Stephen Wilson Jr
Stephen Wilson Jr. is a singer/songwriter from rural Southern Indiana. Self-described as “Death Cab For Country,” Stephen Wilson Jr. draws upon indie rock, grunge and country to create a distinct sound that is influenced by artists as diverse as The National, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Nirvana.
Wilson was raised by a single father who was a boxer and had him boxing from age seven through adulthood as an Indiana State Golden Gloves finalist. The self-taught guitarist moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Microbiology at MTSU, where he started indie rock band AutoVaughn after finishing his degree. After five years of touring the world as lead guitarist with AutoVaughn, Wilson turned his creative focus toward songwriting and singing. After the band, Wilson relied back on his education where he worked for several years as an R&D scientist at Mars until signing a publishing deal with BMG Nashville in 2016. His songs were soon recorded by acts like Caitlyn Smith, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, MacKenzie Porter, Sixpence None the Richer and Leigh Nash.
Wilson went on to self-release several songs of his own including, "the devil", "Year To Be Young 1994", "The Beginning", "Holler From The Holler" - which won 6 independent film festival awards for its accompanying music video - and "billy", which caught the attention of Billboard who featured the single in its ‘Makin’ Tracks’ column. Wilson went on to tour the US and Europe with acts like Brothers Osborne, Midland, and Cadillac Three developing a global base of music fans enamored by his emotive performance, skilled guitar prowess, and powerful vocals.
In March 2023, he signed to Big Loud Records, and released his debut EP bon aqua. The seven-song collection compiles 6 previously released songs and the brand new single “American Gothic” (feat. Hailey Whitters). Wilson joined Whitters on road as direct support for her Raised Tour and is scheduled to support The Lone Bellow this Spring before performing at Bourbon and Beyond Festival, FairWell Festival and CMA Fest later this year. He is also scheduled to appear at London’s Black Deer Festival and Highways Festival at Royal Albert Hall this year.
For nearly 25 years Leigh Nash’s instantly recognizable voice has been a fixture in modern pop, from her days as frontwoman for Sixpence None The Richer to her more recent offerings as a songwriter and solo recording artist.
Rooted in Americana sounds that previously underscored albums like 2015's The State I'm In (her first Top 40 hit on Billboard's country chart), The Tide, Vol. 1 found Nash collaborating with icons like Vince Gill and Tanya Tucker, gospel singer CeCe Winans, Raul Malo, Stephen Wilson Jr., Matt Maher and the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ruby Amafu.
The record also earned Nash her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, marking another milestone for a lifelong musician who recorded platinum-certified hits like "Kiss Me" while in her early twenties.
Today, the New Braunfels native reveals a new offering by way of her September 22 single called, “The Tide." This is a first co-write for Nash and Sixpence None The Richer bandmate Matt Slocum. It is also the first new Sixpence recording in over a decade, and the first Sixpence co-write ever to ever be released commercially.
The release of “The Tide” (also co-written with Sam Ashworth, Amanfu and co-produced by Slocum and Ashworth) paves the way for Nash’s forthcoming solo album in 2024. Meanwhile, she will spend part of October on a run of co-headlining dates with Jeremy Lister, with special guest Kaleb Jones, and fronting several dates for iconic band 10,000 Maniacs. For more tour information and tickets, visit: www.leighnash.net/tour.