From the grueling shifts of a small-town construction site to the soaring heights of opening for Zach Bryan at Hyde Park, rising Red Dirt Americana sensation Waylon Wyatt is rapidly becoming one of the most compelling new voices in country music. Propelled by the raw, DIY authenticity of his debut project Dustpiles and massive hits like “Arkansas Diamond” and “Jailbreak,” the phenomenally talented singer-songwriter has captivated a global audience while keeping his feet firmly planted in the soil of his 800-person hometown. Ahead of his highly anticipated summer run across North America—including highly anticipated stops at major Canadian festivals like Boots & Hearts and Lasso Montreal—we sat down with Wyatt to discuss how his blue-collar roots keep him grounded, the full-circle magic of collaborating with his musical heroes, and the profound message of patience and mortality behind his fast-rising career.
You went from writing songs after long days working construction with your dad and recording your debut EP in your family’s rec room to opening for Zach Bryan at Hyde Park. How does that blue-collar, DIY foundation keep you grounded now that you’re racking up hundreds of millions of streams?
It surely keeps me grounded, coming from a working-class family, of course. It’s easy to remember where I’m from every time I step foot back in my lil hometown. A small town with a population of 800 people and no stoplights. It’s easy to be back there and think to yourself, wow… this is really happening.
Your music brings a distinct, raw Red Dirt Americana flavour to the genre. Why do you think your authentic, grit-and-storytelling approach is connecting so massively with a brand-new generation of country fans across the globe?
It’s raw and real. That’s what I’d like to believe the people like. I write the majority of my songs by myself, and the others I still have a hand in. The lyrics and melodies are coming directly from me. I’m young in my years, I’ll admit, but I still have quite a lot to say through these songs, and I think people like that.
You’re spending a lot of time north of the border this year, including massive slots at major Canadian festivals like Boots & Hearts and Lasso. What are you most excited to experience when it comes to the energy of Canadian country music crowds?
The thing I’m most excited about these Canadian country music crowds is definitely the atmosphere of it all. Such amazing fans out there who hang onto every word and truly take part in the love for the genre itself. Genuine people out there are all I’ve come across so far. So I’m so stoked to be back in Canada!!
Hits like “Arkansas Diamond” and “Jailbreak” have already earned RIAA Gold status, and your momentum is surging with your latest single, “Didn’t Forget.” Musically or lyrically, what does “Leave It Alone” say about where you are heading next as an artist?
Well, the amazing thing about “Didn’t Forget” is that I wrote it alongside Wyatt Flores and sang it too. That may already be easy to point out, but something you might not know is that Wyatt Flores was the very first artist I ever saw live. Singing this song with him was a full-circle moment for me. If this is as far as I go, I’d be forever grateful. Of course, though, I will continue to work on writing and producing more songs.
Your current cross-continent tour is named “Everywhere Under The Sun.” By the time this massive run wraps up this fall, what is the number one thing you hope fans walk away feeling after experiencing a Waylon Wyatt live set?
In all honesty, I hope they feel like coming to another show and that getting a ticket was all worth the wait. I hope that at these shows, though, they feel fulfilled and seen. That they’re not alone in this world and that so many other people feel the same way. That’s all an artist can really do is hope though. The people who seem to enjoy my music have really made it clear that they’re here to stay and are very supportive of my journey. I can’t stress enough how thankful I am for that.
The title Dustpiles is a powerful metaphor for love, time, and mortality. What inspired that concept, and when did you realize it was the perfect title to tie the entire record together?
There are so many ongoing themes of nostalgia and dust in general in these songs, all across the board. Even so, as to one being directly named. The main reason, though, is that I feel that is where a person truly in love wants to be in the end. It’s a dark message, but there’s beauty in it. Saying I want to be with you till we’re just two dust piles. I think that’s so sweet. Dust piles up over time, and loving someone takes patience. The two are more relatable than you may think.
