LANCO Releases “Rival” As First Single From Upcoming Sophomore Album

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LANCO. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Double-Platinum country band LANCO returns today after their No. 1 debut album, dropping the impassioned, outsiders anthem “Rival.” The rowdy track represents the first taste of the Arista Nashville-signed band’s upcoming second album.

With Jay Joyce returning as producer, frontman Brandon Lancaster and drummer Tripp Howell co-wrote “Rival,” marking Howell’s first appearance as a writer on a LANCO project. The track was built from an off-kilter groove that Howell took to Lancaster after a show one night, which morphed into the two writing “Rival” on the back of their tour bus.

“There’s so much pressure to be like someone else or to live up to some outside expectation, especially with social media and how perfect it makes everything look,” said Lancaster. “We wrote this song from the perspective of no matter where you come from, be proud of who you are and the way you’re creating your own path. And if anyone doesn’t like it, just chalk them up as a rival and keep doing your thing.”

“We realized that everyone has faced something they have to stand up against. It isn’t about fitting into any mold, it’s about sticking up for what you believe in and having that crew of friends around that will always have your back,” Howell added. “That’s definitely a big part of our story. We didn’t know anything or anyone when we started out trying to break into this business, and I think that underdog mentality really drove us in the beginning.”

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With the success of their debut album Hallelujah Nights and No. 1 single “Greatest Love Story,” the country band has seen a whirlwind of a year. LANCO was chosen to perform at the esteemed CRS New Faces show, they were nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2018 CMA Awards, and are currently nominated for New Duo Or Group Of The Year as well as Group Of The Year at the ACM Awards.

As far as touring goes, they supported Dierks Bentley on his 2018 Mountain High Tour, they just wrapped up their own headlining tour with UMG Nashville artist, Caylee Hammack, and they are currently supporting Luke Combs on his Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour.

“It was amazing to be playing shows every night in these beautiful theaters or really awesome rock clubs and people singing not only your singles but singing along to like track seven of the record,” said bassist, Chandler Baldwin. “It was one of the most fulfilling things that I’ve gotten to do.”

The band is still writing their follow-up album to Hallelujah Nights, but the first taste, “Rival,” is out now.

LB Cantrell
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