Matt Koerner~ Q&A!!!

  1. Hi Matt, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?

I grew up in Southern California with my sister and parents in Tustin. I never thought I would be a country music singer growing up, playing guitar and singing was always a hobby. I wanted to play professional baseball haha. 

  1. What made you want a career in country music?

After baseball didn’t materialize I worked a few odd jobs after college and started playing local gigs around Orange County. After about a year of that I decided to make the love to Nashville and pursue a career in music. Moved to Nashville in 2014 and haven’t looked back.  

  1. What is the background story behind your brand new single “Stayed Alive in ’45?

The song is about my grandfather Carl Joseph Koerner who was a WWII vet. When I was a kid I would ask him about his experience in WWII but he would never want to talk about it. I was 8 years old and didn’t understand why he didn’t want to talk about it so I kept asking him. One day he sat me down at his dinner table and talked to me for three hours about his wwii days. That’s an evening I will never forget. So the song is about one of the stories he told me. He was 18 years old when he was sent over to southern Germany to fight. He and 30 men were running along a riverside and they were being chased by a German battalion that outnumbered them heavily. My grandfathers company came to a fork in the river and on the right hand side a bridge crossed over the river. Grandpas sergeant stopped the 30 men and picked 5 of them to stay back at the bridge so when the German battalion caught up, this 5 would slow them down for as long as they could so the other 25 could run off and get away. My grandpa was one of those 5 chosen….he made it through and at the end of the song you find out how!   

  1. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words?

Fun, feel good, happy! (That’s most of my music but not Stayed Alive in 45 haha) 

  1. What is your recording process like when making new music?

Once the song is written I’ve had a couple of different recording experiences. Early on I did a lot of layering where we would record drums and bass first, then rhythm guitars, then lead guitars, then vocals and then back ground vocals. We would record all of those pieces individually. 

The last 3 song we recorded, including Stayed Alive in 45, I had the privilege to work with incredible Nashville studio musicians who came in and recorded everything at the same at Emporium. It was an incredible experience to here the song go from acoustic guitar to what it is on the recording and it all happened at once.   

  1. What are a few of your favorite venues to play at?

Village inn on Balboa Island in Newport Beach California, rockwells in Villa Park California. Two places I’ve been playing for years!!! 

A bigger venue that was amazing was Club Rodeo in Wichita Kansas when I got to open for Luke Combs in 2017. 

  1. What do you like to do in your free time when not working on your music?

GOLF! Love everything about it! Playing it, watching it on TV, I’m in a fantasy golf league….HUGE golf nerd.   

  1. Is there anything else you would like to share?

I just want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way and continues to do so. It takes a village to make a music career go and I am very thankful for mine!  

  1. What is one of your favorite quotes?

“ Strength doesn’t come from winning, your struggles develops your strengths!” -Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Matt Koerner~ “Artist Spotlight”

Photographer: Justin Gill (7713 Photography)

            Matt Koerner was born in Southern California, but has been living in Nashville for six years, following his dream, writing his own music, and traveling around the country performing from coast to coast. He has shared stages with country artists like Dwight Yoakam, Chris Young, Chris Janson and Luke Combs. 

            After struggling and winning a battle with cancer, Koerner was reminded to treasure each day, cherish his experiences, and value the journey life has to offer, which is what his song and the title track of his new EP, “The Race,” is about. Written with his friend, Mike Bay, the song reminds all of us to try and enjoy the journey while following your dreams and enjoy the places you will go and the people you will meet along the way. 

            Koerner has spent the past months playing concerts for his fans online on his social media accounts, as well as  taking over the social media pages for many country radio stations and country music blogs. He also hosted a special event on his Facebook account called “Just An Intermission,” which gives back to The Musician’s Foundation.

            Also, Korner’s great drive and sense of adulthood were further shown during his school years while playing sports through the discipline he learned by practice and competition. Those lessons have certainly come into play as Korner promotes his up-and-coming career in country music and putting out his new single “Stayed Alive in 45,” a song which comes from a very personal place that he wrote about his grandpa, Carl Joseph Turner who at only 18 fought in WWII.

The catchy midtempo tune has a powerful message, also powerful vocal skills and production was produced by Zach Swon (The Swon Brothers). Not only is the song  a tribute to his late grandfather, but also a tribute to all of the men and women who have fought for our country and freedom. “Stay Alive in 45,” is centered around a special conversation between Korner and his grandpa remembering his time during WWII.

            His passion for life is contagious and his work principle is invincible. Koerner is currently working on new music to released later this year. His music is available to listen on both Spotify and iTunes. If you would like to find out more about Matt Koerner then check out his website at (www.mattkoernermusic.com)

Photographer: Elvis Aceff

Social Media Accounts:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattkoernermusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattKoernerMusic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MattKoerner/videos

Jake Hoot~ Q&A!!!

