Brad Cox can pinpoint the time in his life when he decided he wanted to be a professional country artist.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Almost three years ago, in April 2015, Cox visited Nashville on the spur of the moment, after his family had gone to the States for skiing holiday in Colorado, and i was there in Nashville that the singer, who now carries the title 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner, was inspired to forge a career in music.
“I just turned up and stayed at a hostel for a month, I had nothing planned and I just walked the streets and spoke to people, drank heaps of beers with people and ended up writing songs - not with anyone too well-known, but it was really interesting,” Cox said.
Related stories:
Visiting bars, songwriting venues and gigs, the young man who had played covers gigs in pubs since he was aged in his mid teens, was inspired by the city and the people he met.
“It just kicked me into gear and I realised I wanted to do it, I wanted to play music,” he said.
It just kicked me into gear and I realised I wanted to do it, I wanted to play music.
- Brad Cox
“I wrote some really good songs there, just by myself in the hotel room, and other than that it just sent home the message that I’m going to go home and write a lot more and release my own record.”
Cox has since released two singles, and the first one, Too Drunk to Drive, debuted at #2 on the iTunes country chart. He also has an album ready to go, which he said will be released this year, and now he has the support of the Toyota Star Maker team in his corner.
It started on Monday with a round of media interviews, as well as stopping by Tamworth City Toyota to collect the Star Maker RAV4, which he will have for the next year.
US country superstar Chris Stapleton has been a favourite of Cox, and he described the reigning CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year as a big influence on his own music.
“I love what he’s about, I love his songs, his voice is out of control. I went and saw him live when I was in Louisiana a couple of weeks ago and he blew my mind again.
“Everytime I see him, or he puts something else out, I hammer it, I just listen to it constantly. He’s a major influence on my songwriting and my singing,” he said.
Speaking to The Leader on Monday, Cox said he celebrated with a few beers on Sunday night with his band, his friends, his family, and the other finalists, before heading back to his accommodation, which was the first chance he got to be alone that night.
“I got home and sat by myself for five minutes outside and that was fantastic, it was really nice.”
