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By Cate Reynolds
Luke Pell may be best recognized from his time looking for love on season 12 of ABC’s The Bachelorette, but his one true love has always been country music. The Texas native has always felt he could easily relate to the topics and lyrics of country songs, and eventually began writing his own music as a way to vent and express his emotions.
Four years ago, the 30-year-old army veteran made the decision to move to Nashville and pursue a music career. His affinity for songwriting and his military background motivated him to cofound CreatiVets, a nonprofit organization that pairs combat wounded veterans with songwriters to help them tell their story through music.
“Growing up in a rural area of Texas, country music has always made sense to me. I fell in love with country music when I was a kid because I could relate to the lyrics and the artists that were singing them. When I got the chance to record music myself it felt like a seamless transition.” -Luke Pell
Earlier this year Pell released his debut EP. The five-track collection pairs Pell’s lyrical storytelling with music that reflects his wide array of influences. This spring, Pell will be hitting the road with Logan Mize for their co-headlining Hometown’s and Highways Tour.
You can catch Pell live on Sunday, March 18th, 1 p.m. at Rams Head on Stage. Tickets are $21.
You were a fan-favorite on Season 12 of The Bachelorette and many fans hoped to see you as the new Bachelor. Would you say this experience influenced your songwriting at all? If so, how?
Everything I do influences my songwriting. I write songs about things that happened when I was 16-year-old, and I write songs about things that happened yesterday. All types of experiences influence my songwriting, so I’ve definitely had some good song writing over the past few years.
You just released your debut five-song EP. Can you tell me more about the five-song track list and the inspiration behind them? What has been the best part about releasing this EP and kicking off your songwriting career?
This EP has a ton of different influences. As a member of the “iPod generation” I listen to a lot of different genres. I could be listening to a George Straight song and then the next song that shows up on my iPod is Guns N’ Roses. My songwriting just flows with whatever my inspiration is that day, and that’s what I end up writing.
I’ve been in Nashville for four years, and writing since I graduated college. Song writing has always been a therapy for me. It’s a way to get out of the grind of everyday life, vent, and express my feelings and the emotions happening in life. Producing and recording music is a really intensive process. You have to grow a network of fellow songwriters and producers who are on the same path as you, and see things how you do. It really takes a team to build and produce an album.
You’ve had the opportunity to work with country music star Cole Swindell, Jaron Boyer, and Ash Bowers. What was it like collaborating with these musicians?
Nashville is a big town and a small community. You’re able to collaborate with a lot of artists in town that have been successful in their own journey. I’ve had some really great times writing with people I’ve looked up to as writers and artists. It’s been really cool.
You served in the army for five years which lead to your involvement with CreatiVets. Can you tell me more about CreatiVets and how you initially got involved with this organization? How do you contribute to the organization and do you use your career as a touring artist to advocate for the organization at all?
I’m a cofounder of CreatiVets. Richard Casper was a Marine who was severely injured during his deployment, and suffered from a traumatic brain injury. He dealt with the challenges of transitioning to civilian life after deployment. He had gone through an art program but also loved music, so he put together a 501(c)(3) and named it CreatiVets. CreatiVets brings combat wounded veterans to Nashville to tell their story of their time serving through music. We pair them with hit song writers to help them express their story through song. It’s great therapy for those guys, and it’s just a beautiful way to keep alive the stories of those who were lost in action. The last couple years I was able to work with CreatiVets and be a part of this awesome project.
You and Logan Mize recently announced your Hometowns and Highways Tour. What are you most looking forward to about this tour?
I’m excited to go out with Logan and his band. I’m a huge fan and he’s a great person, and I love surrounding myself with great people. He’s just a great American and I’m proud to be sharing a stage with him. He’s from Kansas and I’m from Texas, so a lot of our music is similar. He’s a family man and a blue-collar guy like me and we are excited to go out, have fun, and bring country music to small towns.
What are you most looking forward to about visiting Maryland? Anything in particular you’re hoping to do while in town?
I hope that the fans in Maryland don’t hold it against me that I went to West Point, and don’t run me off the road when I come through Annapolis. I’m looking forward to drinking beer with some Navy guys and just having a good time. I also love crab cakes and football, which I hear is what Maryland does best.
