Paul Cauthen has always played by his own rules, and with the release of his fifth studio album, Book of Paul, the modern-day country music outlaw doubles down on that identity.
Out today (Friday, April 3), Book Of Paul is a 13-track collection that captures the raw and independent spirit that has defined Cauthen’s two-decade climb while amplifying the larger-than-life presence of his “Big Velvet” persona. With a booming baritone and a near-biblical swagger, Book of Paul feels like both a culmination and a declaration: this is exactly who Paul Cauthen is.
Cauthen co-wrote 12 of the album’s 13 tracks, further cementing his reputation as a fearless and deeply personal songwriter. He also contributed bass and drums on select cuts, adding another layer of authenticity. Book of Paul arrives on the heels of one of the biggest years of Cauthen’s career, including a GOLD-certified feature on Shaboozey’s “Last Of My Kind,” and continues his streak of carving out a lane that is entirely his own.
Production duties are split among an eclectic group of collaborators, including Ryan Tyndell, Steve Rusch, Sam Martinez, Fustin, and Nate Ferraro. Together, they help bring Cauthen’s vision to life without sanding down its edges. The result is a record that feels raw, deliberate, and unapologetically against the grain.
Of the album as a whole, Cauthen reflects on what he hopes listeners will take away, telling Music Mayhem, “I think that they’re going to know that it was honest in my timing and my life and how I’ve developed as a musician and a songwriter…. it lines up with what I’ve done my whole career. It’s kind of like being in a pressure cooker to this point, and it kind of feels like the moment that it just really, man, this is who I am. So it feels like a top of the rock moment for me.”
That sense of hard-earned arrival runs throughout the Book of Paul. When asked about the writing process, Cauthen emphasized that every song came with its own set of challenges. The title track, in particular, required a deeper level of introspection.
“The ‘Book Of Paul’ was kind of tough for me because I really wanted to keep it low, just honest with the lyrical content and not try to oversing it. And I really kind of had to look myself in the mirror on that one a little bit longer as far as my vocal take and how I wanted to deliver it,” he said. “But it ended up being the title track, so it all worked out.”
The album rollout has already given fans a taste of its range, with early releases like “Texas Swagger,” “Chainsmoking,” “Bayou By You,” and “Ain’t No Crime.” Among them, “Texas Swagger” stands out as a mission statement, with equal parts classic country grit, gospel power, and a rock-and-roll attitude. The track leans heavily into Cauthen’s East Texas roots, and it’s accompanied by a music video that was filmed at the BuckTown bull riding compound of legend JB Mauney.
Opening up about the inspiration behind “Texas Swagger,” written alongside Sam Martinez and Rob Ragosta, Cauthen says, “I had the idea of the ethos of a Texan or kind of the chip on a shoulder that maybe somebody has about, not in a negative way, but it was kind of like we wanted to write this song about being a boisterous Texan with attitude. So living with that ‘Texas Swagger’ is kind of living with that edge, and it really had a good rhythmic beat to it, and it just kind of hit on all cylinders. So it was kind of the frontrunner for a good single.”
That pride in place is central to Cauthen’s identity as an artist. Raised on the sounds of Texas legends, he sees his music as part of a lineage that stretches back generations.
“I mean, I couldn’t change it if I tried. All my favorite artists growing up were Texans, and I kind of like to read from the book of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Waylon Jennings, and those guys were my idols growing up,” Cauthen said. “And I think they crafted songs really well and just try to stay true to myself and write songs that come out of the lake or out of the pond or out of the … It’s usually out of a body of water somewhere, but Texas is home forever. I couldn’t change it.”
Even as a veteran of the road, Cauthen keeps a close eye on the next wave of Texas talent. He’s particularly drawn to artists who share his commitment to honesty and hard work.
He says, “Man, I love Vincent Neil Emerson. He’s a great Texas boy, and he writes real songs from his heart, and Tanner Usrey, some great musicians who are just working really hard. And you kind of sell your soul to it to go do it. I’ve said this earlier today, it’s been almost selfish for a while. If you’re thinking about nothing but your career, your own success, and then when it pops or that the pressure comes to that point where it actually works if you’re lucky enough and you’ve got good enough songs and the talent to do it, then it’s about sustaining at that point. So it never ends the hustle. You’ve got to keep on chiseling away.”
When asked to name his personal “Mount Rushmore” of Texas country, his answer is as classic as it gets: “Waylon Jennings, Buddy Holly, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt.”
Aside from showcasing his Texas pride, Book of Paul features two standout collaborations. “Chain Smoking” pairs Cauthen with Delaney Ramsdell, while “Tossin’ Back Time” features Jake Worthington. Both tracks highlight Cauthen’s ability to share the spotlight without losing his distinct voice.
