We’ve all seen them: men in cowboy hats and boots that don’t know the first thing about the true cowboy lifestyle. Delaney Ann has seen them too, and she playfully takes a jab at them with her newest single, “This Ain’t Country Club.”
With her newest effort, the Texas native delivers a rollicking, fiddle-laden tune akin to a classic Gretchen Wilson track, and with her eyes firmly set on making music that stays true to her Texas roots.
We chatted with Delaney all about “This Ain’t Country Club,” as well as her early start in music, new music on the way and more!
Pro Country: You began playing guitar at just ten years-old and also wrote your first song that same year. What was it about playing and writing that connected with you at such an early age?
Delaney Ann: When I first picked up a guitar, I had no idea the journey it would take me on. It was just me, my dad’s old guitar, and putting my life on paper. I try to constantly come back to that feeling and remember that it all started with a love for the music first and foremost. If I could only tell little ten year-old Delaney where that little idea to pick up a guitar would take her!
PC: Who were some of the artists you connected with at that time that spurred your love of music, writing and playing?
DA: Well, I have to shout out T. Swift, of course! Taylor’s vulnerability as a songwriter inspired me way back when, and still does today! But also, music passed down to me by my parents will always hold such a special place in my heart. My mom is a huge Tanya Tucker fan. We grew up with George Strait and Robert Earl Keen always playing in the house.
PC: You released your first EP, Fingers Crossed, at just 13 years-old. What emotions did you feel releasing music for the first time out into the world at such a young age?
DA: I think there is something really special about the songs I wrote during that period of my life. When you’re that young, emotions are so intense. A crush feels like love and a bummer feels like heartbreak! I still try to tap into those feelings and experiences and emotions when I write today.
PC: Your website mentions feeling that you’ve found your sound and the artist you want to be. Can you elaborate on that and what you hope to capture with your sound?
DA: Really leaning into my Texas roots and embracing that the Nashville sound just isn’t me is what helped me define what I am trying to create as an artist. I love country music that comes from Texas, Oklahoma and Nashville; it just took some time to realize that what I make doesn’t have to fit perfectly into a box. The music I’m releasing soon is about my family farm, being a military spouse, missing loved ones and being a woman in the music industry! Not your typical topics, and I am so excited to put out music that feels so authentic to me, and I’m really hoping people can resonate with it!
PC: Your posted a performance of your newest single, “This Ain’t Country Club,” on TikTok in July of last year, which went on to earn over 200,000 views and nearly 20,000 likes. How encouraging was it to see the response to that video out of the gate and to see the song taking on that kind of life?
DA: That was the first time I really had a song take off in that way. It was so exciting! That song has opened so many doors for me, and I am so grateful for the listeners it has brought with it!
PC: You solo-wrote “This Ain’t Country Club.” Can you take us in your head and talk about how the song came together?
DA: When I first wrote that song, I had to stop so many times when writing it because I couldn’t stop laughing! I remember first writing the line “He’s one shot in and his accent’s gone” and thinking that there might be something there. From there, it was just a long list of all the things I wanted to include in the song: ketchup on steak, Buckle Barn, Yellowstone, and vaping: all the marks of a true fake cowboy.
PC: Your website mentions working on a new album. What information, if any, can you give about where you are in that process? What can listeners expect to hear?
DA: Thank you so much for asking! I am working hard right now in the writing process and starting to narrow down these songs, and they are some of my favorites I’ve ever written. I can’t say too much yet, but I can say there is a strong Texas influence and theme.
PC: With “This Ain’t Country Club” now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2024?
DA: My next single is coming out this summer, and I can’t wait for people to hear this heartfelt nostalgic song. I’m excited to keep touring this year and hope to connect with more country music lovers!
*”This Ain’t Country Club” is featured on The Best of Pro Country playlist!*
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