Photo Credit: Kristin Barlowe
Already hailed as one of Country’s most exciting new talents, emerging 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville artist HunterGirl shows the sharp instincts of a perceptive powerhouse on her label-debut EP, Tennessee Girl.
Arriving today (6/7), the six-song EP serves to introduce a natural-born singer-songwriter and national TV favorite, who views her life like an open-book. Taking to socials to express her gratitude for her fans and this project, watch the vulnerable thank you here.
A native of Winchester, Tennessee named one of CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country, her mix of modern Country power ballads and deep-feeling diary entries feature strong take-me-as-I-come values and a soaring Southern vocal to match.
“I have been dreaming of getting a record deal since I was singing songs in my Nanna’s living room as a child. I remember watching artists I looked up to chase after their dreams and praying one day I would have that chance. The songs on this record are pieces of my heart and my story, and I cannot wait to share it with the world and during CMA Fest. So much has gone into creating this debut project, and it reflects not only me as an artist but me as a person,” says HunterGirl.
STREAM OR DOWNLOAD HUNTERGIRL’S TENNESSEE GIRL HERE
Built on an edgy mix of next-gen modern Country, Top 40 energy and Pop-Punk distortion, Tennessee Girl was produced by hit songwriter/producer Lindsay Rimes (Nate Smith’s “Whiskey on You”) with each song either written or co-written by HunterGirl herself.
A striking lyrical journey through young love and romantic temptation, tattooed train wrecks and missed chances, tunes full of up-all-night energy like “Bad Decisions” pulse with youthful vigor, while “Clockworks” cleverly pines for a romantic impossibility, and “Bad Boy” matches raw attraction with a velvet smooth vocal.
On Thursday (6/6), the wild-child music video for “Bad Boy” premiered across all CMT channels and social accounts, playing throughout the day and even debuting on Paramount’s world famous Times Square billboard at 1515 Broadway in New York City. Co-directed by West Webb and Luke Lowder the fun loving, rough-and-tumble clip captures the devil-may-care spirit of “Bad Boy,” written by HunterGirl with Rimes and Greg Bates.
“I remember watching CMT as a little girl and hoping I would have a music video on their channel one day. I couldn’t help but cry when they told me ‘Bad Boy’ will premiere in New York City,” HunterGirl shares. “I am so thankful to CMT for believing in me, and fulfilling a dream I’ve had since I was young. Growing up in Winchester, Tennessee, I never dreamed that my face was going to be on a billboard in Times Square!”
// COURTESY OF CMT
VIEW HUNTERGIRL’S “BAD BOY” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
Meanwhile, Billboard spotlighted HunterGirl as its Rookie of the Month for June, calling her “a clear-eyed purveyor of emotional depth” – and Tennessee Girl offers plenty of proof. Read the full article here.
Tunes like the moody “Weather in Tennessee” capture the unpredictable atmosphere of an on-again-off-again relationship. And while the deeply empathic “Ain’t About You” made history as the first debut radio single in over 30 years to be completely written by a female Country artist herself, HunterGirl’s next focus track amplifies her creative vision.
Deconstructing beauty standards for a girl-power anthem with a casual, dressed-down spirit, “Pretty Much” is all about learning to love yourself in a demanding, unforgiving world. Co-written by HunterGirl with David Fanning, Josh Kear, and Andy Sheridan, the track features understated, self-confident vocals, as HunterGirl matches a soft-touch rebelliousness with the delicate sway of steel guitar and processed beats.
Tennessee Girl Tracklisting:
- “Bad Decisions” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski, Lindsay Rimes, Joybeth Taylor)
- “Clockworks” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski, Lindsay Rimes, Joybeth Taylor)
- “Weather in Tennessee” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski, Warren Garrett, Joybeth Taylor, Gabe Foust)
- “Ain’t About You” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski)
- “Bad Boy” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski, Lindsay Rimes, Greg Bates)
- “Pretty Much” (Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski, David Fanning, Josh Kear, Andy Sheridan)
Produced by Lindsay Rimes
Inspired by female powerhouses from Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire to Kelly Clarkson and P!NK, HunterGirl has been writing and performing since she was a child, and burst on to the national stage as the runner-up on the 20th season of American Idol in 2022. Embracing her Tennessee roots and the innate skills of a Country tunesmith, her first batch of music has taken Nashville and beyond by storm.
On top of her CMT Next Women of Country accolade, HunterGirl has been praised by People for her “incredible voice,” while also being proclaimed an “Artist to Watch” by Country Now and “a major, major new talent” by MusicRow. She’s topped the iTunes All Genre and Country charts with her wistful “Red Bird” and making her Grand Ole Opry debut this spring.
Following up her historic “Ain’t About You” single, HunterGirl also took part in the Grand Ole Opry’s Salute to the Troops show on May 21 – a cause she has long championed – and after performing today (6/7) at Nashville’s world-famous CMA Fest 2024, she’ll be joining her biggest Idol believer Luke Bryan on the road for select shows this summer.
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PHOTO CREDIT: KRISTIN BARLOWE
About HunterGirl: America’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and esteemed songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was nine. In her teens, she honed her craft by performing at venues across the United States and working with veteran non-profits such as Operation Song, Freedom Sings and A Soldier’s Child, using music therapy to help numerous vets transform their stories into songs. After high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Lower Broadway’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Recently, she competed and placed second on the star-making competition series American Idol, where she delivered standout performances and won the hearts of millions across the country including Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan who proclaimed her the “new age Miranda Lambert” and his “favorite female Country voice.” After topping the iTunes All Genre and Country charts with her wistful “Red Bird,” HunterGirl has been a guest on Good Morning America, Live with Kelly & Ryan and The Kelly Clarkson Show as well as shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Named to CMT’s esteemed 2024 Next Women of Country, HunterGirl’s “Ain’t About You” made her the first female Country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single by herself. Now, after making her Grand Ole Opry debut that earned her a lively standing ovation, she just released the anthemic “Bad Boy” along with her label-debut EP, Tennessee Girl, out now. Praised by People for her “incredible voice” and CMT for her “soaring vocals and superstar potential,” HunterGirl will hit the road with Luke Bryan and Kimberly Perry this summer. Chronicling “her current moment of transcending from talented aspiring artist to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard), HunterGirl – “a major, major new talent” (MusicRow) – is poised to become Country’s next big female artist.
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