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Everywhere But On: Matt Stell
Matt, can you share your memories of country music growing up?
Some of my favorite memories growing up were listening to Elvis, Ernest Tubb, and especially Johnny Cash with my grandfather. We’d sit on the porch, drink tea and just listen to his favorite music. It quickly became my favorite too.
Stell taught himself to play guitar and sing while at Drury University in Missouri. He would play at local venues after basketball practice. After he graduated, he began writing with Red Dirt stars like Casey Donahew.
“Whiskey Baby,” your co-write with Casey, anyone in mind when you compare love to how whiskey burns going down?
That song may or may not have been inspired by a particular person. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, lol.
“Small Town Love” topped the Texas charts for Casey. How is it different to write for another artist?
I love being a part of writing songs that other folks like enough to record. This one and “Whiskey Baby” stand out because they both went #1 in Texas and I got to write it with my buddy Casey.