Chatting with country artist Bryce Leatherwood: Winner of ‘The Voice’

Bryce Leatherwood. Photo Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson

Country artist Bryce Leatherwood was the winner of the 22nd Season of “The Voice,” which was Blake Shelton’s final season as a coach. He won as part of Team Blake.

Inking a record deal

A native of Georgia, Leatherwood was signed to Universal Music Group Nashville in alliance with Republic Records. “It feels great to be a part of a big team,” he said about Universal. “It is truly an honor to be a part of such an established label with such a great team behind me. I just want to make everybody happy. It has been nothing but a joy.”

New single

Leatherwood chatted about his new solo music, which includes his single “The Finger,” which was released today. “It is such an incredible heartbreak song… This is my first single, and it’s going to be awesome,” he admitted.

“I don’t think anybody has ever heard a heartbreak song like this quite yet. I hope people will get a kick out of it, I hope they laugh and they crank it up to 10,” he added.

Team Blake Shelton

“Being on Team Blake on ‘The Voice’ was a dream come true,” he said. “To be able to share my God-given talent with the world while being on the ‘king’s team’ was really special, especially to be his last Team Blake champion… so sending him out with a bang was great too.”

Covering Justin Moore’s ‘If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away’ on ‘The Voice’

Out of all the songs that he performed on “The Voice,” he listed Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” as one of his personal favorites. “That was my real ‘stepping into the light’ song, and I felt fully confident with what I did that night,” he said. “It was awesome… I was so thankful and so blessed.”

The digital age

On being an artist in the digital age, he said, “It’s crazy, man. I wish we were still selling CDs, but the times have changed. It will be cool to get on my phone and search my name on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music for everybody to see… That will be really cool.”

“Whenever I make my own full-length album someday, I would like to do my own vinyl,” he added. “I grew up on vinyl, and my dad gave me all of his vinyl. That has been a dream of mine and I pray that it comes true soon.”

Advice for young and aspiring artists

For young and aspiring artists, he encouraged them to “be themselves.” “Do what you love, don’t change for anybody,” he said. “Find a sound that is authentic; just be yourself and love what you do. Also, never give up. Chase your dreams every day…. that way, good things can come your way.”

Biggest musical influences

He listed Tim McGraw, George Strait, Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, and Cody Johnson as his biggest musical influences. “I want to stick true to my guns and do my version of country music,” he said.

Dream duet choices in music

Leatherwood noted that he would love to someday do a dream duet with such artists as Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson. “Lainey’s voice is incredible and she’s crushing it. Lainey is the ‘Queen of Country’ right now,” he said.

“With artists like Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson, I think we will enter another ‘golden age’ in country music,” he added. “Country is getting back to the words, the songs, and the lyrics… and that’s what it’s about. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Stage of his life

On the title of the current chapter of his life, he said, “Growth and learning.” “I’m still learning how to be the fullest and best version of myself,” he said.