Tucker Wetmore remains to be somewhat astonished by his success.
Since bursting onto the nation music scene final 12 months, the 25-year-old from Kalama, Wash., has amassed 1.3 million followers on TikTok and 573,000 on Instagram, hit the highest of the charts along with his single “Wind Up Missin’ You” — which was simply licensed double platinum — toured throughout the U.S. in addition to abroad, and secured a nomination for New Male Artist on the Academy of Nation Music Awards slated for Might 8.
And on Friday, Wetmore will launch his first full-length album, “What Not To,” which can function his different platinum single, “Wine Into Whiskey,” in addition to his most up-to-date drops, “3, 2, 1” and “On line casino.”
“I nonetheless get up every single day, thoughts blown that I’m doing the issues that I’m doing,” he stated. “I awoke right this moment and I get to do what I really like, and I’m gonna get up tomorrow — hopefully, God prepared — and do what I really like. I’m very blessed.”
However music wasn’t at all times his chosen path. Though he grew up surrounded by all varieties of music, from gospel and reggae to comfortable rock, and discovered to play the piano, guitar and trumpet, it was sports activities that referred to as his identify — particularly soccer. However after blowing out his left knee twice adopted by his proper enjoying ball in school in Montana, it was time to reassess.
“I keep in mind sitting on the sphere proper after the final one occurred and that was my signal. I knew I wanted to maneuver again dwelling. I didn’t know what I used to be going to do and, if I’m being sincere, I used to be fairly misplaced.”
However that was earlier than his mom received concerned. “I keep in mind sitting my mother down and saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.’ She stated, ‘When was the final time you sat in entrance of piano or picked up a guitar?’”
He wrote his first music that evening, which opened the floodgates and led him on the highway to Music Metropolis. “It was horrible, however I used to be hooked,” he stated.
“I moved to Nashville in 2020 with out realizing anyone,” he continued. “I signed a publishing deal in 2022 after which I wrote just about every single day for 3 years, typically two or three songs a day. We lastly received to a spot the place we stated, ‘Let’s begin teasing some stuff.’ After which ‘Wine Into Whiskey’ occurred. It took off on social media and proper after that, ‘Wind Up Missin’ You’ got here out and that blew up much more than ‘Wine.’”
He signed his document take care of UMG Nashville and Again Blocks Music final Might, and he was on his means.
He launched an EP final October, “Waves on a Sundown,” that featured each hit songs in addition to six others. The work was designed to whet the urge for food of his followers and help his tour.
“I had two or three songs out and we offered out a whole headline tour,” he stated. “However we wanted songs to create a set. You’ll be able to’t simply play three songs and go away.”
The quilt of Tucker Wetmore’s “What Not To” album.
Courtesy of Tucker Wetmore
“What Not To” options 19 songs, together with the 2 hits, in addition to a few others from the EP. Wetmore stated he was truly hoping to launch a full-length album final 12 months, however admitted: “It simply wasn’t prepared — and I wasn’t prepared. There was nonetheless a number of creating that needed to occur earlier than the album got here out, so I’m fairly pleased we waited.”
Though the album is prolonged for a debut work, Wetmore believes each minimize is important to inform an entire story. “It was initially speculated to be fewer songs, however we had a pile of round 100 songs — I’ve been writing every single day for the final 4 years of my life. However as soon as we actually narrowed it all the way down to what I wished to say and the general theme, it sort of received straightforward. It simply occurred to be 19, however I really feel like that’s the proper quantity for what I’m making an attempt to perform.”
He stated the 19 cuts will enable his followers an inside glimpse at his life. “That is my probability to scratch the floor of telling my story,” he stated.
That story includes a number of whiskey — the spirit is talked about in almost each observe — in addition to his penchant for blonds and his fondness for casinos. However probably the most private music is the title observe, 1which is a couple of man who has met the lady of his desires and is hoping for the home with the white picket fence and a yard full of youngsters. However he’s scared. Because the lyrics say: “The factor I would like is what I by no means had…what if I wind up being precisely what you have been? When it will get exhausting, how do I not go away? How do I do ‘em higher than you probably did me? I gotta admit I don’t know what to do, however due to you, I do know what to not.”
“I used to be sort of hesitant to make the title of the album as a result of it’s a really deep music,” he stated. “It’s speaking concerning the issues that I don’t actually speak about usually, however that’s why I write songs, so I don’t actually have to speak about them. What that music is saying is it’s like studying from doing the unsuitable issues, or seeing different folks do the issues that they shouldn’t. I really feel like life is simply residing and studying, and we’re all simply doing that each single day. That’s just about what this album is speaking about — my experiences and the way I’ve grown from them. My intention was to create an album that meant one thing greater than only a bunch of songs.”
Which may be one motive he acquired the ACM nod, which can also be a mindblower for him. “That’s such an honor,” he stated. “To not simply attend the ACMs, however to be acknowledged by your friends and the folks in the neighborhood that you just look as much as. Within the final six months, I’ve actually felt the love of Nashville that everyone at all times talked about. Nashville’s simply household. It doesn’t matter what occurs that evening, I’m simply going to take a seat there with the largest smile on my face.”
Tucker Wetmore wore a Todd Snyder go well with on the CMA Awards final fall.
Getty Photographs for WME
And he’ll additionally get the possibility to showcase his model. He wore a Todd Snyder go well with to the Nation Music Affiliation Awards final 12 months and was sporting the designer’s sweater with brown Wrangler denims, Tony Lama caiman boots and an Embry Outside ball cap throughout his New York go to. He stated he might be working with Embry on a particular hat assortment later this 12 months. “I just like the tales that hats inform,” he stated.
For extra formal events, he’ll put on a cowboy hat but when he’s not strolling a purple carpet, he just about lives in Wranglers, “and I in all probability have 45 pairs of trainers,” he stated. “However for those who have been to ask me my desire, I’d relatively be strolling round barefoot.”
