Details: Country music is a lot like life. Fads come and go, and some folks will do anything to get ahead. But for Warner Music Nashville's Drew Parker, there's something to be said for staying put. A modern traditionalist with a country style rooted in the rich textures of the '90s, he doesn't follow trends. His tried-and-true music is a timeless reflection of the steady life he leads - a metaphorical "life at the end of the dirt road" - with writing that turns simplicity into serenity. And while that hasn't always been in style, it has always been his style. Even when it seemed like a liability. "When I moved to Nashville eight years ago, it didn't seem like the kind of music I wanted to make was where Nashville was at - it seemed like a bad time to move to town," he says with a laugh. "But you know, hindsight is 20/20, and in reality it was the perfect time.... I just had to make sure I didn't chase anything." Today, his dedication has paid off. Staying true to himself (for better or worse), he's risen from his small town Georgia roots to the upper echelons of Music Row, fusing craftsman-style country penmanship with the sonic spirit of icons from Keith Whitley and Merle Haggard to Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson and George Strait. It seems the market has come to him. A two-way singer-songwriter, his co-written hits include Luke Combs' Gold certified "Lonely One," Platinum certified "1,2 Many" (featuring Brooks & Dunn), BMI Song of the Year winner "Forever After All" and Grammy nominated Platinum Number One, "Doin This" - plus Jake Owen's Gold-certified Number One, "Homemade." They're all imbued with organic twang and attention to detail, and on the artistic side, he's the same guy. Racking up more than 80 million career streams with gutsy anthems like "While You're Gone," Parker remains committed to carving out space for "regular country folks" in the mainstream, and it's never mattered what everyone else was doing. Far from a gimmick, Parker's just been this way since he started - and with his new EP At the End of the Dirt Road, he's not changing a thing. But nowadays, that's kind of the point."Always do what you want to do, and just hope that it somehow gets cool again," the steady new star explains. "And if it don't, that's fine. At least you stayed true to your roots."The follow up to his While You're Gone EP from 2020, At the End of the Dirt Road finds Parker staying true as always, and continuing to lead country's back-to-basics revival. But while success has made his roots in Nashville deeper than ever, not everything is the same. Now a father and feeling the weight of that blessing, his latest work reflects a new, more mature personal chapter.

Drew Parker - At The End Of The Dirt Road (CD)