Artists to Watch #8

George Birge, upon the inception of his TikTok profile, encountered a video by Erynn Chambers, a notable presence on the platform under the alias Rynnstar, playfully critiquing country music for its propensity to revolve around repetitive themes such as beer, trucks, and romantic pursuits. While the commentary was made in jest, Birge, a songwriter hailing from Texas but now residing in Nashville, accepted the implicit challenge to transcend these common tropes.

Armed with this ambition, Birge composed “Beer Beer, Truck Truck,” a spirited melody which, upon its surface, addresses the aforementioned clichés but delves deeper into the theme of longing for an absent love and the quest to rekindle that relationship.

The song’s production, by Ash Bowers, is a synthesis of contemporary country music’s sonic elements and the traditional influences that Birge absorbed during his upbringing in Austin—a city with such affection for George Strait that Birge’s mother jests his name is inspired by the country legend instead of his own paternal lineage.

Remarkably, within a fortnight of unveiling “Beer Beer, Truck Truck” on TikTok, the tune had garnered approximately three million plays, bolstering Birge’s followers from a modest count to an impressive 130,000. Additionally, the tune garnered the endorsement of Rynnstar, who presented it to her substantial audience and whom Birge graciously acknowledged as a co-writer.

Amassing in excess of 55.8 million streams throughout his musical library, Birge expertly combines his Texan roots with the dynamic circuit of Nashville’s Music Row, a testament to his relocation in 2014.

His aptitude for crafting resonant lyrics and tuneful melodies he attributes to his formative years in Austin. When he began performing with a band across the notable Sixth Street entertainment district, it was his original compositions, rather than cover songs, that were showcased.

Now signed with Barry Weiss’s RECORDS Nashville, Birge has released his debut album, George Birge: Mind On You. It’s paramount to denote that, albeit the initial viral success, Birge’s career is underpinned by extensive songwriting expertise, rather than the ephemeral fame of social media.

George Birge engaged with fellow Texan RaeLynn in a compelling musical partnership, producing “Whiskey Go ‘Round,” a reflective and sensuous track that exudes a nocturnal ambience. The collaborative creation, “Whiskey Go ‘Round (feat. RaeLynn),” authored by Birge, Parker Welling, Jennifer Hart, and Casey Brown, marries the raw sounds of steel guitar with modern electronic rhythms, crafting the backdrop to a narrative replete with yearning and temptation. The track’s production, also overseen by Brown, showcases the fusion of Birge’s audacity with RaeLynn’s radiant energy. The accompanying visual representation, directed by Midtown Motion and filmed within Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, TN, captures the intertwined narratives of Birge and RaeLynn as they metaphorically and literally navigate a series of exchanges.

At the end of 2023, “Mind On You,” was his first #1 single on Country radio from the debut album and also landed on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 list. In an effort to infuse the track with renewed vitality, Birge engaged artists charlieonnafriday and Kidd G to produce a rousing remix. This number one hit is integrated into his tour agenda, with Birge slated to perform on specified engagements of Parker McCollum’s BURN IT DOWN TOUR 2024 and on Luke Bryan’s 2024 Mind Of A Country Boy Tour.

Further cementing his burgeoning repute, Birge was distinguished as one of the New Faces of Country Music for CRS 2024. He is scheduled to perform alongside Dillon Carmichael, Corey Kent, Megan Moroney, and Conner Smith at the anticipated event.

Label: RECORDS Nashville
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Current City: Nashville, Tennessee
Hot Release (s): “Mind On You”; “Whiskey Go Round”; “Beer Beer, Truck Truck”
Musical Influences: Little Texas, Eli Young Band,  Gary Allan, George Strait, Jason Aldean
If You Like: Luke Combs, Conner Smith Walker Montgomery
KEEP UP WITH GEORGE BIRGE: www.georgebirge.com/ www.facebook.com/georgebirgemusic/ www.youtube.com/@georgebirge Instagram/X: @GeorgeBirge
TikTok: @georgebirgeofficial