Nestled in the heart of Toronto’s vibrant entertainment scene, you’ll find Rock ‘N’ Horse Saloon, setting the stage for a memorable night of electrifying performances by three of the brightest rising country stars of 2023 — Dillon James, Wyatt Flores, and Dylan Gossett. Each setting a country fan corner of the internet ablaze, these talented artists have brought their unique and layered experiences and stories, along with a serious passion for music, to the genre. Besides being a fan and creators of country music, Dillon, Wyatt, and Dylan have something in common — they are all experiencing, not only Toronto but Canada, for the first time, for New Hot Nashville at Rock ‘N’ Horse, showcasing the evolution of the genre. We call it countremporary, blending those traditional honky tonk elements with a progressive, genre-bending flare. 

Before New Hot Nashville, we sat down with the trifecta to learn more about their stories, their biggest musical influences, what makes for the best country bar, and of course, where to get the best hot Nashville chicken sandwich.

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Meet spiritual cowboy, Dillon James, the latest Nashville sensation, radiating honky-tonk charm and authenticity. Hailing from Bakersfield, CA, Dillon’s story is nothing short of extraordinary, and one that wasn’t without twists, before finding solace in his music. Buckle up for some real talk as Dillon candidly opens up about his debut single “Walking Man” and what fuels his tunes, from personal struggles to the influences that make his sound pop. For Dillon, it seems it’s not just about the music, but human connection, with music serving as a vessel for his powerful storytelling. This ain’t your grandma’s interview — it’s a front-row seat to the unfiltered world of Dillon James.

Congratulations on your recent single and success. I know that your journey involves overcoming significant challenges. Tell me how your personal growth and resilience influenced your musical journey.

Dillon: It’s been the North Star for sure. I had to have it to get where I’m at. I didn’t always have it. I guess I’ve learned through a lot of self-reflection over the years, but I feel like I’m in a good place. I’m doing what I love to do and I’m enjoying it, I am. So, just growing in my skin for the first time and being safe doing it feels really good.

When did you realize that music was so tied to your purpose?

Dillon: I honestly didn’t know that music was gonna be my purpose. I always just had a guitar with me. I used to have a really good friend who lived down the street that was getting good at playing the guitar and so I started playing at a young age, but I never knew how intertwined it would become in who I was and going through a lot of dark times in my life where music was all I had. I was just always playing different kinds of music and learning how to record on a computer, if I had one, and I had the time to do it. I started diving into the recording scene and trying to be an artist when I was 16, but I never thought I would do anything with it. 

What drew you to country music specifically? 

Dillon: Specifically, the thing that drew me to country music was a really good friend I had. He was always into country music and was a big mentor to me in my young life. Whenever I was going through my trials, I was on the streets, I would listen on this old iPod to Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind”. You know when people say “soundtrack of your life”? That’s kind of what I was doing. I was putting that song on repeat and just walking around in the middle of the night and I was scared to death, but that song would make it a little easier. Between him and the dreams he had for me before I could dream about them for myself and then watching him pass away and then going and diving off the deep end of my life, I always had country music to lean on to get me through stuff. I always said if I ever make it out of this, if I ever choose to be something better than I am right now on my terms with God and my family and just doing it for what I wanted to become, it was gonna be country music and I was gonna be able to play and write honestly about the things that I had experienced in my life. So, that’s why I chose that. It kind of chose me actually, but I love it and I’m still learning a lot about it.

Who were some of your other musical influences in or outside of country music? You’ve mentioned rock, hip-hop, and rap. 

Dillon: One of the biggest influences I thought of when I first started diving into country music was Glen Campbell. I loved that old-school kind of vibe. With newer stuff that’s coming out, I dove into Eric Church. I just really liked what he was doing and it felt different. I love Chris Stapleton. I was always listening to rock music when I was growing up. Interweaving the two has kind of brought me to where I’m at right now with what I’m doing.

Yeah, I love Wiz Khalifa. I’ve been listening to Wiz Khalifa for forever. I take a lot of inspiration from him in how I dress. When I’m in Nashville, many people feel like my style is a little different and I like it to be that way.

You mentioned before the idea of having a soundtrack to your life. If you had to choose three songs that are the soundtrack to your life, what would they be?

