10 Questions with ... Luke Combs

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

In another of those classically Nashville "overnight success" stories, Luke Combs shot on to the scene in 2017 with two back-to-back #1 hits -- his debut single with River House/Columbia Nashville, "Hurricane," and its follow-up, "When It Rains It Pours." Combs, who had previously released three independent EPs and shot to success on the SiriusXM "The Highway" countdown and Spotify playlists, also released his debut album, "This One's For You," in 2017. With his success at radio came awards nominations, including a nod in the CMA New Artist Of The Year category, and national television appearances. Along with his grass-roots built army of fans, Combs has made a living on the road, and since finding success at radio has toured alongside Brantley Gilbert and logged multiple sold-out shows on his own headlining run. As 2018 kicked off, Combs released his third single to radio, "One Number Away," and announced he will be spending the summer on the road with Jason Aldean's "high Noon Neon Tour." But, before any of that can happen, Combs sat down with All Access to talk about the honor of being named to the CRS 2018 "New Faces" lineup, and the whirlwind ride his career has taken in the past year.

1. Thank you so much for taking time to speak with All Access. You've been voted in to the "New Faces" showcase for CRS 2018, and while you've played to most of this cast of characters before during your radio tour, this setting will be a bit different. Can you tell us what it means to you to be chosen to play this show, and how you will prepare for the performance?

It's obviously quite an honor to be chosen for that show. Country radio has been so great to us this past year - to all of us that are going to be on that stage that night - but, I feel particularly lucky to have had two songs go to #1. Not only did my first one go #1, but my second, and both in 2017. I owe a lot to the folks in that room, because I feel like they really believe in me and what we are doing. We're going to go in there and give them everything we got, but that's nothing different than we do every single night. I don't think we will prepare differently, but we might have even a little more fun.

2. Where were you when you found out that you had been selected as to perform at CRS 2018 New Faces, and how did you react?

We were out on the last couple weeks of a tour run, and when I found out, I was just stoked! I remember last year - last year was the first time I had heard about it - and I remember Maren Morris was on there, and it was super cool. That's when I thought, "Man, that's a pretty cool deal. I'd like to do that." So, yeah, I really was stoked when I heard I had been picked! That's just huge. I was ready to go right away.

3. Your story is unique, in that you didn't even play guitar until you were 21, correct? How did you decide to embark on a career in music, and what would you say to 21-year-old Luke if you could talk to him today?

Yeah, I was 21, that's correct. When I picked up the guitar, I had already been singing forever, and I realized that if you want to try to pick up gals singing, you can't go in to a party and start singing - you look kind of weird. You really need to bring a guitar with you to not look like a creep! I would have to tell that guy that the schedule is pretty crazy! But, other than that, I think it really is what my 21-year-old self was thinking - or, was at least hoping - would happen. I don't know if I would tell him too much, because I've had a lot of fun over the past seven years, and I don't think I would want him to run in there changing anything that happened.

4. The last time All Access had a chance to sit down with you here in the office, it was September of 2016. A lot has changed since then, including "Hurricane" and "When It Rains It Pours" both hitting the top of the charts, "This One's For You" being released, and a full slate of tour dates across the country. How do you plan to top it all in 2018?

I don't know if I'm going to look to top 2017, because I don't know if it will be top-able for me, personally. We are just going to keep going and playing shows. We will be going overseas for some shows, and we'll be doing some shows with Darius over in Australia. I've never even been out of the country, so I'm really excited for all of that. And, there are a lot of things that we aren't going to be able to get to do ever again that we will be able to do next year. Some of our first gigs of the year are two sold-out dates at the Ryman Auditorium, so that definitely doesn't suck, either! That first week back will be quite a big week back with the Ryman dates and CRS - no pressure or anything, right?

5. Your album is popping up on "Best Of" lists all across the internet, and "Hurricane" was voted in the #2 slot for 2017 by readers of All Access. Having co-written each of the tracks on the album, how would you sum up your feelings seeing this project being so well-received?

I think it just goes to show that people love it. That's all we wanted. We didn't really know at the time we were writing this album that this would be what it was. It was just something me and my buddies were sitting down doing. When I moved to town, I didn't have a record deal, and I didn't even have a publishing deal, so I was just in town writing songs and trying to make something happen. This is what me and my buddies came up with, and then I took it to my producer. When we got to that point, I told [producer] Scott [Moffatt], "I want to record some stuff!" We sat down and figured out what the best songs were that me and my buddies had written over that year, and I think that album is the perfect summary of my first year and a half of Nashville. I really just think it's just awesome that people love them so much, because we had such a great time writing those tunes. I'm glad they've been so well-received.

6. With everything that has happened for you in 2017, and all of the wonderful success you've seen, you were also one of the handful of artists present during the horrific night at Route 91 in October. How did that night affect you as a performer, and has any new music come from your coping with the event? Have you started to put any of the events of the last life-changing year in to writing yet?

I don't know that I necessarily have, or even that I will. What I do is super-different, and I want to relate to the folks that are in the audience. I try to write fun stuff, and whether that's about heartbreak or having fun or whatever, I just want it to connect. I mean, there are a lot of my songs that are personal, but I want them to be personal for everyone, and I just don't think too many people can relate to riding around on a tour bus and sleeping in a bunk. We try to keep the music in a place where people can feel like I'm singing about them. I don't want it to be a selfish thing; I want the audience and fans to feel like I'm speaking with them about their life. This lifestyle has made writing a little more difficult, but that's why you lean on your buddies and your great co-writers. I still come up with some great ideas, too, but my buddies help me out a lot. We've had writers out every weekend on this tour, and we've been knocking a lot of stuff out. I'm going to probably be doing some recording in January, and we will see where we're at with that.

