Two years ago, Randy Houser detoured from his sold out full-production tour dates to rediscover his passion for song writing and feel his way back to the core of his sound. Today he revealed the first taste of that self-exploration with a raw new sound in the form of "What Whiskey Does." Released today via Stoney Creek Records, the new music from Houser gives listeners an early hint of his hotly-anticipated forthcoming project in the form of a whiskey-drenched song that evokes all the pleasures and pains of the song's vice.
"What Whiskey Does" delivers all of the brawn and horsepower fans have come to expect from the accomplished singer while showcasing his refreshed and stripped down sonic energy. Co-written by Houser, Keith Gattis and Hillary Lindsey (who lends her vocals to the smoky barroom track), "What Whiskey Does" radiates a homegrown, un-polished tone that illuminates Houser's thick, wailing pipes. With bluesy guitar riffs, the southern swampy artistry of "What Whiskey Does" is a prime example of Houser's long-awaited new music.
Country music star RANDY HOUSER also announces a trio of headline Australian shows, taking over Brisbane's Tivoli Theatre on Tuesday 11th December, Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on Thursday 13th December, and Melbourne's Corner Hotel on Friday 14th December, and Melbourne's Forum Theatre on Sunday 16th December.
Randy returns to Australia just months after making his Australian debut at premiere country music festival CMC Rocks QLD in March, blowing audiences away with his powerful voice and explosive live show. Soulful and bluesy, Houser commands the stage with hard-hitting power, performing dynamic songs that resonate with classic country tropes.
His return down-under will showcase a new stripped-back approach, taking away the pageantry of country stardom after a realisation by the artist, "I just felt like I was singing karaoke," says Houser. "I walked off stage and I had not had a good time-it felt like I wasn't the one making the music,"
This new mindset was the catalyst for Randy Houser's upcoming fifth album, MAGNOLIA out Friday November 2. A return to the rootsy sound he grew up playing in the tiny town of Lake, Mississippi, the album shows Houser pushing himself melodically and lyrically. The August release of the single 'What Whisky Does' gives listeners their first taste of MAGNOLIA which Rolling Stone immediately dubbed "a classic tears-and-twang drinking song." The swampy, bluesy ballad features a doleful pedal steel guitar and harmony vocals from co-writer Hillary Lindsey.
With four No.1 hits, more than five million singles sold, and multiple award nominations including CMA Song of the Year nomination for 'Like A Cowboy,' Houser is no stranger to acclaim. In 2018, Houser returns to the stage with the promise of intimately personal songs, flavoured with vulnerable musical development.