Gary Allan

 

With the allure of a modern day outlaw, Gary Allan has won over fans, peers and critics with his signature blend of smoldering vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances. While becoming a force on the country music scene, Allan has remained true to his artistic voice each step of the way. RUTHLESS, Allan’s first new albumin eight years, was released on June 25^th.

The 13-song album feature songs produced by Mark Wright, Tony Brown, Greg Droman, Jay Joyce, and Allan himself.  Allan re-signed with Universal Music Group Nashville in 2016, the label home for the entirety of his twenty plus year career. His last album, SET YOU FREE, topped the Billboard 200 (Pop Chart), a career first for Allan.  The album also made its debut at the top of the Billboard Country Album chart (for the fourth time in a row), and produced his fifth #1 country radio chart topper with “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain).” 

Allan released his first album, USED HEART FOR SALE, in 1996 and has since released eight additional studio albums selling over 8 million albums, 10 million tracks, been certified platinum on three back-to-back albums and been certified gold five times.  Allan has five #1 hits at country radio, fourteen Top 10 hits to his credit and amassed over 2.8 billion total streams.  He’s described as “dark and dreamy” in Entertainment Weekly, “soulful and rough around the edges” in Playboy and deemed a “maverick” by Rolling Stone.  

He sells out venues as a headliner from NY to LA, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Live with Kelly and Michael and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has also landed on the covers of Country Weekly, Pollstar and People magazine.

 

A self-taught visionary, Dylan Schneider first started performing and writing at the age of 14, fearless and skilled far beyond his years. Forging his mark on the Country music community and fans alike with songs such as “Two Black X’s” (2016), “How Does It Sound” (2017), and “How to Country” (2019), Schneider rode a wave of momentum throughout his teens, gaining a devoted fan base and tenacious online following. 

Now 22-years-old, he’s amassed a social-media following of 1 million-plus fans, banked nearly 200 million on-demand streams, and has toured alongside superstars like Florida Georgia Line, Granger Smith, Chris Lane, Mitchell Tenpenny and LANCO. And all throughout, Schneider kept the tunes coming, working at an all-out sprint, before COVID-19 stopped him in his tracks. 

After a forced slowdown due to the pandemic, the Indiana native – now signed to BBR Music Group – is back with a clear perspective, fresh mindset, eager tenacity, and enhanced vision. Taking the pandemic to reset physically and mentally, Schneider hustled, grinded and sharpened his artistry and songwriting. 

“It was perfect timing for that,” Schneider admits. “I just said ‘It’s time to get some new songs written, and I want that to be the introduction to a new chapter.’ … To me, it’s a revamp and a new beginning.”

With a new team backing him in BBR Music Group, Schneider is better focused and ready to take his career to the next level. He’s an all-around more-complete artist, finding that clarity and a reaffirmed focus makes all the difference.

“It’s basically the ideal situation, with all of these puzzle pieces finally coming together,” he explains. “I’m paying more attention to the songs I’m writing, and at 22 years old, I’ve gotten to live more and understand what it’s all about.”

A natural trailblazer, Schneider’s evolved style demands attention. He’s always blurred the line between country and pop, and his new songs once again break new ground, landing just ahead of country’s cutting edge. Inspired by everything from Nickelback and FGL to Justin Bieber and Luke Bryan, Schneider’s long felt comfortable in country’s unclaimed space. Mixing modern pop sensibility with a down-home feel, his sound cannot be restrained, as he integrates the punchy edge of rock with arena-sized beats and modern pop hooks.

“Somebody like me, having so much that I’m influenced by and so much that I listen to, I’m always finding new doors that need to be opened,” he explains.

Since Schneider has been in the music industry since his teens, most forget he’s only 22 years old. 

Celebrating his age, where he would be a senior in college, Schneider releases his brand-new five track EP College Town on March 18, featuring title track “College Town” and down-home rocker “Girls Country,” along with previously released songs “Lost In A Small Town,” “21 And Over,” and “Right Girl.” 

And this spring, Schneider kicks off his College Town Tour, on which he’ll visit 15 different colleges across the Southeast, performing for sororities on each campus then embarking on a bar crawl around that “College Town," where he’ll shut the bar down with a surprise performance at the last spot. The party starts in Tuscaloosa on March 22 and will hit the University of Alabama, Auburn, University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, Florida State University, University of Florida and more. 

The reminiscent title track “College Town” features “a more mature sound” (American Songwriter) from the “Artist to Watch” (Taste of Country, Sounds Like Nashville), brought to life by a bright melody and nostalgia-filled lyrics. Thinking back to a past relationship set in his ex’s college town, the protagonist sings of their youthful adventures, recognizing he “hates that College Town” because of her.  

“College Town” is just one of five standouts all-ready for fans, including four co-writes that match the skill found on Dustin Lynch’s Top 5 hit song “Momma’s House” – which Schneider co-wrote. 

Exemplifying his vocal prowess, pop-rock-country swagger, and his ample growth as a songwriter, “Lost In A Small Town” is a slow-rolling anthem with a heart-pumping pulse and searing-hot vocals. It matches hard-hitting drums and crunchy guitars with sampled beats and a distinctive melodic hook, written by the rising star with Gabe Foust, James McNair and producer Mark Holman. Pushed off the emotional map, Schneider sings of a breakup that turned his life upside down – and made his overly familiar small town feel suddenly foreign. And he does it all with a unique rush of dark, roots-pop energy.

Leaving his adolescence in the rearview, his refreshed outlook on life is abundantly clear on the bittersweet “21 And Over,” which features a reflective, sunset-country groove and a story of growing up and growing apart. 

With “Right Girl,” Schneider cleverly takes a trip down memory lane, wishfully pining for what used to be. The project’s only outside cut, he first discovered the backroad-cruising play-on-words track as a demo sung by Morgan Wallen, and almost cut it three years ago. But now, it shows where his new tunes are coming from – timeless themes made current for a new generation.

Then, Schneider’s rockabilly is turned up to ten on “Girls Country,” popping the top on a straight-talking party starter, keeping the flame burning.

“I’ve had my fair share of love and breakups,” he explains. “I feel like there’s something to be said about every single one, so at this point in my life, that’s what I’m writing about. Of course, there’s always time for a good party song, too.”

Back and bolder than ever, Schneider’s College Town EP drops March 18. Gracefully landing the tricky jump from teenaged talent to full-fledged artist, he now has something to say and the tools to say it with conviction – and this is just the beginning. 

There’s a reason Billboard named him as “country music’s next rising star.”

“I’m still in it,” he continues. “These songs are telling stories, and that’s what I’m excited about. I feel like people are going to relate to the songs and feel connected that we’ve been through the same things – growing up, growing apart, heartbreak….I want to show where I’ve been and where my head is now, and that these new songs are just a taste of what’s to come!”