Spencer Hatcher - Virginia Bluegrass Country Star | “When She Calls Me Cowboy” | Honky Tonk Hideaway EP | Rugged Revival

When you lose your love, [music] [music] hearts get broke, tables [music] turn you. This is the Rugger Revival podcast. We're your official trademarked home of the UK's country, Americana, and Roots [music] music community. And yes, this is officially where all the cowboys come. Isn't that right, TJ? >> It is, but I've forgotten where it is. >> So, you're going to have to move on. [laughter] >> So, this evening, I'm your host, Ronnie. Uh, and I'm joined by the one and the only living [music] legend, TJ. Uh, now, the way I would describe TJ and Spencer, you probably haven't seen TJ before, but the way I would describe him is that TJ is the kind of man that picks up dog [ __ ] off the street when he doesn't even own a dog. So, that's the type of man that TJ is. Anyway, uh so TJ has been extremely ill recently and we've all said ah on the last episode we had to restructure the last one. Um so I made this little montage for him in his memory. So TJ, do you want to play it for me please? If we have to. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. This is all the [music] good times we spent together, TJ and I. Pre- Rugger revival, postrugger revival. [music] Jesus, [music] >> the living legend, T James Health. All those [music] memories TJ get quite emotional there. [music] The broken the memories we make are to lost. >> Anyway, so he's still with us and he's joined us tonight. Um, but we're not here to talk about TJ. We're here to play it. TJ, please. [music] >> Ladies and gentlemen, [music] please make some noise for there is no school like the old school. And this man is the [ __ ] headmaster. It's the incredible, unbelievable, positively beaming Spencer Hatcher. Welcome to the Rugger Revival. Spencer, nice to see you. >> Man, [clears throat] quite an intro. I appreciate you guys for having [laughter] me. It's an honor. >> It's the weirdest intro you probably ever had to sip [laughter] through. It >> is. But we like to do things a little bit >> build up and everything. There's a little bit of suspense maybe and all that. I loved it. That was great. >> Yeah, I like that. Yeah. I mean, Spencer, what a what an absolute privilege and honor to have you on uh the Ruger Revival with us tonight. Um, and how are you and are you regretting it yet? [laughter] >> No, I'm not regretting it and I'm doing great. I appreciate you all for having me. >> Good. Spencer, for anyone that hasn't experienced your incredible talent, would you mind telling us where you're from, uh, what you do, and who you are, if that's all right? >> Yeah. Well, um I come from the Shannondoa Valley of Virginia, which is, uh, for those of them that know, um, Virginia, it's just north of Harrisonburg. And I'm a country music artist. I started off in bluegrass and I've been in music, um, basically since I was about four years old when I started singing. And now I'm I guess I'm also a songwriter and I'm just living my life the the way that I want to basically just having a great time. Incredible. And uh and yeah, I mean we'll get into what you've been doing. You've done so much in a very short time. Uh but listen, it's amazing to have you on. Uh I'm going to stop waffling and I'm going to hand over to TJ for his first questions. >> Yeah, welcome Spencer. and uh I'm trying to represent. So we got uh some Virginia artists that we've had on the show and that we've met in person as well. So people like Colby T Helms who's uh you know a bluegrass god, Addy Levy from uh your state and I think Martha Spencer and Cody Christian also from V Virginia. So um you know we've had good representation uh from where you are and it's great to have you on. So we we kind of touched upon you you coming from the state you know what I always like to ask you know whereabouts were you raised particularly I understand you raised on a on a farm so you're a real kind of country boy um but what kind of a a child were you and what was your upbringing like man growing up on a on a farm in Virginia was I I really cannot imagine a greater childhood because you know my nearest neighbor was a half a mile away Um, and so there was nobody around, you know, we would ride dirt bikes, four-wheelers, you shoot guns whenever you want. The world is your bathroom, you know, that kind of thing. Like, it's just the greatest. It's the greatest. And, and so now being in Nashville, I just moved here in June. Um, it's a big adjustment because, you know, I'm around so many people and I I'm not a fan of the city. I love Nashville. I love the business and everything about it, but >> Mhm. >> growing up as, you know, a young boy with a lot of energy and a means to be able to get that out, being in the country and growing up doing country stuff. You know, I was driving tractors probably at six years old and learned what work was at 6 years old. Um, I'm very thankful for that upbringing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. >> That's awesome. Well, forget about it as a child. I'd love to do that now to be quite honest. Sounds [laughter] >> amazing. Shooting guns, driving tractors, and uh yeah, you probably got better weather than us uh out there as well. So, uh that's a good start. >> Um so, in terms of kind of your your getting into music as as a child, so there's obviously a lot online about, you know, how that came about, but we always like to kind of hear from from the artists themselves. So, you know, what got you into music in the first place? And um you know, did that sort of thing come natural to you? Yeah, I would say it did come natural because I grew up around it, you know. Um, my dad was in choirs and played uh the banjo and the guitar. My grandparents sang, my mom sang, and played the organ at church and was a pianist. I mean, um, I was just around a tremendous amount of music. And so, I basically started singing when I was four years old. And I picked up my first instrument, which was a mandolin, at 8 years old. And then by 12, I picked up the banjo, which was the very first instrument that I played that I was just like obsessed over. Like I couldn't get enough of it. And I played that um well, I still play that um 16 years later. And I picked up the guitar when I was a senior in high school. And I basically taught myself how to play guitar. And um yeah, I don't know. I mean, you know, I was in choirs myself and in the church choir and um just everything that I did was it was kind of always music and I went to school for music and I was in the school band at one point, middle school, and my life was just um it's always involved music, you know, and it's not like it just totally overwhelms me and consumes me type thing, but pretty much everything that I do every single a for a long time now has had music be a part of it in one way or another. So that's kind of the role that it's played in my life. >> That's awesome. So what was it about the banjo particularly that kind of drew you to that? >> I think it was the fact that my dad played it. You know, every young kid looks up to their dad and wants to be like their dad. And that is the kind of dad that my dad was and is is um the kind that you'd like to be, you know. And he played the banjo as long as I can remember. uh as far back as I can remember, he was, you know, watching us play on the floor with our fire trucks or something like that and he would just be playing the banjo. And I think just growing up like that, by the age of 12, I was finally big enough to be able to to actually play the banjo. And I was just like, man, this is what I want to do. And when I started finally grasping it and being able to play a little bit, it just like that was when music started to consume me was probably at 12 years old when I was able to actually play an instrument that I was passionate about. Fantastic. And um in terms of bluegrass, is that the kind of sound where you were growing up? Is is that kind of the kind of the main music where you were? >> Yeah, at least for me it was >> the Blue Ridge Mountains, you know, the Appalachian Mountains. Uh it's like the home of bluegrass, you know, there's so much of it. We would go to jam sessions on Friday nights. And then once I started playing the banjo, instead of me going to football games and hanging out with my friends, I would spend it in a room of like 20 or 30 people playing bluegrass where the average age was like 75 years old. And I would just