Platinum-selling country artist Easton Corbin just released his first record in eight years. The 14-track album Let’s Do Country Right is a true representation of the genre. I sat down with him to discuss the album, his career, and insights on his songwriting process.
Corbin joined Stone Country Records in 2022 and shared what the experience has been like. “It’s just great having a team that really supports me as an artist and a person and stands for a lot of the same stuff,“ he said.
Having a few years in between label deals allowed Corbin to take time to get back to his roots. He explained, “I had all that time to really go in there and focus on my writing.”
He described the luxury of the time before a first album, when an artist has years to conceptualize, write, and review. “It’s like having that opportunity again,” Corbin began, “to go in there and take your time and write, say what you want to say.”
Making the Album
When planning for Let’s Do Country Right, Corbin expanded his creative reach and cowrote almost all of the songs. He shared how the knowledge he acquired over the years helped him craft the album. “You know yourself more as an artist because you’ve had that time to mature,” he said. “It helps you hone in on what you want to say and the type of songs you want to write and sonically, how you want it to sound.”
He explained that as a beginning artist you’re searching for that established identity and it takes time to develop, but eventually, you figure out what works for you and what your fans love.
A solid sense of self is one of the most important things for any artist and Corbin exemplifies that through his music and his ability to cultivate his artistry in a way that is innovative, yet ingrained in his musical identity. He discussed not wavering far from his signature sound and what works for him, yet he isn’t afraid to try new things that align with who he is.
“You have to progress and you have to grow,” he said. The artist is known for blending traditional and modern country and understands the importance of development. “You gotta find it within yourself to do it in your way.”
Songwriting Process
Curious about Corbin’s role in the songwriting process, I asked for his thoughts regarding the contributions of each person. “In the whole process, I think people have different strengths,” he began. Corbin talked about the different abilities within songwriting, from being a great lyricist to someone who composes a great melody. Others excel at writing certain types of songs.
Corbin’s duty as the artist, he explained, is to bring all the talent together, set the tone for the project, and leverage the writers’ talents. “It’s my job to drive that ship and drive it in the direction of what I do.” He compared a songwriter’s role to a chameleon, as they mold themselves to what the artist does. Corbin continued, “That’s why I think it’s so important, knowing who you are as an artist and what you want to say.”
The artist shared what energizes him during the writing process. “I get really excited when I get on a song and everything’s clicking and everybody’s bringing their best,” he said. Upon recognizing the potential of a song, they are highly motivated to persist in writing it until it is completed. Corbin concluded, “When we get to that point, I get really, really fired up.”
Unreleased Songs on Let’s Do Country Right
The album includes three previously unreleased songs and Corbin shared his thoughts on the two new tunes he cowrote.
“Whiskey Don’t Take Me Back”
Corbin wrote “Whiskey Don’t Take Me Back” two years ago with Brad Clawson, Wade Kirby, and Shane Minor. The song reminds him of “Let Alone You,” a song he cut from his first album, and wanted something along the same vein. He explained that certain songs are cut because they make great singles and others contribute to making a great project. “Whiskey Don’t Take Me Back” is the latter. He speculated that while it may not be released as a single, he could see it becoming a fan favorite. “It’s probably one of my favorite songs on this record,” he shared. Adding songs that have a special meaning make the album more well-rounded. Corbin continued, “That’s one of those pieces in the record that completes it.”
“Lonesome Drinkers”
Written with Shane Minor, Wade Kirby, and Brice Long, “Lonesome Drinkers” has a throwback vibe, but still incorporates a modern sound, with a unique melody and a fun lyric. The song elicits imagery of a couple two-stepping in a honky tonk. has the potential to be released as a single, but he has yet to make a decision. “Man, I just love that song,” he said fervidly.
Let’s Do Country Right Track Listing
- Hey Merle (Easton Corbin, Rodney Clawson, Wade Kirby)
- I Can’t Decide (Easton Corbin, Ashley Gorley, Wade Kirby, Rhett Akins)
- Marry That Girl (Easton Corbin, Adam Craig, Shane Minor, Wade Kirby)
- Somebody’s Gotta Be Country (Ashley Gorley, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson)
- Let’s Do Country Right (Easton Corbin, Carson Chamberlain, Wade Kirby, Wyatt McCubbin)
- Between You and Me (Easton Corbin, Brad Clawson, Wade Kirby, Jim Beavers)
- Where Do You Go (Easton Corbin, Josh Jenkins, Wade Kirby)
- Lonesome Drinkers (Easton Corbin, Shane Minor, Wade Kirby, Brice Long)
- Over A Girl (Easton Corbin, Ben Hayslip, Wade Kirby)
- Real Good Country Song (Easton Corbin, Ashley Gorley, Wade Kirby, Rodney Clawson)
- Whiskey Don’t Take Me Back (Easton Corbin, Brad Clawson, Wade Kirby, Shane Minor)
- Honky Tonk Land (Easton Corbin, David Lee Murphy, Wade Kirby)
- Wind You Up (Easton Corbin, Wade Kirby, Kelly Archer)
- In It (Jimmy Robbins, Josh Thompson, Laura Veltz)
Listen to the Album
Let’s Do Country Right is a must-listen for any country fan. Stream the album on your favorite platform or listen below.
Connect with Easton Corbin
For more information on Easton Corbin, visit eastoncorbin.com and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
