Front Deck Boom Box: Blake Dantier

Recognised by The Tamworth Songwriters Salute Awards, as the 2021 New Songwriter of the Year – an award he shares with his fiancé and fellow country music star Cass Hopetoun for her #1 airplay hit Typical Bride – Blake Dantier has fast become a bonafide fixture on the country music scene. He recently released his good-time song with a honky tonk feel titled Last Call, which is - perhaps - a drinking sequel, following his previous single Wish You Were My Beer – which we premiered here back in April.

We caught up with Blake to find out what songs he’s listening to for this week’s Front Deck Boom Box.

Lainey Wilson – Things A Man Oughta Know

My phone said I should hear this album (thanks Apple Music!) and it was not wrong. So many examples of quality lyrics, melodies that walk the line between contemporary and trad, and production to match. It’s fresh man. Here’s one song, but definitely go and listen to the whole album, because there are many more shades than just this.

Melody Moko – Like Hank Would

Seems like this song has been pretty successful for Melody and for good reason! Like the rest of her album, it features some strong songwriting and the production paints a picture that’s pretty appealing to a trad country lover like myself. The thing that gets me with this song in particular is the payoff of the chorus - it’s big, emotional, simple, thoughtful – everything you hoped it would be.

Courtney Keil - I Just Wanna Hold You

This song was Courtney’s debut single last year and man, pretty strong debut! I love it. It’s upbeat and a real big nod to 90s/00s country. Courtney’s voice sounds great on it and so does everything else thanks to Rod McCormack’s production. Check out her other songs too, they’re making really great stuff together.

Lee Ann Womack - End of the End of the World

You might know Lee Ann Womack because of her 00s mainstream country hit I Hope You Dance – at least I did. Had no idea about the awesome stuff she’s been doing recently. They’re great country songs! The writers manage to take complex, devastatingly sad or seemingly trivial concepts and present them simply, uniquely and focused. To me, that’s a big part of a great country song and here’s a great example.

Cass Hopetoun – Shots

What needs to be said about Cass really? Killer singer, phenomenal songs and she’s just dripping with style. She’s also my fiancée and I don’t wanna sleep on the couch tonight. I wrote her this song one night after she lamented, “nobody wants to do shots anymore”. Matt Fell worked his magic on it in the studio and voilà!

Keep up to date with Blake Dantier, follow him on Facebook here.
And check out some more of our Front Deck Boom Box series here.

Image: Supplied