try to learn to play bluegrass and the banjo and get better at it. And that was how I spent my Friday nights. And bluegrass is a huge part of the Shandel Valley as is, you know, all the not necessarily the young kids listen to it, but it's such a huge part of the history of the valley. It's still I mean the biggest radio station in the valley all day Saturday and Sunday just plays bluegrass music. So yeah, it's it's a very important part of of where I'm from and I've always loved it. So in in terms of bluegrass and country, I'm always intrigued about this and I try and educate and and watch documentaries because I I find it fascinating. So So with bluegrass, it's for me it sounds more technical in terms of the playing. I think the the kind of crowds that I've seen are more kind of purists or die hard. Is is that how you would see it in terms of a comparison with more mainstream country uh music or crowds or or the scene itself? So, you know, what what the key differences that you've kind of experienced from from both? >> Yeah, I would definitely say country is more mainstream. Bluegrass has been around a long long time. I I to me it's very raw. Uh it is full of purists, people that just want to be um you know, they just want to do bluegrass. They're masters of their instruments. I've always said some of the some of the greatest musicians and instrumentalists in the world are in bluegrass music and you've never heard of them. But if you go to these festivals, you just hear people that are just unbelievable. Like you did, they know every note and every part of the fret, the fretboard, you know? I mean, it's just it's really unbelievable the talent that's in bluegrass. you've got the same thing in country music, but but I also tend to say that country music is a little bit more produced. You know, you've got bigger studios, you've got a lot more money uh to do to do stuff with. Um you've got, you know, I mean, just a lot more production where I think with bluegrass, it's like raw talent. Either you have it or you don't. Here's a mic. >> Lay down your best song and this is what you're going to have. and and that's kind of how it's always been. >> Superb. So, you know, you you picked up the banjo young, you've you've been playing to crowds at that age, you know, it's incredible. And you know, what what happened next then? So, you you you made a band, you joined a band. Um you know, what was the next stage? >> Well, I went to college um for bluegrass. I was in a family band from about 2012 until 2016 when I went to college for about four years. I went to college. I studied bluegrass and country music and business. I was in a professional bluegrass band all through college along with three other college bands and I learned a lot about the industry. And then once I graduated in 2019, um I was kind of hanging around town. I went to East Tennessee State University and was kind of hanging around, but then COVID hit, you know, CO 19 hit and uh I said, "Well, this is my chance to go back home and pursue country music." So, I did that. Everything was shut down. There was no performing or anything like that, but I'd grown up on old style country music. It's what I was really becoming obsessed with for the four years prior to me actually moving home. And I decided that was my chance to do it. I was like, you know, if I get out of bluegrass, this is it right here. And I'm going to pursue country music with everything that I have. And that's what I did. And I turned on the camera and I sang a song. And it only took me five videos and one went viral. Um, it did about 1.5 million views overnight. and I'd gone to sleep with 24 followers and that next morning when I woke up I had just over 10,000 on my Tik Tok profile >> and it I mean it was insane and and the video that went did 1.5 million on Tik Tok did like 60 or 70,000 on Facebook and did a couple 10,000 on Instagram and a couple 10,000 on YouTube. So where I had 10,000 on Tik Tok, you know, across the other platforms, I had another 10,000 in 8 hours. And I was like, okay, this this is God's sign. I just go at this thing with everything that I have. And that's that's how I've always done everything is just full throttle or nothing basically. And um it just worked out. This the video I put out right after that one uh went viral as well. And I started having a lot of success. And then the phone started ringing to come out and start performing live and that was when I um started a career in performing. >> It's it's an incredible journey that you've had Ron at the beginning. I I will I won't ask any questions around that because I know Ronny >> don't ruin my questions. Don't ruin my stuff. >> Maybe I will just to uh you know steal his thunder. Who knows? Uh I'm that type of person. But um I I do like to understand about the relationship. So, you you play um you mentioned you play uh in the band. Well, you played in the band with your your brother and your dad. Uh and you're still playing uh with your brother as we speak. So, I'd love to, you know, those those sort of relationships on the road or you know, you spend a lot of time together. So, what what is your relationship like um with Connor? Um do you Paul rank as the older sibling or um is it quite grounded? Um what's it like, mate? Well, I don't know that I ever like pull rank, but you know, I I do as far as all of the work goes, the business stuff, the marketing, um the reinvestment back into the business, that's all me. And so there is no question, you know, who's who's making the decisions basically. But but it's amazing too because Connor's been with me for so long and he trusts my judgment and you know I don't think that he wants to be um upfront even though he is upfront of course on the stage. Everybody knows Connor, everybody loves Connor. He's phenomenal at the bass. He's a phenomenal singer. Um, but he respects me and and he listens to, you know, my judgment, which it's it takes that. You got to have a good team that that believes in you and and he always has for me. So, it's been amazing. And we've performed together now for, you know, started performing and yeah, like 2012, so like 14 years. >> Awesome. It's uh it's always interesting when you've got siblings on the road with you and you spend so much time. It could swing one way or another, but uh no, it sounds like you got a really cool relationship going on there. Um interesting. You know, you mentioned East Tennessee State University. That's easy for me to say. Um a few times. And um I read that you you minors in bluegrass and country music. I didn't even know that was a thing you could minor in. So that's pretty impressive, mate. So you are qualified uh in your profession, [laughter] >> as you can say. >> We might as well just go home. >> I know. Yeah. you you've kind of completed it so far. Um, but I I'd love I love reading up about people. I think it's right to kind of do research when when we have guests on. And, you know, there's always some interesting kind of bits we pick up on. And, you know, I noticed there was one uh thing that was put out there which said you were dubbed the string king uh by local kind of news outlets. And, um, do you know that uh Ronnie um is also called the string king in his hometown? Uh, in fact, it's the G string king. Um, [laughter] and now he's banned from every pup in a 10 mile radius. Boom. >> Ronnie [laughter] did it in. >> That won't be the last joke about Ronnie uh for this podcast. >> Probably not. >> But no, the I mean the accolades um that that we've read. It's it's an amazing trajectory uh that you've had, you know, in this past few years. And you know what I love to see as well is where your hometown news publications and and and things like that are lording you um as well because when we speak to artists sometimes particularly you know when they're independent they always say for some reason that the least support they get is from the hometown and you know the fans or the fan base they've built is from neighboring states or or perhaps a bit further up field. So, you know, what's it been like for you kind of this reception where you you are, particularly when you started so young? >> Yeah. I don't know, man. I I mean, I think about that a lot. Like, if I hadn't had the support of my hometown that I did, like, how long would I have made it? I like when I say I have the greatest fan base in the world, I mean, I I truly do mean it. I don't know of anybody else that has such a close personal