Sam Hunt Says Writing Sophomore Album Has Been a Struggle

Sam Hunt is currently working on his sophomore album, but he admits that he's having trouble with it.

When Hunt wrote his debut disc, Montevallo, he was living life largely out of the spotlight, and inspiration came a lot more easily; "I was writing about my life at that moment and the years prior," he tells Rolling Stone Country. But now that he has a No. 1 album, a slew of hit songs and a legion of devoted fans, life is extremely different, and it's a bit of a double-edged sword: The recognition and awards nominations are great, but it can be hard to pull inspiration from "regular" life when you're living out of a suitcase on tour.

"Now I am living a completely different lifestyle," Hunt continues. "I am trying to draw inspiration from that, but it's pretty much been stages and hotel rooms for the past two years. So I'm trying to figure out right now exactly what I want to say and what I want my voice to be for the second record."

The singer-songwriter began working on his sophomore album two weeks ago but hadn't written a song in 18 months. The reason? His touring schedule: He was headlining his own Lipstick Graffiti Tour and opening for Lady Antebellum.

"As much as I enjoy traveling and playing on stage as an artist, I really find my true sense of purpose in a room writing a song," Hunt admits. "That's something I have missed, because I haven't figured out how to write on the road. I realized after writing songs for years how important it is. Whether it provides a living for me or not, that creative outlet is something I need."

Hunt is once again calling on co-writers Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, as well as Montevallo producer Zach Crowell, who co-produced Hunt's first album with McAnally. And though he's having a tough time penning songs from the road, he's staying optimistic about his creative juices, as well as the relatability of his songs.

"I think there is a way to write about my life and be honest about where I have been the past two years," Hunt says. "And even though that experience might not be as relatable, I think it can be. I'm still experiencing the same emotions I was before. Hopefully I can blend the worlds and make music that connects with everyone."

One thing's for sure: Hunt's next record will be country, not pop. He's adamant about his intent to stay within the country genre, saying that he has "no intention" of going anywhere else.

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