If you liked the football-themed TV drama Friday Night Lights, you will love country singer Clayton Mullen's new deluxe EP, Varsity Blues OT. Stream it HERE. It features two new tracks - "Pocket Aces" and "Hearts and Records." FNL captured the romanticism, nostalgia, and emotionally fraught times associated with high school. In much the same way, Mullen's latest musical endeavor artfully blends delicacy and grit. He looks back thoughtfully at life's major ups and downs in these masterful songs, most of which he co-wrote, and also peers forward confidently into the future.
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Per a press release, Mullen explained, "When we started writing for this project, I wanted it to feel like Friday Night Lights - songs that take you back down memory lane to some of the best years of your life growing up. I hope that when you listen to the Varsity Blues [OT deluxe] EP, you can feel that nostalgia and connect your own stories to the music."
In a recent interview with Wide Open Country, Mullen stressed his desire to be fully authentic in his music, to learn and grow as an artist, and to nurture his burgeoning career. He clearly wants "to do this as long as I can and keep making music that feels real to the stage of life that I'm in." Mullen is well on his way to achieving all that and more. With this memorable deluxe EP, he proves that he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the top rising stars of the county genre.
Listen to "Varsity Blues" Here
Mullen Has the Right Formula To Break Out and Be Noticed
It's not easy to distance yourself from the crowded pack in country music. But Mullen seems to have it nicely figured out already. He said, "It's really hard to break out and make noise in such a loud industry, but I think there's more of an ability to be seen and heard than ever. Be consistent, be authentic, and just be you and that'll help separate you."
His Music Heroes - and the Star He Would Like to Duet With
Mullen has refined taste in country music. He likes the very best. People such as John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Jason Aldean. That is a pretty stellar group! The star he said he'd like to duet with is Luke Combs. I hope Mullen gets that chance. I would really love to hear those two together.
Songwriting is a Key Aspect of Mullen's Career
Mullen co-wrote six of seven tracks on Varsity Blues OT. Songwriting is obviously very important to him. "Songwriting is a big part of my artistry," he said. "I like the yin and yang of writing versus performing. One is very intimate. You get to do it in a quiet space and be emotional. One is really out there and putting on a show for people. Writing is a big focus of my career right now. Not only for myself but for other artists."
How Does He View His Next Steps?
Mullen said, "One of my goals is to just continue to try and be as authentic as I can. Not because I think listeners will enjoy it or to be trendy with what' popular, but really just trying to be authentic to myself." As Mullen put it, "being authentic and being relatable" are the words he uses to describe the lane he's in and where he'd ideally like to stay.
