Nick Tressler – Raised Rowdy Founder
Sometimes a song just hits you. It might not directly relate to your current situation or it might be exactly where your life is at that moment, but the best songs speak directly to your soul. It can come from anywhere, from simple lyrics, deep thoughtful inspiring soulfulness, an eerie or raucous guitar riff. Any of these qualities, when done extremely well, can speak to you.
I can’t tell you how it happens or recreate the experience in any way, but when it happens to you, you just have to embrace the emotion that the song takes you to. Be that happy, sad, cathartic, emotional, joyous whatever it is, because you don’t know when another song will take you on this type of emotional ride again.
HARDY’s songs he has released so far range greatly from party jams to some heartfelt more serious songs. He has something though in his songwriting that can really draw me in. Whether it is a simple emotion that makes me want to raise a glass with friends or a heartfelt expression of love that you give to someone who is truly right for you.
From the first time I listened to “I’LL QUIT LOVIN’ YOU” to the most recent 100th time I’ve played it, prior to writing this post, it hits home. It evoked that emotion that I crave. The reason I listen to music and the reason why I keep searching for the next great song. This song, for me at least, is one of those great songs.
The song, written by HARDY, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers and Smith Ahnquist is a testament to true love. The story is a familiar one, that classic country love. We all want to find/get back/keep that love so strong it becomes the lore of a country song. HARDY sets this sentiment to music in a way that truly draws you in. It talks about a love that is so powerful that the only issue you can foresee is that eventually one of you will be without the other. This type of song appeals to my musical tastes and more importantly my heart. It makes me think of another song in a similar vein; Jason Isbell’s “If We Were Vampires”. While it might sound strange to compare these two artists or songs to each other the emotion and stories line up. Take a listen to both and you will hear what I mean.
So there I said it. This song, for me, is on the same level as one of my favorite Jason Isbell songs. If you haven’t felt this type of connection to a song or story yet I urge you keep searching. The feeling you get when you find one of your songs is powerful.
So this is a big THANK YOU to HARDY and his co-writers for giving me another song that takes me to a place that only my favorite songs can. I can’t wait for the next one and hopefully it is as equally as satisfying as this one.