In envisioning a journey from a small Texan town to becoming a celebrated country music sensation, Parker McCollum has realized his dreams in grand fashion. The 33-year-old artist, who holds several accolades including Academy of Country Music Awards and a CMT Music Award, as well as having a couple of platinum singles, is now venturing into new territory with his fifth full-length, self-titled album, which is set to be released this Friday.
McCollum expresses immense pride in this upcoming record, calling it his most focused work yet. Yet, the path to creating “Parker McCollum” wasn’t without its hurdles. Initially, McCollum had recorded a significant portion of the album with his longstanding collaborator, producer Jon Randall, but things didn’t unfold as anticipated. McCollum felt a need to disrupt his comfort zone and ventured to New York to collaborate with Frank Liddell, known for his work with Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, and Chris Knight. In just a week, they recorded the final version of the album.
“It sounds crazy when you say it aloud,” McCollum reflects on the rapid recording process, acknowledging the unorthodox approach yet affirming its success. With most of the songs already penned, including “Permanent Headphones” written when he was just 15 and “My Blue” conceived in 2019, McCollum found himself in a creative groove, inspired by Liddell’s influence and the energetic aura of New York.
Expressing his affection for the city, McCollum had long dreamed of recording there, likening the experience to a movie-like endeavor. This spirited atmosphere infused the album with vitality, channeling through tracks such as the slowly building “New York Is On Fire” and the country-flavored “Solid Country Gold,” “Sunny Days,” and “What Kinda Man.”
A notable feature on the album is a cover of Danny O’Keefe’s folk classic, “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues,” a collaboration with fellow Texan Cody Johnson. Having played this song throughout his life, McCollum felt it was time to carve his rendition into history.
The recording journey, though initially smooth with the track “My Blue,” soon evolved into an emotional and creative challenge, which McCollum cherishes as an integral part of his process. This experience also led to introspection on his musical identity. Despite aspiring to be a country singer, McCollum acknowledges the evolving nature of the genre and embraces the uniqueness of his sound, saying, “Whatever it is that I do sound like, that’s what I wanna do.”
The essence of his work remains in evoking emotion through music, a quality that has resonated with his fans since the release of his debut album, “The Limestone Kid.” This pursuit of music that deeply resonates propels McCollum’s creative journey, continually challenging him to write songs that satisfy both his artistic vision and his audience’s expectations.