3 Country Artists Going Against the Pop Country Status Quo

For years Nashville and the country music industry have taken heart for promoting and creating unoriginal acts. “Industry Transplants” and terms alike have made their way into conversations about banal music in production for the sake of monetization.

To some, this is a disgrace, to others it is the music they enjoy. Regardless, it seems as if country music is undergoing a divisive split: one team rooting for artistic and original acts, and the other arguing the model in place is just fine. In return, we are getting a bit of a cultural clash that is leaving musicians, executives, and fans scratching their heads.

This battle of ideals would not be present if it weren’t for the figures who revitalized the sentiments country music was founded on. Notions such as rebellion and individuality are some of the themes that have seemingly been lost in recent years due to the music model in place. That being so, here are three big names who are carrying the torch and going against the pop country status quo.

1. Sturgill Simpson (A.K.A Johnny Blue Skies)

This one should come as no surprise. Simpson is a long-time outcast of the generic Nashville country music scene. He’s made a career not only from his music but also from his anti-establishment type personality. Tracks such as “Life Ain’t Fair and the World Is Mean” and “Scooter Blues,” show Simpson’s contempt for the scene that robbed him of a CMA nomination years ago.

Simpson’s critiques aren’t for show, as the artist stands by this attitude in other facets of his career. Recent events prove this, as the artist fled to Paris and Thailand, shed his old name, and completely reinvented himself. An act demonstrating that the music means more than the commercialized name, making Simpson/Blue Skies No. 1 on the list.

2. Sierra Ferrell

Ferrell is one of those folks you hear only to have a wave of nostalgia rush down your spine. With songs “In Dreams” and “American Dreaming,” she’s a reminder that not every song written by a female lead needs to include grandiose guitar riffs and lyrics about ex-boyfriends. Her flat-picking talents combined with lines like, So I’ll get back home and try to be/ Someone that’s something like me, proves her success relies on her style alone.

Regarding the business side of Ferrell, she’s not repped by one of the big three agencies, and her records are produced by smaller labels such as Rounder Records. She’s one of a kind and truly a people’s musician.

3. Charley Crockett

When one sees Crockett they can’t help but think he hopped in a time machine and came to the present day. A man who sticks to his guns, Crockett has been deemed as one of the protectors of Western country music. One of the few who keeps his music minimally produced, Crockett is a purist, and it is his values that have evaporated due to the pop country takeover.

Furthermore, the guy has a story that people thought was only true in storybooks. After his upbringing in Texas, Crockett rode trains all over the country busking in New Orleans and New York. Also, while being homeless off and on trying to start his career. Needless to say, this guy was not a “transplant.” Rather, he emerged from a dim-lit stage and reminded us that classic country music is not dead yet.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach