Warner Music Nashville’s PLATINUM star Tyler Braden excitedly presents his debut full-length album, devil and a prayer, out now. On the LP, he delivers an epic 19-track sonic statement, illuminating every facet of his incomparable multi-dimensional sound inspired by everything from Country to Rock and beyond. Listen to devil and a prayer here.
devil and a prayer threads together a creative and personal vision for the powerhouse riser. Among many highlights, clean guitar awash in reverb evokes a sense of sweet nostalgia on “THINK ABOUT ME” as he wonders, “When you think about summertime, do you think about Friday night stealing your dad’s Miller Lite?” Picking up steam, crunchy feedback boosts the heartfelt hook, “Tell me, do you think about me and wonder if I’m thinkin’ ‘bout you?” topped off with a sky-high solo. On “YOU DON’T GET TO CRY,” the mood turns on a dime from soft verses towards a heartbroken refrain where he addresses an ex, “So, why are you leavin’ with tears in your eyes? You don’t get to cry, to say that I’ll be fine.” Slide guitar and dobro bring depth to “LOVED ONCE,” and “SO LONG” waves goodbye with a biting chorus, “I haven’t had the time to think of you and what you’re up to, but now that I do, it ain’t been long enough.” In the middle of devil and a prayer, he delivers four acoustic tracks on b stage, illuminating yet another level of his artistry. Finger-picking underlines “bullet in my boots (b stage),” and his gravelly tone transfixes. Then, there’s “dear old flame (b stage).” Gentle strumming ushers him into deep thoughts on a past romance. He reaches acceptance though, going on to assure, “It ain’t your fault that I let you fall through the cracks of this broken heart.”
Album standout “MIGHT BE DANGEROUS” features Kaitlin Butts and displays vocal back-and-forth between these two rising stars resembling the turbulence of a rocky romance. Sparks fly from the intersection of Braden’s grizzled delivery and Butts’ bright cadence.
“Kaitlin’s voice is smooth and pretty, while mine is rough and scruffy,” Braden says regarding the track. “Thematically, it’s the toxic relationship song. Outside sources may tell you, ‘Y’all gotta stop wasting your time; it’s not meant to be.’ You’re telling them, ‘I know we’ve been through a lot, but it’s worth it in the end.’ When you have to convince yourself, it’s probably not a good sign!”
To bring this body of work to life, Braden collaborated with an elite cohort of likeminded creatives. He hit the studio with producers Sam Martinez, Daniel Agee, Jaren Johnston, Austin Nivarel, and Rian Ball. Moreover, he co-wrote with everyone from Rhett Akins and Sasha Alex Sloan to Jaren Johnston, Jon Decious, Devin Dawson, Will Bundy, Graham Barham, and more.
Underscored by his uncanny and undeniable hybrid of Country and Rock, devil and a prayer represents the culmination of Braden’s journey so far, and it hints at where he’s going as a maverick without comparison.
He stated, “All of the ups and downs, the loud songs and the heartfelt songs, and the energy and the release add up to who I am as an artist. I’d love for you to experience the record from front-to-back, but you don’t have to. There’s a lot of depth to it. It shows you who I am.”
Leading up to the release of devil and a prayer, he wowed crowds with a series of shows last week in Frisco, TX ahead of the ACM Awards. First up, he delivered a stunning set during the ACM Awards “Whiskey Jam Welcome Party,” sharing the stage with Russell Dickerson, John Morgan, Priscilla Block, Coffey Anderson, Annie Bosko, and The Wilder Blue. He also joined the bill of ACM “Country Kick Off At The Star” with Tucker Wetmore, Josh Abbott Band, Dylan Gossett, George Birge, Lanie Gardner, Ashley Cooke, Kaitlin Butts, and more. Not to mention, he made roundup lists from the likes of People, The Tennessean, New York Post, and more.
Returning to Nashville, he welcomed fans, family, friends, and industry tastemakers to Anzie Blue on Monday (5/12) for an intimate party in celebration of the album. Capping off the week, he sold out The Bluebird Café on Wednesday (5/14) for a memorable round supported by Jon Decious and Sam Martinez, where he was surprised with a plaque commemorating the RIAA PLATINUM-certification of his massive hit “DEVIL YOU KNOW.”
