For an artist such as Devin Dawson, destined for sold-out arena tours filled with eager and engaged fans, nothing tops the feeling of performing live. Getting his start in a heavy metal band, Dawson is well acquainted with putting on a compelling performance, which he is now delivering to fans digitally with The Pink Slip EP Live (LISTEN HERE). The six-song collection was recorded during a full-band, no-audience set in Nashville, TN last year to keep live music alive during COVID-19.
“In a year where live music was pretty much wiped off the face of the earth, this EP was a muse for my creative heart,” explained Dawson. “We recorded this project in late August 2020, still in the middle of the ‘unknown’ and dreadfully missing the connection of an audience and the one of a kind feeling of playing live. This was the first time my band and I had played these songs since we finished recording them earlier that year and was the first time I had really sang in months. The first time I got to have a taste of the ‘live show feeling’ that I had probably taken for granted. I’m so glad we got to immortalize this moment. It will always remind me how lucky I am to be an artist, to be able to play live, and to be surrounded by the best band and fans in the world.”
The Pink Slip EP (LISTEN HERE) was released this past January and was the first new music from the Warner Music Nashville / Atlantic Records artist since his critically acclaimed debut album, Dark Horse, building on the edgy confidence he had pioneered. Sounds Like Nashville raved about the EP, stating it “boasts an overall vibrant and effervescent sound, perfect with pop-leaning production and storytelling that’s authentically country,” with Taste of Country claiming “Dawson has always been a solid lyricist, but under the watch of producer Jay Joyce, he's proving that his sound can successfully expand.” Entering a new headspace filled with hope, he delivered his anything-is-possible truth in the six songs that Billboard described as “a more uplifting direction,” going on to say “it suits him.”
Dawson most recently topped the charts again as a featured artist alongside Lauren Alaina on HARDY’s “One Beer,” which received a nomination for Music Event of the Year at the 56th ACM Awards. This follows the massive success of his GRAMMY-nominated, ACMand CMA Single of the Year, “God’s Country,” that he co-wrote for superstar Blake Shelton. The multi-week No. 1 also landed Dawson his first-ever ACM and CMA award nominations for Song of the Year, adding to his previously earned nods from the ACM, CMT Music, Radio Disney, BMI and MusicRow Awards.
Called “one of country music’s most tender and articulate wordsmiths” by The Tennessean, the acclaimed singer/songwriter has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, ELLEN and TODAY in addition to receiving overwhelming critical praise from outlets such as HUFFPO, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, People, ELLE, AXS, HITS and more. The Nor-Cal native has also toured with major label artists including Maren Morris, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and label-mates Brett Eldredge and Dan + Shay.
