Testing this Country Producer's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by country singer-songwriter Ernest. Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in modern country music, including Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen, Ernest sits down with Jack to discuss the legendary artists who have helped shape both his career and the genre itself.

Ernest walks us through what it takes to produce a hit record. Breaking down the tools, techniques, and songwriting approaches he relies on, while also reflecting on how his process differs from some of his peers. Sometimes, through collaboration, it's the combination of methods that creates the most hard hitting and well received songs.

We’ll listen to foundational country artists that Ernest grew up with such as George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Keith Whitley, as well as explore the contemporary artists that Ernest works closely with today like Tim McGraw, Megan Moroney and HARDY. We’ll even dip a toe into Ernest’s new album and if you stick around to the end of the episode, you’ll get to hear Ernest play one of his unreleased songs live on the podcast for the first time. The tracklist for this episode runs deep, but we promise for this one, it’s worth it.

This Episode’s Tracklist:
00:00 - Intro
00:16 - The Real Slim Shady - EMINEM
4:04 - Check Yes or No - George Strait
9:36 -I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink - Merle Haggard
10:59 - Saginaw, Michigan - Lefty Frizzell
12:39 - When You Say Nothin at All - Keith Whitley
15:15 - If I Know Me - Morgan Wallen
21:09 - You Make it Easy - Jason Aldean
24:37 - Cloud 9 - Megan Moroney
26: 51 - Tim McGraw - Taylor Swift
28:47 - Two Pink Lines - Eric Church
30:01 - McArthur - HARDY (Ft. Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen)
34:47 - Red Ragtop - Tim McGraw
37:00 - End of the Night - ERNEST
38:22 - Should’ve Been a Cowboy - Toby Keith

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. Let us know what artist, theme, or unexpected guest you want us to explore next.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1d5i6AQX4dZaO4MDCbdhjR
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-track-star-podcast/id1836496108
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-track-star-podcast-294088650/
More platforms: https://play.megaphone.fm/f-rd86qotxojfhckdq6uaa

Track Star Team: Jack Coyne, Kieran Coyne, Henry Kornaros, Alex Fabry, Haley Sobel, Sarah Mann, Ellie Aslanian, Ryan Dirgins, Simone Woronoff