needs a guitar, like a heart needs a beat…

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: Whitney Rose
Hometown: Charlottetown, PEI
Genre: Country
Related: Margo Price, Brandy Clark, Lindi Ortega
Song: Believe Me, Angela
Notes: Believe Me, Angela is the lead single from Whitney Rose’s upcoming album, We Still Go To Rodeos (April 24, 2020) and it’s a great start. The Charlottetown native turned Austin resident gives us what we know and love from her – a great vocal performance, an old-school country vibe, and contemporary songwriting all in the same 3:13.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: Bowling For Soup
Hometown: Wichita Falls, Texas
Genre: Rock
Related: American Hi-Fi, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard
Song: Alexa Bliss
Notes: Like I said in the intro, this song puts a giant smile on my face. As a wrestling fan, I was surprised and delighted to see this video pop-up on my YouTube homepage. And as a dude that saw and met Bowling For Soup almost 20 years ago at Warped Tour in Barrie, ON, I guess I’ve still got a soft spot for the band. Alexa Bliss is a fun bop that doesn’t take anything seriously. And sometimes that’s exactly what we all need from our music. Turn it up and enjoy a little twisted bliss.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.