Shane Taps Little Big Town For Work Week Anthem “First Place”
Music Video Featuring The Country Group Available HERE
BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville singer/songwriter Elvie Shane released his much anticipated sophomore album DAMASCUS on Friday, an ode to his artistic evolution and deep-feeling take on country music, available to listen HERE. Drawing inspiration from the Apostle Paul’s transformative biblical story and the hardened beauty of ancient steel, each of the 13 tracks find Shane stepping into the shoes of another, taking pieces of each character he’s met on his journey, and melding them into one beautifully woven work. Shane co-wrote all songs on the project produced by his frequent collaborator, Oscar Charles.
“There’s 13 songs on DAMASCUS, and a lot of piss and vinegar,” said Shane. “It’s the ‘Outside Dog’ in me that drives me to do this. Welcome to that autobiography, I’d like to formally introduce myself.”
The Kentucky native teamed up with Little Big Town for his track “First Place,” raising a glass to the everyday victory of just getting by. Shane’s gruff vocals couple with Little Big Town’s robust and iconic sound to deliver an irresistible, harmony-laden cocktail, with notes of “Boondocks” and Steve Earle. Watch the behind-the-scenes music video showcasing the making of “First Place” with Little Big Town and highlights from The Damascus Album Stories Tour HERE.
Ranging from Appalachian electro-punk to defiant heartland hip-hop, grungy gospel blues and neon ‘90s twang, Shane’s influences collide in DAMASCUS to tell his story – one that countless others have experienced in one way or another. The project kicks off with “Outside Dog,” a me-against-the-world prideful anthem that sets the tone for his transformational turbulence and ultimately, self-discovery. The track is followed by the moody, gospel-rock “What Do I Know,” a scathing look into a world at odds with itself, while “Jonesin’” soulfully preaches about the weight of always needing more.
The album pivots into a new stage of discovery, with the shadowy, electro-soul pulse of “Baptized” and bittersweet blue-collar anthem “Forgotten Man.” Shane tackles the opioid epidemic with the agonising “Pill,” and the need for prison reform with high-strung, funky “Appalachian Alchemy” and the weary, identity-stripping “215634.” Hope begins to build thanks to the inspirational message of betting on oneself in “Winning Horse.” The tempo picks up with the keys-driven, honky-tonk fun of “Fan On High,” with a reminder to never take life too seriously and the wild-cat swagger of “Chicken Shit.” Shane’s DAMASCUS journey concludes with the heartland-hymn “Does Heaven Have A Creek,” a track that finally finds peace through reflection of what really matters and what comes next.
DAMASCUS Track Listing:
1. Outside Dog – written by Elvie Shane, Oscar Charles, Jonathan Sherwood
2. What Do I Know – written by Elvie Shane, Oscar Charles, Dan Couch, Jonathan Sherwood
3. Jonesin’ (feat. Jenna McClelland) – written by Elvie Shane, Oscar Charles, Ryan Tyndell, Jeremy Spillman
4. Baptized – written by Elvie Shane, Luke Preston, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles
5. Forgotten Man – written by Elvie Shane, Luke Preston, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles
6. Pill – written by Elvie Shane, Lee Starr, Nick Columbia
7. 215634 – written by Elvie Shane, Adam Wood, Ben Chapman8. Appalachian Alchemy – written by Elvie Shane, Luke Preston
9. First Place (feat. Little Big Town) – written by Elvie Shane, Adam Wood, Dan Couch, Jakob Miller
10. Winning Horse – written by Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles
11. Fan On High – written by Elvie Shane, Driver Williams, Hayes Carll
12. Chicken Shit – written by Elvie Shane, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell, Oscar Charles
13. Does Heaven Have A Creek – written by Elvie Shane
ABOUT ELVIE SHANE:
Acclaimed champion of the next blue-collar generation, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville Records’ Elvie Shane has emerged as a country star with his heart on his sleeve, driven by his unwavering determination to aim for impact. A dynamic project of extremes and deep empathy with a sharp-edged fusion of country, rock, and hip-hop, Shane’s sophomore album DAMASCUS tells the deeply-layered tale of his journey through success, struggle and self-discovery – one that countless others battle with each day.
The Kentucky native has won over critics, delivering “an ode to blue-collar workers that exposes the heart-aching realities of the working class,” (Billboard) as the project “further cements Shane as a new voice of the damaged, addicted, and lost in country music,” (Rolling Stone).
It was another shared life experience that earned Shane his Platinum-certified Number One debut, “My Boy.” The tender tribute to the unconditional love of stepparents took Shane from a country road to the top of the charts, touring the country’s biggest stages as well as overseas and racked up over 400 million streams and counting. The track helped launch Shane’s debut album BACKSLIDER, which was hailed by critics from Billboard and Rolling Stone to the Nashville Scene and beyond, earning spots on many “Best Of” lists alongside new artist nominations from the ACM Awards, CMT Music Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards.