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by ALLISON CASEY
Lifestyles Editor
M. Steve Virginia once charmed tourists as a singing cowboy at Tweetsie Railroad.
Five years later, he’s still a singing cowboy, but now he’s doing it in Nashville.
Virginia grew up in Boone and attended Appalachian State University, graduating in 2001 with a degree in graphic design.
The
country singer began at Appalachian as a music major, befriending Eric
Church and Josh Day, who now plays drums for Sarah Barielles.
“Boone
is like a mini-Nashville,” he said. “It’s really strange how many
really talented people come out of Boone. When you look out of
Nashville, they’re really spotted everywhere. I guess it’s something in
the water.”
Although Virginia did not grow up listening to country, he fell in love with it in 1996 at a Garth Brooks concert.
“I
realized it was one of the few genres that was so forgiving,” he said.
“You can do anything as long as you stick to your roots. Anything from
pop to adult contemporary.”
Virginia plans to shoot a video for his first single, “A Country Kind of Life” at Horn in West Aug. 28.
The original plan was to shoot in May, but production problems pushed the date back.
“I wanted to film it in Boone because the song is about growing up in Boone, playing music,” Virginia said.
Virginia hopes to have a large amount of Appalachian students show up to the video shoot.
Shortly
after graduation from Appalachian, Virginia moved to Nashville where he
settled down with family before meeting up with a producer.
“First,
I was more concerned about solidifying my family, getting a job,
eating, and paying bills,” he said. “I guess I’m kind of a wuss when it
comes to jumping in feet first and not looking where you’re jumping.”
Virginia,
who began in music as a drummer, took up guitar in college when his
friend wanted him to team up and write songs together.
“I play just enough guitar to get me in trouble,” he said.
Virginia
and his producer are currently unsigned to a record label, but are in
the process of becoming an “imprint” of a major label, which means they
will retain control of their work.
“I’ve just started writing more of my own songs,” he said. “I was really struggling to get material.”
As for making it in Nashville, Virginia recommends being realistic and recognizing what you are good at, and what you’re not.
“Nashville’s
really unforgiving,” he said. “Ask the person you like the least to
listen to your stuff, and don’t tell them it’s you. If they like it,
well, you may have it. If you only show it to your parents and they
say, ‘You’re the greatest thing since sliced bread! You’re going to be
the next Elvis!”
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