Chris Bullinger began writing poetry at a young age and songs sometime thereafter. Born and raised in the Midwest, Bullinger has lived here and there and now spends a lot of time in Nashville and Asheville. His musical influences include Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle. Bullinger writes about truth more than fact. He believes the process of songwriting — and art in general — comprises three key components: observation, empathy, and rhythm. Accordingly, he is an astute observer of the human condition, often focusing on one key instant, empathizing with it, and then expanding that moment through rhythm. This technique results in a creation that is both personal and universal, as Bullinger draws from succinct instances of personal human existence, which are necessarily relatable to the observer. A champion of the underdog, Bullinger has been known to take strays home, and he’s been known to wander. He sees the beauty and pain in existence. And every now and then, he’s fortunate enough to put a tune to it. How To Bleed came out in August 2023, and Waitin’ To Be Seen was released in August of this year.
Bullinger dapples in a little bit of everything that has to do with twang. His nostalgic yet refreshing approach to Western tropes lands him on a dusty fork in the road where he paves a third option out of his interpretation of the genre. “Already Broke” is the marriage of Bullinger’s poignant observations and deep passion for tradition, and a stand-out from his previously mentioned Waitin’ To Be Seen LP. The rugged vocals kick up a dust cloud shaped by the downtrodden songwriting and soaring instrumentation. Underneath the lush twang of the arrangement are heartwrenching lyrics whose sentiments are elevated by the emotional vocal tones, creating an enticing sonic conflict between the sonics and lyrics. Looking even deeper, Bullinger’s sentiment of “Being already broken” is rather optimistic. You can’t hurt something that has triumphed over the worst of times; there is strength in the pain. Bullinger quickly separates himself from the burgeoning modern country scene with “Already Broken,” a moving ballad that hits harder with every listen.
