His career might have started in Nashville, but lately country singer-songwriter Kip Moore has spent more and more time beyond the confines of Music City, and even beyond the U.S.
Winning the 2024 CMA International Artist Achievement Award, the multi-Platinum Georgia native was recognized as a key exporter of the country-music tradition, and one whose overseas shows match his passport – that is to say, they quickly fill up.
In many ways, that’s because of Moore’s unique brand of country, one which works as well in Belfast as it does in Birmingham or Baton Rouge. And with his sixth album, Solitary Tracks, the ever-evolving artist continues his trek. A massive set of 23 songs, vivid country imagery meets raw, roughshod vocals and gripping rock intensity, an emotional lingua franca, which connects across continents. But while his singalong hooks are steeped in the travels of a global lone wolf, he’s not doing any of this alone.
Speaking with Nashville Lifestyles from Costa Rica – one of Moore’s favorite getaways for surfing and songwriting – he dedicates his off-the-beaten-path success to his team.
“I’ll be honest, for me that award was more about the rolling of the dice that me and the team took, because you’re stepping out into a void and you can fall flat on your face,” Moore explains of his CMA honor. “To see what it’s grown into ... it’s always been like, ‘Man, we all put our chips in together,’ and that’s what was so cool about that award. It was like a unison award with me and the crew and the band and my team.”
That collective roll of the dice was even more risky, considering how Moore’s artistic vision has changed. Breaking out in 2011 with the breezy 3x Platinum Number One, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” each successive album has found Moore growing, often away from his earlier “bread and butter.” And as he took the steps that led to Solitary Tracks, that was still the case.
“I think sometimes artists get stuck in this thing of wherever your commercial breadwinner is, and you keep going to that well – and you drain it, and you drain it until there’s nothing left,” he explains. “I’ve just never cared about doing that. I love my old records, but I wanted each record to be a growth process – and it’s not necessarily that the music is better, it’s just that I never want to hold on to a sound or a theme too long.”
Coming on the heels of 2023’s Damn Love, the sound and theme for Solitary Tracks was twofold. Split into four, vinyl-inspired sides (Side A, B, C, and D) Moore wrote the first half in a burst of introspection, wondering about his place in the music industry and what has driven his outsider mentality. The inward reflection helped clear his mind, Moore admits, but also left him with four months before his deadline – so naturally, he kept writing. By then, his heart was in a different place, and that’s the album’s second half; a more diverse (and upbeat) group of songs, more at ease with the world.
It all started with “Livin’ Side,” as Moore took a hard look in the mirror and decided to appreciate the image. Like a tender dose of self-therapy, airy atmospherics and a soft-focus, roots-rock sound gave Moore a much-needed creative foothold. Then came “Solitary Tracks,” and the new territory he sought came into view.
A slow-simmering anthem built around a pair of “lone wolves” recognizing their shared journey, a serene mix of country and rock seems to build in waves, before it boils over in Moore’s raspy, soulful vocal. It’s an anthem for those who refuse to follow the pack – especially in love.
“I’ve always felt like my compass worked a little different than the crowd,” Moore says. “There were some particular things going on in my life at that time, and I’m just aware that I just operate a little differently. I’m more comfortable walking the road by myself.”
The inward exploration continues for the first 12 tracks, with the smoldering groove of “Burn” offering hope for a world in better harmony, and the quiet pride of “Southern Son” dedicated to accepting who we are. It’s not until the second half that acceptance turns to uplifting joy, with tracks like “Learning As I Go,” “Alley Cat,” and “Flowers in December” tapping beauty in the here and now, even if it’s not perfect.
“I’m a super flawed human, and I think we all are,” Moore explains. “I think it’s just being able to recognize your mistakes and things you need to work on, and I’m trying to work on things every single day.”
Speaking of the work, he’ll bring it all back to Nashville on March 4 for an appearance on the historic Grand Ole Opry. And while he’s no stranger to big shows all over the world, Moore says there’s still nothing like standing in the circle. He just tries to do it justice.
“That’s the only stage that makes me nervous,” he admits. From there it’s back to making Solitary Tracks, as Moore returns to Europe in May for 15 headline shows across Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the U.K. He won’t be back until mid-June (for a coast-to-coast co-headlining run with Billy Currington), and though he’s certainly proud of walking his own path, Moore hopes his music gives listeners the opposite impression. That they aren’t alone – wherever they live.
“My only hope ever is that just from being honest with myself as I’m writing that someone listening to this record finds some kind of solace in whatever they’re going through,” he says. “I can’t think about anything outside of that, really ... just that somebody out there is able to process what they’re going through when they can’t find the words.”