On working with Worthington, he recalls, “Jake Worthington is the countriest person I know in my life. So I knew I wanted a very, very, very, very country lyric on ‘Tossin’ Back Time’ that I wrote with Ryan Tyndall. And Jake had been working out of the studio and Tyler, Texas, that I work out of Rosewood Studios, and they already had that relationship, and he was in town, and it was a late night, and I was like, ‘Well, if he’s in town, I’m coming up there. I’m going to grab this verse.’ And we stayed in there and hooted and hollered until wee hours in the morning, and he nailed down probably the countriest thing that I’ve ever had on a record of mine.”
He’s equally enthusiastic about Ramsdell’s contribution, saying, “Delaney Ramsdell is one of my favorite up-and-coming artists, and she just knocked that one out of the park. I was writing a lot of songs with her, and then I heard her just kind of really singing while we were songwriting together. And I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was like, ‘Where are your records? Where are your albums? Where are your songs?’ And she’s just really been collecting her songs and doing it herself. And I was like, ‘Well, there’s no other person that should probably sing this part but her.’ And she really made it her own.”
Despite his success, Cauthen fully understands the pressures that come with the industry. Staying true to himself has always come at a cost, but it’s a cost he’s willing to pay.
“I probably could have made a lot of different decisions and been a lot bigger than what I am now by playing ball. And one of my first managers said, ‘You’re against the grain, and you’re a slow burn.’ And I guess I was, but at the same time, my fire just gets bigger every year, and I just stay persistent on the songs and let the songs kind of fight the battle for me and do the talking.”
That philosophy extends to how he views the broader country music landscape.
“You fall out of tune in touch with what you’re actually, your vessel is, and what you’re trying to say. It becomes skewed, and I’ve done it. I’ve done it myself, and I think we all kind of do it in a way, but it’s about really what brought you to the dance and like how those people gravitate to you because you’re you. And that’s every great artist that you see or meet or talk to that’s had a long-standing career, they found themselves, and then they used their voice, and then they used their heart, and that’s what they let lead the way.”
“Now, sometimes you can fall into paths and what, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’re going to do this because we’re General Motors and we make trucks, and this is what we’re going to do since we sold trucks, we’re just going to do trucks,” he continued. “But I like to drive drop-top Corvettes too. And I like to ride motorcycles. So, I like the scope of it. So I don’t like to just lean into one thing or the other or say that I’m this or that… or box myself in.”
Ultimately, Book of Paul is exactly what its title suggests: a personal testament. A reflection of a life lived on the road, in the studio, and somewhere between Paul Cauthen the man and Big Velvet the myth.
“If you look at the Bible, there is no book of Paul,” Cauthen explains. “I just wanted to write something that embodies me, because I’m sick of hearing records catered to what’s hot and what’s working. I’ve always been this country boy, East Texas guy. Roots, rock and roll, Texas gospel. If you look back at all my albums, I’m proud to say I meant everything I’ve said.”
Paul Cauthen Book of Paul Track List
1. “Book of Paul” – Paul Cauthen, Delaney Ramsdell, Rob Snyder & Justin F. Johnson (Fustin)
2. “Ain’t No Crime” – Paul Cauthen, Ryan Tyndell, Bryan Simpson & Jeff Hyde
3. “Texas Swagger” – Paul Cauthen, Sam Martinez & Rob Ragosta
4. “Tossin’ Back Time” (feat. Jake Worthington) – Paul Cauthen & Ryan Tyndell
5. “Blue Denim & Black Gold” – Ryan Tyndell & Jeff Hyde
6. “Breakaway” – Paul Cauthen, Steve Rusch, Jimi Bell & Johnny Clawson
7. “Chain Smoking” (feat. Delaney Ramsdell) – Paul Cauthen, Jason Burt & Beau Bedford
8. “Bayou By You” – Paul Cauthen & Ryan Tyndell
9. “Dark Horse” – Paul Cauthen, Steve Rusch & Luke Dick
10. “Cigarettes & Billy Graham” – Paul Cauthen, Benjy Davis & Jimi Bell
11. “Road Dog” – Paul Cauthen, Sam Martinez & Simon Wilcox
12. “Texas Gravel Road” – Paul Cauthen, Steve Rusch & Rob Ragosta
13. “The Voice Inside (Silence)” – Paul Cauthen, Sean Van Vleet, Nate Ferraro & Annie Schindel
For more information on Paul Cauthen’s new album, Book Of Paul, please visit paulcauthenmusic.com.
