Big Loud Records’ resident troubadour ERNEST is back in full bloom, unveiling his debut full-length album FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM), available everywhere March 11. Making the announcement today exclusively with Billboard, the 11-track record reveals a new, more traditionally country chapter of his sound. It tells a complete story about a love that almost wasn’t with ERNEST at the helm, irrefutably rooted in his Nashville heritage and dancing across the boundaries where country, pop, R&B, and roots music meet. “I just wanted this album to be bulletproof when it comes to true honest country songs and storytelling,” he tells Billboard, as the outlet claims, “This year, ERNEST is breaking through for his own artistry” – read the full exclusivehere.
FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM) was entirely co-written by ERNEST, with collaborators including Ashley Gorley, The Warren Brothers, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ryan Vojtesak, and labelmates Ben Burgess and Lily Rose. ACM Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi is the sole producer on the project.
Listeners’ first taste of FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM) came on New Year’s Eve when title track “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen skyrocketed to #1 at iTunes, Apple Music Country and Spotify Country. The single shipped to country radio shortly thereafter, becoming the most-added single of the week with 88 first week stations on board. Today, the album preview continues with three new songs: “Some Other Bar,” “Feet Wanna Run” and “What It’s Come To,” available everywhere now; listen and pre-order/pre-save the album here.
“It’s a very good feeling to have this body of work ready to share with the world,” ERNEST says. “This album came together organically over the course of a year or so. It feels like there’s a shift happening in country music and the people want to hear more honesty in songs, and with honesty comes pain – sometimes we need to feel that too. I hope this project provides a little sepia tone world for the listener to escape to and go on a journey of their own…feeling everything from love to lost. This is FLOWER SHOPS.”
ERNEST will perform his new set to a hometown crowd at back-to-back sold-out shows headlining Nashville’s famed Exit/In on March 21 + 22. He’s on the road until then supporting Chris Lane’s FILL THEM BOOTS tour and will appear at festivals including Tortuga Music Festival and Barefoot Country Music Festival later this year.
