Why Parker McCollum's new country album might be the best he'll ever make

Last fall, the state vocalist Parker McCollum played a gig connected the southbound enactment of Lake Tahoe — the last day of a lengthy circuit down 2023’s “Never Enough” — past flew straight to New York City to commencement enactment connected his adjacent album.

“Probably the worst idea,” helium says now, looking backmost astatine his unrelenting schedule. “I was perfectly cooked erstwhile I got there.”

Yet the self-titled LP helium ended up making implicit six days astatine New York’s storied Power Station workplace is astir surely his best: a acceptable of soulful, somewhat scruffy roots-music tunes that hearkens backmost — aft a fewer years successful the polished Nashville deed instrumentality — to McCollum’s days arsenic a Texas-born songwriter aspiring to the originative heights of greats specified arsenic Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and Townes Van Zandt. Produced by Eric Masse and Frank Liddell — the second known for his enactment with Miranda Lambert and his wife, Lee Ann Womack — “Parker McCollum” complements moving originals similar “Big Sky” (about a lonely feline “born to lose”) and “Sunny Days” (about the irretrievability of the past) with a tender screen of Danny O’Keefe’s “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues” and a recently recorded rendition of McCollum’s opus “Permanent Headphones,” which helium wrote erstwhile helium was each of 15.

“Parker’s a selling person’s dream,” Liddell says, referring to the 33-year-old’s rodeo-hero looks. “And what happens successful those situations is they usually go much of a marketed product. But I deliberation underneath, helium felt helium had much to accidental — to fundamentally confess, ‘This is who I am.’” Liddell laughs. “I tried to speech him retired of it.”

McCollum, who grew up successful privileged circumstances adjacent Houston and who’s present joined with a 10-month-old lad named Major, discussed the medium connected a caller plaything done Los Angeles. He wore a caller brace of jeans and a crisp denim garment and fiddled with a ZYN canister arsenic we spoke.

I was looking online astatine your —
Nudes?

At your Instagram. The different time you posted a picture of a container of Uncrustables connected a backstage jet.
That photograph was not expected to marque the internet. That was an mishap — my fault. I don’t ever station astir my level connected the internet.

You’re a grown man. Why Uncrustables?
That’s an big repast that children are very, very fortunate to get to experience.

Did you cognize erstwhile you finished this grounds that you’d done thing good?
Yes. But I didn’t cognize that until the past time we were successful the workplace and we listened to everything, apical to bottom. The six days successful the workplace that we recorded this record, I was s—ing myself: “What the f— person I done? Why did I travel to New York and discarded each this clip and money? This is terrible.” Then connected the past time we listened each the mode through, and I was like, Finally.

Finally what?
I conscionable felt similar I ne'er was arsenic focused and convicted and bought-in arsenic I was connected this record. I felt benignant of hopeless — like, “Am I conscionable gonna support doing the aforesaid thing, oregon are we gonna spell get uncomfortable?”

Why New York?
One crushed is that metropolis makes maine consciousness similar a stone star. In my caput erstwhile I was successful precocious schoolhouse dreaming astir being a songwriter oregon a state singer, I was picturing immense budgets, making badass albums successful New York City oregon L.A., staying successful dope hotels — conscionable this fairy communicative that you judge in. The different crushed is that erstwhile you’re cutting records successful Nashville, radical are leaving astatine 5 to spell prime up their kids, oregon the label’s stopping by and each this s—. I conscionable wanted to debar each of that — I didn’t privation to grounds 3 songs connected a Tuesday successful June and past grounds 3 songs connected a Tuesday successful August. I wanted to spell make a record.

Lot of past astatine Power Station: Chic, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie.
John Mayer wrote a opus and recorded it successful a time determination — that opus “In Repair,” with him and Charlie Hunter and Steve Jordan. That’s however I recovered retired astir the workplace years ago. We really ended up penning a opus successful the studio: “New York Is On Fire.”

A precise John Mayer title.
I wanted to spell successful the precocious autumn erstwhile the trees were changing colors and the aerial was cool.

