During CRS 2021, we had the opportunity to connect with artists and learn more about them. TexWestus told us about how they got started in country music, how they work as a team, and more!
What was your first memory of listening to country music?
Chloe – Country music is all I remember! I do have one specific memory, and I was probably about 3 or 4 years old. I was sitting in my dad’s 1994 Green Chevrolet Silverado and we were jamming to That Ain’t My Truck by Rhett Akins. I still love that song!
Corbin – Definitely in my mom’s car as a kid, listening to Josh Turner’s “Your Man” album. We lived out in the country about 30 miles from town, so every time we were heading to town, that whole album was cranked up. Her favorite song of his is “Would You Go with Me”.
Who inspires you?
Chloe – I find inspiration everywhere! I’ve always wanted to be a singer, and I’ve always looked up to Martina McBride! Honestly, though, Taylor Swift was a huge inspiration for me – I discovered her when I was about 14 (during her “Taylor Swift” album) and I was just in awe. She was roughly my age, singing about things that were actually relevant to me in that time of my life, and she was getting to live out her dreams! It just really hit me that I could actually have a chance.
Corbin – There’s so much to be inspired by on God’s magnificent earth. I’m just so thankful to have breath to breath everyday. I get inspired by lots of people, things, events…etc. Musically, I’m inspired by BIG GUITAR, and BIG VOCALS. I love epic things. Go big or go home. I’m hugely inspired by artists like Van Halen, Journey, Def Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne…etc. I love 80’s rock/hair metal.
On the “country” side of things I love the guitar playing of Brent Mason and Brad Paisley. Other great guitarists that inspire me are Joe Satriani, Andy Timmons, and Steve Vai. Vocally I’m inspired by several different genres, but largely by these well known artists: Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Lee Brice, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby…etc.
What did you do before you became a country artist and what made you decide that this is what you wanted to do full time?
Chloe – I have wanted to sing country music my entire life. I was on my first stage at 4 years old, and I remember my only answer ever to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was to be a country singer. I even moved to Nashville right out of high school. Life happened as it does and I ended up moving back home and getting a degree in teaching. It wasn’t until meeting Corbin that I actually got up the nerve to pursue this full time!
Corbin – Well I grew up on the farm, playing rock n’ roll guitar. I played in church and in different local bands. I always loved being on the farm, but my parents and grandpa would never let me think twice about farming for a career. They saw that I loved music, and they did everything they could to help streamline me in that way. I guess it’s always been music. I’ve done many side jobs, but nothing takes the place of music as my career.
What’s your songwriting process like?
Chloe – Our songwriting process is always a little bit different, but also the same. Corbin is fantastic at coming up with musical melodies/compositions, and I’m more the lyricist. So I will either come up with lyrics that Corbin will then put music to, or vice versa.
Corbin – We work really great as a team. I usually gravitate to melodies and musically composition, while Chloe gravitates to lyrical arrangement. As we grow as artists, this has changed as well. I find myself dreaming up lyrical ideas, and Chloe is always there to help me develop them, or to nix the idea, if it really was bad! Lol. Before live performances, we always pray and give thanks to the Lord for leading us here, and we always do vocal/instrument warm ups!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a country artist?
Chloe – Our advice to someone who wants to pursue this is to never give up! It’s a tough industry to truly break into, but if you want to be a part of the 1%, then you have to do what the other 99% of people aren’t willing to do. Perseverance is the biggest key!
Corbin – It’s tough out there. I’d encourage them to get a taste of the industry and then take a step back and evaluate. Is this something that burns inside of you? If not, find your calling elsewhere. If it DOES burn inside of you, well get ready, there’s lots of hard work ahead!! But doesn’t that make it that much more rewarding when you do finally “make it”?
Hard work and hard times is what will define you as an artist. You have to make up in your mind that you will beat the system, you will beat the competition, and you will come out on top, every single day. Once that is who you are inside, you’ve already “made it”… now it’s only a matter of time before everyone else sees it too.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music or performing?
Chloe – We are homebodies! We love sitting at home with our dogs (Goldendoodles Wrigley and Winnie) binge watching shows! We also love getting together with our friends for cookouts and game nights!
Corbin – We are pretty chill, we love our close friends and family, always love to spend time with them. We love going out to the farm and just driving for miles. Other than that, we hang out at home, watching TV, Lol.
I like playing video games, as it helps relieve stress. Also carving out time to simply enjoy music. Whether that’s listening, creating, or simply goofing off… its very important to “love what you do”. That’s very important. I love cars and trucks, so I’ll spend time tinkering with that kind of stuff as well.
What are you looking forward to in 2021?
Chloe – We are most excited to be back out playing shows again! 2020 hit us very hard – it literally shut down our source of income and took us off the road. We are so excited to be back out in front of people doing what we love to do!
Corbin – We are definitely excited to play shows again, and a lot of them! Ready to get back to the fans, back on the road, and see the world. Ready to take the world by storm!
“There Is No Arizona” Cover
For more information on TexWestus, visit https://www.texwestus.com/.