Artist Interview: Drew Baldridge chats about his debut single “Dance With Ya”

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Patoka, IL native Drew Baldridge has been performing and dancing since the tender age of 8 years old. His small town was the backdrop for his love of music and dance and he knew that one day he would end up on stage. Baldridge tells The Shotgun Seat his backstory, his road to becoming a country artist and all of the reasons he loves to dance in an exclusive interview.

The “Dance With Ya” songwriter joined his father in a church quartet at age 16, though his performing days started much earlier. “I started out doing local talent contests,” Baldridge says. “I did the whole Michael Jackson Thriller dance in second or third grade and I did Grease Lighting once.  I was that little kid at weddings who was on the dance floor getting in everybody’s way.”

Originally hoping to be a major league baseball player, Baldridge turned down a college athletic scholarship after his mom surprised him with tickets to see Josh Turner on his 18th birthday. “I saw him and I just decided, that was the night that I’m going to move to Nashville.  [I] Started playing at Tootsies, Rippy’s and Honky Tonk Central and all that stuff downtown. I played down there for about a year and then I signed my publishing deal March 5th of 2013”.  His career started to take shape soon after making the decision to move to Music City. “I had my own band and we’ve been touring ever since all across the midwest and we just signed a record deal. I never thought I would get here. It’s unbelievable. God has been good to me, that’s for sure.”.

His first single “Dance With Ya” impacts radio today and it was inspired by some great performers of the past. “I love to dance. I know it sounds crazy…one of my favorite artists is Michael Jackson.  I was listening to him, James Brown and Elvis Presley and I found in older music they all just danced.  I decided I need a song where I can just dance.”  As soon as the song was complete he had a feeling that this would be the song to open all of the doors for him.  Adding an extensive horn ensemble into the melody added the finishing touch to the fun and upbeat track.  “It’s all about that groove. Once you put that groove out there the whole audience will have fun,” he says.

The video for “Dance With Ya” has taken on a life of its own online, having amassed over 60 thousand views. “My manger and I sat down and talked about it and we decided we just wanted dancers from all different genres. Yes it is country music, but we wanted to bring everyone together in the video. I wanted break dancers, we found the cloggers. The best part was seeing everyone so involved, especially the parents. Everyone was smiling and having fun.”  The two day shoot features Drew’s infectious smile, swaying hips, adorable interaction with young ballerinas.  His band joined in on all of the fun, too, as background dancers in sunglasses.

A few months back, SiriusXM The Highway named “Dance With Ya” a Highway Find. “I woke up and it was like 7 AM and I knew they were going to start playing it that day, but I didn’t know when. I came downstairs and put it on in the living room and started doing dishes and I literally turned the TV on, walked over, one song finished and then my song started playing. I started video taping the TV screen and my hand was shaking. It was funny,” he recalls. “I was all by myself. I didn’t have anybody to celebrate it with. It’s like you wanna scream but then you feel dumb for screaming because you are alone.”

Currently cruising across the country promoting “Dance With Ya” on a radio tour, Baldridge aims to release an EP in early 2016 and a full length album  by the end of the year.  He expects the album to be good mix of all of his influences blended with a traditional country sound. Just as on “Dance With Ya,” he plans to add horns throughout the album. Inspired by Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Chris Young, Josh Turner and Earth Wind and Fire, a wide variety of genres will give his debut album an interesting sound.  “I don’t think you should be scared of your inspirations even when you are making music. I am letting those inspirations take me where I want to go and the album will be mix of all of that.”

Be sure to follow Drew Baldridge on facebook , twitter and instagram.

 

 

 

 

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