Dillon: The song by Wiz Khalifa called “No Limit”. It’s like a nine-minute long song and it’s just saying we ain’t got no limit, you know, we just keep going. That was before I ever fell into the dark trenches, and then when I was in the dark trenches, it was Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind” just because of this history throughout my life. And a lot of these songs off of the City and Color album Bring Me Your Love. 

What does having “no limit” mean to you?

Dillon: Honestly, I listened to that song when I was in the hospital sick, I listened to that song when I was on the streets, I listened to that song with my friends in high school football. I get to think and reflect on all the things I’ve been through and survived and I’m grateful. Everybody around me says I’ve got the weirdest taste in music because it’s all over the place. It makes me who I am and I wouldn’t change it.

“Walking Man” was a very powerful debut. Can you share a specific moment or experience that inspired and informed that song?

Dillon: “Walking Man” was inspired just by two of my really good friends who were great songwriters in town. When it comes from me, I’m a little hesitant, to be honest, as far as telling people what they should do to be where I’m at doesn’t seem right for me. So whenever I went in the room, they were like, “We need to write about your story, we need to write about your story”. I was like, well, let’s do it in a way where it’s not me telling them. And that’s why it says, “Have you ever…?” 

Moving to Nashville is a pivotal step for a lot of country artists. How has the city shaped your artistic identity?

Dillon: When I first came to Nashville, I thought I knew who I was trying to be. I always have had that artist in me that no one could change. It is who I am. It’s just morphing and moving and growing as it goes. When I moved to Nashville and got to be in rooms with artists that I had grown up listening to and got to see how the machine chomps and spits out talent and great songwriters, I started taking it way more seriously. It’s shifted me into something that I respect a lot more because I respect what people have been working so hard for, for so long before I ever went to Nashville.

What is your favorite spot to get a Nashville hot chicken sandwich?

Dillon: I just went and tried a few different places and they’re all hot, really, really hot. So put that on your warning list. The one that I like to go to now is called Prince’s Hot Chicken. Even mild will rip you up. Just be very, very gentle. You can also get Nashville chicken quarter with dark meat, that’s what I always get.

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Introducing Wyatt Flores — remember this family name — the 22-year-old Nashville-based artist breaking country bounds, with his diverse sounds and musical influences. Wyatt Flores does it for his family back home who made the sacrifices that allowed him to be where he is now. From quitting school and farming to pursuing a music career that quickly landed him features on billboards, it’s no surprise that Wyatt Flores had a robust collection of unique messages that would be packaged in his debut album, appropriately named, Life Lessons. Wyatt opens up about the importance of his breakout hit “Please Don’t Go”, the impact of his family history and support, and why he will express his feelings, not feel bad about it, and won’t just “rub some dirt on it”.

You just released your album Life Lessons. How are you feeling?

Wyatt: It’s relieving. I’ve been after this project for a long time and for it to finally come out, it’s relieving. I have so much more that I’m working on but this is like a catch-up for the fans, of where I’ve been this year and what it’s been like being on this journey. For a while, I was afraid that people weren’t going to understand people weren’t going to care because it’s about playing the music. But it seems to me now that people relate to it on a bigger level, which is all that I could ever ask for. 

What would you say is the biggest piece of advice or life lesson that you could give someone right now?

Wyatt: If you notice the artwork, there’s no needle on the compass, because when you jump in, there’s no sense of direction. That’s the main point of all this, it’s scary. You could live a simple life doing what society tells you to do and play by the rules. But, if you jump off into the deep end, it’s going to be a lot tougher. But once you’ve reached the point of success or the goals that you’re after, it makes it all worthwhile. 

You draw influence from a range of genres, from country to folk, rock, and bluegrass. How do you navigate blending these and do you find that each sound contributes something different? How does that work?

Wyatt: It delivers a different message every time. The reason the songs sound different is because it tends to the song. What does the song call for? A lot of the time there’s an expectation that artists have one sound and do something really well. That’s great if they can stick to the script. My music, on the other hand — I want to go all different ways. That way, I never get boxed in, because of all of my influences. 

So, who are your biggest influences? 

Wyatt: I’d say Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Turnpike Troubadours.

To that point, if you could have dinner with one historical figure, non-musical artists included, who would it be and what is the one burning question that you have for them?

