Brian Kelley Leans Into Florida Roots With ‘Sunshine State Of Mind Season Two, Chapter One’ [Interview]

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Brian Kelley is leaning into his Florida roots and signature coastal cowboy sound on his newest project, Sunshine State Of Mind Season Two, Chapter One.

The project marks Kelley’s fourth solo album since separating from Florida Georgia Line in 2021, following his 2021 debut album Sunshine State Of Mind Season One, and 2024 releases Tennessee Truth and Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son.

Brian Kelley.

As Kelley recorded the tracks for Sunshine State Of Mind Season One, he realized he had more stories to tell than what fit in the first 17-song record, but he chose to explore the other sides of his artistry first.

“I’m really glad I was able to get Tennessee Truth and Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son out in between these records. I think it shows people more sides of who I am, and you can’t get that with just one record,” Kelley tells MusicRow.

Intentionally taking inspiration for these songs from the life he and his wife, Brittney, have built since moving back to Florida in 2016, Kelley uses this album to showcase his love for his community and the coastal way of life, with songs like “People Make The Place” emphasizing this theme on the record.

“When we are down here [in Florida], our little community here, our friends, family and even the tourists see what’s going on and how people hang. It’s just a really cool vibe and a really cool place.”

The coastal vibe, like that illustrated in the track “Saltwater Ranch,” is something Kelley brings with him on the road to each of his live shows.

“[‘Saltwater Ranch’] is a fun song to connect the dots of all the good times we’ve had in many different places. Every night we try to create our own Saltwater Ranch live,” he says.

After starting the song alone one night after the idea struck, Kelley brought the first few lines to Corey Crowder and Jake Rose to bring the song to life. “Corey came in with ‘its got some outta towners, its got some stick arounders’ and we were off to the races.”

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As Kelley gears up for his summer headlining dates, he has a few additions to the setlist in mind. “’Palm Tree Country’ is one of my favorites on the record. As soon as that track starts, it just takes me somewhere—it just sets you wherever you want to go.”

In the midst making the record and preparing for tour, Kelley took a chance with an opportunity he never saw coming: competing on The Masked Singer.

“It totally caught me off guard in the best way possible,” Kelley says with a laugh. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It just came at the right time that I didn’t know I needed it. It was so fun to put that mask on and just go sing. It set my compass right.”

With a new record out in the world and his headline tour kicking off in a few short weeks, Kelley is ready to let his “sunshine state of mind” lead the way through this next chapter.

Lauryn Sink
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