RaeLynn, a contestant on The Voice in 2012 and now an acclaimed young country artist, is coming to Douglas. This weekend, on Saturday, April 8, she will play at the Martin Centre on Ashley Street. This is a rare opportunity for music fans in Douglas – to have a bona fide, award-winning, chart-topping artist visit town. One of the top selling female country artists of the last three years, her record sales have rivaled that Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. She’s also coming to town at a pivotal point in her career; her trip to South Georgia comes on the heels of the release of her debut album, WildHorse, which came out on March 24. The album has been well received thus far and if performs as well as her singles have, she’s going to top the charts and award shows in the near future.
Things work a little differently in the music business than they used to. RaeLynn has been on the scene for several years. She’s already had two hit singles and a ton of radio airplay. Yet only now is she releasing her first album. In July of 2014, she released the single “God Made Girls,” which was a top 10 hit and received a gold certification. Last year, she recorded and released “Love Triangle,” a raw, unapologetic look at how divorce affects children caught in the middle between two parents who can’t get along. The track is based on RaeLynn’s own experiences coming from a broken home and is a deeply personal song to her. “Every night we play ‘Love Triangle,’ it’s different, especially when fans sing along with the song,” RaeLynn said during a phone interview with DouglasNow.com last week. “Some nights I cry, there are some nights when I don’t. This song has been really special to me. It’s really cool to be able to connect with my fans on a different level with this song.”
“Love Triangle” will be on the set list at the Martin Centre Saturday night, as will a number of songs off WildHorse. “Our show is high energy. We’re going to play a lot of songs off the new album. Our sound is very country pop. There is so much energy onstage. I’m not going to apologize for the artist I want to be. I’ve just been very much myself, dancing and having a good time,” she said.
While RaeLynn describes her sound as “country pop,” she very much stays true to her country roots. She grew up listening to country artists – some traditional, some not – along with a variety of other musicians. Those different influences have molded her sound into what it is today. “I came up listening to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Shania Twain, and Beyonce. I’ve also listened to acts like Coldplay, Muse, and Christian and gospel music. That’s what has made me into the artist I am today,” she said.
RaeLynn is ready to bring her eclectic brand of country music to Douglas to provide fans in the area with a one-of-a-kind show usually reserved for larger cities with big arenas. Saturday night will be your chance to enjoy a world-class concert in a smaller, more intimate setting. It’s going to be a great night featuring a fantastic show. Tickets are available at www.rockdogentertainment.com or locally at Norris Shoes, Surcheros, and Fireside Pizza. Tickets are also available at the Tifton and Waycross Surcheros locations.