Wyatt: That’s a tough one. I’d love to sit down with Jim Carrey. I’d ask him: How hard was it to keep yourself real?

Let’s talk about “Please Don’t Go”. It addresses the importance of mental health and wellness, which resonates globally. What motivated that?

Wyatt: Well, it’s a true story. At the time, I wrote most songs about one particular person I had been dating since my last senior year of high school. At the time, we were broken up and I was going through a lot. And she was going through it too. I had never seen her like that, it was biting at me to see her that way. I didn’t care if we ever got back together, I just wanted her to be on this earth. I’m glad the message has helped others, the thousands of messages I get saying that the song saved them — I don’t care what else happens on this earth, that’ll be one of my greatest achievements. 

I know “Holes” is also a deeply personal song for you. How do you translate these heavy, vulnerable messages? It seems to come easy to you but I imagine it’s challenging. 

Wyatt: It’s been a practice. Being from Oklahoma, the nature of that state is to not share your feelings. You know, it’s a masculinity thing. You’re not supposed to let your guard down, you’re supposed to rub some dirt on it and keep on moving. But all my life, I’ve been down to earth and been able to express my feelings and not feel bad about it. 

That song, in particular, I was in an Airbnb in Nashville at a TikTok thing. It was a whole bunch of pop artists and I was the only one in my vein. I felt very isolated and alone, surrounded by, you know, 10 other people, because they were all writing happy pop songs. I was like, why am I here? I’ve just quit school and a job I had been working with cattle and farming, I didn’t have money, I was putting my bet on music, I quit playing shows and started writing, and then I’m going down to Florida to help my dad and uncle weld, and then going back to Nashville. And I’m like, really, what am I doing? I went up to my room for four hours, just looking out the window, and I saw grass coming up through the concrete. It’s about being broke and trying to break the system. It is for my family and family name, seeing myself on a billboard isn’t about being famous. It’s the fact my family name is up there and to be seen and known is an accomplishment. It goes out to my history, where I come from, and the folks who have made so many sacrifices for me to keep on going. It’s for the ones back home that got me here.

I’m sure they’re all very proud of you.

Wyatt: They are. It cracks me up because my parents still don’t understand. Honestly, it’s troubling because I want to explain it to them, but at the same time, I kind of love that they don’t quite get it. 

Do you remember when you realized you wanted to pursue music as a career?

Wyatt: That moment has been kind of subtle. It’s always been in the back of my head. I think it was the day I quit farming and ranching. That was the day I told myself I’d run off and do this and surrender to music. It’s kind of a weird thing to say but yeah, you do have to surrender to it and let it take you where it goes.

How did your family respond to that?

Wyatt: They could feel it. In college, I started being in a band and playing acoustic, then bass. Every single weekend it was my birthday because I wasn’t supposed to be in those bars. My dad threatened that if I quit school on him, he’d kick me out and cut me off. It was a scare tactic, I don’t blame him. One day, I went to my mom’s work and surprised her and was like, “Hey! I’m home and by the way, I’m not going back to school!” She told me she knew I wanted to and that I wasn’t cut out for it. It was a backhanded compliment. She said, “Have fun telling your dad!” I was afraid it was gonna be the end of the world. But they both knew I wasn’t going to be cut out for school. And they’ve helped me through everything, to achieve the next step. 

They’ve never given me shit handed for free, and I made sure that I didn’t get that. I have always wanted to be independent. You have to work for things and that’s the way I wanted to do it. I looked at my dad and uncle, they came to Stillwater, Oklahoma for college, and lived in a camper that sits on our 20 acres back home. It’s probably infested with snakes, mice, and raccoons — I’ve never stepped in it, nor will I, but it sits there on the property as a reminder, in my eyes, of where we come from. I watched them do it and I thought there was no other way to do it besides working for what you own. 

If you had to choose a soundtrack to your life using three songs, what would they be?

Wyatt: I’d say “7 & 7” by Turnpike Troubadours, “Speed Trap Town” by Jason Isbell, and “Life Ain’t Fair and the World Is Mean” by Sturgill Simpson.

We’re at Rock ‘N’ Horse for New Hot Nashville. Where do you go for the best hot Nashville chicken sandwich? 

