Cole Swindell joins Kelleigh Bannen for an interview on Today’s Country Radio to talk about his new album ‘Stereotype.’ Cole talks taking risks, his relationship with Courtney Little, reworking a Jo Dee Messina classic, and his admiration for Eric Church. Kelleigh also chats with Corey Kent about the success of his song “Wild As Her.” Tune in and listen to the interview with Cole Swindell on-demand here.
Cole Swindell on Working with New Producers and Songwriters on New Album
I mean [changing teams] was, for me, by far the hardest thing about making this album. I’m just not… I do feel like I’m very loyal, and I always want to be that way, but I don’t think that’s what this was. This didn’t have anything to do with loyalty. This was just me. It was more personal rut that I was in, that I just needed. Music is all creative, and I just think, I just wanted to be in a different spot on this [album].
Cole Swindell Opens Up About Dating Courtney Little and Recording “I’m Gonna Let Her”
KELLEIGH: What are the moments when you took a chance that you saw it really pay off?
COLE: Me and Courtney dating. I took a chance asking her to be in my video [for “Some Habits.”] That was kind of a weird chance, but I’m so glad I did. Doing that, and I think showing that side of me a little more, whether it’s social media or recording songs. “I’m Gonna Let Her” and just feeling every word of it. I mean, that’s just a… I don’t know. I feel like it’s a chance putting that out there, but also, I’m proud of where I’m at and proud to be with her. And I think getting to sing about it, post about it, whatever it is, I just didn’t think I’d be that guy, and I’m right in the middle of it, and I’m good with that.
Cole Swindell on Collaborating with HARDY on “Stereotype”
I think when we wrote this song, I mean the whole… Just the production is what makes it. When that chorus comes in and then everything just kicks full in after the beginning of that chorus, that was HARDY’s idea. Just, I remember him saying, “This right here. Everything needs to drop out and I can already hear the crowd singing that part.” And I’m just like, “Man, he’s good at what he does.” That’s why you save ideas like that for people like HARDY because you know that you can’t… I mean, it’s all about the idea, and I just never heard that twist on the word about a girl that is turning up your stereo.
Cole Swindell on Being Stereotyped Early On in His Career
I feel like in my career, whether it was the beginning or whatever, I think when the whole bro-country era people get, you’re only as good as your last song, I feel like. And I remember, I don’t know if me having some fun songs people didn’t think I was serious about [it]. I don’t know if it was my past, how I got, whether it was I sold t-shirts and whatever it is, but I just think people, even though the song’s not a serious song by any means, I think it’s a serious thing in our world – stereotyping people that you don’t [know].
Cole Swindell on Writing “Every Beer” at the Time of Kobe Bryant’s Death
We didn’t have the title, the idea or anything. It was just a down mood. I mean, me and Jordan [Schmidt] and HARDY were just talking. We were all in kind of shock that, what do you say? What do you do? And we just started talking about how fragile life is and just all the things that we better do while we get a chance. And I think this song, I’ve never had a song with that kind of angle.
Cole Swindell Recalls Supporting Lauren Alaina Through the Loss of Her Stepdad
I remember Lauren Alaina was out on tour with me after she had lost her stepdad, and just how I remember getting to talk to her every day and whether it’s sending her flowers, whatever it was, just being there for her, because I just know exactly how she felt. And I think anybody that hadn’t gone through it, I don’t think they could fathom what that’s even like.
Cole Swindell on His Duty to Write About Loss In His Life
I really think it’s all about giving back. And a lot of times, that’s through songs for me. I do keep a lot inside, but that’s my way to let people know that, hey, I hurt like you. I go through a lot of the same things, but I get to do what I love, and I think if that’s writing about my story, even the bad parts, that can help other people, no matter what that is, whether it’s a breakup or a loss or whatever it may be, I just think I do feel that duty.
