Country newcomer and 19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough reaches a milestone that was once just a pipe dream today (10/20), releasing his debut EP, Promiseland.
A heady collision of grungy Southern Rock and pure-Country style featuring six fresh tracks – with all but one co-written by Stough and produced by the likes of Alex Maxwell, Sean Rogers, and Austin Shawn – helps introduce a Mississippi-born vocal flamethrower and guitar slinger with a true underdog story.
Just 19 years old and coming off a standout third-place finish on Season 21 of American Idol in 2022, Stough was still in high school until last year and had been working full-time as an HVAC technician after graduation. But once his mother convinced him to audition for Idol, that life became history.
Now based in Nashville, and mixing a freight train of full-bodied vocal rasp with a down-home blend of Hard Rock and twang, his debut EP marks the culmination of a whirlwind journey – and the start of an exciting new chapter.
“This EP represents who I am and where I’m from,” Stough says. “It speaks to my life these past few years and has become a source of comfort for me. Maybe that’s why I called it Promiseland. I hope it can be that for you, too.”
Along with preparing for the release of Promiseland, Stough has spent 2023 headlining shows across the nation, while also supporting fellow rising star Kidd G and Country-Soul troubadour Drake White. A series of previous singles have so far racked up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, with “‘Til the Day One Does” on deck.
A brooding ballad of romantic longing wrapped in dark Western sonics and Stough’s blowtorch vocal, the low-down anthem co-written by Stough alongside Geoff Warburton, Gavin Lucas, and Austin Shawn is all about an on-the-run loner who may be hard to love – but nevertheless, holds his head high. Crunchy guitars, banjo, and whispering steel set the stage for what’s to come.
"This song is badass, man. It just feels cool, like something you’re supposed to drive around and listen to,” Stough explains. “It touches on the fast lifestyle that I’ve been forced to become adjusted to – but also, it hints at an ability to change. Something that I think we all have to do and can relate to.
About Colin Stough:
A 19-year-old Country Rock phenom and native of Gattman, Mississippi, Colin Stough has come a long way in a few short years – and with his debut EP Promiseland, the 19 Recordings/BMG artist is still just getting started. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style have helped tracks like “I Still Talk To Jesus” and “Bad Day” rack up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, and in September 2023, Stough released the single “Promiseland,” along with an official music video. The hard-hitting anthem is the title track to Stough’s debut EP, which is out now and puts the emerging artist on track to reach even more dreams in the future. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Kidd G and Drake White. Stay tuned for much more to come.
Photo Credit: Mike Rodway