Research done earlier into the year for some of these artists can be found here.

The majority of the research i did into country music in term oner of this year can be found in the following information.

Unit 9 - Project 2 - Tast 1 Research

Sam Barber 

Introduction

Sam barber is a country artist from Frohna Missouri and hes 21 years old. Hes released one album 2 eps and several singles whiles creating quite a name for himself in the industry. He not to long ago blew up on socaal media because of his single he released with Avery Anna which is called indigo. After listening to this song i realised i wanted to make similar music to this. He first became popular on tick tock with his cover of the Lynyrd Skynyrd's song Simple man. He then started releasing his own musoc colaborating with artists to then become extremely famous.  

Sam barber changing from Civil engineer to Musican 

Before Sam Barber was a full time musican he was a Civil Engeneer at the state college of Missouri. He initially was just playing guitar and singing as a hobie but focused on engeneering however he then posted a tik tok onlone of him doing a cover of the famous song Revival by zac bryan and then blew up. Due to the fact that he was cautious and didnt know idf he wanted to be a musican he didnt quit his civil engeneering job and become a musican and his change into famous life style was gradual. Howevger after so many people were wanting him to come out with music and other stuff for example perform he decided to become a famouys musican and release a few singles and a ep. Sam barbers country career was verey different to most artists with the fact at the start of the career he was given a lot of mentorship and help from his family as they were so loyal with his decision and after this he created the song man you raisewd for all the people that supported him before he was famous and helped bring him up.

His inspiratrion

He talks about some artists who inspired him to start making music and learn guitar and how they changed his image on music as he didnt initially want to be a proffesional musican as it was something he just loved doing and then he exploded and went viral when he was a 16. He expl;ained that artistls like chris staplton inspired him to start singing becaiuse he would listen to his music with his family and he believed that chris has the best voice in the world but he also explained that Tyler childers is a huge part of why he makes music and he loves his music. He said if he could meet anyone when he started and aslo for any advise it would be from him. When he talkls about being comfident when it comes to touring and going round the world playing music snd he said it reaslly started when he went on american idol and ever since then he hasnt really had huge nerve problems. His be3lief is if people are buying tickets to his shows then they like his music and he believes hes no better than anyone else so if he makes a mistake they will understand because everyone will make a mistake nearly every day.

His colaborations on songs and in the industry

He talks about Avery who is a artist he contacted on line and they finally were able to meet up and thats when they wrote indigo which is both artists most famous song and while they were practicing for a gog that sam barber was going to bring her out for that night in the air BNB he showed her restless minds which is another really famous song when it was about half way finished and he asked how she would sing on it and lyric ideas and then Sam desided to make that song as a duet and both songs they have created together have blown up and he explains he now trys to work with her as much as he can as they arte very talented together and it shows in the two songs becvome extremely famous an d making both artists careers. He then talks about another colaboration he Has called Lily Fits who is completely different vocal style to avery were she alot rougher but averys vocals are exteremely smooth and relaxed and then him and lily made Stopped in Hell. He explained that he had already made that song and he doesnt like bringing ideas he already had when it comes to colaborations incase they change it into something he doesnt like and he cant take it back althiough he was loving what they were making and they then finished the song together.

Bibliography 

Nicholson, J. (2023) ‘straight and narrow’ singer Sam Barber on his breakthrough song: ‘I think it has found its own kind of purpose’, Billboard. Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/country/sam-barber-country-october-rookie-of-the-month-1235440483/ (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

Barber, S. (2024c) Sam Barber: The ‘Restless Mind’ Interview | Apple Music, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfwmk1r9sP0 (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

