Easton Corbin is set to release his third album, ’It’s About to Get Real,’ sometime early this year. The first single off the album, ‘Clockwork,’ was released last January, and the second single, ‘Baby Be My Love Song,’ a career-best debut on Country Airplay for Corbin, was released just this past September. Born and raised in Gilchrest County, Florida, Easton knew from a very young age how much he enjoyed singing and playing music. New England Country Music had the opportunity to speak with Easton about his new album, his musical influences and traditional sound and his recent partnership with Ram Truck Brand and Future Farmers of America.
Influenced by such artists as Merle Haggard, George Jones, Keith Whitley, and George Strait, Corbin’s traditional sound and music echoes these artists that were his hero’s growing up. Being compared to George Strait does not bother Corbin at all, in fact, “It’s a huge honor even to be mentioned with any of those guys in the same sentence, and I am just very flattered.” During this current age of contemporary country music, Corbin is determined to stay on the course, writing and performing the type of music he believes in. Traditional country music is the foundation of the genre, and there will always be a place for it. Some of the fans who like the contemporary sound may hear his music, and if they are exposed to a variety of sounds, then perhaps traditional country music will come back around. Corbin is passionate about his music and the sound. “I am just proudly going to wave that flag and continue to do that. It’s what I love to do, and it’s my goal to stick to that.”
Easton has toured with acts such as Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts and just recently was out on tour with The Band Perry on their We are Pioneers World Tour. Corbin and his band had a great time while on tour. To him though, it does not matter who he tours with as he is grateful to all of them for giving him the opportunity to have his music heard. “To be in front of all those people, it’s awesome, it’s an adrenaline rush.” If Corbin could choose an artist he would like to tour with it would be Meryl Haggard. “I would love to play a show with Meryl Haggard, he’s my hero.”
Recently joining forces with Ram Truck Brand and Future Farmers of America, Easton will be performing at twelve different FFA chapters across the country as part of Ram brands, Celebration of the Year of the Farmer. Corbin grew up moving cattle and was a member of FFA, so to him it was a natural fit to be part of the project. He is especially honored that they asked him. Easton feels it is important to carry on the tradition of farming and to remind everyone that this country still has farmers. “It is especially encouraging so young folks take up the career of farming.”
You can read more about Corbin’s partnership here.
Corbin’s anticipated third album will be released soon with songs that stick to his traditional country roots. But will, ‘It’s About to Get Real,’ be able to compete with his debut self-titled album (which produced back-to-back number one hits, ‘A Little More Country Than That,’ and ‘Roll With It’) making him the first solo male artist in 17 years to have his first two singles go to number one? Or his second album, ‘All Over the Road,’ that produced two top five singles, ‘Lovin You is Fun,’ and ‘All Over the Road?’ Corbin has no worries that it will. He has grown as an artist and a performer, and he says that is reflected in this new album. “There’s some new growth with this new record, as a young developing artist your sound always develops. It’s natural that you grow.” But, don’t let Corbin’s’ growth and experience make you think this record will be all that different, because it is still a traditional country record. Corbin states that making an album a success is about choosing the right songs to put on it. He listens to a lot of songs and chooses those that he can relate to and those that he thinks reflect what he believes in. Corbin has co-written songs for the album but that does not mean he chooses just those songs to include. “No matter who wrote it, it’s about the song.” Songs that we should pay attention to on the new album according to Corbin are, ‘Kiss Me One More Time,’ ‘Are You With Me,’ and of course his current single, ‘Baby Be My Love Song.’
You can purchase ‘Baby Be My Love Song’ here on iTunes.
Where does Corbin see himself in the future? Doing what he loves, out there recording good traditional country music and singing it for his current fans and hopefully for some new fans as well. His advice to the new musicians just starting out in the business, “Know who you are and know what you do, and stick to what you do, and surround yourself with great people.” Some would say that is pretty good advice from Easton, the 2010 winner of all of the Breakthrough Artist awards at the American Country Awards.
New England Country Music would like to thank Easton Corbin for taking the time to chat with us and share his thoughts on traditional country music and his anticipated new album.
You can follow Easton Corbin on Twitter, Facebook, and on his official website.
Interview conducted by Lorraine Frigoletto, contributing writer for New England Country Music. You can follow me on Twitter.