Evan Michaels, ‘Dirt Road Moonlight’ [Exclusive Premiere]

Evan Michaels, a singer-songwriter from Stillwater, Okla., is premiering a new song, "Dirt Road Moonlight," exclusively for readers of The Boot.

The mid-tempo tune is derived from true life experiences, Michaels tells The Boot. Growing up in a small town, Michaels and his friends often entertained themselves by "back-roading" -- "just cruising down the dirt roads with the windows down and the radio blasting," the artist explains. "Eventually [you'd end] up at a dead end or on a bridge, which is the perfect place to get out and two-step in the light of the headlights."

In "Dirt Road Moonlight," Michaels sings, "My heart skips a beat when I see those cut-off jeans," and describes an evening spent with his lady in the titular dirt road moonlight. The song is romantic to the core, and the chorus ends with Michaels singing, "There's no way we're not falling in love tonight / In the dirt road moonlight."

The song came easy, says Michaels, and didn't take him too long to write.

"[It's] something that I know a lot about and have experienced many times," he explains. "When we went into record it, the guitar lick just sold the song ... The end product turned out great, and I can't wait to start playing it live."

"Dirt Road Moonlight" is from Michaels' forthcoming record, It's About Time, which is scheduled for release on Aug. 21. He hasn't begun playing the new track live because he wants fans to be able to buy the record first, but he's looking forward to its in-concert debut.

"It’s one of those sing-a-long songs, and I look forward to seeing people sing with us," Michaels says. "We have also gotten a little bit of interest in another artist cutting it as well, which would be great. Hopefully everyone will listen to it cruising down the back roads."

The upcoming projects features seven other songs in addition to "Dirt Road Moonlight."

"This album is all about me acknowledging where I have been, admitting to what I have done and knowing what I need to do to move on," Michaels explains in a press release. "It’s About Time is a wake-up call of years hitting the snooze on the reality of who I am."

Listen to Evan Michaels, "Dirt Road Moonlight":

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