Stephen Wilson Jr. is carving out his own lane in country music, and the industry is more than happy to have him. The Nashville-based artist, originally from Southern Indiana, showcases his distinct sound in his new EP Bon Aqua.
The 7-song collection was released today, and compiles six songs that have been previously released along with the brand new single “American Gothic (feat. Hailey Whitters).”
It was also announced today that Wilson Jr. would be signing with Big Loud Records, which is also home to Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Jake Owen and more.
Stephen Wilson Jr. has burst onto the country music scene with powerful songs like “Holler From The Holler,” which finds its home within the EP.
Wilson Jr. describes his debut EP as:
“Bon Aqua: Good water. Everything starts with good water. We are made of mostly water. The world is mostly water. As a microbiologist, I used to test water for pharmaceutical companies and everything from shampoo to aspirin to pet food to anything you can think of requires water.
Not just any water… good water. I was in charge of making sure the water was good. In and around Bon Aqua, Tennessee is coincidentally where I wrote and conceived most of this EP and filmed most of the videos and visual aspects.
Hence the name, it is known for its good water and it only made sense for it to all start there.”
In Bon Aqua, Wilson Jr. teams up with Hailey Whitters for the new song that graces the record. The new song has been a long time coming for the two country music artists.
Hailey Whitters said:
“The first time I heard Stephen Wilson Jr. was at The Basement a few years back and he absolutely blew me away…. his writing, his songs and his live show is next level.
He’s one of a kind and this genre is so much for the better with him in it.”
As for the country artist that draws inspiration from indie rock, grunge and country (dubbed “Death Cab for Country”), Wilson Jr. spoke highly about the duet with Whitters:
“Fellow cornfield kid, Hailey Whitters and I met some years ago writing songs and she had this beautiful idea inspired by her favorite Grant Wood painting to showcase parts of the American cultural fabric using nostalgia and the same duality that the painting seems to represent.
We ran with it and sang it from the top of our lungs.”
The extended press is a great introduction to the up and coming Stephen Wilson Jr. He is currently touring with Whitters and has plans to play with The Lone Below next month before he shares his music at the Bourbon and Beyond Festival and CMA fest later in the year.
Bon Aqua EP Track List
1) the devil
2) American Gothic (feat. Hailey Whitters)
3) Year To Be Young 1994
4) Hometown
5) Holler From The Holler
6) billy
7) The Beginning
If you want to go check out the country artist who mixes together the sounds of The National, Nirvana, and Willie Nelson, his tour dates can be found here:
Tour Dates:
3/30: Iowa City, IA – Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon #
3/31: Peoria, IL – Crusens #
4/1: Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s #
4/12: Charleston, SC | The Riviera Theater *
4/13: Saxapahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom *
4/14: Greer, SC – The Spinning Jenny
4/15: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall *
4/16: Clearwater, FL – Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
5/10: Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
5/11 – Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center *
5/12 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall *
5/13 – Newport, RI – Jane Pickens Theater *
5/14 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts *
5/16 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios *
5/17: Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
5/20: London, UK – Royal Albert Hall – Highways Festival
5/22: Munich, Germany – Backstage Kulturzentrum
5/23: Cologne, Germany – Helios 37
5/24: Hamburg, Germany – HÄKKEN
5/25: Berlin, Germany – Maschinenhaus
6/2: Chattanooga, TN – Riverbend Festival
# – with Hailey Whitters
* – with The Lone Bellow