Country has a fascinating reputation. It can seem pretty exclusive, especially with acts like Jason Aldean with extremely problematic views. The dicey history with women in the genre is well documented, the racial dynamics can be very off-putting. These are all the kinds of things that make people not want to explore country. However, on the flip side, there are artists who follow what country is at its core. Your early outlaw country acts, the Highwaymen, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Luke Combs are just a few examples.
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Combs in particular stands out in the newer crop of acts. There's a warm sincerity and an honest reflection of the times we live in through his music. Working class people trying to make it everyday and take care of their families. This is a universal experience, he just happens to channel it through the American gaze. The way Luke sees it, why can't everyone get into country music? That's the big goal he wants out of the genre, to show how welcoming and true it is to our everyday experiences.
Recently, Combs spoke with USA Today ahead of the big festivals he's performing this summer. There, he talks about his desire to rid country of some of its negative perception. Whether it's covering Tracy Chapman or whatever else, he's hellbent on opening out the bounds country can exist in. "The next frontier is expanding my limits to embrace people who want to destigmatize country music. It's a fresh, different challenge," Luke says.
Luke Combs Wants to Shed Any Bad Stigmas From Country
"I'm passionate about country music and have a deep knowledge of its inner workings, but I'm also someone who ran as far away from country music as I could and hated it, for a decade, when I was 10 or 11 years old. I eventually rediscovered my love for country music and feel like, though the genre might not be for everyone, some parts of the genre could be for anyone," Luke Combs adds.
This doesn't necessarily mean you're going to see him radically alter his musical approach or anything. Maybe don't expect any tacky rap verses like some country acts love to clumsily do. Instead, he just wants to showcase his and his band's natural interests and instincts and see how it impacts people.
"My band is so much more talented than I am with instruments in their hands. They'll go from country to playing Vanessa Carlton or Train, then play a bass solo over the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army.' The kids know ball," Luke Combs applauds. "We're not taking glitz, glamour, fame, flash, fire and smoke to these crowds. I will still get up there with my band, songs and talent, then give them the best live show possible that will earn their respect."