Riley green 

Introduction

His colaborations on songs and in the industry

He talks about his song with Ella Langley 57 seconds in to the interview and spoke about there song "you look like you love me" He talks about the sereotypes of duets being in a relationship and how it makes everything cooler. He talks about having a connection with the person you are oplaying with it does make the song a lot more meaningful and he said as a example george and tammy with the songs being about there relationship and he explains his songs have a similar effect even though it isnt true. He enitially didnt want her as a duet she just came in to see if she likes female vocals to sent of to others however he heard her voice on the track and new that she wanted to work with her for two songs and hes really happy with her career blooming like it has and loves having her on the road. They talk about how hard it is to creeate that kindf of situation with someone else. Later on in hs career when riley green was touring he actually collaborated with Luke Combs. The song had already been create however hadnt been released and he was going to release it as a single however as they were on tour together he messaged him and asked if luke wanted to colaborate on the song. Instead of going through record componys and labels they by passed this as they are friends and he fetured on the song and that was one way it exploded on the charts as peple werent expecting it as they had heard the song before on social media and performances. The song had already been released however when it was released again as a duet it got innt the top 10 charts for country music. He explained when touring it changed live performances for him massively as he went from playing large average venues to stadiums infront of about 50, 000 people every night.

His career goal and how it has grown.

Riley greens career really started in 2018 nwhen he started to release some single and also a debut EP. He talked about he spoke to himself and was going to nuckle down for four years on a record deal and try to make as much good music as he could. And now hes been doing it for 6 years and has gained a lot of fame. In his career he started of releasing EPs and trying to get his name out there in 2013 all they through to 2016. At this moment in time all of his music was very classic country overwise known as working class nostalgic country music with his eps outlaws like us and get that man a beer. He then released his debut album which gained a lot of publicity with his song "there was this girl" which was number one platinium certified which was a huge achievement for riley and also a huge stepping stone in his career. But the most popular song in the album being "I wish Grandpas never die" which gaoned three platinums. After this point he really started becoming popular in the music sceen in american music and he later on got ACM recognition. ACM other known as Accademy of Country award is a prestigious awards serimony for the best in country music. It being established in 1966 it is the oldest and most important country music awards.  He was named 2020 New male artist of the year. He then colaborated with other huge artists like Luke Combs with the song Different round here and also Thomas Rhett with Half of me. His most recent album he has produced was his most popular ad brough him in the largest amount of revenue for his career. He then started touring to promote his album with both Morgan wallen and luke combs as a support act playing infromt of 65,000 people as a daily audiance which allowed him to grow. Rileys work going from somepne on a tv show to a multiple platnium record artis is amazing coming from his amazing ability with story telling.

His inspiration

As i said before his only initial inspiration was his grandfather as he got him into country music and is the reason he started playing guitar and progressed with music and without that he wouldn't be in the situation he is now. Although he grew up in a very different and diversted house hold when it came to music. For example his sister liked artists like Tim Mcgraw who is very much a country artist however his mother liked music by artist like the mamas and papas. His dad then swiched it up completel by listening to artisted Lynyrd Skynyrd and other southern rock styled music. Due to vthe fact there was such a variaty of music in his childhood and thats why Riley greens music isa mix of the majority of these genres with lyrics and also instrumental aspercts. When it came to Green's "Worst Way" track that was inspired by contemporary music he explained that it takes inspiration from Eric Church song "like a wrecking ball". When you listen to both song together it actually makes a lot of sense. over all the majority of rileys inspiration is rooted to close family and he specifically focuses for inspiration on classic country ledgends.

Bibliography 

Green, R. (2024) About, Riley Green. Available at: https://www.rileygreenmusic.com/about/#/ (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

Tomko, J. (2024) Riley Green has built a home gym-and a music empire, Muscle & Fitness. Available at: https://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/riley-green-has-built-a-home-gym-and-a-music-empire/#google_vignette (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

Ward, C. (2024) Who is Riley Green, country music artist and The Voice Finale Performer?, NBC. Available at: https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/who-is-country-music-artist-riley-green (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

green, R. (2024) Riley Green: The “Don’t Mind If I Do” Interview | Apple Music, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzvzSQ9YTDU (Accessed: 01 June 2025). 

Smith, L. (2023) Riley Green shares how collaboration with Luke Combs came together: The bobby bones show, The Bobby Bones Show. Available at: https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2023-10-16-riley-green-shares-how-collaboration-with-luke-combs-came-together/ (Accessed: 01 June 2025).