FIRST CAREER SINGLE “AFTER ME?” OUT JUNE 21
PHOTO (L-R): Front Row – Seth England (CEO / Partner, Big Loud), Kashus Culpepper, Jay Harren (Manager); Back Row – Patch Culbertson (EVP / GM, Big Loud Records), Sara Knabe (SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records), Candice Watkins (SVP of Marketing, Big Loud Records), Nate Yetton (VP of A&R, Big Loud Records), Stacy Blythe (SVP of Radio Promotion, Big Loud Records), Jeff Tanner (SVP of Business Affairs, Big Loud)
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records adds to its chart-topping, independent roster today with the signing of Alabama-born country crooner, Kashus Culpepper.
Raised in east central Alabama’s Alexander City, Culpepper is a reverent purveyor of Southern music, a student of country, soul, blues, folk, and rock with an imitable, growling delivery. Finding his voice in church early in his life, Culpepper quietly built a musical library of heroes, listening from his Mamaw’s back porch and studying the likes of Robert Johnson, Louis Armstrong, The Avett Brothers, Ray LaMontagne, Stevie Wonder, Howlin’ Wolf, Chris Stapleton, Hank Williams Sr., Wilson Pickett, Bill Withers, Nina Simone, and more.
It wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic during a deployment with the U.S. Navy in Rota, Spain that Culpepper went from avid listener to performer, picking up a guitar and trading covers of his platoon mates’ favorites around bonfires at his base over quarts of sangria. Covers became originals, and a brand of undeniable, unpolished, and unguarded, Delta-infused country music all his own was born.
“Truly honored to be a part of the Big Loud family,” Culpepper shares. “They’ve believed in my music and songs since the beginning. Their intense love of music, and the rich history of it all matches mine, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be surrounded around like-minded people. I’m so excited to be part of this lineup of artists that I’ve listened to for so long. Once again, thank you for believing in my music! Much love!”
“The moment I heard Kashus Culpepper’s powerhouse voice I passionately knew that I wanted to work with him,” Big Loud Records VP of A&R Nate Yetton says. “Kash has vast knowledge and enthusiasm for various genres of music both past and present, and we quickly saw how the combination of immense talent and exceptional taste would be distinguishable pillars of his artistry. I’m beyond thrilled for Big Loud Records to have formed a creative partnership with Kashus Culpepper.”
“Kash is a one-of-one artist,” Big Loud CEO / Partner Seth England adds. “He’s got raw ability and star quality, and the songs to back all of that up. We’re proud to partner with Kash and help introduce him to the world.”
One of The Tennessean’s 10 Nashville artists you need to know in 2024, Culpepper’s raw vocal power already has critics abuzz, with MusicRow hailing – “the grit in his voice stopped me in my tracks. With just his acoustic guitar for accompaniment, he is thoroughly gripping.” The Tennessean foresees how “2024’s forthcoming material could offer more significant acclaim.” Culpepper is repped by CAA’s Jeff Krones, Jacob Lapidus, and Chris Burrus and managed by Jay Harren.
Hot out the gate and highly anticipated, Culpepper will release the first single of his career “After Me?” on June 21. A haunting mid-tempo about false promises, Culpepper mourns as a former love marries someone new. He shows off the uninhibited lament of his brooding vocals and pen as he quips:
Guess I’m the old love
And he’s the new
Her brooch is borrowed
Guess I’m the blue
I just can’t seem to
So how can she
Be happy ever after me?
Pre-add / pre-save “After Me?” here.
Fresh off his first home-state headlining show at Mobile’s Soul Kitchen Music Hall, Culpepper impressed across several CMA Fest performances last week including at Hard Rock Stage, CMA Close Up Stage, and Spotify House’s coveted Fresh Finds Rooftop billing. Throughout the summer he joins NEEDTOBREATHE‘s national touring run and Charley Crockett‘s $10 Cowboy Tour, as well as The Marcus King Band Family Reunion 2024.
ABOUT KASHUS CULPEPPER
Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk, and rock – Culpepper’s husky, sandpaper growl bellows like a freight train over self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence now, Culpepper has already sold-out headline club shows throughout the South despite never formally releasing a single song, and is opening shows nationwide for sound pioneers like Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, NEEDTOBREATHE, and more. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records, and will drop his first career single “After Me?” on June 21. MusicRow hails Culpepper as “thoroughly gripping,” and with the promise of more music on the way in 2024, The Tennessean predicts how the “forthcoming material could offer…significant acclaim.”
CONNECT WITH KASHUS CULPEPPER
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
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Media Contacts
Jess Anderson + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud Records
jess@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
