Chris Lane talks Rhythm and Roots Tour, Debut Album Girl Problems, & Wanting to Duet with Selena Gomez

Hey Chris, How have you been we chatted with you back in 2015 when you released your EP, Fix. Which definitley launched you into a lot of success. How did that EP treat you?   

I am super blessed that people took a chance on me. Working on this EP and eventually the album allowed me to kinda work through a lot of things and to figure out what kind of sound I wanted and what kind of songs I wanted to write and record. This EP and “Fix” specifically opened a lot of doors for me and I am so thankful that I get to share my music.

You recently released your debut album, Girl Problems in early August. What made you decide to title the album Girl Problems and what was the writing, recording and production process like on this album? 

Naming it “Girl Problems” there was a certain theme on the record after I listened to it again and started looking at the song titles. Every single song, for the most part, seemed to talk about some type of relationship problem, whether it’s a girl problem, a guy problem or whatever it might be for whoever is listening to it. I thought it would be very relatable.

Working with Joey Moi was an absolute dream, it was a little nerve wracking in the beginning since he is so successful but he played an instrumental role in helping me find my sound. I wanted to keep a very similar sound throughout my record as people heard on “Fix.” And hopefully that’s what they grow to love. Not every song is going to have the falsetto, which is what we tried to make my thing. But a lot of songs do.   

The album has your first #1 single on it, Fix. When you wrote the song Fix, Did you ever think it would achieve the success it has reached today (From flooding country music radio, to becoming your first #1 song, to a lot of fans summer anthem)? 

To be honest with you it doesn’t even feel real. I don’t know if it truly sank in yet. I am so blessed to have gotten my first #1 with “Fix.” To put all that hard work in and see it pay off, it’s exciting and feels really good. It’s so exciting to see people showing up to the shows and singing their hearts out to the song, I’ve never had that before so it’s really cool.

Even Selena Gomez is a huge fan of your song “Fix,” What was the feeling like when you were told that this is one of Selena Gomez’s favorite songs?

I’m just a small town guy from Kernersville, N.C., and I’m such a big fan of hers and the fact that she said that blew me away. It was a really cool shout-out for me. I got to meet her when she came to town to play a show in Nashville and now we’re friends.

Would you ever be open to a duet with Selena Gomez, if she was down to do one with you? 

Absolutely! That would be epic. 

Out of the 12 songs on the album, Girl Problems; Which song would you say means the most to you and what would be the meaning behind the song? 

Maybe “Fix”, it is the most personal and the song that started everything for me. I hold it forever close to my heart.  It earned me my first number 1 song and that is something I’ll always be grateful for.

How would you describe your new album to someone who has never heard your music and what song off the album would you debut your music to a new fan who has never listened to you before?

A lot of the songs still have that falsetto, I even have two songs with all-falsetto choruses, which was really cool recording. The whole record, the reason I called it Girl Problems, was because it had a certain theme. It seemed like every single song was about some type of girl problem, whether it was a good one or a bad one. The ups and downs in relationships. I’m not reinventing the wheel, but hopefully I’ve done it in a cool way, and sang it in a fresh way. I would probably play “Fix” because that’s what started it all for me and helped me find my sound. Or my new single “For Her” I call that my Backstreet Boys moment and you can hear all the different influences I drew from for that song.

You are currently out on the road with Rascal Flatts on their Rhythm & Roots Tour, How has this tour been for you so far. What has been fans reactions to your set? 

The tour has been amazing! I love getting on stage night after night and sharing my music. We have a lot of fun. I have never had music out where people come and sing every song; it’s the coolest feeling in the world. They are coming out and singing the words to “Fix”, but to have them singing all the other songs is icing on the cake.

If fans have not yet seen this tour what can they expect from your set and setlist on this tour?

Performing live is probably one of my favorite parts of this whole thing. I want songs that I can move to and dance to on stage. That’s what made me pick the songs that are on the record now.  I’m seriously the worst dancer on earth, but I want people to show up and be able to move and have a good time. I also throw in a medley of cover songs and that is always fun to perform and see the crowd reaction.

Other then music you are a huge fan of playing sports including Golf as you mentioned in our last interview and you were a college Baseball player, What sports do you enjoying playing on your off days from tour and would you ever take the chance to play your college’s Baseball field if asked?

The Rascal Flatts guys are avid golfers so I hit the course with them as often as I can. I also love playing basketball and recently picked up long boarding. Yes would be a great full circle moment for me to play at UNC’s baseball field. 

With your cover of Mario’s hit song “Let Me Love You,” and you being known for your incredible falsetto. Are you an R&B/Pop fan? What artists in music right now do you listen to?

I certainly am, I grew up on George Strait and Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. You name it, I was listening to it. But I did love Usher and Justin Timberlake and Backstreet Boys, just to name a few. I still love R&B. I kind of listen to everything.

You have opened for an incredible number of huge country stars like Florida Georgia Line, Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, currently for Rascal Flatts. Any favorite tour memories with these artists?

I love talking to the Rascal Flatts about songs. I played them my record and I got their opinion. That’s really cool for me, because they’re people that I look up to. When I’m out on the road with these guys I always watch their sets and am able to be influenced and learn from them.  

What is next for Chris Lane, after the Rascal Flatts Rhythm and Roots tour? 

After I finish the Rhythm & Roots tour I’ll be going out and doing a few of my own headlining shows in smaller clubs. Then I’ll be joining Florida Georgia Line on the road and I’m really looking forward to that. BK and Tyler really took me under their wing especially in the beginning so it’s going to be a good time. 

 

Check out www.IAmChrisLane.com for Tour Dates & More! 

Get his Music: http://smarturl.it/CL_GirlProblems