Josh Turner Previews Upcoming Studio Album

Josh Turner previews music from his forthcoming album. Photo: Eric Adkins

MCA Nashville artist Josh Turner aims to bring a slightly more traditional sound back to Country radio with his latest single, “Lay Low,” which hit airwaves in September. Turner, gearing up to release his sixth studio album next year, offered a private preview of the new material to industry members last week at Nashville rehearsal facility SoundCheck.

Turner recalled how, upon first listen, he instantly related to “Lay Low,” with its lyrics about escaping everyday life for a cabin in the woods. “It painted a picture of getting away and decompressing,” said Turner. “It struck a chord with me, because I actually have a cabin in the woods. It was the unanimous pick for the first single for me and everyone at my label.”

“This is a guy our format needs right now,” said UMG labelhead Mike Dungan. “There is so much sameness out here it is sickening.”

“This room is where we come out to put our shows together, put together our set lists, and lighting,” said Turner to the room of industry executives and journalists. “But we never have nice rugs and tables in here when we do it,” he quipped.

Indeed, Turner’s team lifted the cavernous room’s ambiance a notch or two with couches, candles, catering, and various libations (including Cheerwine soda from his native Carolinas). Prior to the performance, guests mingled as classic Randy Travis tunes played—a fitting choice, as Turner is the heir apparent to Travis’ rumbling bass tones.

He previewed each song from center stage, backed by his full band, video and lighting rig. The uptempo “Bench Seat,” penned by Craig Wiseman, was passed along to Turner by his brother, Big Loud Shirt Creative Director Matt Turner. “It turned out great, the cut made his boss happy and his brother happy,” quipped the singer.

He followed with another radio-friendly tune, “Where The Girls Are,” and “Wonder,” a solemn ballad that ponders the current life of a former love. “These songs are very new. We don’t even have video content worked up yet for one of them,” said Turner.

Though he says the yet-untitled project is “a session or two away from being done,” the new tunes settled in well alongside the string of hit songs he performed to close the brief set, including “Will You Go With Me,” “Time Is Love,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance.”