Nashville continues to play host to some of music’s best and brightest. Here are the performers we’re watching in 2022—and you should, too.
Breland
Singer/songwriter/producer Breland burst onto the scene with his Platinum debut, “My Truck,” in 2019. Bridging the gap between country and hip-hop, the song hit number one on Spotify’s Global Viral 50, and a remix with Sam Hunt landed mentions on best-of lists from NPR and The New York Times. Riding high on that success, Breland went on to sign with Bad Realm Records/Atlantic Records and collaborate with the likes of Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Nelly, Rascal Flatts, and more.
Hometown: Burlington, NJ
Years in Nashville: I’ve been living in Nashville since August 2020
Early Inspirations: I grew up listening to almost exclusively Gospel music but have been very heavily influenced by Motown-era music and the work of Stevie Wonder. In the Country space, I was drawn to Gary LeVox and Chris Stapleton’s vocals, and began finding ways to incorporate soulful, more gospel- infused flavor in my cross-Country music.
Most exciting thing to happen in your career (so far): The most exciting thing I’ve done so far is perform at the CMAs. When I first began pursuing artistry, there were a few events I put on my vision board. The CMA Awards were the first of those that I’ve had the opportunity to play, and it was an incredible experience. Being able to see all of my country music peers and idols in that audience was a proud moment, and I hope to come back next year as a nominee.
What song of yours best sums up who you are or your career/life thus far? My song “Cross Country” does a really good job of summing up my life so far, as it tackles the different places I’ve moved in finding a musical home. It introduces the name of the sub-genre of music that I make and is almost autobiographical in its approach.
New or Next: What’s next for me is putting out my debut album and getting ready to perform all the new music on the road. 2022 promises to be a great year already.