  1. Hello Jake, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? I am the 2nd oldest of 9 kids in a missionary family! We grew up in the Dominican Republic for over 10 years! I went to Tennessee Tech University when I moved back to the states and played college football! I am also engaged to the love of my life, and a girl dad to the most beautiful 5-year-old princess!
  2. What made you want a career in country music? I have always loved music, even way back before I could talk! Before college, I had wanted to go to college to study opera music but decided at the last second to go for education! While there, I began playing open mic nights and ended up really loving it! However, it wasn’t until after I graduated that I began playing shows at local restaurants and breweries and got a taste for it, that I considered doing it full time!
  3. What is the background story behind your latest single “Nadine?” I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Nadine on a trip out to see family in AZ! Immediately she opened up about her love story with her late husband, Hack, who she was married to for over 72 years! I was so touched by their story, that I had to write a song about it! How they danced every day, wrote each other love notes every morning, and just always loved one another unconditionally! I had just written the song as a gift for Nadine, but once we saw the response to a video that her granddaughter in law posted, we knew we had to release it!
  4. What made you want to do a cover of the hit song “La Bamba?” Growing up in the Dominican Republic, we had to learn Spanish, and La Bamba became one of my siblings and my  favorite songs to sing together! I had requested to sing it on The Voice but didn’t get to! It’s also one of the crowd favorites at all my shows! La Bamba is such a classic and timeless song that I can’t wait for everyone to hear our take on it!
  5. How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Country, deep, inspirational, substance, and fun!
  6. What are a few of your favorite venues to play at? The Opry tops them all! I love playing my big stages, but I also love playing breweries and other smaller venues like Red Silo, Stonehaus Winery, SPankies, Tin Roof, The Listening Room, etc…
  7. What is your recording process like when making and creating new music? To start off I have to write the song, practice it over and over until it’s the vibe I’m going for, and then get in the studio and watch the magic happen!
  8. Who are some of your musical icons? The Eagles, Chris Stapleton, James Taylor, John Denver, Tom Petty, Roger Miller, etc…
  9. What is one of your favorite quotes? The biggest influences on the future are the opportunities we take advantage of in the present!
  10. Is there anything else you would like to share? thank you to each and every person who voted for me on The Voice, and who have bought and streamed my music since then! I really do have the best fans in the world, and I can’t wait for Y’all to hear what we’ve been cooking up in the studio!

Jake Hoot~ Artist Spotlight!!!

Don’t let his big-than-life attendance mislead you. Jake Hoot maybe 6’6, but the Season 17 Champ of NBC’s  The Voice is a combo of both kind-hearted and sincere as they come. His lively storytelling skills and strong vocals led him to a record run on the Emmy-award winning talent show. Breaking records let and tight, Hoot’s chart-topping skills landed him a record 6 songs in the Top 10 of the iTunes Country Singles Chart and a #1 song on the overall iTunes Singles Charts. With the release of his single “Dangerous Thing,” the country artist is setting up own sound.

            His debut EP with Danny Myrick at the helm  is a 5-song EP that showcases an all-star lineup of musicians and songwriters including Dan Sama, Myrick, Jenne Fleenor, Dave Pahanish, Jamie Floyd and many more. This project will also feature a duet with a well-known artist that will be revealed in December 2020. Taking inspiration from his childhood memories in the Dominion Republic, Hoot did a cover of the hit song “La Bamba,” as his first single on November 6th. Fellow Season 17 “The Voice,” contestant Ricky Duran is featured as the lead guitarist on “La Bamba,” along with 8 other contestants who lend their voices on the track from Hoot’s winning season. 

            Hoot was the 2nd of 9 siblings to Baptist Missionary. He was born in Texas and lived a gypsy kind of lifestyle as a child. He lived in Oklahoma, Haiti and 11 years in the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, Hoot learned how to play the guitar, and also became fluent in Spanish. He praises his various musical influences to his time on the island. The singer/songwriter is now living in Tennessee, at 20 years old where he started playing and attending Tennessee Tech University as a walk-on football player.

            There is no disagreeing that Hoot has the heart of a humanitarian and gives back as much as he can. During his time on The Voice, Hoot started a charitable merchandise line and was able to give more than $15,000 to local organizations in his hometown of Cookeville, TN. After the deadly tornadoes that his Middle, Tennessee on March 3rd, Hoot put out a powerful song called “Tennessee Strong,” which reached Top 10 in the iTunes Country Singles chart and Top 35 on the iTunes All Genres Chart. All of the proceeds from the streams and downloads of the song benefit Tornado survivors. Currently growing over 2.7 million Apple Music and Spotify streams, nearly 70k downloads and rejoicing his recent Grand Ole Opry.

            If you would like to find out more about the great and talented Jake Hoot then check out his one of his social media accounts down below. 

Social Media Accounts: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakehootmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakehootmusic

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6ahWFOSrLzAv9vDWNmgOA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.hoot.music