Acclaimed singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith released her sophomore record, Supernova, on March 13. Within 24 hours of her record’s release, she was leaving Detroit where she was opening for Little Big Town. Since then, Smith has been splitting her time in Nashville and her home state of Minnesota, spending quarantine trying to remain creative and starting her Instagram conversation series ‘Lonely Together,’ where she’s brought Shane McAnally, Karen Fairchild, Brandy Clark, Lori McKenna, Tenille Townes, and many more on her Instagram live to chat.

In September, Smith released Supernova as a deluxe version via Monument Records. The deluxe version, which includes a collaboration with Old Dominion and a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” gives Smith’s 12 songs that she delivered as the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting the United States another chance.

Smith recently visited with MusicRow Magazine staffers via Zoom, and offered a few songs against her spacey background, including her reimagined version of “I Can’t,” with Old Dominion.

Caitlyn Smith performs for MusicRow Staffers

“I’ve know a couple of those guys for a long while,” Smith said of Old Dominion. “Brad Tursi and I go way back to when I first moved to town like a decade ago. We did a tour with Willie Nelson; it was Willie Nelson’s Country Music Throwdown. It was like 17 acts, and Brad and I were part of the songwriter’s stage. So we got to know each other then. I was a big fan of him then, and when they formed Old Dominion, I just remember sitting in his truck, listening to the songs and being like ‘What the heck is this, this is amazing!’ We go way back, we’re big fans of each other so when the opportunity came to go this collaboration, I was like ‘Yes!'”

Like the members of Old Dominion, Smith is a well-established songwriter in her own right, having written songs for Meghan Trainor and John Legend, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, James Bay, Jason Aldean, Lady A and more.

“I’ve been here 10 years, I’ve loved Nashville from the second I came here. I’ve always wanted to do the artist thing, but I’ve had a chance to first focus on the songwriting part. I’ve had my songs recorded by a bunch of people and that’s been a total bonus level of life that I never knew was going to be a part of my story, but has been really, really fun. But it’s very fun to step into myself as an artist, it’s been fun getting to experiment. I’ve been having a blast these last couple of years, especially making this new record.”

Smith also played a swanky love song she wrote with Ashley Monroe, “Feel That Way,” that sounds like Patsy Cline meets Nora Jones. Smith’s gorgeous, emotional but controlled voice soars on the track.

“I sat down with a good friend of mine, Ashley Monroe. It was on Valentine’s Day. She’s one of my favorite humans and favorite voices in this town. We just smoked a joint and wrote a song about our husbands,” Smith quipped. “This is what happens with Ashley Monroe on Valentine’s Day.”

Pictured (L-R, top row): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Caitlyn Smith; MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell; (L-R, bottom row): MusicRow‘s Jessica Nicholson, Alex Parry

Smith wrote the songs for Supernova during a busy time in her life, when she was touring a lot and pregnant. “I joke that Supernova is extra emo because it’s just infused with all the pregnancy hormones.

“It’s been a really crazy year, but I’m really excited to release this deluxe record and kind of get a re-do on putting the album out. I’m just happy to get the music to folks. I hope that this record is a light to folks, especially in this super strange year.”

Hatcher

Average Joes Entertainment has signed country singer-songwriter Hatcher.

The country newcomer’s first single, “‘Til The Next Time,” co-written with George Birge and Josh Mirenda and produced by Leland Elliot, is available now on all streaming platforms.

The son of an iron worker, Hatcher began singing and performing a capella locally and honed his considerable skills free-styling on the open mic circuit.

“Hatcher aims to set a mood and make a connection with his romantically charged music,”said Forrest Latta, Average Joes VP/A&R. “He’s an incredible singer and storyteller. His brand of country has a blue-collar soul edge to it, and he has passion for creating music that truly touches people.”

“I’m looking forward to working with the team at Average Joes and creating great new music,” commented Hatcher. “I’m also excited about releasing ”Til The Next Time.’ When George, Josh and I wrote this song, we wanted to elaborate about the concept of friends with benefits communicated in a sophisticated way. At the core, it’s an old fashioned love song.”

Russell Dickerson is releasing his brand new sophomore Triple Tigers Records album, Southern Symphony, on December 4. The 10-track record is available for pre-order/pre-save here.

He’s released a new track, “Never Get Old,” from the upcoming project, which was co-produced alongside friend and frequent collaborator Casey Brown and legendary producer Dann Huff.

Dickerson gave fans the first taste of Southern Symphony earlier this year with the debut single, “Love You Like I Used To,” which is currently in the Top 10 on country radio with over 106 million global streams to date. Recorded in Nashville, the project is packed with heartfelt ballads about love and nostalgia matched with his signature party anthems, including one of his biggest collaborations to date on the sixth track off the record, “It’s About Time,” featuring Florida Georgia Line.

“Southern Symphony is hands down the best work I’ve created,” said Dickerson. “It’s the best songs I’ve written. It’s sonically the best we’ve created. This album is ten honest and true tracks that tell the story of how I’ve grown as an artist and a man. I could not be more proud of every song on this album. Enjoy!”

Southern Symphony follows the 2017 release of Russell’s Gold-certified debut Yours, which bowed at No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, No. 1 on the Emerging Artists Chart, and yielded three consecutive No. 1 smashes, including the double-Platinum “Yours,” the Platinum “Blue Tacoma,” and Platinum “Every Little Thing.”

Southern Symphony Track List:

1. Never Get Old
2. Home Sweet
3. All Yours All Night
4. Love You Like I Used To
5. Forever For A Little While
6. It’s About Time (ft. Florida Georgia Line)
7. Honey
8. Southern Symphony
9. Come To Jesus
10. Waiting For You My Whole Life

Zoom has launched a way for users to put on live, pay-to-attend virtual events, CNBC reports.

The new OnZoom service for hosting premium events is entering public beta in the U.S. and will become available worldwide in 2021, according to CNBC. OnZoom helps Zoom build on the exposure it has had this year with the onset of the pandemic and enables the company to encroach on the territory of companies that sell tickets to live events like Eventbrite and Live Nation. Unlike most of its live-ticketing competitors however, Zoom won’t take a cut of ticket sales during the OnZoom public testing period, which is expected to last at least through 2020. The company’s head said it will look at whether it should start charging next year, however.

Earlier this year, Zoom reached more than 300 million daily call participants at one point. Zoom users have to have paid subscriptions and be located in the U.S. to create single or repeating events through the new OnZoom feature, and people must have Zoom accounts and be located in the U.S. to join the events. The number of attendees is determined on the host’s Zoom subscription level, and organizers can hold events for free or ask attendees to donate to specific nonprofits if they want.