On The Row: Reid Haughton Details New Album & Musical Growth

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Reid Haughton

Up-and-coming artist Reid Haughton recently stopped by the MusicRow office to play a few tunes and discuss his recent album.

The Haleyville, Alabama native grew up singing and playing guitar in church. After graduating high school, he attended Auburn University, where his talent as a performer blossomed. After impressing River House Artist’s VP/GM Zebb Luster at a Riley Green concert in 2019, Haughton moved to Nashville to begin his music career.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen and LB Cantrell, Reid Haughton, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, John Nix Arledge and Liza Anderson

Since then, Haughton has been on the road playing shows across the country with the likes of Whiskey Myers and 49 Winchester while honing his skills as a songwriter. He debuted his self-titled EP, produced by Grammy-winning guitarist Sadler Vaden, in May of last year and recently followed up with his first full-length project titled Higher Than 9, on May 17.

“When I first started writing songs I was honestly trying to mimic Luke Combs. He and Eric Church are the two people I was thinking about a lot,” explained Haughton. “Being on the road is what led to my current sound, really. We were in Indianapolis playing 8 Seconds Saloon with Aaron Watson and my now-wife and I were sitting in the van, freezing cold. I was about to go on in 10 minutes and we were listening to Marcus King. Afterwards, she looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you play the type of music you love?’ It was like a light went off in my head–when I got home, I started writing.”

Haughton treated the MusicRow crew to several tracks off of his recent album such as “Man Made Money” and “Mendoza Line,” which he co-wrote with Luke Preston.

“For us it really all comes back to being on the road. Nowadays, it feels like we are the last of a dying breed–playing on the road.

Pictured (L-R): Reid Haughton & MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson

We know how to play music with our hands and we don’t run tracks. To each their own, but we are going out there and playing music the best we can, and we aren’t worried about anything else.”

Before performing his final track, “The Crow,” written by Scott Stepakoff, Nicolette Hayford and Aaron Eshuis, he reminisced about hearing the song for the first time early in his career and thinking that if he ever got the chance, he would cut the song. Four years later, he proudly sang the track to close out the special visit.

Additionally, Haughton took the Hard Rock Stage during this year’s CMA Fest, and will visit Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and more on upcoming tour stops.

John Nix Arledge
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