Keith Urban Says Country Music Has Always ‘Contracted and Expanded’
Keith Urban recently chimed in on the ever-changing state of country music. The country star is embracing change. Keith Urban says country music has always contracted and expanded.
The Music Adapts To The Listeners
The 15-time ACM Award winner recently opened up about his genre’s “moment.” “So all these influences are coming into the genre,” Urban said. “Country’s always embraced all kinds of things within it. It’s had this ability to embrace pop elements.
Country Music Always Goes Back
And then, kind of when it starts to lose its way, [it] contracts back to the more pure country. And then it expands.” “It’s a very story-oriented, relatable genre, always has been. And I think the way in which it’s being made now, the sounds that are incorporated into it, is having a wider audience. It’s amazing.”
American Songwriter reported that during a recent appearance on Australian talk show The Project, Keith Urban pointed to artists like Morgan Wallen and Post Malone as examples of country music’s ever-broadening appeal. He also cited Luke Combs and reigning Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson. Urban teamed up with the latter for “Go Home W U,” off his forthcoming 12th studio album High.
In the many years I personally have been working in Country music, I have seen the shifts. Seems like now we are heading in the direction of traditional country. The sound seems to be reverting back to the 90s, and I am fine with that.
