MusicRowPics: Artist-Producer David Fanning Previews Debut Red Bow Project

David Fanning performs for MusicRow staff.

David Fanning‘s name and voice might be new to country radio listeners, but his musical work surely isn’t. Fanning has produced three No. 1 hits, including Parmalee‘s “Carolina” and the Thompson Square hits “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and “If I Didn’t Have You.”

The Tennessee native taught himself to use ProTools at the age of 14. Eight years ago, he moved to Nashville, where he met members of Jason Aldean’s band, including Rich Redmond. “They started working on a project with me at that time, and realized we worked really well together, so we started New Voice Entertainment,” said Fanning. “The first act we signed was Thompson Square.” New Voice Entertainment’s team includes Fanning, Redmond, Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy.

Now, as one of the newest artists signed to Red Bow Records, Fanning is eager to bring his own musical style and voice to the masses. Red Bow Records is also recording home to Joe Nichols, Chase Bryant, and Craig Campbell.

Fanning stopped by the MusicRow office to preview tracks from his own upcoming solo project. The set included “Slow It On Down,” a pop/country confection peppered with spoken word verses, followed by ”Crash,” which highlighted Fanning’s smooth vocals.

“Homegrown,” not to be confused with the Zac Brown Band song of the same title, was penned by Fanning four years ago. “It really celebrates being from a small town, small town girls, and the good things that come from living in a town like that,” he says.

He finished with his current single, “Doin’ Country Right,” penned by Jimmy Robbins, Josh Osborne, and Heather Morgan.

“Since we are a production team–four of us total–we filter ideas off each other. It’s not just me in the studio obsessing over the music–though I do,” Fanning says of the recording process with his New Voice Entertainment teammates thus far. “I’ve learned that great songs almost record themselves, you just have to give them a little more flair and it works itself out.”

Fanning already has approximately 15 songs cut, with plans to record four or five additional tracks before he and his team begin winnowing down songs to their final selections. He has managed to balance time in the recording studio and touring with production work on albums for Lindsay Ell and Parmalee’s upcoming album.

“It’s cool to go from doing production stuff to getting to do what I really have always dreamed about doing,” says Fanning. “Red Bow is awesome and it’s been an awesome journey. Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m ready to keep playing and keep going.”

David Fanning with MusicRow staff.