Tennessee’s Artists to Watch, Bay Simpson Builds on His Breakout Run on NBC’s The Voice
“It’s in your bones. The tone and the way you delivered the vocals really showed me an understanding of, you know, rock ’n’ roll music. Knowing that you know it, is enough for me to be like, ‘This dude is awesome. He’s going to be different than anybody on the show.” — Adam Levine
“In a city that often tries to round off an artist’s sharp edges to make them fit a country-radio mold, Simpson has fought to keep his grit. He describes his sound as “heartland rock,” a genre defined by the blue-collar poetry of legends like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.” — The Medium
“Simpson has an old school retro folk-rock tone, which checks out with his musical lore.”
— The Tennessean
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — You missed it. That’s the feeling at the center of “Too Good To Be True,” and Bay Simpson doesn’t soften it—he leans all the way in with the release of the official music video, turning a fast-moving track into something sharper, heavier, and harder to shake. Already gaining traction, Simpson has been spotlighted by The Tennessean as one of
Nashville’s artists to watch and added to Apple Music’s New in Rock playlist, building off his run on NBC’s The Voice, where he earned a chair turn from Adam Levine and advanced to the Battle Rounds.
WATCH HERE
“Too Good To Be True” doesn’t ask for attention. It lingers. The track lives in that uneasy realization: you had something real, and you didn’t recognize it until it was already gone. It’s not nostalgia—it’s closer to regret. The song is about realizing too late what something meant. Looking back on a moment that felt ordinary at the time, but wasn’t.
The video cuts straight to that feeling. That split-second where something feels perfect. and you already know it won’t last. Written by Simpson alongside Brian Maher (Justin Moore’s chart-toppers “Small Town USA” and “Til My Last Day,” with additional cuts by Taylor Swift, Jackie Lee, and Gwen Sebastian); and James LeBlanc (whose songwriting credits include Martina McBride, Bryan White, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, and Thompson Square), the track leans into stripped-back rock with enough grit to keep it from feeling safe. Raised in Muscle Shoals—where rock and soul aren’t references, they’re instinct, Simpson grew up in it.
During his time on The Voice, Simpson also caught the attention of Kelly Clarkson, who called his musical style “sexy and intimate and rock-n-roll… it’s so good,” while pointing out exactly what sets him apart: “you don’t try to be cool.” At the same time, Fandom Daily placed him alongside releases from Ella Langley, Lady Gaga, Marshmello, Thomas Rhett, and Chris Brown, putting him firmly in the mix as one to watch.
“We loved the overcast look on the water, which visually captures the dichotomy of the song’s meaning. I grew up along the Tennessee River, so being near water was a huge part of my upbringing. I wanted the video to hold onto that authenticity. Phil Silverberg, the director, did a great job capturing me in the moment along with Percy Priest. My style is very understated and simplistic—saying a lot by saying a little, and I feel like we really captured that honest, authentic vibe in the shoot.”
With “Too Good To Be True,” Simpson isn’t trying to fit into a moment. He’s pushing against one. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t chase. It just stays with you.
For more information on Bay Simpson and to follow him, please visit Website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.