If you don’t know who Blane Howard is, that will soon change. The 2018 and 2019 Arkansas CMA Male Vocalist of the Year is riding a wave that saw him release three singles during the time of the pandemic: “All Those Empties,” which he co-wrote with Rick Huckaby (“Beer with Jesus,” “Muddy Water”) and “Rock On Her Window,” co-written with Huckaby and Doug Johnson (“Three Wooden Crosses,” “Love Like Crazy”), which debuted at #5 on the CMT 12 Pack Countdown and earned Blane the title of CMT’s May 2021 Next Up Now artist. The third single, “Boot ‘N’ Rally,” was just released on February 2 leading up to Blane’s new album Looking For Nothing To Do available this Friday, February 25.
We recently caught up with Blane to talk about his 90s country influence, songwriting, The Chiefs and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
BH: I grew up in Arkansas (Woo Pig Sooie!) performed in the choir and at church growing up. Played pretty much every sport possible as well, LOL. I moved to Nashville when I was 18 to attend Belmont University. Got my Music degree there in Vocal Performance. After graduation, I started writing songs and traveling to play music, building my fan base one person at a time.
CN: At what age did you discover Country music and when did you know that this was the path that you wanted to pursue as a career?
BH: I can remember being 3 or 4 years old, playing my blue and green plastic guitar, and singing along with Alan Jackson on the TV. I always wanted to grow up and be AJ, but didn’t really decide I wanted to pursue music until I was 16.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
BH: I grew up listening to Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, all those 90s acts. I think each of them influences me in different ways. Some influence the way I sing, some influence the way I write songs, some influence my performances.
CN: You have written with some of the Who’s Who of Songwriters from Rick Huckaby, Doug Johnson, Jordan Reynolds, Jim Collins and more. What are those sessions like? Is it intimidating at all?
BH: Songwriting in Nashville, for the most part, is a very supportive and connected community. You may go in being a little nervous, but it usually doesn’t take very long to settle in and find a groove. We all have very similar stories, and all share a love for music.
CN: Can you take us through your songwriting process? Where do you pull inspiration from?
BH: Sometimes it starts with an idea, sometimes it’s a guitar riff or chord progression. Other times you literally start writing a verse and see where you end up when you get to the Chorus. I’ve written great songs each way. It really varies from day to day, and can change based on who you are writing with that day.
CN: Have you found yourself writing more during the pandemic?
BH: Well no actually, but that mostly has to do with the fact that my wife and I welcomed a baby girl in April of 2020, right after the pandemic started. We bought a new house in Feb 2020, the pandemic hit in March, then we had a baby in April. Needless to say, she has kept us very busy! Crazy to think she will be 2 years old soon!
CN: Pre-Covid, you performed at several state fairs and music festivals in the summer and have opened up for some of Country’s biggest names including Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Joe Nichols, Lauren Alaina and Trace Atkins. How did you adjust to the lack of touring during the pandemic?
BH: That was probably the hardest part for me. My normal routine and travel/socializing with my band was completely gone. I was occupied on the day to day with my new baby, but I definitely found myself looking for that normalcy (for me) of traveling/touring and playing music with my friends. It was tough on everyone, but it wasn’t like I could jump on a zoom call every morning with my coworkers and “work from home.” My work week was non-existent.
CN: What was it like to get back out there this past year?
BH: SO MUCH FUN! It definitely took a few weeks to knock off all the cobwebs, but man did it feel great to be back out there! I missed seeing all my wonderful fans, and I made so many new fans, through social media during the pandemic, that it was great to finally get to meet some of them at shows as well. But mostly, I missed playing music and singing. It’s what makes me happy, and I went too long without doing it. It almost felt like we got back to something somewhat normal for a while.
CN: You also had the opportunity to open for the late Charlie Daniels. What was that experience like?
BH: I opened for him back in 2012, and it was so great! He was so kind to me and my band when we came off stage. He said “Did y’all have fun up there? Well, now I’m gonna go see if we can have a little fun, too!” He was definitely getting up there in age at the time, but when he got on stage, that bow was still setting that fiddle on fire!
CN: Last season you had the chance of a lifetime as a Kansas City Chiefs fan, writing “Run It Back” which was played during their playoff run to get everyone psyched up for the game. This season you released a remix of the track as “Take It Back.” How has that experience been like not only as a fan but as a country artist?
BH: It honestly started out as something to make some new friends and fans in the KC area, and then it turned into something I never thought it would. Having them play it in the stadium at a playoff game, and having the team use it in a highlight clip, was something I never thought would be possible. It led to so many opportunities for me, through radio play, show bookings, and making new fans. It was the perfect thing to keep the momentum moving for me during the pandemic.
Watch the 2021 Remix here
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
BH: Man that’s tough to answer… Probably Alan Jackson or Ronnie Dunn. They’ve both influenced me and my career so much.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
BH: Well, the first one I can remember is Brooks & Dunn when I was very little. Maybe 4 or 5? They came to my hometown, Hot Springs, AR, and played a show. I remember waiting all night to hear my favorite song at the time, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, and as a young kid, I was very tired and wanted to go to sleep. BUT when they finally played it, my Dad put me on his shoulders and took me up close to the stage. I guarantee you I knew every word!
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
BH: Again another tough one. Maybe “dreamer” ? I’ve always chased my dream and never doubted it. If I don’t ever make it all the way to the top, so be it. I’ve been very blessed with the success that I’ve had, and wouldn’t want to do anything else.
CN: As we begin a new year, what’s next on the horizon for you?
BH: My new single “Boot ‘N’ Rally” came out Feb 2. Music video coming too. New album coming on Feb 25 that’s been in the works since before the pandemic. Lots of shows are getting lined up as well! Hoping for 2022 to be even more “back to normal” than it was in 2021.
Stream/download “Boot ‘N’ Rally” here.
Click here to check out a sneak peek of Looking For Nothing To Do available this Friday, 2/25. Pre-order here.
Mark your calendars: Blane Howard will be taking over our Instagram TOMORROW, February 24!
Be sure to tune in!
For more information on Blane Howard, visit his website blanehoward.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.