relationship with their fans is what I do because, you know, I guess you could say maybe some of it is because I know the importance of them and I value them so much, but they also, you know, they treat me they treat me like they genuinely love me and I think that they do. and and it's been the biggest blessing in the world to come from a hometown that is so supportive of what you do and you know loves what you do so much that um they're willing to support you and come to your shows and be part of what you do and buy your merch. I mean it takes it you know um it's been it's been amazing and and I wouldn't trade my hometown for the world. There is nowhere else I would ever choose to live or say that I'm from because of how great of people they are in my hometown. And you know, it's it's not just because they support me, but I mean, you know, there's been a lot of things that's happened in my life. There's there's a lot of things that happened in uh other local community members lives. And you see an entire community come out to to show support and show love to those people. when it's not just like it's my career, but it's it's anything that happens. And it's such a good, positive community and hometown. And I'm very blessed to have to have come from Broadway, Virginia. >> Yeah, that's beautiful, mate. I love to hear that sort of thing um happen. And yeah, may that continue. Um so, in terms of, you know, when when we do, you know, a lot of um the social media stuff, podcasts, etc., people only see, you know, what they see online. um naturally, you know, they don't meet us in person and, you know, some of us kind of put on a bit of a a veneer sometimes because that's that's social media, isn't it? It's it's um it's a different world. Um so, if if anyone was to kind of meet you in person, Spencer, how would you kind of describe your your personality? Is it much different to what they see on stage or or on the socials? >> Um I mean, I think you're right to an extent. You kind of It's going to be a little different. You know, when I'm on stage, I'm a showman. Uh when I'm in front of a camera, I'm a lot more me. I I don't change, though. It's not like this Spencer is different from this Spencer is different from this Spencer. But maybe you would say there's a level of professionalism that's enhanced slightly, you know, something like that. But it's not like you wouldn't meet me in person and be like, "He's not who I thought he was." You know, it's not like that. It's It's literally like us talking right here. This is Spencer. Uh when you turn on a camera, I'm pretty comfortable. Um and I just goof off. I mean, I I like to have fun. I like to be happy. I would say maybe what you would be surprised of is that I'm a little bit more shy. Maybe like if you met me in person, I'm not just going to be, you know, like over the top cracking jokes kind of thing like I do in front of a camera or maybe on stage some because it's more of a personal it's more of a personal meeting that you're that you're having right there. Uh, but once you get to know me and you hang out with me, like the guy on stage, the guy in front of the camera, and me in my sweatpants in my living room, it's all the same guy. And, you know, I don't I don't change according to the crowd. I would say it like that. >> Yeah. Good on you. So, you're wearing sweatpants now just with a cowboy hat. Is that is what we're saying? Thankfully, [laughter] you know, I've seen a lot of podcasts and interviews where the guy's like, you know, you don't tuck your shirt in or you you you you don't even have pants on. That's not me. I got jeans on right now. I got Wranglers. I got my belt buckle. Everything. So, [laughter] Oh, yeah. We're good. We try and maintain some professionalism. No, it's really interesting. I love to kind of, you know, peel back the curtain sometimes and, you know, see what see what people are like. It's um it's it's just a strange world that we kind of operate in. And you know, when people see Ronny on the show, for instance, they might think he's a mean, miserable gear, but in reality, he's he's far worse. So, um yeah, [laughter] >> I'm a local sweetheart, TJ. That's what they call me. >> That's the last joke about maybe. >> But, um no, I appreciate you sharing that, Spencer. It's a really interesting kind of life you've led up till now, and um it's been great to hear it. I know Ronny's been itching to to ask his question. So, uh I will hand over to you, mate. TJ, you're still an [ __ ] Um so, uh Spencer, it's it's lovely to hear about um I know TJ was talking about your virals and you said about the viral video that you've been doing and everything and I I just wanted to tell you that I I started seeing your videos around 2020. Uh and they were the videos of you and your brother, is it Connor? that was messing around on the back of the pickup truck and uh just taking random videos and I it just kept on popping up on my on my feed. >> Um and I started following them. So I was one of the 10,000 followers and we weren't doing the rug revival then. >> Yeah, I know. It's mad, right? >> So um if you wouldn't mind, I'm going to play a little clip of you so it gives everybody a bit of an idea what I'm talking about the videos. Is that all right? >> Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. >> It it's ripped off your Instagram so we have to kind of ask for permission. We got to ask otherwise he'll sue us. Yeah, there you go. He's We got permission. There we go. [laughter] So, >> how mountains can love [music] [music] you girls right now? [music] >> Let's burn it. >> Let's get it. >> [music] >> And that's why I followed because they're amazing and it was just >> that was it was incredible. Right. And I can't believe that I'm now talking to you with TJ on a podcast is is madness. Right. So that was 2020. But I wanted to know is that was there a plan behind that or was it just a random video? Was it just all the videos that you're doing? Was it just random to put it out there? You never know what was going to happen. >> No, no, I never did. I just always kind of, you know, I just have these visions of things and and being on social media, you can kind of go any way that you want, but I was also creating a brand. And to me, that brand was be a real country boy, you know. And in 2020, in 2020 as well, um, Tik Tok was still a dancing app. There was not a tremendous amount of music on it. There wasn't like a ton of bands. It's not what it was now. It was a dancing app. >> It was like a thirst trap. Every other video was just women, right? And [laughter] and I was like, >> I don't know. >> I was like, well, I've not seen a whole lot of old country music. >> And so I started doing the country music and it went viral. And then I got to thinking, >> I've not seen any bluegrass on this app. And I was like, I don't know what's going to happen when I do this >> because the world doesn't know it. But I had, you know, at this time it took me one month and I hit 100,000 followers. I I posted my my first viral video August 7th and it was like September 18th or something and I was celebrating 100,000 followers. And then I was posting my first bluegrass video like >> 10 days later, something like that. >> And I was like, I got a lot of eyes on me right now. There's a lot of people that were consistently just coming back to my page. Anything I put out was going pretty big, you know, hundreds of thousands of views. >> Mhm. I was like, either I'm going to get tore down on the comments for this or people's going to like it and be like, I don't know what this is, but it's cool. Um, and so that was actually, of course, not my first video there that you showed, but >> the first one was more of a skit, >> and it was um I like doing skits. I like just building stuff and just being entertaining. >> Um, and it was like day one of playing the banjo, one month of playing the banjo, and then 10 years of playing the banjo. >> Yeah. And that video was the biggest video that I'd ever put out up to that point. It did like two and a half million views, like 400,000 likes. It gained me like 85,000 followers in 3 days. Like it was giant. And after that, it didn't matter what I put out. If it was bluegrass, it was millions of views across every single platform. I started having like verified accounts, celebrities that I knew would DM me and stuff. I mean, it that was the moment that things just really got crazy cuz people was like, "Dude, he does country, he does bluegrass, he