When Heath Sanders posted a cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Either Way” on his YouTube Channel on February 2nd last year, little did he know those 3 minutes and 58 seconds were about to completely change his life as he knew it. Three short weeks later, the Arkansas native found himself performing on nationally-syndicated The Bobby Bones Show (via personal invite from Bobby) not only for millions of country fans nationwide, but also for a panel of Nashville execs that included Brian Wright (EVP of A&R, UMG Nashville), Lauren Thomas (Director, National Promotion SONY) and Sugarland’s Kristian Bush. Fast forward almost a year to the day, Sanders returned to The Bobby Bones Show with his new single “Down On The South” and has kicked his career into high gear by joining L3 Entertainment, signing a publishing deal with Sony ATV and making the move to Music City.
We caught up Sanders to find out a little bit more about the guy who’s on the path to be Nashville’s next big thing.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
HS: I was born and raised in a tiny dirt road community just outside of Marshall, Arkansas called Zack Ridge, by lower-middle-class blue-collar parents and grandparents. I love to hunt, fish and spend time with my dogs and my beautiful girlfriend at our place in Cleveland, AR, just about an hour from my hometown.
CN: A native of Arkansas, you previously worked in an oilfield. Can you describe how that job developed an ethic for hard work and influenced you as a person?
HS: For those who’ve never worked in the oilfield or a similar job, it’s kind of hard to explain the comradery that comes with it. It’s not just getting up at 5 am, putting your boots on and pulling a 12-hour shift in the elements that warrants admiration, it’s the fact that the oilfield can kill you. Peoples lives depend on you showing up, being present and being damn good at what you do. I still carry that. I guess I always will.
CN: When did you discover music? How long have you wanted to pursue a musical career?
HS: For as long as I can remember I’ve been tapping out rhythms on car seats, coffee tables or truck consoles. I really don’t know how I didn’t drive my parents crazy. My dad finally broke down and bought me a drum set when I was 10 and I was hooked. I guess its just always been with me. I wake up with a song in my head and fall asleep just the same. Most of my dreams even have a soundtrack. It’s just good to finally know I’m not alone in my affliction. You know, I don’t know if I ever looked at music as a career. It’s just music. If people like what I have to say enough for it to pay the bills, then I’ll just keep telling my story until I run out of words.
CN: Which musicians have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
HS: I think it’s always been the storytellers, the emotional keg taps, that have always influenced me most. Garth Brooks, definitely tops this list. I mean, the man could drive thousands of people mad with the lift of an eyebrow and a tilt of a black hat. That’s the power of someone who means what they sing. I remember the first interview of his I ever saw, he broke down and cried talking about his wife. That humility spoke to me. That’s what I want to be. Leave your pride at the door so there’s room for your soul on the stage.
CN: Being a songwriter, can you take us through your songwriting process? Do you draw mostly from personal experiences, or from those around you?
HS: I don’t think I really have a process. They all seem to come differently. Some begin as concepts. I may wake up in the middle of the night with an idea. My girlfriend may say something that sparks my imagination. I may see a road sign, walk by someone at the store or see a photo of a lost loved one that sparks a memory. Other times it may simply begin with a first line or a simply a melody I find on the guitar. Never knowing where it’s going to come from or how you’re going to build the song keeps it fresh and interesting.
CN: Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?
HS: I do. I wrote two songs back in my early twenties. They were both pretty terrible and incredibly depressing. I think that’s why I hadn’t written a song in 13 years, prior to “Bloodline.”
CN: Bobby Bones has shown you some major love ever since you posted a phenomenal cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Either Way.” Last year he invited you on his show to perform the cover and “Bloodline” which was released as your first single. What does it mean to you to have someone like Bobby in your corner?
HS: It’s unbelievable really. KSSN 96 out of Little Rock had just started airing The Bobby Bones Show about four years before all this. I fell in love with the show immediately and was an avid listener. I’d gotten to listen to four years worth of interviews with superstars and hear Bobby make careers for artists so I knew the weight of what was taking place when he reached out. I certainly didn’t deserve the shot he gave me. Heck, I’d only been playing out for about three months. Even a year later I still can’t believe it happened to me. That’s the kind of stuff dreams are made of. I’ll be forever in his debt.
CN: Your second single “Down On the South” was just released on February 15 and it is so good! Can you share with us the story behind the song?
HS: It’s simply the story of my high school years. I’d been struggling with solo writes. It seemed like I always needed help finishing songs. I was explaining this to my good friend Mark Alan Springer, famous for writing hits like “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane” and “Where Corn Don’t Grow,” and his advice was simply a pat on the shoulder and “Man, you just gotta write what you know.” So one night I’d just hit my dirt road, headed home and heard a whippoorwill then the first line came to me. I spent the next two miles trying to cope with the emotions of all those memories of us kids out there trying to find ourselves and how it had slipped away without us even knowing it. From there the song basically wrote itself.
CN: Who’s the pup on the single’s artwork?
HS: That’s my girl, Sonny! She’s a 3-year-old Australian Cattle Dog I adopted from a friend of mine who had found her as a stray. She was the wildest, noisiest, most ill-mannered creature you ever saw when I first took her in. I guess you can tell by the photo, that is certainly not the case now. She’s my best buddy and is damn photogenic to boot.
CN: Obviously if you can cover Stapleton, you have to have the vocal chops to do so, but your voice is so mature it’s as if you have been doing this for a long time. How is it that you have such a seasoned voice?
HS: Hell, I wish I could say. I just lean into the mic and hope for the best.
CN: Are you working on any new music? A debut album perhaps?
HS: I typically write on average of four days a week so we’re constantly working on new songs. A debut album is certainly in the works and would love to put an album out this year, however, I would hate to rush things at the expense of quality and substance. If folks are gonna wait on an album, I damn sure want it to be worth it.
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
HS: I’d love to do something with the likes of Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves or Ashley McBryde if I ever were to reach that level. Those girls are country as a buttermilk slurpy.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
HS: Loyal. If you ain’t that, you ain’t nothin.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
HS: Lol! You ready for this? TOOL. Summer of 2002 I believe. Right after the release of their long-awaited Lateralus album. I was a huge fan then, still am and always will be.
CN: With the release of the new single, what else do you have coming up on the horizon for 2019?
HS: Lots of hard work, and first is the move to Nashville. Although I am renting a place there, I still have my place in Arkansas and am looking to purchase a home and make the permanent move ASAP. We have a ton of songwriting sessions and shows this year as well. I’m certain we’ll be seeing some more studio time before long too.
CN: Where can fans catch you on the road?
HS: The first weekend of March has me in Russellville, AR and Conway, AR, followed by a show on March 30th opening for Frank Foster at Bulls Bands and Barrels in West Monroe, LA. I’ll also be performing at the Arkansas CMAs in Little Rock on June 3rd and at Bikes Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville, AR on September 27th. You can find the details for these and other shows at heathsanders.com or Heath Sanders on Facebook.
You can also follow Heath Sanders on Twitter and Instagram.
“Bloodline” and “Down on the South” are available for purchase and streaming.