By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
You may leave northwest Kansas, but northwest Kansas can’t leave you.
Nashville-based singer/songwriter and Ellis County native Blaine Younger has recently explored his time growing up in the area with his latest song Heartland.
“I grew up right there in Victoria, Kansas, went to school there,” Younger said.
Being involved with music his entire life, he explored the region, taking the stage at “every bar and county fair and festival,” including Wild West Fest and Country Stampede.
But much like the person longed for in Heartland, Younger felt compelled to follow his dreams and pursue opportunities elsewhere.
“We are out here. And it is a big deal to be out here,” Younger said. “And I'm learning and surrounded by the greatest musicians and songwriters in the world every day. And it's pretty cool.”
While his focus has been on songwriting, he took to performing Heartland himself, marking his first release in 13 years.
“People ask me, ‘Why are you releasing music now?’” Younger said. “I think deep down every songwriter is still an artist, and they want to say things and say things their way and the way they would portray it and emote it. So that still is more exciting to me.”
But while he still performs and writes music, he continues chasing the goal of one day having a song he wrote rise to the top of the hit county charts.
“We're getting there and meeting a lot of people that I would never thought and playing a lot of places that I've never thought I'd play in my life,” Younger said.
“They're both equally great, but I just had more success so far on the artist side, and that is fun.”
While there may be more opportunities in Nashville, he retains a life similar to the one he knew growing up, living in a quiet city suburb.
“I still crave small-town livin’ and simple life,” Younger said. “It's different, but they both have their perks. Being out here, you're so plugged into the industry, and you really do feel like you're three minutes, or a song away, from maybe a change in your life. You've got those connections, and you're showing your face and networking in the clubs.”
“But as far as personal living, I have a family now. And we're lucky to be out in a cool suburb of Nashville, and we love it out here. But I still do prefer the small-town simple living over the city life for sure.”
He reflects on that small-town life with Heartland.
“I just thought of the kind of play on words, ‘When are you going to let your heart land,’ and it started there. And then I just started strumming,” Younger said. “The first line is ‘When you coming back to the hometown?’
“It comes off as a love song and this guy in the middle of Kansas wondering, you know his love ran off to chase her dreams and it's like, ‘When are you going to come back because I do think we belong together.’ And he's very hopeful that one day she'll come back.”
But the song also has a deeper message for those like him that have left their hometown to achieve their goals.
“I think the inspiration was more like ‘Man, go chase your dream and do all you can,’” Younger said. “It's tough out here. There are highs and lows. But no matter what happens, you're inspiring somebody. You're making somebody smile. And if it doesn't work out, there's always a place back home where people love you, family and friends. And there's always another place to land.”
Musically the song is a mix of Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Red Dirt Country.
It “rocks pretty good, but it's still got a country lyric too, and a good story,” Younger said.
He hopes his story helps inspire others to take the leap.
For him, Nashville connections may help build a songwriting career, but for those looking to perform, artists now have an avenue to “hit it” anywhere, he said.
“These days, everybody's doing it on their own,” Younger said. “Especially with social media, and just about getting out and promoting yourself and playing and getting in front of people and writing great music and pushing your song. So, I almost think it can be done no matter where you are these days.”
“If there's any songwriters or musicians back home, it's all possible. You just got to go get it,” Younger said.
To hear Heartland visit onerpm.link/934622213335.
Younger can also be found on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
