Talk about making a statement.
Channing Wilson has been a mainstay songwriter in Nashville for quite some time now, writing hits like Luke Combs’ “She Got the Best of Me,” along with several songs recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt, and more.
However, the Lafayette, Georgia native is ready to make a name for himself as both a singer and songwriter as well, as he announced his debut album Dead Man earlier this month, and the day has finally come.
Produced by Dave Cobb at Cobb’s studio in Savannah, Georgia, Wilson admits that the album is meant to put emphasis on mental health, addressing an issue that he believes isn’t talked about enough:
“Back in the Depression era, Jimmy Rogers was a big hit, and the reason why was because he sang all these sad songs that let people know they weren’t the only ones going through hard times.
There are so many people out there right now dealing with problems like mental illness, but we still don’t talk about it nearly as much as we should.
So, the one thing I hope for this record is that helps people realize that they’re not alone, that someone else feels the way they do. Because to me that’s the first step to feeling okay again.”
For most artists, their debut album is typically pretty safe, as they’re just trying to get their name out there and hope they strike gold.
However, Wilson came out full force and swinging on this project, as each song will hit every ounce of emotion you’ve got.
From whole-hearted love songs, honky tonk heartbreakers, songs of personal struggles, and more, the project gives us the perfect opportunity to tap into the mind of Wilson.
Not to mention, the whole album will have you feeling like you’re sitting in the corner of a smoky bar in the ’90s, with the perfect combination of country music and southern rock.
This is a great one.
Here are a few of my favorites:
“Beer for Breakfast”
“Crazy Over You”
“Ol’ Dog”
“Gettin’ Outta My Mind”
