Since the August 2007 release of his debut album I’ll Stay Me, country music newcomer Luke Bryan says that the biggest change in his life is having a much busier schedule. But the Georgia native, who moved to Nashville in 2001 to pursue his music career, tells Songwriter Universe magazine he doesn’t consider anything he’s done since moving to Music City to be work.
“Spreading fertilizer and hauling peanut wagons, that’s work,” says Luke. “The neatest thing is being out on the road seeing how the fans react to my music. When I perform ‘All My Friends Say,’ the roof comes off the place and it’s a flattering thing. But when they’re singing along to my other songs, I know the only way they’d know them is by listening to and buying the album, and that’s really exciting.”
In spite of the success he’s already enjoying, Luke still feels like he has “a long way to go."
“Last June, I played at the CMA Music Festival on the smaller stage by the river, but was looking across at the Coliseum where the big names and veteran artists play and thinking about someday playing there.”
Luke says he’s learned a lot from his producer, Brett Beavers, including important lessons about songwriting.
“He’s all about letting me say what I want to say, do what I want to do and encourages me to get after those early sparks of inspiration. He’s the first producer I ever met that helped me this way. He’s also taught me so much about songwriting. I always tell aspiring writers that the key to success is writing songs that you believe in, about moments you pull from your life. Then get out and perform them if you can, or at least let people hear them. If no one is reacting, then it’s not a good song. If just one person out there connects to it, then you’re onto something.”