kind of acts and he does skits and he's just we like him." You know, that was like the consensus and I was like, "Man, this is this is great." And it was all part of the big plan of I want to continue to perform and make more than just videos. You know, I want people to feel like they know who Spencer Hatcher is. I want people to like me for me and like my music and and want me to come out and sing and perform. And so that was kind of how it all started. And and Bluegrass was very wellreceived. Of course, and this goes out for everybody. Anything that you do, you will have haters. people that absolutely cannot stand to see you do good. >> They're like, >> "Oh man, he just hit, you know, a million views. This isn't even that good." You know, they'll they'll comment that this is trash. And it's like, "Okay, bro. Well, >> thanks for commenting because it's the haters that buy the houses, you know what I mean?" Like, >> you have to have the haters. You have to have the people that want to talk and start conversation. That was honestly some of my biggest viral videos was because I would make them a little bit not controversial, but something that I knew some people would not agree with. And dude, they would they would do huge numbers rapidly quick because there would be so many comments and you'd have, you know, you'd have, let's say, five people hating your video and you'd have 150 people in the comments defending your video and trash talkinging the hater. And that is what would soar these videos. You know, these videos would just skyrocket. And it's it's because got to have haters, too. Otherwise, you know, you might not be interesting enough. That's what they say sometimes. So, >> but it was great. I loved it. >> Yeah. And Spencer, you, as you've already said, you you absolutely smashed every minute of it. Uh, and I I know there was um, by the way, just before we move off the haters, I've only done this once uh to someone else who had a bit of a a problem with someone on this podcast, so I'm going to apologize about my swearing now. just before I do it. But [ __ ] you haters. You're all bastards. There you go. So that's only the second time I've ever done that. So that's a direct message. >> We've only got haters, you know. That's our problem. >> We do only have haters. You're right. [laughter] But I like sitting down with some popcorn and watching the arguments go. >> I mean, here's the thing that I never quite understood. >> If you hate somebody, as much as they make it seem in the comments, why do they keep watching all of your videos, [laughter] >> dude? They absolutely >> they're some of your biggest fans. Really? They are. >> Yeah. >> They don't want to admit it, but they love what you're doing. >> And why don't why don't they watch more of our videos more? [laughter] That's what >> maybe I mean. >> Anyway, um and going back to the one of the videos that you said blew up. I mean, I I did notice it and and any anytime you go and do some research on you or or research anybody, we do quite a bit before we turn up on the artists. And there's always the video it comes back and it says there was the memorable one in 2020 um with full metal jacket covering falls from prison blues um as in the cover of Johnny Cash. Uh and that went nuts. That went hugely viral. It was just it was just bonkers the amount of people that kept on sharing it and the likes you got. Um and then I've got to touch on it because I am obsessed. We done a tour of Texas last year um with our very good friends at at Cowboy Distortion um and and the podcast over there. Uh we got to meet some incredible people when we went, but I had to every day get a large bottle of Mountain Dew, right? And I saw one of your videos being an advert for Mountain Dew, right? >> And I absolutely I'm just jealous. That's all I [laughter] can say really. I'm just jealous. I'm going to try and do an advert for Mountain Dew, but um >> you should be endorsed by Mountain Dew, the amount that you had out there to be fair. >> I should I did spend hundreds of pounds on Mountain Dew, but there we go. Um so yeah, it was a you were a poster child uh for quite a while. And what what another achievement, another thing on top of what you've already done. >> That was uh in your lieutenant. >> That was a really big a big part in early on in the career, you know, because I think it kind of legitimized what I was doing. It legitimized me as an artist on on social media. For me to go from just being, you know, funny, just doing my own thing, playing music to here's Spencer Hatcher doing a Mountain Dew commercial. It was a pretty I mean, that was like the first legitimate professional thing that I did. And I wrote that jingle with a guy from Sony and um I mean it was incredible. A a lot of things I don't know if a lot of things like changed immediately after that but it just really let it it took I would say maybe it took my persona how people saw me to the next level. It didn't all of a sudden, you know, I wasn't just the price tag didn't necessarily go way up or anything, but how people looked at me, people talking, you know, people talk to me a little bit different, maybe they they'd be like, man, >> you know, what was just a local thing is now, you know, he's he's doing things with like some of the biggest worldwide companies, you know, being Mountain Dew and PepsiCo and and these And it was uh that was that was a huge blessing and and one of the biggest honors of course very early on. I mean it was unbelievable that that opportunity came and we were able to do it. >> Absolutely. And and uh for me I I can now say that I've spoken to you know someone who was in an advert. So hopefully I'll be famous at some point and get loads of Mountain Dude. [laughter] But anyway, anyway, um, but we've we've talked about viral. I just want to give some figures because I I cannot get over you've you've got such an enormous online fan base. And just some of the figures off the top I was looking through on Tik Tok alone, you've amassed more than 71 million organic views, uh 9 million likes, uh nearly 5 million audio streams. Um, and them numbers are just astronomical. They're bonkers. How does it feel to you? What is it as Spencer? What is it like, you know, knowing that pretty much everybody's seen you? Um, and and and being part of that. What is it like seeing that? >> Well, uh, you know, this maybe will be some insight to how I think I'd like for those numbers to be a whole lot bigger. Um, I'd like to, uh, to be, you know, triple digits on everything. um as far as you know 100 million you know is is what I'm going for. Everything is is kind of like a stepping stone for me and >> Mhm. >> but for me to step back and say you know this thing is a million. This is a million. This is a million. This is a million. I'm very thankful to be in the millions. Um I'm thankful for the numbers that I do have and what I see is a tremendous amount of work that it took to get there. You know, a lot of people are like, you know, they think it's been like 5 years or 6 years or whatever, but I think about the literally tens of thousands of hours that I that I've spent doing all of these things to get to this point. And to me, it's like I'm only at >> 9 million, >> you know? I'm only at 10 million. Like, it's taking me six years now. Social media is doing really good. you know, we're at like 75 million views or whatever and >> and streams now of of my new country music is it's in the millions after one year. And and I'm I'm very very excited about a lot of things. But, >> you know, to me it's like pat myself on the back maybe and say get back to work because >> you did good, but we can do better and we can do things bigger. >> And that's that's how I've always been. And I think that's a lot of the reason why I'm where I'm at today is because I don't rarely do I celebrate. Very rarely do I celebrate anything because I It's not like I'm not grateful, but I want to continue to grow. