Todd O’Neill is a name you’re sure to be hearing more of lately. The Louisiana native is one of the most recent artists added to the Big Machine Label Group roster after winning the 2016 NASH Next Challenge. Nailing the top spot in the competition came with a recording contract with Nash Next Records, a single produced by Jay DeMarcus, and national radio airplay on Cumulus Media. As O’Neill was on the verge of releasing his debut single, ‘Love Again,’ the singer took some time to talk with us about his crazy whirlwind experience thus far.
Last year, O’Neill was in Louisiana, playing shows, songwriting, and taking occasional trips to Nashville when a number of people emailed him the NASH Next contest information, he explained. After discussing it with his manager, they agreed that it could be a great opportunity. So Todd entered the contest, although not expecting much to come of it. “I’ve got to be honest, I don’t have the best luck, but we entered the contest and I kind of forgot about it because I don’t like to get my hopes up about things,” O’Neill shared. The singer was thrilled when he made it to the regional finals in Lafayette, LA – but it kept getting better – he went on to win regionals, and was announced as a top 10 contender. He was living out his dream right before his eyes. “To work so many years at something and to be recognized in the top 10, much less to get to win the whole thing, is very rewarding,” Todd said. O’Neill was chosen as the winner by a celebrity panel which included Scott Borchetta, Kix Brooks, Jay DeMarcus, and Danielle Bradbery. “It was an all-star judge panel. I’ve got to be honest with you, it was very intimidating, probably the most nervous I’ve ever been stepping on a stage in my life. I got up there nervous but once I started singing, I felt right at home. I felt my whole body relax and it just kind of fell right into place,” O’Neill recalled.
Along with the NASH Next win came the opportunity to record a single produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, so the pressure was on to find the perfect song. As it turned out, the decision wasn’t so hard after all, Todd explained. “We listened to a couple hundred songs at both of our plug meetings and as soon as I heard ‘Love Again’ I instantly fell in love with it. It really captured my attention and I think everybody in the room, Jay DeMarcus and the team at Big Machine, felt the same way.” The song was written by Jesse Frasure, Cary Barlowe and Brett Young. “It’s very fun, very upbeat, has a really cool storyline, and also allows me to bring that soul side of country music that I love so much to the table,” O’Neill added. “They asked me to submit my top five favorite songs. It went up the chain of command to the man himself, Scott Borchetta, and he wound up picking ‘Love Again.’” O’Neill was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get the ball rolling – there was just one problem. “Fast forward a week I get another email from Big Machine saying that they had some disappointing news, that Brett was going to put it on hold for his next album,” Todd explained, and it was back to square one.
O’Neill continued to go through the motions, and about a week later he found himself snowed in New York City after playing a show at Printers Alley. As luck would have it, Brett Young was scheduled to play a show the same night O’Neill was stuck in the Big Apple. Todd’s manager suggested he go to the show and see if he can talk to Young about releasing the song. “I’m thinking, this guy doesn’t know me from Adam. I can’t just walk up to Brett Young and say, ‘Hey, let me have your song,’” he laughed. “So we went out that night and I finally worked up the courage to go talk to him. I introduced myself, I told him about the NASH Next contest, and I told him Jay DeMarcus would be producing. I said, ‘By the way, I really love the song you wrote, ‘Love Again.’ He tells me, ‘Man, you should cut that song.’ So I said, ‘Well I can’t. You put it on hold.’” O’Neill explained how Young insisted he record the song. “He said, ‘If you’re ready to cut, and if you want that song you should cut it.’” So Todd headed back to Nashville the next day with great news to tell the label. “Four days later we’re at Grip Studio here in Nashville with Jay cutting ‘Love Again.’ But to get snowed in in New York, right?” he recalled with a laugh. There’s no denying this single was meant to be.
Working with Jay and the Big Machine team has been a dream, Todd described. “It’s been a whirlwind experience. They have so many things to bring to the table that an independent artist doesn’t have access to. Just from every aspect of it they’re a well-oiled machine.” As a long-time fan of Rascal Flatts, O’Neill couldn’t have been more excited to work with DeMarcus on this project. “Jay is such a character – super nice guy and probably one of the funniest human beings I know. He makes you feel welcome. And super professional and talented. He definitely has my respect as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer,” Todd said. This year, O’Neill will be taking his new single, ‘Love Again,’ on the road as he embarks NASH Next Live tour dates around the country. “I’m looking forward to the transition from a regional Louisiana guy to a national act,” he said. Mostly, Todd is excited to be able to share what he’s been working on, and his infectious, soulful single, ‘Love Again’ is just the start.
You can purchase your copy of ‘Love Again’ on iTunes here.
Keep up with Todd by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Photo credit: Robby Klein.