For years now Country Music has had somewhat of a branding problem. Whilst it has always had a dedicated and loyal following (For years it was the highest-grossing musical genre in the U.S) it was never considered particularly cool or in vogue. By the mainstream at least.

But since 2019s Old Town Road by Lil Nas X dropped, people have had to reconsider their position on Country Music. And now the queen Bee herself, Beyoncé has dropped a legit country banger! The number one hit “Texas Hold Em” is the first single to be taken from her upcoming full-length country LP. Enter Cowboy Carter! So will the queen of RnB’s embracing of all things country herald the start of a country music takeover? Let’s don a Stetson and slip on some snake-skin cowboy boots for a good ol’ bit of wild speculation and production inspiration!

Country Clues

While Country music or New Country as it’s often termed, has always been commercially successful, it has generally remained safely in its own lane. A lane that not exclusively, but more often than not, leads to the Southern States of America. But every now and again a slice of country-inspired music will break through to the mainstream. Think Cheryl Crow in the 90s. Or what about that old perennial school disco dance classic “Cotton Eyed Joe” by the Rednex.

More recently the 0’s witnessed the emergence and eventual domination of a true dance-music pioneer. The late and most certainly great Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii. Avicii became synonymous with blending country and bluegrass influences with EDM to create huge pop anthems. Songs like “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother” feature the sort of catchy country vocals and arrangements that would resonate with audiences worldwide. Surprisingly this winning formula has not been widely copied. Avicii’s country-infused style of EDM therefore stands as an interesting yet hugely successful footnote in the annals of dance music history.

The enduring appeal of a good country-style vocal is evident from these particular artists and tracks. With their catchy melodies and poignant folksy lyrics, it seems that people the world over can’t get enough of the unmistakable sound of country.

Urban Music Visits the Country

And it’s not just Dance music and EDM that has fallen under the spell of country music. As mentioned in the introduction Lil Nas X has to take the credit for bridging the boundaries between country and rap music. He wasn’t however the first do so. As early as 1982 The Disco Four would blend the two genres with Country Rock and Rap which was inspired by the country funk breakbeat classic Black Grass by Bad Bascomb.

More recently legendary producer Timbaland has been guilty of incorporating country-flavoured samples into his beats. Most notably with his production on the Bubba Sparks LP Deliverance. And now the undisputed queen of RnB Beyoncé has taken the torch and the self-proclaimed Cowboy Carter looks set to dominate the charts over the coming months. One thing is for sure. The gap between the rural aesthetic of country and the urban flex of Hip Hop and RnB music seems to be narrowing.

Is it time to take it to Nashville? Cooking with Country Music.

So whether you’re an 808 bothering Trap producer or chomping at Calvin Harris’s heels, could your beats benefit from a touch of Country Flavour? Well now’s surely the time to find out.

Let’s first examine some of the key musical ingredients to Country music as these will play a significant role if you plan to take a foray into the world of country.

• Guitar: The guitar is deeply rooted in the history of country music. Both steel-strung acoustic and later the electric guitar with its distinctly twangy sound, have evolved alongside the genre from its humble beginnings in rural America. The Guitar plays an integral role in enforcing the chord progression of a song. Unlike certain genres, country music does not seek to rewrite the melodic rule book when it comes to chord progressions. Simplicity is key as the vocals in country music often provide the main focus.
• Banjo: The banjo’s relationship with country music production can be traced back to its very origins. The foundations of country music center around African and Appalachian traditions where the banjo played an important role. The banjo’s highly distinctive twang and driving rhythms have long been a central element in shaping the sound of classic country recordings, particularly in the style known as Blue Grass music. By adding elements of Banjo to your production you will be naturally applying the timeless essence of Country flavour to your track.
• The Pedal Steel Guitar: The highly distinctive sound of the steel guitar was originally pioneered within the exotic musical traditions of the South Pacific islands, most notably the Hawaiian Islands. It would however go on to become an integral part of the classic country music sound. The way notes slide gracefully gives the steel guitar a highly emotive and haunting quality. Perfect for Country Music with its tales of heartache and unrequited love. While the steel guitar still plays a pivotal role in country music it’s safe to say that its heyday was during the 70’s and 80’s.