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and we get it. you know, there there's we asked and one of the questions, you know, I'll probably come on to later cuz I'm I'm just really interested about I've always asked previous artists, you've got if you could pick three goals, three to five goals in your life, where do you want to be? What what are your three to five goals? Um and and for yourself, let let's ask you that now. If you had for the rest of your life, three to five goals uh and and times when you want to when you want to achieve them, what would be your goals? Your next top three goals? Well, the two the two really big ones is I want to play the Grand Old Opry. And that to me goes back to my Bluegrass days. It's the biggest stage in all of Bluegrass. And in my opinion, it's the biggest and best stage in all of country music. Every single one of my heroes >> ever have played the Grand Opry. And it's >> a place that you play if you're somebody. And to me, that will probably be the most proud night of my entire life for the rest of my life. Uh because to me, that's an impossible task to go from a nobody in a very small town to playing your own set at the Grand Opry. So that's number one. Number two would be to have a true number one hit in country music. Have a number one hit in country music. Once I achieve those two, >> I'll have one more goal >> career-wise, and that will be the hardest by far. It's it's me setting impossible goals. You know, I set the Grand Opry goal back when I was 23 years old living in Virginia. Um, and that's an impossible goal for someone that is just trying to start up a a local band in Virginia. Um, so my my final goal would be to end up in the Country Music Hall of Fame. >> And that's kind of like your legacy lives on. You've had way more than one number one hit. You've done lots and lots of, you know, good things for the industry. And so that would be a tremendous amount of work. It would be a a huge feat. But, uh, that would be that would be the third giant goal that I have. And I have absolutely no doubt that you'll get there and you will do it and you'll be achieving them goals quicker than you ever think. Uh and I think I've just made a slogan for your next t-shirt which is Spencer Hatcher making the impossible possible. How's that? I love that. >> Yeah, I love that. >> I'm going to get that made. >> Yeah, making the impossible possible. >> I love it. >> With your little logo on the top. Let's do that. Let's get that made. Um so, uh I'm going to move on a little bit. Um cuz I I know we talked about um I want a bit of gossip in a minute, Spencer. >> Okay. >> So, just just think of all the gossip that you've got, but before that, I want to talk about your music because we've talked about viral a lot. We've talked a lot about where you've been, what you've done, where you've grown up, but um we uh you've just launched your EP, Honky Tonk Hideway, which is incredible, and we've both been listening to it more than you can imagine. uh even before you come on because TJ got the time wrong. We're on here for an hour. We were listening to music as you come on. Right. So um yeah. So Honky Tonk Hideway uh it was released in November 2025, November last year. Um tell us a bit about that. Tell us the songs that are contained in it. There's one in particular that we both love that we sung badly, but we'll go on to that in a minute. So tell us tell us about your album, >> your EP, sorry. Well, uh, yeah, the the EP to me is is, uh, it kind of encapsulates who Spencer Hatcher is as a country artist, I think. You know, we've got the pedal steel, we got the fiddle, we've got this true traditional country music feel, and when you go down the list, you listen song, song, song, song, song, all all six of them. I don't think you're like, you know, the whole goal is that people aren't just like, "Oh, yeah. That one was all right, but I like this one. You know, I think people are like, "Dude, that was a great country song. That was a great country song. That was, you know, that's the goal is is to keep them as good as you possibly can." Now, everybody's going to have a favorite. Everybody's going to like others more than some. But when the consensus can be there is no bad song and they're all true, traditional, and they're true to who Spencer Hatcher is, um, you know, I think that we hit that pretty good. with this with this first EP is here's Spencer Hatcher to the world. Here's this new artist that's emerging and he's real country music. Um, you got Honky Tonk Hideway on it. The title track is my new show opener. People sing every single word back to me and it's high energy. It's >> it's like the new Boot Scoot and Boogie from Brooks and Dunn. I mean, it makes you want to, >> you know, it makes you want to get up and dance or >> you're absolutely right. drink a beer and have fun with your friends on Friday night or something. But >> then you've got a couple of more laid-back songs. You got some love songs. You got some >> got a little bit of everything in in a six song EP. So, we're all very proud of it. And um we're very excited about the about the numbers that it's doing, you know. >> Yeah. And you should be incredibly proud of it because it's amazing. Uh, and just so everybody doesn't forget, it's called Honky Tonk Hide Away, uh, which was released in November. But there is one song in particular there that we were singing badly earlier, uh, and I'm going to highlight badly earlier. Um, is When She Calls Me Cowboy. Now, that song is top 10 most added song, uh, on US country radio. Would you believe? Top 10. Uh, and, um, yeah, we love it. So, what is that song about, Spencer? when she calls the cowboy. Man, I you know, and and this is the cool thing about it. Uh when I when I find a song, when I write a song, the number one thing to me is relatability. Because if Spencer Hatcher is just singing about something that only Spencer Hatcher can relate to, then it doesn't do much good. You know, the listener might listen to it be like, "Oh, that was a cool song, but I'm going to move on to the next one." But if everybody can relate to the song in one way or another, you know, it doesn't have to be exact. Like not everybody is being called cowboy by their special person, but you know, I think that there's a level of intimacy to the song. There's there's romance to the song that people can relate to. Like when you got a girlfriend or a boyfriend, you've got your own names that you call each other and it's usually not your legal name, you know? Uh >> yeah. Yeah. And I think that that part to people people really like and and it's kind of maybe they fantasize it if they're single, you know, they're like, "Well, I want that." Or if they have that, then they're like, "I get that." >> Um, but it's also country. That is a country song right there. Pedal Steel and Fiddle. >> Yeah. >> And you know, it's you can slow dance to it. You can you can move to it. You can >> drink a beer to it. You can sing along to it. like it's got all of the things that you want in a good country song in my opinion. And that was what we found when when when I first listened to it. I was like, dude, this, you know, I really hope people like it. And it's the first song ever that I've put out. Now, my my fans, you know, they tend to love all of my music and they sing along. But there's something about at a live show when I start playing When She Calls Me Cowboy, people lose it and they sing every word and when they get to the chorus, they act like they legitimately act like it's been a huge hit. And it's the first time that I've ever gotten to get a taste of what it would be like to have a hit because I don't have one yet. But >> the way that my fans react to me playing that song makes me feel like it is a hit and it's the coolest >> feeling in the entire world and that's what when she calls me cowboy is. [snorts] >> Uh what a way to to describe that song. Um absolutely hit the nail on the head. Uh when I listened to that for the first time, I remember watching uh a YouTube video of George Strait um when he when he done a big stadium um gig when the cowboy rides away uh I think it was called um which is obviously one of his songs uh and when he had all the incredible names getting up and singing with him. >> That's what vibes that uh that your song gave me when I watched that when I listened to it. Uh, and you just think I can see you in a few months time, uh, in a few years time seeing you on stage like George Stray and doing exactly the same thing with your number one hit. So, um, uh, and long may that continue. So, well done. Thank you. Um, I just want to go back to some of your performances. Uh, and, um, you've done over 500 live performances so far. So far. Um, and when I said I wanted some gossip, what are the most memorable ones? And what's the gossip? [laughter] What can you tell us? >> Most memorable shows. >> Yeah, [clears throat] >> man. I have some crazy stories about shows. I've played I've