Luke Bryan Talks Getting Older and ‘Mature’ New Music
With its repetitive chorus, party-centric lyrics and pounding beat, Luke Bryan‘s new single “Kick the Dust Up” fits squarely into the bro-country mold that has elevated him to superstar status. But that’s not all the Georgia native wants to be known for.
In a roundtable interview with media before unveiling his new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit this week, Bryan explained why “Kick the Dust Up” was the right lead single for his new album — even though he feels like he’s transitioning into a new, more mature version of himself.
“I feel so blessed to get 100 songs and play them in my truck, and when my boys [sons Bo, 7, and Tate, 5] want to hear that one song over and over and they’re going, ‘Let’s tear it up, up,’ I know it’s right,” Bryan said. “[The song is] as simple as can be, but there’s a time and a place for a fun, simple song. There’s also a time and a place for a ‘Drink a Beer’-type song, and then a love song, and I’ve got some really neat love songs coming on this album.”
Bryan’s fifth studio album, Kill the Lights, is set for an August7th release.
“I think ‘Kick the Dust Up’ is a big ol’ anthemic thing,” he continued. “It kinda reminds me of ‘Country Man,’ way back when. It talks about being in a farm town and why would you want to go stand in line and wear black ties and pay $20 for a martini when you can go out and have a great time and kick some dust up in a field?”
Still, Bryan thinks fans and critics alike will find more diversity on the new album.
“I feel like as I get older, my music is going to naturally mature,” he admitted. “Having released ‘Kick the Dust Up’ yesterday, that’s young and fun, but on this album there are things that are of a more mature subject matter — I’ve got a song on there that really touches on the big picture of life.”
The challenge, he cautioned, is to move forward without forgetting where he came from.
“I think it’s important to be ‘me’ in terms of what got me to this point,” Bryan said, going on to recall his days spent on the beaches of Florida. “Spring break was a very vital role for me as a person. I think it was perfect for its time. . . This album feels like the right time, and I’ll just let my heart take me down the route it needs to be. I’m trying not to overthink it too much.”