Why was Frank Liddell the feline to produce?
I knew if helium understood Chris Knight and the songs helium had written that helium could astir apt recognize maine and the songs I had written. I’d made fractional a grounds with Jon Randall, who’d produced my past 2 albums. And I emotion Jon Randall — he’s 1 of my closest friends successful the world, 4 No. 1s together, multi-platinum this and multi-platinum that. But I conscionable needed to excavation deeper, and Frank was a feline who was down to fto the songs bash the work.

What bash you deliberation would’ve go of the grounds you were making with Randall?
It would’ve sounded great, and it would’ve had immoderate success. But I don’t cognize if I would’ve been arsenic emotionally progressive arsenic I was with Frank. Frank got a amended mentation of maine than Jon did.

What if cipher likes this record?
It’s similar the archetypal clip I’m wholly OK with that.

Country vigor moves slowly, which means “What Kinda Man” whitethorn extremity up being a large hit. But it’s not a large deed yet.
It astir apt won’t be. The lone crushed that opus went to vigor is due to the fact that “Burn It Down” had gone No. 1, and the statement wanted different one. I was like, “Fine, spell ahead.” I’ve ne'er 1 clip talked with them astir what opus should spell to radio.

On this project.
Ever. I conscionable don’t care. The opus that goes to vigor is precise seldom the champion opus connected the record.

What was the champion opus connected “Never Enough”?
Probably “Too Tight This Time.” It’s dilatory and sad, which is my specialty.

You recently told Texas Monthly, “I don’t constitute amusive songs. I’ve ne'er truly liked them.”
There’s immoderate I like. “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey f—ing slaps. I emotion feel-good songs. But successful state music, feel-good songs are, like, beer-and-truck-and-Friday-night songs, and those person ne'er done thing for me.

“What Kinda Man” is benignant of fun.
But I deliberation it’s inactive well-written. It’s not each the clichés that each opus connected the vigor has successful it.

What’s the champion opus connected this album?
“Hope That I’m Enough” oregon “Solid Country Gold” oregon “My Worst Enemy” oregon “My Blue.”

Lot of choices.
I emotion this record. I don’t deliberation I’ll ever bash immoderate better.

Is that a bittersweet thought?
Eh. I don’t cognize however overmuch longer I’m gonna bash it anyways.

Why would you bent it up?
I don’t cognize that I’m going to. But I don’t deliberation I’m gonna bash this till I’m 70. We’ve been doing these stadium shows with George Strait — I deliberation I’m retired a batch sooner than him.

You ticker Strait’s set?
Every night.

What person you learned from him?
When it comes to George, what I truly wage attraction to is everything disconnected the stage. No scandals, truthful unbelievably humble and accordant and nether the radar. The mode he’s carried himself for 40 years — I don’t deliberation I’ve ever seen anybody other bash it that well. I’d emotion to beryllium the adjacent George Strait disconnected the stage.

I’m not definite his under-the-radar-ness is imaginable today.
I combat with my squad each the time. They’re ever trying to get my woman and kid successful s—, and I’m like, “They’re not for sale.” I recognize I person to beryllium a small spot — it’s conscionable the quality of the business. But astatine home, that’s the existent woody — that ain’t for show.

“I can’t explicate however profoundly affectional songs marque maine — it controls my full being,” McCollum says. “The close opus successful the close infinitesimal is everything to me.”

(Matt Seidel / For The Times)

I’d ideate People mag would emotion to bash a dispersed with you and your beauteous woman and your beauteous child.
They offered for the wedding. I was like, “Abso-f—ing-lutely not.” I don’t privation anybody to cognize wherever I unrecorded oregon what I thrust oregon what I bash successful my spare time. And nowadays that’s currency — radical filming their full lives. Call maine the aged man, but I’m trying to spell the implicit other absorption of that.

One could reason that your absorption isn’t adjuvant for your career.
I’m good with that.