played so many different shows, and I mean weird shows. I've played amazing shows. like some of the some of the most memorable um pretty much anytime I get to open open up for like a hero of mine. Like in September we opened for Josh Turner. That was the biggest show we'd ever played up to that point. There was >> like 4,000 people and a huge stage. >> That was amazing. I'll never forget that. Uh, I've gotten to open for Jean Watson and >> um Wade Hayes and these people. I mean, >> at some really big really big venues and those are amazing. But I I hold a lot of value to the to the small shows that I started off in too where I'd play for a hundred people and to us at the time it was a really big crowd or you know there's this one that we played in Pennsylvania during the summer and it's just this huge party. It was like 750 people came to this giant river party and you put in up the river and you just float and they're drinking beer. They're getting hammered all day long and you've just got different bands along the river [laughter] and we were the headline band for that that year and the things that we saw that day was just incredible. Um, so I don't know, you know, I mean, we've played so many shows and I could tell you so many stories about all of them, but some of the most memorable, I guess, are the almost untouchable ones, it seems like. You know, very tough to get, like opening for Josh Turner out in Missouri at the Ozark Amphitheater. >> Beautiful venue, 4,000 people. opening for someone that I've listened to and admired for years. >> It was just uh very memorable. >> You can um you can save the gossip when we do a private interview at some point, me and TJ. We'll get the gossip out. >> You've been very good. Yeah, you've been very good. But we'll we'll leave it for now. We I'll leave it alone for now. Um I am going to hand over to TJ in a minute cuz he's been busting to ask some questions. I've been talking a lot. Um but it's cuz uh I'm I'm so interested about your background and what you've been doing. So um one more question for me is that at the start I mentioned that there's no school like the old school and you are the headmaster. So I know I said headmaster. Technically in America it's principal, isn't it? Principal of the school, but anyway, you get it. I'm sure you get it. The one in charge. Um so what pushed you from from sort of bluegrass into the country vibe? I know you mentioned it with TJ, but I'd also be interested to know what your heroes were. You've mentioned a couple of them so far, and I've got a couple on the back wall. I'm sure you've seen George Jones and Elvis Presley on the top there. Um, but what are yours, Spencer? >> Yeah. Um, what pushed me from bluegrass to country was I grew up listening to both country and bluegrass. So, I always love both, but there was not a whole lot of like country music bands that I'd been exposed to in the Shannondoa Valley. I I was exposed to bluegrass because my dad played bluegrass and so >> um what came natural for us to begin when we were of age was a bluegrass band. And that was kind of what led me in it. But when I was a senior, probably a senior in high school, I just really really got interested in country music in particular right after I watched Walk the Line, which is a Johnny Cash movie, >> um for like the third time, too. But I I watched this movie and um it just hit me. I was like, man, that is what I want to do. I saw how the people react. Now, the people react way different. There's a huge difference in how people react in bluegrass and how they react in country. And you can be a star in country. Um, I wouldn't say you could be a star in bluegrass music. And And it's not that I was tracing being a star, but I was like, that just seems like the greatest thing in the world is to be able to play country music. And I can relate to country music. Um, so all through college, I would I was teaching myself to play the guitar like my heroes in country music. And I would get home from a bluegrass show. I'd go back to my dorm room and start singing George Jones and Keith Whitley and Merl Haggard and Hank Jr. And those are who my heroes are. Number one hero is Elvis Presley. I love Elvis. I love Elvis so much and um and he's my he's my number one. But as far as like country music goes, just strictly country. Uh yeah, be like Keith Whitley and George Jones, Randy Travis, Merl Hagger. Conway Twitty never gets named and Conway is one of my he's probably in my top three. I would say it'd be Conway. >> I don't think I could give top three. Yeah, I could do top five, but it would be [laughter] >> Yeah, >> George Jones, Merl Haggard, Keith Whitley, um, >> Conway Twitty, and maybe Randy Travis, Hank Jr., but >> I am Yeah, sold on that. >> Yeah, that I mean that sold on it. That's what did it right there was just listening to those guys and and and seeing that movie one time in particular and I was like well this is what I want to do. And so I crafted performing and learning country uh for three years until I quit bluegrass and actually started trying to pursue it. >> Incredible. And what an amazing achievement or achievements you've had so far. Uh, and I feel like actually, Spencer, I could drop the mic talking about your achievements. Uh, and at that point, I'm gonna hand over to TJ. >> Amazing. Thank you. >> Well, you got so carried away that you did steal a couple of my questions, and I do wonderment, but uh, >> I've seen your notes. Yeah, whatever, mate. Whatever. Spencer, what how interesting, man, you know, to listen to to everything that you're talking about. I I could just sit here and, you know, sit back and listen to you guys go on about it. Um, you know, it's um what a ridiculous upwards trajectory and for someone so young such as yourself, mate. Um, you know, the way that you hold yourself in terms of your professionalism, the absolute clarity that you've got in terms of the direction that you're heading. It's very rare that we speak to artists that that have such clarity. Um, we can see, you know, the way that you talk about things, the enthusiasm, the kind of drive you've got, you know, is inspiring. And I I I think if anyone's listening, you know, I think this is what it takes to, you know, get to where you want to be. Um, you know, everyone's got their own paths, but, you know, I think listening to Spencer, this this is for me the way that, you know, things things get done. You know, it's hard work. And like you say, it's not just down to viral moments. It's all of the hours that you put into it, all of the hard craft, all of the things that people don't necessarily see behind the scenes um which a lot of people do. Um so yeah, it's um you know, fantastic for you, mate. um next year, >> but going pro, you know, and and we obviously met your your team uh some of your team on the call beforehand and speaking to him online. It seems that you've got fantastic people around you and I think that's really important um within the music industry and I I was looking up so you signed with Courtzill Music Group uh Stone Country Records uh in 2024. Last year you signed with WME for support for global representation which I found interesting. So, so with that aspect, you know, do you have any particular markets that you are are looking to get into or or to get your music out a bit more? >> Yeah. I mean, for me there's there there are no limits, you know. I was talking today. I was actually um I was writing this song with some buddies and and I was talking about wanting to go worldwide. You know, I would never limit myself to an area or to a country. I want to go to Europe. You know, I want to go to Australia and Asian. I don't care where, you know, wherever there's fans, if there's enough people that I could do a show, you know, I'd like to go down there and show them my appreciation for them supporting me and loving my music. And so, you know, whatever I've got to do to make this thing go global and international opposed to just national here in America. I mean, I'm happy with America, but why would I not want to go and do a show in Germany or go and do a show in France and China, you know? I mean, to me, like, if you can do it, do it. And someone that's a great example of that is Gar Brooks. uh that guy is worldwide and he's very loved in lots of countries. And to me, it's like that's what I'd like to do, you know? I'd like to I would absolutely love to go to Europe in particular and be able to be just as big in Europe as I am