After being a published songwriter in Nashville for years, Drew Green is stepping into the spotlight for the first time ever!
The McMinville, TN native, who would make trips back and forth to Music City after landing a gig as the singer for Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge house band, was one of Music Row’s most prolific songwriters, co-penning tracks like Florida Georgia Line‘s “Colorado” among others. With more original songs than most artists can ever claim under his belt, it felt right to take the next step and launch an equally fruitful artist career, finding a home with Sony Music Nashville for a long-term joint venture with the label’s newest imprint Villa40.
CS Country (virtually) sits down with Green to talk about his two new singles “”Little More Be Alright” and “Right Where I Be,” making the transition from songwriter to artist, and his plans once the Coronavirus pandemic is over.
Take a read at the full Q&A below and connect with Drew by following him on Instagram at @drewgreen.
CS Country: You were a hit songwriter before stepping into the spotlight as an artist yourself. What made you want to make the transition, and are there any major differences between being a singer and songwriter?
Drew Green: “I’ve always kept my primary focus on the song. I’ve wrote way over 100 songs a year the past 5 years and over that time I’ve developed a “thing” the industry likes to call it. Which really has been me the whole time and I’m glad I get to play those for the country music community. I’d say the only difference from writer to artist is the day to day work, more responsibility and a team that I depend on and who depend on me. But all good things!
CSC: Is there a song that you may have written for another artist that you would love to put your own spin on in the future?
DG: “Not really, I’m sure one will come along one day but if you want to see me play my major cuts just come to a live show when we start doing those again.”
CSC: You released your debut single “Little More Be Alright” last month and you already have nearly 190K streams on that song alone. What made you want to release that song as your first, and can you elaborate more on the track (whether it be its meaning or creative process)?
DG: “I fell in love with ‘Little More Be Alright,’ it was the first song I’d wrote just me and my producer and that meant a lot to us. Plus I had songwriting veterans that I look up to telling me it was a hit and fresh so it felt like a good start. And I just love singing it. I’ll never get tired of playing it.”
CSC: Your follow-up “Right Where I Be” is officially out now. Can you talk to us about the meaning and creative process behind it as well?
DG: “I had the title written down in my phone and thought there was something to it. I didn’t think any of my co-writers would like it but Zack Dyer and Mark Trussell thought it was interesting also. Mark produced a little beat and I first thing sang the top of the chorus, ‘what I got bumping in the back of my ride’.”
CSC: What’s one thing you want people to take away from listening to your music?
DG: “Would love people to have a good time listening to my music and relate to any situation whether they be on a boat, in a truck, club, or riding a tractor.”
CSC: How have you been staying busy during the pandemic?
DG: “Been taking monthly trips to my houseboat on Center Hill Lake to write with some buddies and been getting a lot of great stuff. Been doing a lot of Zoom writes as well and it took a second to get used to it but starting to like it now. Just trying to stay busy and positive in a time like this.”
CSC: Do you plan on releasing any more music soon, whether it be more singles or a full-length project?
DG: “Yes I’m trying to put out songs as fast as they will let me that makes sense. We’ve got 4 more we’ve recorded already and talked about getting back in there to cut more so hopefully a lot coming out for everybody.”
CSC: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, can you tell us a secret about making your song “Right Where I Be” that we wouldn’t know when listening to it?
DG: “We used the day one vocal on the final cut. Just a lot of magic that day!”