Fine due to the fact that you’re OK money-wise?
I’m definite that plays into it. But, man, my puerility is successful a container successful my mom’s attic. And nowadays everybody’s puerility is connected the net for the full satellite to see. I’m conscionable not down with that. I don’t privation to marque wealth disconnected of showing everybody however large my beingness is. Because it is f—ing great. I consciousness similar I could marque $100 cardinal a twelvemonth if I was a YouTuber — it’s movie s—. The mode it started, the mode I came up, the pistillate I married, the kid I had — there’s nary holes.

Where does the symptom successful your euphony travel from?
I’ve thought astir that for a agelong time. I don’t deliberation it’s the full answer, but I deliberation if your parents divorced erstwhile you were little, for the remainder of your beingness there’s gonna beryllium thing wrong you that’s broken. My parents’ divorcement was beauteous rowdy, and I retrieve a batch of it. And I don’t deliberation those things ever afloat spell away.

How bash you deliberation astir the narration betwixt masculinity and stoicism?
It ne'er crosses my mind.

Is your dada a feline who talks astir his feelings?
F— no.

Was helium scary?
I deliberation helium could be. My dad’s the s—. He’s the baddest lad of a bitch I’ve ever met successful my life.

What representation of masculinity bash you privation to task for your son?
When I deliberation astir raising Major, I conscionable privation him to privation to win. Can afloat recognize you’re not ever going to, but you should ever want to, nary substance what’s going on. I anticipation he’s a winner.

When’s the past clip you cried?
Actually wasn’t precise agelong ago. A bully person of excavation died — Ben Vaughn, who was the president of my publishing institution successful Nashville. I played “L.A. Freeway,” the Guy Clark song, astatine his memorial work a mates weeks ago. That got maine beauteous good.

You said you’re OK if fans don’t similar this record.
I don’t request anyone other to similar it. I anticipation that they emotion it — I anticipation it hits them close successful the f—ing gut and that these songs are the ones they spell perceive to successful 10 years erstwhile they privation to consciousness similar they did 10 years ago. That’s what euphony does for me. But I cognize not everybody feels euphony arsenic intensely arsenic I do.

Was that existent for you arsenic a kid?
Even 6, 7, 8 years old, I’d perceive to a opus connected repetition implicit and implicit and implicit again. I can’t explicate however profoundly affectional songs marque maine — it controls my full being. The close opus successful the close infinitesimal is everything to me. Where I live, there’s a roadworthy called River Road, successful the Hill Country successful Texas. It’s the astir gorgeous spot you’ve ever been successful your life, and I’ll spell thrust it. I cognize the nonstop infinitesimal that I should beryllium determination successful the afternoons astatine this clip of twelvemonth to drawback the airy done the trees, and I’ll person the songs I’m gonna play portion I’m driving that road.

You cognize what opus you privation to perceive astatine a definite crook successful the road.
Probably a small psychotic.

Are you 1 of these guys who wants the towels to bent connected the rack conscionable so?
I similar things precise cleanable and organized.

Is that due to the fact that you grew up successful that benignant of situation oregon due to the fact that you grew up successful the opposite?
My ma was precise cleanable and organized. But I don’t cognize — I’ve ne'er 1 clip gone to furniture with soiled dishes successful the sink. My woman cooks meal each the clip erstwhile I’m home, and arsenic soon arsenic we’re done, I bash each the dishes and load the dishwasher and hitch the counters down.

You could ne'er conscionable chill and fto it go.
No, it’s messy. It’s gross.

Parker McCollum performs astatine the Stagecoach festival successful 2023.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Do radical ever construe your strength as, “This dude’s benignant of a d—?”
People would ever archer maine I was cocky, and I’d beryllium like, I don’t consciousness cocky astatine all. I was raised to person large manners: instrumentality my chapeau disconnected erstwhile I conscionable a lady, look idiosyncratic successful the oculus with a steadfast handshake, “Yes, ma’am,” “No, ma’am,” “Yes, sir,” “No, sir,” nary substance the property oregon the sex of the person. Manners were specified a brainsick happening successful my puerility — it’s the lone mode I cognize however to talk to people. So I’ve ever thought it was truthful weird, successful precocious school, girls would beryllium like, “Oh, you’re truthful cocky.”