in America. >> Yeah. Make sure UK is your first stop though, mates, and we'll uh we'll definitely buy you a >> Don't worry about anybody else. Make sure you come here. Yes, we'll go straight to UK first. [laughter] >> That'll be the challenge. >> You heard it. You promised that now. So, that has to happen. [laughter] >> All right. >> But I love hearing about the master plan. Um yeah, it's it sounds like it's mapped out and we will be watching keenly. Um because it will happen. It absolutely will, mate. Um so yeah, this is a part of the show where we try and um you know, some sometimes we go quite deep into things, but we have a bit of fun. Um, so I mean, would you like to to play a bit of a game? Uh, Spencer sounds very ominous when I say that. Would you like to play a game? [laughter] Uh, it's nothing bad. We promise. >> Wait until he asks about playing the kissing game. That's when you got to worry. >> Yeah. >> We wouldn't lure you into anything that is un towards. But, um, if if you're okay to play a game, we will, uh, if >> you want to play a game, >> we we'll find it. We'll play the introduction. >> I'm up for it. We We'll give it a shot here. >> Legend. >> Is this uh, is this out of interest? Is this my game? [laughter] >> Yeah, it is. Oh, good. Right. >> This is not professional. Put it on the notes. >> So, uh, anyway, let's pray the introduction. [music] [music] >> There we go. We'll cut that bit short as long as about 20 minutes. >> Anyway, [laughter] >> this is the Ruger Revival True or false game. This is where Spencer goes against TJ to try and prove that TJ is wrong. So, >> it's a bit like um what was your song again? What was your I saw a TikTok of you earlier? Swim >> something. Swim song. See if you get the lyrics wrong. There you go. Sing or swim. That's the one. So, it's a bit like sing or swim, but TJ always loses. So, uh I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. Uh I'm going to go to you Spencer first. True or false? and then I'll go to TJ. So, when you're ready, a snail can sleep for up to 3 years. Spencer, true or false? >> Um, I'm going to say it's false. >> Interesting. TJ, true. I really want to win this one cuz I know how, you know, competitive Spencer is, so I want to get this one. >> The shortest war in history lasted less than an hour. >> Spencer, >> that's true. You read that today, didn't you? I think I read the same thing. >> It's true. >> No, but but I I do love history and so >> I believe that is true. >> Fair enough. Perfect. Uh the human stomach can dissolve razor blades. True or false, Spencer? >> Um I'm going to say that's false. TJ, >> I'm going to go force. Isn't he saying shing razor blades? You know, is that a saying or have I just made that up? >> The what? [laughter] I don't know. Anyway, >> just going off on a tangent. Um, so this is when you come over to Europe. So, there's a town in the UK called Sandwich, Spencer. True or false? >> What is it called? >> Sandwich. True, >> TJ. >> I'm going to go false on that one. >> Uh, hold on two seconds. Uh, some mushrooms can glow in the dark. Some mushrooms can glow in the dark. Spencer, true or false? >> True. >> TJ, yeah, that sounds like some trippy stuff. I'd go true. The last question. In Japan, there's a Bakan song about that. Uh, there's an island where cats are outnumber humans. So, in Japan, there's an island where cats outnumber humans. Spencer, true or false? >> Yeah, true for sure. >> TJ? >> Yeah, it sounds weird. I'm going to go false. >> Okay. In fact, there is one more question. Is it true or false TJ turns up early to meetings so that he can buy himself a drink and not anybody else? [laughter] Is it true or false? Spencer, >> I'm going to guess by the laughs. It's true. [laughter] >> It's all >> I had to get that one in cuz I I last time I done him last last episode >> with Pug Johnson. Anyway, so um right, question number one. Uh a snail can sleep for up to three hours. The answer is true. Uh the shortest war in history lasted an hour. That's absolutely true. >> Um the human stomach can dissolve razor blades. False. Uh there's a town in the UK called Sandwich, which is true. Um some mushrooms can glow in the dark. Absolutely true. Uh in Japan, there's an island where cats outnumber humans. True. Uh and TJ turns up early to meet so he doesn't have to buy anybody else a drink. Uh just himself. Absolutely true. So Spencer, you have officially won the True and False Rugged Revival game. Thank you very much. Well done, Spencer. >> Wow. All right. Thanks. Is there anything you're not good at, Spencer? >> And you can play the music now. [laughter] >> Just to rub it in your face. Point your face, Spencer. >> Probably not very good at soccer. >> I'll beat you at soccer anyway. So love that. [laughter] >> Well, thanks for playing along, mate. That's uh Yeah, I don't tend to win too many of those. I think it's rigged personally, but we won't get >> It's not rigged. you're just [ __ ] >> It's serious stuff. So, you know, it's part of the rugged revival. Um, we like to talk about mental health um, you know, with within this um, it's a taxing industry. You know, it's it can be exhausting, particularly for independent folk who who don't have teams and, you know, everyone that starts out. It's it's hard work and particularly with social media. I think these days there's more kind of emphasis on being present when perhaps you don't feel like it. Um, so for you mate, is there any kind of techniques, anything you do particularly to keep yourself grounded and to kind of keep good mental health? What what do you do? >> Work out a lot. >> I do do that. And I think that's been proven that um exercise and working out like greatly helps with mental health. Um you know I've got I've got anxiety with a lot of things but I think it just deres from me caring so much. You know I don't just there is nothing that I just halfass. You know it's it's like I said earlier it's it's all or nothing and I care a lot. I put in a lot of time and so with that does come um anxiety I guess like worrying and you got a lot of things on your mind. You got a lot of things that needs to get done. You got a lot of places to be and you're also in this industry you're subject to judgment by everybody. That's almost literally your job is being judged by others. So, it's about how you're able to handle that and, you know, brush it off to the side. And for me, I think luckily starting with social media first, you hear all the bad stuff. You read all the bad stuff pretty early on. People just tells you, and then you learn that it doesn't matter. Uh, and you can just brush off what people say, and you just keep doing what you're going to do. And I think that was one thing that that probably helped me pretty early on and is just knowing that you got to do things your way. You got to do it how you want to do it. And if somebody's got a problem with it, they can start their own company. You know, they can start their own thing. But as far as kind of handling it, >> the gym, um, work out a lot. Uh, you know, I think you got to get good rest. Rest is important. But I don't know, you know, I don't know that there's a definite way to cure it or to help it, but it's what I do. Just keep on working. and cross things off. >> Good on you, thanks for sharing that. It's it's interesting to see, you know, what what artists come out with and yeah, I think working out a lot, particularly when you're on the the road, you know, 24/7 in tour vans, you're kind of cramped up, you know, you need to get your rest, you need to work out. Um, you know, it's uh yeah, it's it's it's great to hear those sort of things. So, thank you for sharing that, mate. Um, so next one is, so we have a playlist on the rugged revival. was a Spotify playlist. So, just to remind kind of listeners out there and it's exclusive for everybody that comes on the podcast and and the people we meet along the road as well. So, we meet a lot of uh artists at shows, at conventions, etc. Um, but we like to kind of use that as a showcase platform. >> Conventions. >> Convention. I can think of the word conventions. >> Gigs and what what do you call them? Networking events. I don't know. Sounded a bit posh, didn't it? >> Conventions. [laughter] I don't know. Anyway, >> would you shut up picking up all my mistakes? >> Sorry, I'm showing up there. Sorry. >> Yeah, you mug. Um, anyway, basically it we we wanted to set it up as a way to showcase um artists work. So, if you could pick because