DESPITE being signed to Warner Music’s prestigious Nashville label and having a gorgeous fiance in American country singer Kelsea Ballerini – what Morgan Evans really craved was the acceptance of his hometown.
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Finally 10 years after winning the Road To Tamworth competition the Mount Hutton country star is enjoying mainstream radio airplay for his latest Kiss Somebody.
“To be honest, the best thing to happen – and it sounds cheesy because I’m saying it to you – is having my friends and family in Newcastle texting me that I’m on the pop radio in Newcastle,” Evans told the Herald from Melbourne during his four-day Australian promotional tour last week.
“They’re sending me videos of the radio when it’s playing. It’s awesome dude. I’ve never had so many texts and emails.”
The whirlwind trip featured appearances on TV shows The Project and Sunrise, to further showcase Evans’ growing profile.
Kiss Somebody is the first track the 32-year-old has released since moving to Nashville two years ago. The time has been spent carving a niche in the cutthroat Tennessee music capital’s market and working with established songwriters like Chris DeStefano (Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson) and Josh Osborne (Kelly Clarkson, Tim McGraw).
Evans’ first album since his 2014 self-titled debut is expected to follow in 2018.
“That’s the thing with Nashville, people come from all over the world to make music there and it’s all about collaboration,” he said. “Two heads or three heads are better than one.
“It’s been an awesome experience writing with so many people and working out who your people are, and I feel we’ve done that.”
It’s estimated that Nashville is home to 10,000 songwriters. Each trying to uncover that sprinkle of magic dust that creates a certified hit.
The vast majority fail miserably. However, many are hailing Evans as the next Keith Urban, with his Aussie charm and pop hooks. The gamble has paid off.
“Newcastle is a pretty hard place to be away from,” Evans said. “I miss the beach everyday. I traded it all that to get up everyday and do music with people who are the best in the world.
“I legitimately love every day that I’m there. With this being the first song out from that section of my life is a huge step and the way it’s being received is making me feel like I’ve been doing something right.”
Nashville hasn’t just made Evans’ musical dreams come true. Last Christmas Evans got engaged to Ballerini after meeting her at the Country Music Channel Awards in Brisbane nine months prior.
The pair plan to marry in December and Ballerini’s hen’s weekend made headlines last week after she took selfies with Jennifer Lopez while partying in Las Vegas.
“She’s been living this weekend,” Evans said. “I haven’t had any bachelor or bucks party yet. This is my 40th day in a different city each day, so I haven’t had two seconds to do anything.
“I’ll find some time between now and the wedding. We’ll make it happen. I just want to hang with my mates from Newcastle who I haven’t seen in ages.”
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
