Blanco Brown has a reason to sing with the release of “Snapshot”, out today, which serves as the first preview of his EP Cedar Walls & Whiskey releasing on June 14. “Snapshot,” written by the iconic Diane Warren and produced by Blanco Brown, is a poignant reflection on the special memories we keep of our loved ones. These memories bring us back to cherished moments in our lives and provide motivation and hope when needed. Listen to “Snapshot” HERE and pre-save/pre-add/pre-order Cedar Walls & Whiskey HERE.
Blanco is celebrating a second chance at life and a newfound appreciation for everything he does. After the unprecedented chart topping viral success of “The Git Up,” which achieved 11x Platinum status and garnered over one billion streams, Blanco was on the cusp of realizing his dreams. But in an instant, a drunk driver changed everything for him. The drunk driver hit Blanco head on while riding his motorcycle. Brown broke multiple bones in his body, required 12 blood transfusions and needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. Despite the lengthy and challenging rehabilitation process, Blanco made a full recovery, relearning fundamental skills like walking and holding a microphone.
Blanco is dedicated to raising awareness against drunk driving as well as the recent increase in accidents caused by impaired drivers. He remarked, “It's hard for me to understand why with all the education and knowledge we have acquired and the options for ride share companies, how we have numbers on the rise. I am aligning with charities against drunk driving to help spread the word and continue educating the public. Nobody cares how much you drink or smoke, just don’t drive for the sake of yourself and others.”
Blanco has faced both blessings and challenges in his career, particularly regarding the intersection of skin color and Country music. “I have encountered some challenges but I have also been blessed with success for the thing I love the most- making music. I have been criticized by some for my disruptive style but music evolves. Some people catch on quicker than others but it always evolves. Look at Elvis or the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Queen or Garth Brooks- all of them contributed to great change and growth in music.”
The release of the first installment of his 2024 EPs, Heartache & Lemonade brought us two amazing hits so far, “Sunshine Shine”, which perfectly aligns with Blanco’s cheery attitude towards life and “Good As It Gets,” a more poignant ballad and love story. Part two of his releases, Cedar Walls & Whiskey launches with the relatable song, “Snapshot.” Warren and Brown spent considerable time together working out of her studio forging a strong friendship. Diane remarked on their collaboration, “[I’m] excited for everyone to hear ‘Snapshot.’ It's a song about holding onto the good moments so you can relive them again and again and Blanco really brings it to life. He is a fantastic and special artist and I can't wait for everyone to hear this!”
Blanco added, “Diane is a legend plain and simple. Working with her was amazing and I cherish her friendship.”
“Snapshot” is available 5/17 on all platforms.
About Blanco Brown:
Blurring the lines between Country, Hip-Hop & Soul, Blanco Brown makes a southern sound that he proudly calls "Trailer Trap." Honing in on his unique sound, Blanco balances both the metropolis and country settings in which he grew up. His viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms. It claimed the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks and was the top-selling digital Country song in the US for 13 weeks, resulting in Billboard naming him as their No. 1 Top New Country Artist for 2019. Apart from being a GRAMMY®-nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown, the multi-talent’s multi-national Platinum-certified collaboration “Just the Way” with Parmalee garnered more than 500 million on-demand streams, earning Brown his first No. 1 hit on Country radio (in the US and Canada). More recently, he doubled down on his genre-bending collaborations, teaming with Nelly on the funky, country inspired track “High Horse,” T.I. for “Trap Still Bumpin’,” LOCASH and the late Leslie Jordan for the funky “Let It Slide,” while pairing with Diplo for “Do Si Do” and Lee Brice and R3HAB for the remix of Brice’s hit song, “Soul.” In 2021, Blanco Brown also lent soaring vocals to the song “Never Gonna Tame You (Original Song from “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses”),” written by Diane Warren. Recovering from a life-threatening accident and leaning on music to heal, Blanco released “Nobody’s More Country” in 2021. Then, while hitting the road hard last summer, he instantly captured the attention of festival audiences across the nation opening his set with a breathtakingly powerful cover blend of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Showcasing his world-class vocal talent and captivating stage presence throughout 2023, Blanco released the emotionally charged track “I’ll Never,” unlike anything the No. 1 hitmaker has ever released, followed by a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver with Brown’s release of "Take Me Home, Country Roads.” With his April 5th release of Heartache & Lemonade, part one of three 2024 EP’s, this A-Town resident’s branded “Trailer Trap” sound amplifies the stories & arrangements on the EP. Blanco’s dripping-with-soul vocals also sonically shine throughout as displayed in the lead focus track "Sunshine, Shine.” Part two of three 2024 EP’s, Cedar Walls & Whiskey, drops June 14th and Brown’s latest melody “Snapshot” is out Friday, May 17th.
About Dianne Warren:
One of modern music's most celebrated songwriters, Diane Warren, has penned nine #1 and thirty-three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and is tied for having written the most #1 songs as a sole writer in Billboard history. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001.
She has received 15 Academy Award nominations, is a GRAMMY® winner with 15 nominations, an EMMY winner, and two-time Golden Globe winner whose songs have been featured in more than 150 films, including “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (Mannequin), “Because You Loved Me” (Up Close and Personal), “How Do I Live” (Con Air), “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (Armageddon ), and “Til It Happens To You” (The Hunting Ground). In November 2022, Warren became the first songwriter in history to receive an Honorary Oscar.
She is the sole owner of Realsongs, her publishing company and a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has worked with many of today's most popular artists, including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, H.E.R., Snoop Dogg, Paloma Faith, Jon Batiste, Maren Morris, and Justin Bieber, in addition to having written songs for the world's most iconic artists such as Whitney Houston, Cher, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and many more.