• The Fiddle: Firmly associated with Hoedowns and barn dances, the fiddle represents the ultimate in rebel rousing energy. A well-played fiddle can instantly inspire an irresistible and primal urge to cut a rug, (or dusty barn floor) Almost a cheat code to creating a dancefloor frenzy, it’s actually surprising that the fiddle doesn’t get used more in dance music. Well, why not set the trend rather than follow it and look into ways you could incorporate a touch of fiddle into your productions?
• Harmonica: Another slightly more niche instrument, the humble mouth organ is very much associated with iconic campfire songs. Think classic cowboy songs of yesteryear and you will no doubt be picturing a harmonica. And as the harmonica is very much a budget instrument, why not track one down and try experimenting with it on your music?

Musical Ideas

So we have examined some of the key instruments used in the world of Country music. Let’s now consider some of the ways you can get country cooking with some southern flavourings. You will probably not be looking to compete with Nashvilles finest by composing and producing fully fledged country anthems. Instead you may choose to fuse country music elements with the area of music that you specialise in. And like all good musical gumbo’s there is no reason why Country elements can’t be utalised for full effect.

Here are a few ideas to hopefully get you inspired.

Country Music Inspired Vocals

In this highly connective age it has never been easier to collaborate with artists from all over the world. Why not reach out to a vocalist that specialises in country music? Platforms such as Fiverr are fantastic at facilitating such collaborations. Start by building a track that embodies some country music characteristics and send it over to the vocalist. It can of course be in any genre. In fact, the more leftfield the genre the more unique your song will sound. This should give you a greater chance of standing out from the crowd. Blue Grass Psytrance banger anyone???

Energising your track with Hoedown elements

We have already discussed how the sounds of the Hoe Down can impart massive doses of energy into a track. Take a track like Timber by Ke$ha. It has a very distinctive barn dance feel to it. This energy resonates massively with crowds on the dance floor. Try to capture the essence of this sound in your own composition. I would suggest starting with a big pounding kick drum. This kick should ideally be layered with the sound of one or more people stomping there feet on a dusty wooden floor in rhythm. The kick in Adele’s Rolling in the deep is a great example of this. Then use elements such as banjo and fiddle to complete the picture.

Country Music sample mash ups

One of the most effective shortcuts to country music territory is through the usage of a country sample. Just ask Lil Nas X as his song Old Town Road sampled Nine Inch Nail’s country-inspired outing “34 Ghosts IV”. While not exactly traditional sample fodder, country music sample packs are starting to become more prevalent. Why not dip your toe in with these 3 top picks from our sample catalogue on RouteNote Create.

https://create.routenote.com/pack/banjo

https://create.routenote.com/pack/country-drill-blue

https://create.routenote.com/pack/countryfied-fire-lime

A Country Cover

Struggling for inspiration? Well there is nothing like the challenge of producing a good cover to unlock the creative block. And by choosing a country song to cover you will be really pushing yourself. And with an almost never ending canon of amazing songs to choose from country could hold the key to your next big hit. Just be sure to respect the original while injecting your own distinctive spin.

Big Bass Country

If there is one thing that is certain in music, it’s that people love to hear interesting combinations and contrasting musical juxtapositions. And what better way to show this than by blending the homely traditional comfort of a country song with some outrageous bass music! Drum and Bass covers and mash ups seem to be everywhere at the moment so why not go into full subvertive mode and dial in some country music madness? On the other side of the BPM spectrum, surely its time for some heavyweight, ear-splitting Country DubStep heat! Go on you know you wanna!

Subtle Country Overtones

Of course, you don’t have to go “Full Country” in your productions. Sometimes less is more and just a little nod to the world of country music is all that’s needed. Especially considering many of the intrinsic elements that make up the sound of country are generally not widely used. A good example would be the pedal steel guitar. Try utalising some elements of steel guitar over your beats and see what happens. With its distinct and unique sliding notation it could really make your track stand out. Even very short one shot snippets put through effects such as delay could add real uniqueness and character to your production. As always, experimentation is the key. Just have fun and try to think out side of those conventional musical boxes.

Summary

So there you have it. Hopefully this post has inspired you to embrace the spirit of county music and incorporate its distinctive character into a future track. With the upsurge in country music’s popularity you will be surely positioning you well. So get cooking and see if you can be ahead of the curve. Why not hit 2024’s potential big country wave full on with your own country music inspired offering!

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