Tyler Farr Objects to Being Categorized as ‘Bro-Country’

Tyler Farr has just released the first single, 'A Guy Walks Into a Bar,' from his upcoming sophomore album. But while the 30-year-old might be storming up the charts with some of the biggest names in country music, including Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, he insists he isn't trying to be part of the so-called "bro-country" movement that seems to dominate the airwaves.

"I have no clue what it is, and whoever invented that term, I'd like to smack him upside the head," Farr tells The Arizona Republic. "I live in Chapel Hill, Tenn., which has the largest tractor pull in the South, and there's not a lot more that you do on the weekends than drink and party. And I write what I know about. So I am gonna have songs that have partying and hot girls and pickup trucks. There's only so much you can write about. If I don't know anything about vacuums, I'm not gonna be a vacuum salesman. It's as simple as that."

The tunesmith says that, even though he's branded as part of the new style of country music, he finds inspiration by some of the icons in the genre.

"George Jones is a big part of my life," Farr explains. "My step-dad played guitar for him for 15 years. I spent a whole summer with him, sat at the side of the stage and watched him sing. The first time I ever got chill bumps was watching George Jones sing 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes.' And then there's Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. That's what I listen to when I'm heading to the river, going to the lake. It refreshes me and reminds me of why I do what I do. Not that I don't like a lot of the new stuff."

Farr's freshman record, 'Redneck Crazy,' landed at No. 2 on the charts, with both the title track and the follow-up single, 'Whiskey in My Water,' landing in the Top 5. But despite his early success, the singer-songwriter says he isn't trying to copy that formula for the new set of tunes.

"It's not rocket science," he says. "It's literally as simple as hearing a song and saying, 'Can I feel that? Do I know anything about that?' 'Yes, I do?' 'OK, I'm gonna record that.'"

Download 'A Man Walks Into a Bar' here.