Country 102.5 welcomed Jerrod Niemann into Boston last Thursday for their annual Holiday Jam. Niemann and Gloriana were co-headlining the show at the House of Blues. “What a great radio station (WKLB), to be able to do anything with them is an honor because I know what they’ve done for country music, especially in the area,” explained Niemann to us the day before his show.
Being on the road is nothing new for Jerrod. Since 2010, Niemann estimated he and his band do about 200 shows a year, and has been on the road for 285 days a year in certain years. He spent this past summer touring with Keith Urban on Urban’s Raise ‘Em Up Tour. “The great thing about being on tour with Keith is that so many people connect the dots; they’ve heard your song but didn’t know the same person sang it. People just connect the dots and that takes a long time to happen. I wouldn’t trade those moments with Keith for anything. I hope I get to do it again. There aren’t many times where you can call home and your parents fully understand what you do. When you can call them up and say, ‘hey we’re lucky enough to go out with Keith Urban,'” he explained.
It was his parents and his small town upbringing that helped influence Niemann and his love of music, specifically country. “Whenever I was listening to country, I could look out the window and see exactly what they were talking about, like ‘that’s my life, that’s what I do.’ It’s a lot easier to be honest.” Jerrod knows his fans also relate to the genre. “One thing I’ve been thankful for is to realize that there’s people out there that know the meaning of a dollar and work their tails off every day, and that’s why they relate to country music. It seems like when America’s is in it’s toughest spots, everyone turns to country music because it’s so lyrically good.”
Photo credit: Darren Dickerson
It seems more now than ever there is conversation about country music, and what defines the genre. Some people say it’s the lyrics, while others say its the melodies. Jerrod Niemann understands country music (he said he’s engulfed himself in the genre dating back into the 1920’s) and its changing landscape. Jerrold adds that artists need to speak to what people need to hear to get them through their day. “It’s funny now, all the stuff people originally thought was ‘pop country’ is now considered ‘traditional country.’ “I heard Garth Brooks one time say that time is good to music and it’s so true, because you hear a song and you remember, ‘oh, I was 16 and I heard a song at this place and I was hanging out on my very first date, whatever, it’s like a snapshot in time, and it also gives a snapshot of your life,” said Niemann.
There’s more to being a fan of country than being able to relate to the music. Jerrod has had conversations with people he’s met, he noted those in the New England area about what turned them onto country, and a big part of it is the accessibility of the artist. “I’ve had fans I’ve met six times before. We (artists) always team up with radio stations, and we have such a hands on approach with them. Every artist starts building friendships with everybody, and going to events, not just with other artists, and media, but with the fans and it makes us feel good too. We can spread that down home love to the fans.”
His road to Nashville started like a lot of other artists, with the desire to perform. Jerrod knew he wanted to be an artist from the start, and met with the head of Warner Brothers, Paul Worley who told Niemann he was close to becoming an artist. It was five years later that Niemann had his first big moment in the industry. That big moment was writing his number one song, and it wasn’t for just any artist, it was for Garth Brooks. “Garth is such an amazing human being, he changed my life. It really helped me get in just understanding the business a little bit more, and just seeing that the best of the best can be a great person and treat everybody with love and respect, then nobody has any excuse to do anything any differently.”
That moment was just the start of Niemann’s career. And 2014 may have been Jerrod’s biggest year to date, both professionally and personally. He released his newest album ‘High Noon’ which produced a platinum-selling single in ‘Drink To That All Night,’ and the tune also spent two weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. He toured with Keith Urban, headlined a show at the Ryman, and got married in October. “I haven’t had that much time to enjoy all of it, you listed all those things and in the moment I’ve been very grateful but you hear them all together, and it’s an overwhelming feeling. It makes you feel good and I’m very grateful because those things you named are people that have had to put faith in what you do as an artist, as a person, and as a friend. When something good happens you just have to stop and take a whiff of the roses.”
Jerrod is looking to ride the momentum of 2014 into the New Year and is set to go back into the studio in January. He plans on writing, and listening to songs trying to find ones that speak to him. Niemann explained working on new music is the only time he is a control freak. “It’s a pure love and passion. I don’t walk in and am like ‘change this, change that,’ I get so excited to be a part of the process.” As Jerrod explained his music making process, it was evident he is involved in all aspects from start to finish. He typically starts recording around 3:00am after a show, and then will re listen to the song the next morning after he rests. His at home version is then brought into the studio. Niemann sets himself apart from other artists by the passion and depth in his own music. “It’s just the passion and there’s more depth and layering in the tracks. Every little note that’s there, I was there when it was recorded and I appreciate every little step. It’s fun.”
Jerrod enjoys seeing his fan base grow as he remembers shows where he would be at bars with just the bartender, the manager, and his parents. “I’ve seen that for years, and finally when you have a song and people come out to the front of the stage, it’s been a gradual incline. You have plenty of time to think about when it wasn’t so fun, so anybody that shows up we’re glad to have them.”
“I appreciate everything, and everyone in the New England Area. Give country music a chance if you haven’t. We love new listeners and appreciate everyone’s support.”
You can stay up to date with Jerrod on Twitter, Facebook, and his official website.