These may be serious times, but Ryan Langdon figures that’s a good reason not to take everything so seriously.
Like the rest of his upcoming debut EP Lit in the Sticks, the Canadian country singer’s new single “Crossfaded,” premiering below, is all about having a good time.
“It’s about not taking life too serious, about trying to find a perfect balance of your two favorite vices — having a drink and maybe a little bit of marijuana in your life, which in Canada is legal now” Langdon, who resides in St. Catherine’s, Ont., tells Billboard. “‘Mix it, roll it, drink it, smoke it’ — that’s what we’re going for. It’s just kind of a laid-back, singalong song trying to get everybody to relax and have a good time.”
“Crossfaded” certainly follows suit with the other tastes of the EP Langdon has already offered, including the title track, which is nearing the 1.5 million streams mark, “Leave Me Right” and “Buck Wild,” his ode to the working class. “I just love performing upbeat material, just songs women and men can enjoy and have a good time with and I can dance around to when I play ’em,” Langdon explains. “That’s what I’m trying to accomplish here.”
Born in Burlington, Ont., and raised near Niagara Falls, Langdon’s first dream was sports and, specifically, was to play professional baseball. He started playing guitar during his senior year of high school and got serious about music as his sandlot dreams died out, eventually heading to Nashville during 2019 to work with producer Karen Kosowski on the songs for Lit in the Sticks, which comes out June 19. “I was always a performer-type kid,” Langdon notes. “I always wanted to be the center of attention, whatever I did. So I’m kind of suited for this.”
His goal now is “just trying to build a fan base” even if there’s nowhere to play live at the moment. But he’s headed online May 15-18 with his Buck Wild Livestream Festival during Canada’s Victoria Day Weekend, during which he’ll perform, host a fireworks display and a Talladega Nights… watch party and on the 18th, premiere the video for “Crossfaded.” Detail and updates at www.ryanlangdonmusic.com.
“I love playing and being on stage, so not having that is tough,” Langdon says. “But I’m excited for people to hear more of this (music). It’s taken me maybe three or four years to truly find my sound and what I was trying to capture. Obviously I think I’ve found that, so we’re just going to keep putting it out, and I’m excited to see what kind of response I get. That’s obviously all we can ask for right now.”
