Key Takeaways
- Ne-Yo spent four months in Nashville, collaborating with artists and producers.
- The album features a mix of country-inspired songs like 'Simple Things' and upbeat tracks such as 'Dance Right Now'.
- Inspired by his mother, the album title 'Highway 79' references a road connecting Ne-Yo's hometown.
Ne-Yo has released his first full-fledged country-inspired album titled 'Highway 79', which was produced over four months in Nashville. The singer, known for his R&B and soul hits, decided to explore the country music scene after an initial visit to the city in 2012.
During this time, Ne-Yo worked with a variety of artists and producers including Luke Laird, Breland, Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Dave Cohen, and Lady A’s Charles Kelley. He aimed to recreate the relaxed atmosphere he experienced during his earlier visit when recording 'She Is' with Tim McGraw.
The album features a blend of R&B and soul sounds alongside country-inspired tracks. Ne-Yo previewed some of these songs in interviews, including the tender ballad 'Simple Things', which showcases his ability to craft emotionally resonant lyrics, and the high-energy party anthem 'Dance Right Now'.
Ne-Yo emphasized that he did not go into the studio with a hit-making mindset. Instead, he focused on creating music that people could relate to, stating, “We wanted to make music that people related to — regular people, everybody.”
One of the standout tracks is 'If I Roped the Moon', which was inspired by a line from his co-writer Charles Kelley: ‘If I rope the moon, you would still want the stars.’ Ne-Yo explained, “It’s such a classic country metaphor. Without even hearing the full song, you hear that line, and you feel something right away.”
Another track, 'Dance Right Now', was created with a specific purpose in mind. Ne-Yo said, “That was the only real preset thing we did in regard to the music. With every session, I wanted to go in and just do whatever felt right. But for this session, I was like, ‘I got a couple slow situations. I needed something with some tempo.’ So, the music kind of came first, then from there we just started brainstorming on what the subject matter was going to be.”
The album title 'Highway 79' is inspired by a road that connects Ne-Yo's hometown of Camden, Arkansas, with Bearden. This personal touch adds an authentic feel to the project and highlights Ne-Yo’s connection to his roots.
Ne-Yo's journey into country music showcases his versatility as an artist and his willingness to explore new musical territories. His approach to creating 'Highway 79' demonstrates a commitment to authenticity and relatability, making it a unique addition to the country music genre.
That’s when I realized it’s done a little different in Nashville.
Ne-Yo
I was like, ‘I want that vibe all over again.’
Ne-Yo
We didn’t go into the studio trying to make hits. We wanted to make music that people related to — regular people, everybody.
Ne-Yo
