Country music fans everywhere have long been awaiting the release of new Sam Hunt music. With an already-established career, thanks to debut project Montevallo, all eyes were on the Georgia singer to see which direction his sophomore album would take. Hunt teased new music via social media last week, and released “Body Like A Backroad” February 1. The track was written by Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Zach Crowell. This was the songwriting team that penned most of the cuts on his first record, and they’ve bounced back with a new direction for Hunt’s follow-up album.
Contrasting his song “Drinkin’ Too Much” that he released in early January, “Body Like A Backroad” has a far different, more fun vibe. Seductive lyrics mixed with a hooky upbeat melody and hip-hop production elements give the listener the perfect amount of everything. Montevallo was viewed as innovative and different after its release in 2014, and now Hunt is repeating history by releasing another unique, standout song to country radio.
“Body like a back road, driving with my eyes closed / I know every curve like the back of my hand / Doing 15 in a 30, I ain’t in no hurry / Imma take it slow just as fast as I can,” Hunt sings in the chorus of the song. A stripped down arrangement allows fans to really hear Sam’s voice on most of the track, but pop and hip-hop sonic elements are layered throughout, again cementing Hunt’s identity as a genre-bending artist. Shane McAnally, co-writer and co-producer on this track, said via Instagram that “It’s impossible to pick a favorite song I’ve got to work on with Sam, but if I had to . . . this is it.”
The “15 in a 30” lyric serves as the name of his upcoming tour, announced earlier this week. Hunt will hit the road this summer with Maren Morris, Chris Janson, and Ryan Follese – see dates here, and listen to “Body Like A Backroad” below: