Tanner Adell
Some musicians stay in their lanes; others reinvent the road. Tanner Adell, the American country music sensation, belongs firmly in the latter category. Her newest single, Cowboy Break My Heart, is a bold anthem that fuses genres as diverse as her upbringing. In her interview with Pario, Adell shared her journey, creative process, and how she's opening doors for a new generation of country music fans.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Adell’s unique sound owes much to her dual upbringing in California and Wyoming. “I grew up in California during the school year and spent my summers in Wyoming around my cowboy uncles and brothers,” she said. This blend of environments gave her an early love for country music while leaving room for other influences.
For Adell, the fusion of country with hip-hop and R&B feels organic. “It’s just who I am,” she explained. “I wouldn’t be serving myself fully if I were only making traditional country music or sticking to just one genre.” Her passion for music transcends conventional boundaries, driven by a desire to craft sounds that feel true to her identity.
Adell’s inspirations also reflect this duality. She recalled her early admiration for Keith Urban: “He was my introduction to country music. Knowing he was Australian made me feel like if he could do it, I could too.” Today, performing in Australia carries special meaning, as Urban’s encouragement still resonates: “He told me, ‘They’re going to love you out there.’”
Bridging the Gap Between Country and Pop Culture
Adell’s fans aren’t the traditional country crowd, but that’s by design. “Most of my fanbase never cared about country music before,” she said. Adell embraces this shift, creating music for listeners who felt excluded or ridiculed for liking country. “People live all sorts of experiences. You can’t tell me what country is because I’ve experienced it in my own way.”
While her genre-defying approach often attracts criticism from purists. But Adell stays focused on storytelling, which she believes is the heart of country music. “My kind of country is just me telling my story in my way,” she noted.
Adell’s unique style isn’t just bringing new fans to her brand of country music though - it’s also introducing them to other artists. “People tell me I’m their gateway drug to country music,” she laughed. She mentioned Luke Combs as a favourite discovery for many of her listeners: “They hear my song, look him up, and realise, ‘Oh, I love this too.’”
The Making of Cowboy Break My Heart
Adell’s creative process is as varied as her influences. “Sometimes I start with a melody, sometimes it’s lyrics, and other times it’s just a vibe on guitar or piano,” she said. Her team plays a crucial role, collaborating to craft songs that are distinctly hers.
The new single, Cowboy Break My Heart, exemplifies this collaborative spirit. “It’s a mix of heartbreak and empowerment,” she explained. While rooted in country, the track features beats and rhythms that appeal across genres. Adell credits her ability to experiment to her creative freedom: “I don’t reference other artists much because no one’s really doing what I’m doing.”
Adell also shared her excitement about seeing her work featured in films, including a song in the Twisters soundtrack. “Writing for that project was so much fun,” she said, describing the thrill of hearing her song during a pivotal chase scene. “My dream is to write for a Disney princess one day - specifically, the first mixed-ethnicity Disney princess.”
What’s Next for Tanner Adell?
Adell’s schedule in 2025 is already packed. After wrapping up her Australian tour, she heads home for her first headlining tour, the Buckle Bunny Tour, which sold out during pre-sale. “We even added bigger venues and more tickets, and those sold out immediately,” she said.
With Cowboy Break My Heart already garnering great adoration from fans, Tanner Adell aims to continue defying expectations and redefine what it means to be a country artist in today’s music scene.
Follow Tanner’s creative journey on social media: @TannerAdell
Support Pario Magazine
$2.50 / month
Early Access
subscribe
$5 / month
Early Access
Physical Print Issue
subscribe
$10 / month
Early Access
Physical Print Issue
Name Added To Publisher List
subscribe
