Chris Janson

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Nothing brings us together quite like music. Whether it be an acoustic guitar at a campfire, subwoofers in a truck outside of a football game, or a sold-out show at your favorite summer shed, songs invite camaraderie, fortify bonds, and soundtrack lasting memories. The only thing as good as sharing a tune with a friend might be creating one.

So, to craft his third full-length album, Real Friends [Warner Music Nashville], Chris Janson did just that. Rather than sequester himself in a studio, he wrote and recorded the entire album in his downstairs living room-turning a mancave into a creative haven for a rotating cast of collaborators that comprised old friends and new acquaintances, who quickly became close confidants. With Janson at the helm, his combustible authenticity as an artist now combined with this team of extraordinarily creative talents, little doubt exists that the multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has found a creative formula that works.

"I was able to create an atmosphere by working out of my house that helped me to push myself creatively," says Janson. "I was comfortable, and I was able to make everybody else who rolled through feel comfortable - a bunch of friends, some I've known forever and some I was meeting for the first time. And regardless, I learned something from everyone. It was inspiring to be exposed to so many different perspectives and I think it helped the music to be more authentic."

Since his emergence in 2009, Janson has trafficked in a lane of his own badass rock 'n' roll country. In the spotlight and behind-the-scenes as a writer, he landed one hit after another, including two number one singles. In addition to three CMA nominations, he's scored a double-platinum smash with "Buy Me A Boat," which the iHeartRadio Music Awards decreed "Country Song of the Year" and NSAI cited among "Ten Songs I Wish I'd Written." In 2018, the gold-selling "Drunk Girl" garnered "Video of the Year" at the ACM Awards and "Song of the Year" at the MusicRow Awards. Along the way, he's become one the industry's best live performers and has sold out venues far and wide. Beyond critical acclaim, Keith Urban invited him to join the Grand Ole Opry. Not to mention his influence in other studios - he has lendt his pen to cuts such as Tim McGraw's "Truck Yeah" and "How I'll Always Be," LOCASH's "I Love This Life," and Hank Williams Jr.'s "God Fearin' Man" and "Those Days Are Gone."

A spirit of collaboration drove what would become Real Friends as Janson got to work, by his own account, "accidentally" in his basement alongside first-time co-producer Tommy Cecil.

"It's really simple, it just happened," he adds. "Tommy came over, and we made this music in my basement. It was great to be the guy to give him his first shot as a producer. I'm grateful, I'm humble, and I'm thankful for what I've got, so I want to share that with others."

Janson introduced Real Friends with the opener and first single "Good Vibes." An infectious guitar lick twists and turns into a lyrical solo as he declares, "I'm feeling those good vibes," before a plainspoken, straight-from-the-heart bridge directed at his wife.

"It was good vibes only," he smiles. "That's the real truth. I don't write things I don't know about, so if I didn't live it, I don't write it. More than ever, I appreciate where I'm at. My kids are healthy. My wife and I are in love. Even on days when we think it's not going our way, it really is."

Elsewhere, "Done" delivers a testament to his family over sunny acoustic guitars. The accompanying black-and-white co-stars his wife, as the couple enjoy a beachside rendezvous and put their love on display.

"When I saw my wife for the first time, I said, 'Done'," he recalls. "That's it. I never want to screw this up. We always see eye-to-eye, rarely do we disagree and that's what the song is about."

Meanwhile, "Say About Me" crashes from a distorted groove into scorching and sizzling bars: "See I grew up in a single wide with a poster of Kid Rock. When you start out from the bottom, son, you scream when you're on top." "For as much as I don't care what people think, I actually do care what people think," he goes on. "I think personalities like mine need approval on certain things. But, if I get pushed into a corner, I'll just be like, 'I don't care what you think.' I want to be a great dad, a great husband and other than that, when I get on stage, I don't care what you say about me, your ass is mine."

On the other end of the spectrum, the standout ballad "Hawaii On Me" pairs delicately plucked acoustic guitar and sparse piano with vocals from Janson's children and a heartfelt "I love you, Dad" at the end.

"It's somber, but it's also a celebration of life," he explains. "It's about a father who knew he was dying and told his family to go to Hawaii and do it up big. When the kids came down and I put their vocals on the song, it happened organically, so we left it."

All roads lead to the bold conclusion "Country USA." A celebration of the small town spirit ignited by wild guitar solos and a declarative chorus, "We know we've got it made, smack dab in the middle of small town Country USA," the closer serves up a definitive statement. "It's what redneck kids like us do in the summertime," he states. "Ending with 'Country USA' encapsulates the record. It sounds like the outro. This album is just normal people stuff. It feels right."

Given the album's cohesive vision, immediate magnetism, and unbridled spirit, these songs have all the makings of future live staples and worthy additions to his already storied sets. Touted at CMA Fest 2019 for emanating "more energy than the combined festival Headliners" by Billboard and "the energy of a closer" by Rolling Stone, he'll roll out these tunes on tour throughout 2019 and beyond. He intended on readying these songs for the stage from the very first note.

"I wrote this music for a live audience, as I always do," he affirms. "In terms of live performance, my connection is the most important part. If the crowd can give me 110 percent; I'll give them 210 percent. That's what keeps us going."

In the end, Real Friends wields the power to bring audiences closer to Chris and maybe mint a few more friendships.