Ask David Adam Byrnes who his musical hero is and he’s sure to name country music legend George Strait. The Texan was the hero Byrnes had in mind when he went to work on “A Shot or Two,” a new song premiering exclusively on Taste of Country.
“I wanted that old ’90s country song that would make you want to drive a little faster in your car, something like that,” says Byrnes of the song, which is his new single. “To tell you the truth, that’s the kind of music I love.”
Featured on his new album keeping up with a cowgirl“A Shot or Two” always seemed to stick out in the fellow Texan’s head, long before the song was complete.
“I always had an idea of where I wanted to go,” says Byrnes, who has taken each of his singles to No. 1 on the Texas regional radio chart so far. “Sometimes songs just write themselves, and that’s pretty much what this one did.”
Byrnes wrote “A Shot or Two” along with songwriter Michael White; the same combo has collaborated together several times over the years, including on Byrnes’ first #1, “Beer Bucket List.”
“(Michael White and I) have this weird method where we don’t write for six months to a year,” says Byrnes, laughing, “Then we get together, we complain about the music business and then he throws out a title.
In the case of “A Shot or Two,” Byrnes says he knew he wanted “a honky tonk barn style,” which certainly seemed to fit when White first scrapped the title.
“That title fits perfectly,” he says with a smile. “The day we went and tracked it, I had it first on the list because I knew it was a song I wanted to track the most. I had maybe two or three cups of coffee before, which was really stupid because I was too hyped up for that track session.”
One of the most intriguing artists on the Lone Star State right now, Byrnes says that being able to release songs like “A Shot or Two” is one of the perks of being a completely independent artist.
“During my days in Nashville, you always had the industry on the prowl,” says Byrnes, who first burst onto the country music scene in 2008 with his single “Sweet Distraction.” “You had a manager or a record label or a publisher who was always telling you what to do, you know?” (pauses) I decided to go against the current. Now, I just put out the songs and the style that fits what I want.”
And his fans love it.
“The crowd definitely goes to another level when ‘A Shot or Two’ comes on,” he admits. “It’s been amazing to watch over the last few weeks.”
Life has been sweet for the singer in general, actually, Byrnes was recently engaged to the love of his life, Amanda.
“For the first time in my life, I have a real supporter,” he gushes about his fiancée, who works as an intensive care nurse. “I have someone who stands by me through thick and thin. She is my biggest cheerleader.”
The best country singer from all states