Music Minute: Spencer Crandall - Western

 

Dynamic independent Country artist Spencer Crandall releases his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Western, available everywhere now. A musical self-portrait of Crandall's autobiography in song, Western follows the hero's unapologetically honest journey to a life well lived.  Capturing the whole arc of a modern American coming-of-age story in six chapters within the album – Scorpion, Mustang, Revolver, Pickaxe, Desert and Gold – Western poses big questions and explores deeply personal themes such as addiction, therapy, the struggle for balance and a healthy sense of self.   Combining pop's untamed energy with the confessional lyricism of Country throughout its 20 tracks, 18 of which are credited to Crandall himself, Western concludes today after beginning its rollout this summer. The completed project boasts over 38M streams heading into its opening day, receiving nods from Spotify and YouTube billboards in Nashville, Tenn. with critical acclaim pouring in.   “My new album, Western, is more than a collection of songs. Western is a piece of my heart. It's my diary about the human condition and what it looks like to voraciously chase your dreams with no plan B,” shares Crandall. “I couldn't be more excited to have the whole project out, and my biggest hope is that Western finds people wherever they may be on their journey and helps them with whatever obstacles they're going through.”

LISTEN TO WESTERN HERE   Western's first chapter, Scorpion, tackles the struggle of early 20s life, tracks like “K[no]w Better,” with its pulsating '80s pop undercurrent, steel guitar and Crandall's razor-sharp vocal, follows Crandall's journey to self-improvement. In Mustang, Crandall then sets himself free, taking the reins of life on positivity-laced tunes like “Didn't Do” – which counts playing it safe as life's biggest risk. Revolver takes aim at a true-life breakup saga, with phones and social media weaponized as ammunition, and is home to focus track “Girls Like You” which has already raked in 1.6M streams and counting.   Pickaxe digs into finding what you truly want – tempering a soul of hardened steel to get there, and covers Shania Twain's classic “You're Still the One” in honor of his parents and their 40+ year marriage. “Side of the Stage” displays Crandall confessing that he still has blind spots, occupying the Desert chapter with a desolate Country-pop ballad all about finding balance. The album's final chapter, Gold, enjoys the self-acceptance that comes with “doing the work” – even delivering a message to himself we could all learn from, and the engagement-ready love song “Our Forever,” detailing the emotions behind getting on one knee.   Serving as a vulnerable display of Crandall's biggest dreams and fears in song form, Western reveals a deeper level of authenticity and relatability from the “accomplished singer-songwriter” on the “cusp of Country music stardom” (People). Since breaking into the Country scene in 2016, Crandall has expanded his stout fanbase, dubbed “The Stadium Gang,” to north of 3M strong. Quickly becoming one of Country music's most buzzed about independent artists, the streaming sensation's album release comes and he surpasses a quarter of a billion global artist streams, notching over 175K streams per day with a proven trajectory.   After stepping into the circle for his Grand Ole Opry debut last month, the Denver, Colo. native's 26-stop headlining tour, the Western Tour, heads to the West Coast for its second weekend. Crandall will appear at Stoney's Rockin' Country in Las Vegas tonight before Saturday's sold-out show at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe. Fans can catch Crandall in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 15 at EXIT/IN. For more dates and information, visit spencercrandallmusic.com and keep up with him on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.   WESTERN TOUR DATES: Oct. 13, 2022 in Seattle, Wash. at Tractor Tavern Oct. 15, 2022 in Spokane, Wash. at Knitting Factory Oct. 16, 2022 in Boise, Idaho at Knitting Factory Oct. 20, 2022 in San Diego, Calif. at Moonshine Beach Oct. 21, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nev. at Stoney's Rockin' Country Oct. 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, Calif. at Hotel Cafe Oct. 23, 2022 in Sacramento, Calif. at Goldfield Trading Post Oct. 27, 2022 in Grand Junction, Colo. at Warehouse 2565 Oct. 28, 2022 in Denver, Colo. at The Grizzly Rose Oct. 29, 2022 in Lawrence, Kan. at The Bottleneck Nov. 3, 2022 in Saint Paul, Minn. at Amsterdam Bar and Hall Nov. 4, 2022 in Sioux Falls, S.D. at Bigs Bar Nov. 5, 2022 in Omaha, Neb. at Barnato Nov. 15, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn. at Exit/In Nov. 17, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Okla. at Beer City Music Hall Nov. 18, 2022 in Houston, Texas at House of Blues - Bronze Peacock Nov. 19, 2022 in Dallas, Texas at House of Blues - Cambridge Dec. 1, 2022 in Chicago, Ill. at Joe's on Weed Street Dec. 2, 2022 in West Peoria, Ill at Crusens Dec. 3, 2022 in Rootstown, Ohio at Dusty Armadillo Dec. 7, 2022 in New York, N.Y. at Mercury Lounge Dec. 8, 2022 in Vienna, Va. at Jammin Java Dec. 9, 2022 in Warrendale, Pa. @ Jergel's Rhythm Grille Jan. 19, 2023 in Lexington, Ky. @ Manchester Music Hall Jan. 20, 2023 in Grand Rapids, Mich. @ The Intersection Jan. 21, 2023 in Indianapolis, Ind. @ 8 Seconds Saloon

ABOUT SPENCER CRANDALL: Unfiltered. Unconventional. And above all, unapologetic. Those are the defining traits of a whole new generation of Country star – and Spencer Crandall is one of them. As one of Country's most progressive new talents, self-made and as dynamic as they come, Crandall has no time to say “sorry” for his raw, soul-baring stories. Driven toward greatness, he's got no remorse for his big dreams, and pulls no punches with his ever-evolving sound. The Nashville based artist has spent years combining pop's untamed energy with the confessional lyricism of Country, opening up territory no one before him even knew existed – and with his ambitious new 20-track album, Western, the frontier expands again. Growing up in Denver with a tight knit family, the creative powerhouse was taught hard work and dedication, and learned his lessons well – even playing football in college. But when injuries ended his career, the standout athlete was officially out of his comfort zone. Fully embracing his natural, genre-defying instincts, with ultra-smooth vocals, deeply-personal themes and hot-blooded performances, Crandall now counts 1.2M monthly Spotify listeners, 250M total career streams, more than 2.5M followers on TikTok, and fan engagement so off the charts it drives sold-out shows around the nation. He released three albums before Western, made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022, and continues pushing toward the ultimate goal of a sold-out stadium performance – Western is just the next step.