With independent country growing more popular by the day, it’s no surprise that some of the most talented, rising stars in the subgenre are not only experiencing massive success online but also being scooped up by major labels.
Today, Dylan Gossett is the latest independent star to not only experience viral success online with over 4.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify but also to be signed to a major label.
He joins fellow independent powerhouses such as Zach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin and Colby Acuff as the latest formerly independent acts to sign to a major label over the past few years.
In an exclusive interview with Country Chord, Gossett talked about his thoughts on independent country and why he thinks that the subgenre and style is on the rise in 2023.
While discussing independent, lyrical country, Gosset said, “I truly think it’s just the lyrics of it and the way it’s sounding. It’s almost becoming its own popular music in a way. I just think it’s easy for people to connect to, and it’s something fresh and something new. It’s not overproduced.”
He later went on to note that social media has played a part in the growth of lyrical country, “I think people, especially with social media, like shareable lyrics. They see the lyrics on the screen, and they feel an emotional response. I love that people are starting to like this music.”
Many have noted, including Gossett, how interesting today’s current country landscape is. Whether it’s neotraditional acts like Cody Johnson experiencing mainstream success, Zach Bryan spearheading the independent country movement or Tyler Childers continuing to bring popularity to classic country sound and instrumentation:
“It’s such an interesting time where genres are all on the floor. The walls are kind of down with it. I feel like a singer/songwriter, then it [my music] kind of goes into that folky/Americana country scene.”
It would be amiss to not talk about Zach Bryan while discussing independent country. Though the Something in the Orange singer has been signed with Warner Records since 2021, it’s widely recognized that Bryan was a driving force in the independent revolution country music is currently in.
Gossett noted how important Bryan is in today’s country landscape, “I think what Zach Bryan’s done for the genre has been massive. That dude’s just kind of owning the singer/songwriter country scene right now, especially the acoustic scene. I think he’s done so much for country.”
When asked where he views himself in country music, Gossett noted how he has roots in many different subgenres present while also noting how he doesn’t quite fit the traditional mold outwardly.
He said, “I definitely think I have country roots, but you look at somebody like Cody Johnson. That guy’s country, and if you compare me to Cody, I wear Vans on stage. I think that I’m in that folk/Americana/songwriter country scene.”
Listen to Coal below and check out Dylan’s debut EP, “No Better Time,” written, recorded, produced and mixed himself, out everywhere now.