A Song About Possibilities
“Ready For The Takin’ (When You Are),” the latest release from Virginia native Trace Nixon, captures the tension of temptation. “It’s not a full-fledged cheatin’ song,” Nixon admits with a grin. “But it really wants to be.”
The lyrics set the stage for longing and risk:
Folks say my feet are firm to the ground
And I’ve never been the kind
To lay my heart down on the line
But that all changed the day you came to town
Let’s take a chance on takin’ this too far
My heart’s Ready For The Takin’ when you are.
A Family Collaboration
The song carries personal weight for Nixon, who co-wrote it with his father, Nick. “Dad started this back in the late ‘90s,” Trace recalls. “I always liked what he had, so a few months before I recorded my EP we took a run at finishing it. I’m really proud of where it ended up.”
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Behind the Music
The track is part of Nixon’s upcoming project Hand Me Down Name, arriving October 3. With its rolling rhythm and touch of bluegrass heritage, the song showcases Nixon’s picking skills and roots influences.
Recorded at Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, the cut was produced by William Gawley (Taylor Hicks, Jake Ybarra, Taylor McCall) and engineered by Bryce Roberts (Old Crow Medicine Show, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard). Nixon is featured on acoustic guitar alongside an accomplished lineup of studio musicians, including Shawn Fitcher (drums), Dave Flint (electric guitar), Deanie Richardson (fiddle), Tony Paoletta (steel guitar), Dave Francis (bass), and Chris Nole (piano). Background vocals were provided by Billy Thomas, Wendy Newcomer, and Dani Flowers of Sister Sadie.
Building Momentum on the Road
Nixon has spent the summer on tour, creating buzz ahead of his EP release. His upcoming schedule includes festivals, fairs, and headline shows across Virginia and Tennessee, with stops at venues like the Dinwiddie County Fair and Nashville’s “Today In Nashville.”
Born Into Music
Music has been a constant for Nixon, who was born into a family of performers. His parents, Nick and Michelle (SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year 2006), met while performing at the Old Dominion Barn Dance in the early ’90s and toured the Virginia honky tonk circuit by the time Trace was born in 1995.
Growing up, Nixon was influenced by Alan Jackson, George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, and Keith Whitley. While excelling in baseball at Shenandoah University, he also sharpened his songwriting and guitar skills. After graduating in 2017, he returned to his hometown and began his solo career.
In 2023, he co-founded Gone Country with fellow musicians Chip Hale, John Holden, and Corey Marshall. By 2024, Nixon had released his first single, “This One’s For Alan,” followed by “Secondhand Hold On Me,” which premiered on Country Evolution and landed in heavy rotation on the American Country Network. August brought the release of the Southern rock-leaning “Love Lost Has Been,” further proving his versatility.
Looking Ahead
With his debut EP Hand Me Down Name arriving October 3, Nixon is set to step further into the spotlight. While his career continues to accelerate, he still finds balance at home in Hanover, Virginia, with his fiancée Ashley and their dog, Kyla.
