Brian Kelley Says He Is More Than A “Beach Cowboy” And His New Music Will Prove That

Kelley says he is taking the Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney approach with his new music.

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Melinda Lorge

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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Posted on July 11, 2023

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Brian Kelley on the Close Up Stage at Fan Fair X on Saturday, June 10 during CMA Fest 2023 in downtown Nashville; Photo by Josh Brasted/CMA

Brian Kelley is gearing up to release his next solo album following his split from award-winning country duo Florida Georgia Line. And he promises the music will be much more than the “Beach Cowboy” vibe fans have come to associate him with on previous releases, Sunshine State of Mind and BK’s Wave Pack.

“It’s Important For Me To Show All Sides On This New Music”

In a recent interview with Katie & Company podcast, Kelley opened up about the layout for his next project, produced by award-winning producer Dan Huff. He told host Katie Neal that he wants to show more sides of himself that fans have yet to see and hear.

“It’s important for me to show all sides on this new music, a little bit of everything, not just one and not just kind of that coastal country thing because I’m more than that,” Kelley said. “Also, as an artist, to have just one or two or three albums, it’s hard to get to show your full self with just a couple albums, but I’m looking forward to just even sonically… I have a bigger sound.”

Brian Kelley; Photo By Ben Christensen
Brian Kelley; Photo By Ben Christensen

More Than A “Beach Cowboy”

While Kelley shares that he plans to veer away from the “Beach Cowboy” expectation, he plans to continue peppering the coastal sound into some of his work.

“I have dug into where I want to take this,” Kelley, whose most recent release is a song called “See You Next Summer,” added. “And working with Dan Huff. He’s an amazing producer and an amazing guitar player. He’s soloed the heck out of ‘See You Next Summer.’ So yeah, there’s a little bit of coastal stuff but a lot of country stuff to be honest with you. I love that, and I’m really looking forward to getting it out there, and we’ll see what happens.”

Brian Kelley also shared that he wants others to feel included in his music whether they’re staying in or going out and having a good time.

“I believe the music that I’m writing and putting out is not just for me and not just something I’m going to — hopefully, people will grab onto it, and it will resonate, and they will have it in their lives how they see fit,” he shared. “Whether that’s on a boat before they go out in the kitchen, they’re making a drink before they go out at night. And if they’re on the beach, little Sunday service in the sand or out in the country, riding dirt roads, whatever it may be, out in the honky tonk, on the way to work in the car.”

“There’s No Ego Here”

Along with his massive success with FGL, Kelley has scored major writing credits for other artists. And while he has all the bragging rights, he says he’s keeping an open mind with who he collaborates with and adds, “There’s no ego here, it’s the best song wins.”

“I’m open-minded. I think that’s good, but also, I kind of have a clear path of where I want to sit and where I want to stay in a sense,” Kelley shared. “So when it comes to that mindset, I told my whole team, I was like, ‘Whoever y’all want me to write with new, old, just make me uncomfortable in a sense.”

Taking The Garth Brooks And Kenny Chesney Approach

On top of that, Kelley said he plans to follow the “Garth and Kenny model” by sitting down and writing as many songs as he can.

“I’ve talked about it before, but having the kind of Garth [Brooks] and Kenny [Chesney] mindset of ‘Yeah, we’re going to write as many songs as we can, and hopefully as many of those make the album, but we welcome outside songs,’” he shared.

As previously shared, Kelley’s forthcoming album will be the follow-up to his most recent single, “See You Next Summer.” And similar to his mindset of being open to outside songs, he proved he intends to keep that mentality as the tune was co-penned by HARDY, Hillary Lindsey, and David Garcia.

Brian Kelley, Brittney Kelley; Photo Courtesy of CMA/ABC
Brian Kelley, Brittney Kelley; Photo Courtesy of CMA/ABC

“See You Next Summer”

Of the track, Kelley shares, “’See You Next Summer’ was an outside song that my team had set aside, and they found that song. I think it’s only maybe a couple of years old, and I know it was passed around town. It never landed with anybody. And it’s just crazy how that happens. It landed with me, and every line that went by, I was like, ‘Man, I have lived that song!”

“I am living that song. My wife, we’re going on 10 years being married. She’s from Jackson Lake, Georgia, gosh, Flovilla, Georgia. What a cool coincidence. And so it’s like, it’s almost Jacksonville, and I just thought that was so clever,” he continues, pointing out how he and his wife, Brittany Kelley, connected to the lyrics of the song.

Kelley added, “I’ve never heard of Jacksonville, Georgia. I know Jacksonville, Florida because I grew up an hour from there. And just a well-written song, a story that is just real. Some are looking for summer love for sure, but there are a lot of us that are looking for that forever kind of love. And that’s what I have with Brittany, and that’s what that song is with this solo outlet. I want to do it the right way. And I think part of that for me now that it’s a real thing.”

Brian Kelley; Photo By Ben Christensen
Brian Kelley; Photo By Ben Christensen

Thus far, Kelley has not shared the release date for his upcoming highly anticipated project.

In the meantime, folks can continue to enjoy “See You Next Summer,” which serves as Kelley’s first song on country radio as a solo artist.

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Written by

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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