In September of 2021, friends Matt Sammons, Jeremy Castaldo, and J.L. Jones began writing and playing music together, along with other close friends. The group spent many late nights writing, jamming, and brainstorming ideas, organically forming into the country band Midnight South. Less than two years later, they were named “Vocal Group of the Year “by the Arkansas Country Music Awards Association.
The focal point of the music that emerged was prominent three-part harmonies. Having all grown up singing gospel music in church, as well as being heavily influenced by ‘80s and ‘90s country bands, such as Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Diamond Rio, and Shenandoah, the band knew that big harmonies were sure to be a mainstay in its new music.
Today Glide is excited to premiere “Kid With the Radio,” one of the band’s forthcoming singles. The song carries a big modern country sound that tows the line between mainstream and classic, with a nod to 90s sounds. A reflection on growing up with “neon dreams” and wanting to be a country music star, the song highlights the band’s early influences by paying homage to its heroes in country music. Indeed, this song captures plenty of country music references while coming across as a big-hearted bar room anthem.
Listen to the track and read our chat with the band below…
What is the story behind this song? How did it come together? What is it about?
Jeremy Castaldo: We sat down with Aaron Gillespie, an incredibly talented writer, producer, and musician, to write what, at the time, was just going to be a five-song EP. However, the songs started coming together so well, we quickly decided we needed to keep going and make a full-length album. “Kid With The Radio” was the first song we sat down to write. Aaron gave me a few song title ideas, and this one really stuck out, as it captured what we wanted our first single to embody. “Kid With The Radio brings a sense of nostalgia as it tells the story of simply growing up listening to ’90s country, singing at the top of our lungs in the car, in our bedrooms, with our friends, dreaming of the day we’ll be on that stage telling our own stories. We were all just kids with radios, closing our eyes, being transported to whatever story the song was tellin’.
Are there any lyric lines that you really love or that really speak to you? What do you feel makes them resonate?
Darin Davis: “I knew all the words to every country hit. Those after school rides I’ll never forget…”
Although this is obviously a country song, I don’t think you have to be a country music fan for this song to resonate with you. No matter the genre, no matter the songs, the soundtracks of our childhoods stay with us forever and are able to transport us back. That’s what I think about every time I hear that line in this song. It’s a song about how powerful a role music plays in our memories, and how it shapes our futures.
If listeners can take away one thing from having heard this song, what do you hope that is?
Jeremy Castaldo: We hope this songs transports listeners to a simpler time filled with memories soundtracked by the music of their youth.
How does this song fit in among the others on the forthcoming album? How is it similar or different?
Jeremy Castaldo: This song really sets the tone for our debut album. Our whole sound is a beautiful blend of modern country with a nod to that classic ’90s style.
When you were the “kid with the radio,” what songs or artists were your favorites? Why did you love them?
Jeremy Castaldo: “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery, “Who I Am” by Relient K, and “The Great Escape” by Boys Like Girls are just a few songs I grew up with on repeat. All are very different in style, but all had that something something that made my ears jump and definitely played a roll in igniting a spark for music.
Darin Davis: I was actually introduced to country music at school as a kid. My teacher showed the movie “Pure Country” in class at the end of the school year, although I don’t think she was supposed to. Ha ha. That was my first introduction to George Strait. I got the soundtrack as soon as I could and wore it out every day. I still love every single song on that album.
If you could use only three words to describe your music, what would they be?
Jeremy Castaldo: Authentic. Nostalgic. Feel-good.
One Response
Fantastic job guys. Wishing you all much success !!! ????