The Country Soul warrior is riding a wave of positivity, having just released his second studio album, THE OPTIMYSTIC, in March. The project is the story of White’s incredible journey over the past few years, following a stroke he suffered while performing on stage that could have killed him, the result of a tangle of arteries in his brain. He underwent multiple surgeries and worked for months to regain the use of his left side, proving his glass half full attitude to both himself and those around him. He put all of that into his new album, a Muscle Shoals-meets-Nashville moment in time that brings together lighthearted and meaningful musings to form a well-rounded project that perfectly illustrates White’s unique brand of cosmic Country and leaves listeners with a truly optimistic message.
THE OPTIMYSTIC has been hailed as “an extremely accomplished album” by American Songwriter and a “swampy, sweltering mix of country, soul, and Southern rock paired with a powerful message” by Nashville Lifestyles. Billboard praised “White’s smooth brand of country-soul” and Lyric Magazine declared the project “both empowering and uplifting in the only way that great music can be.”
White co-wrote 12 of the album’s 14 tracks, all with a vein of unquestionable and inspirational optimism running throughout. He also had a hand in producing all but one of THE OPTIMYSTIC’s songs, producing two songs solo and teaming with The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston for the rest, while Johnson took the reins on “It Takes Time.”
White just wrapped the Spring leg of his headline THE OPTIMYSTIC TOUR with a SOLD OUT show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl (see photos here), and he’ll be taking his show across the pond in August with a five-date run in the UK at the Millport Country Music Festival on August 20 before he visits Manchester, London and Bristol, wrapping with a headlining stop at The Long Road Festival in Leicestershire on August 26.
Some of Drake’s highlights:
- Just wrapped the Spring leg of his headline THE OPTIMYSTIC TOUR and will visit the UK in August
- Recently joined Whiskey Myers on their Whiskey Myers Is A Comin’ Tour
- Has earned four Top 40 hits and developed a passionate fanbase
- Hails from Hokes Bluff, Alabama, where he developed his love of music and the outdoors
- Started the Power of a Woman Campaign with his wife, Alex, to spotlight inspirational women, many of whom are featured in the uplifting music video for “Power of a Woman.”
- Opened Whitewood Hollow, an event space in Nashville, with Alex.
ABOUT DRAKE WHITE:
Drake White grew up singing in his church’s youth choir in Alabama before becoming one of Country music’s most spirited innovators, earning four Top 40 hits and traveling the country on multiple nationwide tours. His 2013 debut single “Simple Life” introduced his brand of Country Soul, which he cemented with 2016 debut album SPARK followed by the EPs ‘Pieces’ and ‘Stars.’ In August 2019, he collapsed on stage due to a hemorrhagic stroke, and doctors told him he might never perform again. After undergoing a series of operations to repair his Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and months of physiotherapy, White has proved them wrong, returning to the road to spread his incredible positivity to his fans. He just wrapped the Spring leg of his headline THE OPTIMYSTIC TOUR and will take the trek across the pond in August. His new album, THE OPTIMYSTIC, is an inspiring glimpse into the journey he has taken over the past few years, and the “extremely accomplished album” (American Songwriter) delivers a “powerful message” (Nashville Lifestyles) via White’s “smooth brand of country-soul” (Billboard). White has received accolades including Rolling Stone’s 10 Country Artists You Need to Know, The Grammy’s Artist of Tomorrow and the British CMA Awards’ International Song of the Year and has shared the bill with Country music superstars like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band.