the playlist is getting very long, we've kind of shortened it to one song. And I know it's very hard to pick one song because you've got so many that you love. Um, but if you were to pick one song to put on there, what would it be? Just one song and one song only of mine. >> Yale Fuels. Yeah. >> Um >> probably When She Calls Me Cowboy. We'll do that. Good answer. And um >> Great choice. >> I like I mean there's been so much um music being released the last what five 10 years. What I hear frequently is people, you know, who were stuck in the old ways of listening to the old country music, the old artist, which is fine. Um, but they don't tend to explore too much in terms of new artists, new music. And, you know, that's what we're here to do. Um, is to kind of, you know, get people to explore, go down a rabbit hole and and find new people cuz it's it's been the best thing that I've ever done um the last 10 years. I've found so many new people and that's what I listen to pretty much exclusively. But but for you, if you could pick a, I don't know, either a best album or just even a single that you've listened to in the last I know few years, uh what would it be and what kind of makes that stand out for you? >> Just uh any like any song that I've heard that I just love? anything any piece of music that you've heard from uh something that's been released in the last you know 3 to 5 years say >> interesting um as far as what I've liked man I I don't know because I listen to so much stuff like I I kind of I stay up to date with the country artists and what's coming out for the most part I thought something that was really neat. Maybe I'll I'll do this one is um Zack Top put out South of Sanity. And when that song came out, I thought that was the most the most old school country song that he's released so far. And I was like, man, they nailed this song. And the tune, the singing of it, all that stuff, um I thought was really fantastic. and and I don't listen to a lot of new artists stuff like over and over again, but that was one song that I just like I listen to it again and again. I really like that song. So, I thought that was really interesting that um someone that's also kind of in the same realm and the same vein of of music as what I'm doing um is kind of setting the bar. You know, he's really doing a good job with with uh creating some pure country music. So that was one that kind of stood out for me. >> Fantastic. And he seems like an awesome dude. Every time I see him on socials, just seems like the nicest uh guy. So it's good to see his career kind of um take take off. Um but in terms of the Rugged Revival, so we started life very early on as a community. We're still a community um you know across the UK and US particularly. Uh, and it's our way of kind of platforming, showcasing, whatever we have you. Um, so independent artists to gain recognition that we think they deserve and and to try and discover new audiences and and to push our audiences to to listen to new stuff, kind of spoon feed them a little bit. Um, so we try and ask anyone that comes on, are there any kind of independent artists that you've come across um that you've listened to, that you think people should go and have a listen to on Spotify or wherever they might be, Band Camp? Is there anyone still independent that that kind of sits within that realm? >> Still independent? >> Yeah. Independent or emerging? You know, start very early on in their career. >> You know, for a long time it was always Emily Anne Roberts, but she's doing great now. Uh I think last year was kind of like her year for for really taking off. Like she she just started doing so good. So, you know, there's this other guy that I like a lot. Um, well, I don't know. I mean, Jake Worthington is already kind of going and Braxton Keith is going pretty good, but a lot of those guys are kind of the guys that I've been supporting and I've been liking those guys and now they're starting to take off. So, I'm happy to see that. But, um, there's this guy, Alex Miller. Maybe Alex Miller is is really a strong country artist and I would say he's getting going, you know, doing trying to get going and and uh people should check him out now. He's very old style. He's he's older style country than I am, but uh he's he's a good performer. He's an he's an entertainer. >> Is is he the young guy that um does some socials or work with Hannah Dasher? I believe that's the guy. If that's him, he's very good. probably he he's pretty big on socials. >> Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic. We we'll definitely push that out and uh check it out for ourselves. But um but yeah, I think the last question I've got before I hand over to to Ronnie for we're going to call it last orders now. Um rather than the last message >> final message. >> I know. Yeah. It just sounded a bit bit kind of Yeah. weird. Um but you you talked about kind of longer term plans. You know, I'd like to know what have you got in the immediate term. So, what have you got planned in the next few months, you know, for for the rest of the year? Any exclusives that you can uh reveal to us, mate? >> Yeah, well, I got more songs coming out that I'm real excited about. I'm going to be back in the studio uh laying down a couple more as well that, you know, nobody of course have heard uh except for me and my team. And we're very excited about the new songs that's coming out very soon. We're working on more shows and more areas so that we can come and see more people and and you know, they can come out and see me and my team. And I'm doing I'm doing a lot of everything this year. You know, it's it's hardly going to be a little of everything. I think we're going to be very busy. Lots more songwriting, lots of shows, lots more music. And so, uh, it's it's going to be a very exciting year, and I pray it's going to be a really big year for Spencer Hatcher. Well, we hope it goes really well, mate. And we we sure it it will do and we'll be keeping a close eye on on it as well and sharing it as much as we can for you. But >> thank you all. >> Good on you, brother. And thank you so much for um you know, you're such a busy guy uh for coming on the podcast and and putting up with us as well. You know, that's um something in itself. But uh but yeah, anyway, I'll stop blabbing on. Uh Ronnie, do you want to do the last orders, mate? >> Yeah. So, last orders, Spencer, I normally go through some quotes that people have made about you, um, and things that people comment on social media about about the nice things about you. Um, and you know what, I've got reams and reams in front of me, but there is one in particular that I'll say uh, and it is Benny Brown uh, on why they signed you at Stone Country Records. And the comment is his style and skyhigh potential reminded me of a young George Drake. Uh and for me that sums it all up. Uh we have spoken a lot about your potential. We've spoken a lot about what you've already achieved and I cannot wait to see uh what you achieve in the next 3 6 9 months to 6 years. Um it's been an absolute pleasure speaking to you this evening. You are incredibly talented. You've got unbelievable uh head on you for business and and for talent and for country music as a whole. Keeping the old school country going. Don't forget you're the headmaster or principal, whatever the Americans want to say. [laughter] Um, and I will make you a promise. I'll make you a promise now. The day that you go to the Grand Old Opry to to play, we will go over. I will go over. It's been one of my life dreams to get to the Grand Old Opry. And uh if you get there, we will pay to come and see you straight away. We'll be there in a flash. So, you need to let us know. And don't forget, don't forget Spencer Hatcher making the impossible possible. >> To read that off your page, >> new slogan cuz I forgot. I forgot where the is the wrong way around. Don't ruin this moment. Don't ruin this moment. >> That's what we're going to do. One step at a time. >> Absolutely. Making the impossible possible. There you go. Spencer Hatcher in quotes. Uh it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us on the Ruger Revival. Spencer, if you've got a drink somewhere around you or a glass or even just your hand, uh we will normally raise a toast to the grit, the grind, and to the revival. Cheers to everyone for listening and thanks again, Spencer. Cheers. Cheers. >> Thank you all.

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