7. Your third single, "One Number Away," is impacting radio just after the new year, and your first two singles went to #1. Additionally, fellow "traditional Country" acts like Jon Pardi, Midland, and Chris Janson are experiencing success at the same time. Does the success you guys are currently experiencing signal a shift back to a traditional sound, in your mind? How do you view the overall landscape of Country radio right now?

I think it's more diverse than it has ever been, and I think that's a good thing for the listener and also a good thing for Country radio. There's really something for everybody. I'm a big fan of not just artists, but of success. If you're out doing what you want to do, and people are loving it - and if you're out there singing what you want to sing and writing what you want to write - if the people love it and Country radio love it, that's the formula. You can't knock that; I think it's all awesome. There's such a space for everyone right now, and maybe I'll get grief for saying it, but there's just different strokes for different folks, ya know? I'm glad to be something for somebody.

8. We know you're a big Tracy Lawrence fan, and you had the opportunity to collaborate with him this year on his "Good Ole Days" album. We've also heard you cover Brooks & Dunn tunes on stage and a Rascal Flatts song on the "Bobby Bones Show." It's easy to see and hear where your influences come in to play in your own music, but if you could collaborate with any one of your heroes, who would it be, and why?

Obviously, I'd love to collaborate with [Eric] Church. I've been such a big Church fan; we went to the same college, and he has had such a huge impact on me and my music - especially my writing style. Even with the way I treat my fans. I just really admire what he does. It was also awesome to get a chance to hang out with Brantley [Gilbert] on tour some, too. I'm a big Brantley fan, and he is a great dude. Oh, and I got to meet Brooks & Dunn this year, which was just awesome! I still haven't met George Strait, which I would love to do. I'm a huge Strait fan - along with everybody else, I guess, right? There's still a lot of things I'm striving to do this year. Now, whether or not they all happen is something we will just have to wait and see, but if they do, that would be incredible. If not, maybe some other time. I mean, recording with Tracy [Lawrence] was just awesome, because it was even my first time meeting him. We went in, and I was nervous. He was in there listening to sing my part on one of his tunes, so it was nerve-wracking, but he was so nice. Doing that led me to getting asked to do his Turkey Fry Concert this year, too, and participate in his big charity event. He's just an awesome guy, and it was such an honor to hang with him. I'd love to just go fishing with him soon, too.

9. Part of the appeal, and some of the reason fans gravitate toward you, is that you're an every-man kind of guy. I, personally, often say that I love your writing, I love your voice, and I love the fact that you could probably fix my car for me, too. How do you think your background and upbringing have played into the music you've made, and how has your "every man" persona worked in your favor as you've built this fan base?

My parents played a huge role in all of that. I'm an only child, so I tell people that I didn't have too much of a chance to screw up. But, I did screw up a lot, I promise! My parents, though, brought me up to be nice to everybody and be kind. I think that plays in to my dealings with the fans and meeting people; it really is just about being nice and accommodating and listening to people. That's really important. I think it's the most important thing in the business - dealing with fans and people, in general - just making sure they're happy. The fans are the ones that keep you on the road and fill up the clubs, and they are the ones who call in to their radio stations and request your music. I just feel like treating them all with kindness and respect is the most important thing you can do. Some people can forget that sometimes, I think, but I try to always keep that going. It really is such a blessing to have the whole tour be sold out. Not very many people get to say that, so I'm really such a lucky guy. You just want to appreciate those people that helped you do that and get there, so that's what I keep trying to do.

10. You've been "the young one" on several tours now. Looking at other "New Faces" in the industry, who are the guys and gals that are up-and-coming who impress you? As you prepared to head out on your headlining tour, how did you select who to bring out with you?

I'm a huge [Ashley] McBryde fan - that girl is just awesome and a total badass. I'm also a Devin Dawson fan, and I love his single, because it's super-cool and super-different. Look, he's not coming up behind me, but I'm a big [Jon] Pardi guy, too. That last record he had out, "California Sunrise," was just great, and his whole show is just awesome. Pardi has that kind of traditional sound, and I dig that. I'm also a big Cole Swindell guy; me and him get along real good, and he's helped me out a lot with a ton of things, so I'd love to do stuff with him - he's even just fun to hang out and have drinks with. Cole puts on a good show, too. I just like being around people who want to have fun and play music. And, of course, I'm here right now with my good buddy Ray [Fulcher], who is out here writing some more of those good songs I can take credit for! Ha!

1. As a "New Face," you have bright future ahead of you in the industry. If you were to look in to a crystal ball, where would you hope to be - both personally and professionally - by CRS 2025?

I'd love to be headlining an arena tour; I think that would be really awesome. I'd like to have a nice piece of property. We're talking about six or seven years from now, right, so I just hope to still be doing this and have a good piece of land. I want to help my parents out, and maybe move them a little bit closer, so I could see them some more. Those are really my goals and aspirations.

2. After countless radio visits and radio shows, is there anything that radio does NOT know about you that you can - or would like to - share here?

Man, I just want to say thank you for believing in me. I feel like I was a hard guy to believe in, because the music was different, and I'm a little bit different. I just want to say how much I appreciate everybody spinning the tunes and just taking a chance on me, and for voting on me for "New Faces." I really do just appreciate that vote so much, and I just appreciate all of the guys and gals in radio who have been so good to me. We can't wait to come out and see everyone. I just love to sing, and without radio, all of this just wouldn't be possible, so I definitely want everyone to know how appreciative I really am.