Luke Pell may be best recognized from his time looking for love on season 12 of ABC’s The Bachelorette, but his one true love has always been country music. The Texas native has always felt he could easily relate to the topics and lyrics of country songs, and eventually began writing his own music as a way to vent and express his emotions.
Four years ago, the 30-year-old army veteran made the decision to move to Nashville and pursue a music career. His affinity for songwriting and his military background motivated him to cofound CreatiVets, a nonprofit organization that pairs combat wounded veterans with songwriters to help them tell their story through music.
“Growing up in a rural area of Texas, country music has always made sense to me. I fell in love with country music when I was a kid because I could relate to the lyrics and the artists that were singing them. When I got the chance to record music myself it felt like a seamless transition.” -Luke Pell
Earlier this year Pell released his debut EP. The five-track collection pairs Pell’s lyrical storytelling with music that reflects his wide array of influences. This spring, Pell will be hitting the road with Logan Mize for their co-headlining Hometown’s and Highways Tour.
You can catch Pell live on Sunday, March 18th, 1 p.m. at Rams Head on Stage. Tickets are $21.
You were a fan-favorite on Season 12 of The Bachelorette and many fans hoped to see you as the new Bachelor. Would you say this experience influenced your songwriting at all? If so, how?
Everything I do influences my songwriting. I write songs about things that happened when I was 16-year-old, and I write songs about things that happened yesterday. All types of experiences influence my songwriting, so I’ve definitely had some good song writing over the past few years.
You just released your debut five-song EP. Can you tell me more about the five-song track list and the inspiration behind them? What has been the best part about releasing this EP and kicking off your songwriting career?
This EP has a ton of different influences. As a member of the “iPod generation” I listen to a lot of different genres. I could be listening to a George Straight song and then the next song that shows up on my iPod is Guns N’ Roses. My songwriting just flows with whatever my inspiration is that day, and that’s what I end up writing.
I’ve been in Nashville for four years, and writing since I graduated college. Song writing has always been a therapy for me. It’s a way to get out of the grind of everyday life, vent, and express my feelings and the emotions happening in life. Producing and recording music is a really intensive process. You have to grow a network of fellow songwriters and producers who are on the same path as you, and see things how you do. It really takes a team to build and produce an album.
You’ve had the opportunity to work with country music star Cole Swindell, Jaron Boyer, and Ash Bowers. What was it like collaborating with these musicians?
Nashville is a big town and a small community. You’re able to collaborate with a lot of artists in town that have been successful in their own journey. I’ve had some really great times writing with people I’ve looked up to as writers and artists. It’s been really cool.
You served in the army for five years which lead to your involvement with CreatiVets. Can you tell me more about CreatiVets and how you initially got involved with this organization? How do you contribute to the organization and do you use your career as a touring artist to advocate for the organization at all?
I’m a cofounder of CreatiVets. Richard Casper was a Marine who was severely injured during his deployment, and suffered from a traumatic brain injury. He dealt with the challenges of transitioning to civilian life after deployment. He had gone through an art program but also loved music, so he put together a 501(c)(3) and named it CreatiVets. CreatiVets brings combat wounded veterans to Nashville to tell their story of their time serving through music. We pair them with hit song writers to help them express their story through song. It’s great therapy for those guys, and it’s just a beautiful way to keep alive the stories of those who were lost in action. The last couple years I was able to work with CreatiVets and be a part of this awesome project.
You and Logan Mize recently announced your Hometowns and Highways Tour. What are you most looking forward to about this tour?
I’m excited to go out with Logan and his band. I’m a huge fan and he’s a great person, and I love surrounding myself with great people. He’s just a great American and I’m proud to be sharing a stage with him. He’s from Kansas and I’m from Texas, so a lot of our music is similar. He’s a family man and a blue-collar guy like me and we are excited to go out, have fun, and bring country music to small towns.
What are you most looking forward to about visiting Maryland? Anything in particular you’re hoping to do while in town?
I hope that the fans in Maryland don’t hold it against me that I went to West Point, and don’t run me off the road when I come through Annapolis. I’m looking forward to drinking beer with some Navy guys and just having a good time. I also love crab cakes and football, which I hear is what Maryland does best.
