[BMI] Hitmaker Aaron Watson Celebrates 20 Years of Making — and Releasing — Music His Way

Aaron Watson learned about the power of music at a young age. His father, a Vietnam War veteran, sought comfort in music, and Aaron grew up listening to his dad’s records, gaining an early appreciation for songcraft and strong melodies. He started penning his own songs at a young age, and subsequently built a following by releasing his albums independently and tirelessly playing live shows.

His 2015 release, The Underdog, debuted at Number One on the Top Country Albums chart, making him the first independent male artist to hit the top of the chart with a self-released and independently-promoted album. Two years later, his song “Outta Style” became his first Top 10 Country hit, exposing him to an even wider audience.

With the release of his latest album Red Bandana (out on his own label, Big Label Records), Aaron reached the significant milestone of 20 years as an independent artist. He’s candid about the struggles independent artists face, particularly in the country industry, but he uses those struggles as motivation to work harder. At the end of the day, he’s grateful to be able to do what he loves, and to share that passion with his many dedicated fans.

We caught up with Aaron just after he’d returned home to Buffalo Gap, Texas, where he lives with his wife and three children. We chatted about how being an independent artist has changed over the past two decades, how he approaches the songwriting process, and his dream collaboration.

Read the full interview at BMI.