Tanner Adell has brought something to our country music diet that we cannot believe we were starved of.
Borrowing lyrics from her debut single, Buckle Bunny, it’s that “acrylic covered in barbecue at the line dance” flavour that perfectly summarises that signature country-rooted pop sound.
The Nashville-based singer-songwriter admits that her fan base identifies as people who would hesitate before calling themselves lovers of country. Still, her unique fusion of country and pop has brought interest from all genres.
Adell tells Countrytown, “I think that, honestly, the biggest portion of my listeners is people who thought they didn’t like country music.
“I have tried to make my sound as palatable in a global sense that anyone who listens to it can put on a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and be country for the night with me.”
Adell’s unique childhood is to thank for this fun, boppy amalgamation, spending an average year split between California and Wyoming – taking a slice of inspiration from the two drastically different states and lifestyles.
She says, “Growing up between LA and Star Valley, Wyoming, are two very, very different things. I was raised in the countryside; I was raised extremely, foundationally country. But, you know, during the school year I was doing some modelling and acting in Los Angeles. Where I have ended up with my music is a culmination of my entire childhood.”
Adell continued, “I was back and forth between Hollywood and the lights and the glamour and the peak of entertainment and then going in the summertime to play night games with my family and cousins and spending my birthday by the river making Dutch oven potatoes and chicken. So, [the] opposite! And I think I have just found a way to make both worlds work together. It’s definitely been a process to find the perfect match, but I think I’ve done that.”
The contrasted childhood almost sounds like the plot of a television show, but the output has resonated with her growing fanbase, attracting 113 million global streams, close to 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 10.5+ million likes on TikTok. Adell acknowledges that social media has allowed her to tap into her fans and build a following of country-curious listeners.
Her debut single, Buckle Bunny, was an instant hit. The pacey beat and raw, sexy lyrics painted a visceral picture of the less traditional side of country music.
A “buckle bunny” is essentially defined as a rodeo star groupie, with the term having a resurgence following its mention in Yellowstone. Adell doesn’t take herself or her music too seriously and speaks of country music as an inviting place for country loyalists and country tourists alike.
“My dream is to go around the world hosting hoedowns,” she says. “To help people feel like they can be part of country music means I’m doing my job right, and it means that I am doing what I actually really want to do, which is bring people to the country world that I have created, which is a safe place for anyone, regardless of whether you have ever liked country or not.”
A relative newcomer, Adell has released Buckle Bunny and Whiskey Blues within the last year, both of which have amassed a cult following.
According to Adell, perhaps her most significant accomplishment to date is her collaboration with Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter, featuring on the track Blackbiird: a reworking of a classic.
Blackbird is a significant track from The Beatles‘ legacy and the perfect addition to Bey’s album as it depicts a moment when black school girls integrated across the American South school system, also inspired by images from Little Rock Nine in Arkansas.
“When I got the news that I would be able to do this for Cowboy Carter, I was like… I have been manifesting for a long time.
“I’ve always thought, ‘It’s going to happen one day – I don’t know when, and it doesn’t really matter when, but I know I’ll work with her one day.’ I think I’m just pleased to say that it happened so early in my career. I mean, the respect I have for her as an entertainer is massive.
“I hope to be able to achieve a lot of the things she has achieved – global headlining tours [and] the awards she has. Her connection to her fans – it’s something that I aspire to. It was, weirdly, a bit of a reality check. Even though it so didn’t feel like reality. But a big reality check for me that I am on the right path.”
Adell’s recent release, Whiskey Blues, is a slower but similar flavour to Buckle Bunny, with the catchy lyrics and strong vocals only surpassed by the fun nature of the video. Adell admits that she had some luxurious ideas about what the video should be before she had the idea to choose a Wrecking Room as the location.
“One night, I was literally laying in bed and thought to myself, I just want to go and smash stuff! I googled those wrecking rooms – and hoping they had one in Nashville, that would be so fun to do. I looked it up, and they had one not too far away, so I texted my team and said – I know what I want to do for the video. I want to take my girlfriends, and I want to go to this smashing room and break everything.
“We were all actually going through something at that time – so the anger you see in that is all very real. It felt like the only real thing I could do for that song was to do it this way.”
The Ridin’ Hearts festival lineup was announced earlier in the month, and Adell was thrilled to be included.
Adell commented, “I didn’t know when I would get the chance to be able to go out there [Australia], so to know that people are looking forward to me being out there – it’s like, I’m shocked, bewildered, and so excited.”
She continued, “We’re going to have fun – put your boots on, put your hat on and just come hang out. People need to start letting loose – and from what I hear, the Australians know how to party. So expect a shoey in my boot – I will be doing that. It’s done.”
Tanner Adell will appear at Ridin’ Hearts festival this November.
RIDIN’ HEARTS FESTIVAL 2024
FULL LINEUP
Riley Green (USA)
Cooper Alan (USA)
Josh Ross (CAN)
MacKenzie Porter (CAN)
Tanner Adell (USA)
Casey Barnes (AU)
Austin Snell (USA)
Bella Mackenzie (AU)
DJ Konsky (AU)
Saturday November 2 – Eora/Sydney, Showgrounds
Sunday November 3 – Naarm/Melbourne, Caribbean Gardens
Tickets: frontiertouring.com
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