Wyatt: Truthfully, this sounds a little weird, but I don’t go out and explore Nashville much. I use it as a place for no distractions. I need to go out and venture. 

Finally, what are your criteria for the best country bar?

Wyatt: I like holes in the wall. I hate fancy places because it doesn’t feel like me. I like the dirtiness of a bar and how shitty everything looks. That’s what I like.

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Presenting Dylan Gossett, the 23-year-old Texan singer-songwriter taking TikTok by storm. With a viral hit “Coal” with an impressive 80M streams and counting under his belt, Dylan’s raw lyricism and acoustic prowess are getting deserved recognition. His 6-track debut EP No Better Time, entirely written, recorded, and produced in his Texas bedroom has captivated young country music listeners. Join us in getting to know Dylan Gossett as we talk about his eclectic music upbringing, spanning classics from Ed Sheeran to Turnpike Troubadours, his years at Texas A&M, and who he’s rooting for in Formula 1.

Congrats on your most recent project, No Better Time. It’s been almost a month since that came out. How has the last month been for you?

Dylan: It’s been awesome. I was on pins and needles for it to come out and people can listen to it and actually dive in. This last month’s been crazy. It’s just been making more music and yeah, just playing some live shows here and there. Preparing for next year as well.

So what’s the cycle like when you release something? Do you usually like to take some time off and then start again?

Dylan: Luckily for me, I still love writing songs all the time. A lot of my songs are personal experiences, but a lot of my songs are just random stories like “Lono Cowboy” or “Somewhere Between”. I would release a song and I would just keep recording and it doesn’t stop.

Did you always write songs or stories?

Dylan: Yeah. I’ve been playing guitar and writing since middle school. Those songs obviously are never coming out. They’re horrible songs but they got me to like writing songs.

Do you remember having one memorable moment of realizing you wanted to pursue music and songwriting as a career?

Dylan: I think ever since I found Ed Sheeran, I knew that this is what I wanna do. I got a Martin guitar, I spent all my Christmas money to get one. I still have that same guitar. Another big moment was when I saw Mumford and Sons play at Red Rocks on YouTube. I thought to myself, “That’s the dream venue.”

You had a viral hit, “Coal”, that set the country fan corner of the internet kind of ablaze. What was that like for you to see such a big reaction?

Dylan: It was incredible. I mean, I didn’t expect it at all. It was just another song that I wrote that I wanted to put out. It was one of my favorite songs that have been written. I was just asking myself, why is this happening? Why me? Why this song? It was incredible. Seeing people sing the song back to me and post a story that they’re listening to is very surreal.

Since you’ve always been such a songwriter, do you find that you lean toward lyrics over melody? Both are integral to one another, but which do you notice first?

Dylan: When I’m trying to write a song, if it’s from scratch, it’ll start with guitar, plucking the couch, or something, but I think all my songs are lyric-based. I’ve never really thought about which one I’d prioritize because I love a good melody as well. 

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Dylan: Maybe a mix but it kind of stays the same. Ed Sheeran was the very first one. Mumford and Sons was huge. John Mayer, Taleo. More in the countryside like Texas country specifically theres Shane Smith and the Saints Flat La Cavalry, Turnpike Troubadours. That’s always like the music I’ve wanted to create and that’s what the music I try to create. So definitely in my lane, of course, but it has those roots of like a singer-songwriter with a great song behind it.

What’s your favorite thing about Texas?

Dylan: My entire family lives in Texas. I think Texas A&M is probably my favorite thing. It’s the college I went to and I’m a huge Aggie, that’s massive to me. I love the lakes, too. There are too many things. But I’ll say family, lakes, A&M. 

Your interest in F1 led you to Circuit of the Americas. Tell me about that!

Dylan: It’s the crazier sport, to me, to watch. I was a fan before working there. The cars blow my mind, TV doesn’t even do it justice, and the physics of it doesn’t make sense. I got to hang with Daniel Ricardo and he was a fan of the music and I had no idea. I’m a huge fan of him and I picked his brain a little bit and asked him how crazy it is to be in that car. He told me that it doesn’t feel as fast when you’re in it. But he admitted that watching it, even he thinks it looks crazy. 

Who are you rooting for?

Dylan: I want to say Danny Ricardo because he’s like the nicest guy on the planet. But I was always a Red Bull fan before they were dominating.

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