ERNEST Gets Into A Tropical State Of Mind On New LP ‘Deep Blue’

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ERNEST taps into that island state of mind on his upcoming third album, Deep Blue, set to drop May 1 via Big Loud Records.

He’s unlocking two more early releases from the upcoming project, the title track and an official studio version of Apple Music Lost & Found Session submission “End Of The Night,” today. Deep Blue harkens back to ERNEST’s first-ever project, Locals Only, but showcases seven years’ worth of growth against the backdrop of a tropical escape. Heavily influenced and inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a place that’s made ERNEST who he is both personally and creatively, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip.

The 13-track album features previously-released singles “Lorelei” and “Boat Named After You,” as well as four outside cuts, a first for ERNEST from any previous project. Pulling from the archives, the award-winning writer unearthed a set of backlog cuts from Toby Keith, Nathan Chapman, David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane, Scotty Emerick, Paul Overstreet and more to round out the upcoming oceanside set. ERNEST also co-produced the album alongside longtime collaborator Jacob Durrett, another first, and Lukas Nelson appears on the collection on the poignant track “Time Is A Thief.”

“I want to say thank you to the fans that have been here since the Local Only days.” says ERNEST. “If you are new here, thank you for joining the ride. Most importantly, I want to thank the ocean and the islands. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. I found myself in that Caribbean water and will always call it home away from home.”

ERNEST is currently on the road headlining his nationwide “Live From The South Tour” with DeVille artists Rhys Rutherford, Chandler Walters and Cody Lohden.

Deep Blue Track List:
1. “Lorelei” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Mark Holman)
2. “Edge Of The U.S.A.” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jacob Durrett, Chris Lane)
3. “What’s A Little Rain” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson, David Garcia)
4. “Lucky” (Ernest Keith Smith, Cody Lohden)
5. “Quit While We’re Behind” (Ernest Keith Smith, Scotty Emerick, Trent Tomlinson)
6. “Somewhere In The Caribbean” (Scotty Emerick, Paul Overstreet)
7. “End Of The Night” (Toby Keith, David Lee Murphy, Bobby Pinson)
8. “Waste A Day” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson, David Garcia)
9. “Deep Blue” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rocky Block, Hank Compton, Jamie McLaughlin)
10. “If I’m Not Careful” (Ernest Keith Smith, Ronnie Bowman, Clint Daniels, Chandler Paul Walters)
11. “Same Moon” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Mark Holman)
12. “Boat Named After You” (Nathan Chapman, Tony Lane)
13. “Time Is A Thief” feat. Lukas Nelson (Matt McKinney, Rivers Rutherford, Jimmy Yeary)

All songs produced by ERNEST & Jacob Durrett

Lorie Hollabaugh
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