Last year, Huntley won The Voice. Way before that, he was homeless in Nashville, sleeping on a bench in Centennial Park. Now, he played an intimate show at the Analog barely a mile from the park, celebrating the release of his new single “Tell Me When It’s Over.” He’s become much more than just a winner of The Voice. He’s a bonafide artist with gravelly vocals, a bluesy style, and a genuinely personable stage presence.
That word, genuine, fits Huntley to a T. That’s what he’s all about—being his genuine self on stage and off. It’s something he feels is missing from the music industry as well. He can tell what the industry is lacking, and he wants to fill that void.
Huntley took the stage at Analog surrounded by a mix of industry types and genuine fans who watched his journey on The Voice. “Someone came from England to be here tonight,” he says later, with a hint of awe and disbelief. He also invited a family from New Jersey who contacted him through social media. With a front-row seat on a comfortable couch, the family—whose daughter Tiffany is a huge fan—enjoyed the VIP treatment. Huntley explained that the family dynamic between Tiffany and her brother touched him deeply. He also mentioned that his own sister was there to support him. It’s the little things that showcase how much of a genuine, honest person Huntley strives to be, both in his music and in life.
Huntley Engages Fans with New Music at Intimate Nashville Show
The show was electric and engaging. Huntley thrives in an intimate setting like Analog where he can interact with fans between songs. Backed by a five-piece band of incredibly talented, culturally diverse musicians, Huntley began with a rollicking blues song that pulled from Virginia imagery. It included dogwood flowers, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Shenandoah Valley. The song included a saxophone solo from Sam Skelton, which called to mind Jeff Coffin of Dave Matthews Band.
“We just went and played a show at my daughter’s elementary school,” Huntley says, “[and] some people have never seen a girl in a band, and my saxophone player is more than just a girl in a band but I’m saying, for those kids, you know where I’m from in the country they’ve only seen a bunch of old white dudes playing in a band. To me, I wanted it to be nothing close to that. I wanted to show that the world’s going to be united.”
[RELATED: ‘The Voice’ Winner Huntley Announces Major Career Shakeup, Teases New Music]
The Story Behind “Tell Me When It’s Over”
Huntley launched into his new single early in the set. “Tell Me When It’s Over” is a steady bluesy-rock song that explodes into the full power of Huntley’s husky vocals near the end.
“I wrote it slightly about a relationship I was going through on The Voice,” says Huntley about the song. “It was a struggle. I was dealing with a lot emotionally behind the scenes that no one knew at all. And it was kind of a point where … you’re kind of looking for the other person to tell you when it’s over.”
He continued, “That song, to me, kind of transitioned to something even bigger than that. It was more like everything I dealt with. It just felt like there was always something else. There was always something else after it and it just felt like the pain I was feeling, not only from her but everything else in life, it’s like I was just begging, tell me when it’s over. And the funny thing is, it’s never over. Yeah, it’s never over, it’s never going to be over.”
However, Huntley explained that instead of getting depressed about that fact, he’s harnessed it and used it to keep him motivated. “[The song] signifies that I’m not done fighting for this, that I got something to say and that I’m really coming genuine from my heart and really trying to grasp onto the people that are looking for that.”
Huntley is Living the Dream with a Band of Friends
Huntley also gave his gathered fans a preview of his next single, “Fire and Flames.” This one is more along the lines of a classic rock song. It has a steady beat courtesy of Jo Palmer on the drums, and Jimi Hendrix-esque wailing guitar from Walking Eagle, who was also a contestant on The Voice. Huntley and his amazing band kick it into high gear for the songs “Gemini,” which comes complete with solos from Sam and Walking Eagle, adding to the jazzy, blues feel of the entire night.
“I see them grinding and I see the opportunity I have to just be able to put literally some of my favorite people in the world together as a team,” Huntley says of his band, which also includes Daniel John on bass and Tyler Rose on guitar. “It just feels like some of my favorite bands, like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band or Dave Matthews Band. You can’t fake that kind of stuff and I love every single person on that stage.”
He continued, “You know, I won The Voice and I did this really cool thing, but I’m still a single dad of two, that has some best friends and we’re ready to spread some love around the world and just be genuine people no matter where we go. With this bunch I don’t ever see that changing and I think it comes across in the music for sure.”
“That’s Going to Be the Band For the Rest of My Life”
The band ended the night with an encore of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Pride and Joy.” Huntley took the song to its heights with his signature vocal style. Again, Sam and Walking Eagle each took solos. The command that the band has of their instruments is remarkable. The talent in that room was something physical, it was palpable. You can feel it in your chest as Jo Palmer and Daniel John keep a steady, pulsing beat on drums and bass. As Walking Eagle and Tyler Rose shred on guitar. As Sam Skelton wails on her sax. It’s the perfect background to Huntley’s powerful, gravelly vocals.
“I understand that you can’t do anything alone,” he says, speaking about the friendships he’s gained through his band. “Before every gig we get together and we hold hands and we pray, and I feel like no matter what religion or background you come from, it’s just a beautiful thing when people are a collective with the same mindset, [and] hearts, like the heart of these guys … Like my team says, you don’t have a crystal ball, you can’t see what’s coming next. But I’m glad I have those guys and girl that have my back.”
Huntley concludes by expressing “that’s going to be the band for the rest of my life.”
He’s known for winning The Voice, but Huntley has more going for him now. He’s releasing original music, playing in a band with his friends, and filling a void in the music industry—that of genuine heart, soul, and talent, on and off the stage.
Featured Image via Lauren Boisvert
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