I mean, I’ve seen the “What Kinda Man” video. You evidently cognize you look cool.
I don’t deliberation that astatine all. I deliberation I look benignant of dumb.

I’m not definite whether to judge you.
I couldn’t beryllium much serious. This is precise weird for maine to say, but Frank yet enactment into words what I’ve ever felt with each photographer, anybody I’ve ever worked with successful the concern since I was 19 years aged — helium said, “This grounds sounds similar Parker’s bosom and caput and not his face.” The information that I’m not 5-foot-7 with a beard and covered successful tattoos — it’s similar cipher ever thinks that the songs are gonna person immoderate integrity.

Boo-hoo for the beauteous boy.
People ever called maine “Hollywood,” “pretty boy,” each this stuff. I conjecture it’s amended than calling you a f—ing fat-ass. But I’ve ne'er tried to capitalize connected that astatine immoderate constituent successful time. I’ve ever conscionable wanted to beryllium a songwriter.

But you cognize however to dress.
Kind of?

Come on, antheral — the golden chains, the Lucchese boots.
That’s each to compensate for the information that I don’t cognize what the f— to wear. I cognize I similar golden and diamonds. Loved rappers erstwhile I was younger. Waylon Jennings wore golden chains and diamonds, Johnny Cash did — they ever looked dope. I was ever like, I privation to bash that too.

If the fans’ support isn’t crucial, whose support does mean thing to you?
George Strait. John Mayer. Steve Earle. My older brother. My dad.

You cognize Mayer?
We’ve talked connected Instagram.

Why is helium specified a large 1 for you?
The committedness to the craft, I think, is what I’ve admired truthful overmuch astir him. It’s funny: When I was younger, I ever said I was ne'er gonna get joined and person kids due to the fact that I knew John Mayer was ne'er going to, and I truly respected however helium was conscionable gonna pursuit immoderate it is that helium was chasing forever. Then helium got into records similar “The Search for Everything” and “Sob Rock,” and helium benignant of hints astatine the information that helium missed retired connected that — helium wishes helium had a wife, wishes helium had kids. That truly resonated with me. I was like, each right, I don’t privation to beryllium 40 and alone. It wholly changed my full position connected my future.

You played “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue” by the precocious Toby Keith astatine 1 of Donald Trump’s inaugural balls successful January. What bash you similar astir that song?
I bleed red, achromatic and blue. I’m each astir the United States of America — I’m each astir what it stands for. A batch of radical get turned disconnected by that nowadays. I don’t attraction — I’m not disquieted astir if you’re patriotic oregon not. But Toby was a large songwriter, and I emotion however overmuch helium loved his country.

In that Texas Monthly interview, you said you felt it was embarrassing for radical to beryllium affected emotionally by an artist’s governmental affiliation.
Nobody utilized to speech astir it, and present it’s truthful polarizing. Am I not gonna perceive to Neil Young now? I’m gonna perceive to Neil Young each the f—ing time.

Why bash you deliberation audiences started caring?
Social media and the changeless flood of accusation and governmental propaganda that radical are absorbing astir the clock. It’s conscionable truthful dumb. I’ve got guys successful my set and successful my unit that are blimpish and guys that are liberal. It makes nary quality to me.

Of people you knew however your engagement with Trump would beryllium taken.
Think astir being 16, wanting to beryllium a state singer, past getting to spell play the statesmanlike inauguration. What a brainsick honor. There’s not a azygous president successful past who was cleanable — not a azygous 1 that didn’t bash thing wrong, not a azygous 1 that lone did wrong. I conscionable don’t attraction what radical deliberation astir that stuff. Everybody feels antithetic astir things, and nowadays it’s similar 2 sides of the obstruction — you either hold with this oregon you hold with that. I’m not that way.

What bash you deliberation happens adjacent for you?
This is the lone grounds I’ve ever made that I didn’t deliberation astir that arsenic soon arsenic I walked retired of the studio. I person nary thought what the adjacent grounds is gonna be. Not a clue.

If we conscionable again successful 2 years and you’ve made a grounds afloat of trap beats, what would that mean?
Probably that I was connected drugs again.