The country firebrand, 30, looks back on his insane debut year.
22 and climbing, was gold before even hitting radio.
Somewhere in there, he became a star.
Credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagic
Looking at your last year, the way everything just absolutely took off No.
1 songs, big album sales, award nominations, and more has any of it sunk in?
Its been a real day-by-day year [laughs].
Like sitting on the bus, randomly.
I would just look out at the window and Id have a moment.
Thinking about that, those are the moments that blow me away.
Have there been any downsides to success so far?
Just the attention that it requires.
Im starting to find some balance now.
House Party is one of the biggest singles of the year.
Do you always hear it when you go to an actual house party?
You just got back in the studio for your next LP.
Have you found the last year of touring to have any effect on your writing?
Ive really been able to appreciate the value of certain types of songs [for] a live audience.
So Im more aware of needing that balance.
Where does a song start for you?
I get the best inspiration or the most creativity from real emotions.
Whatevers going on in my life shows up in the writing room.
Are you working with the same team?
Yeah, [producer] Zach Crowell and I just got back in the studio.
Hes my right-hand man in terms of the workload.
And, of course, [writers]Shane McAnallyand Josh Osborne.
Everybody in the little group musically has been there from the start.
It took a few years to develop that, so I want to stick with it.
I dont have any intention of leaving country music.
I really dont even know how to go about doing that.
How does it feel?
Youve said you got into music because it was an escape from some life stressors, like college football.
Now that music is your job, how has your passion for it changed?
It has made it harder to appreciate.
I think maybe those are the times in your life where you really appreciate music.
In celebration ofMontevallos first birthday, the singer droppedBetween The Pines, an acoustic mixtape of all his songs.
Its available for purchase oniTunesas well as streaming below.
