In the past year, Waylon Wyatt has become one of the most discussed emerging artists in country music. Through his honest, heartfelt songs, he’s carved out a space for himself that deeply resonates with listeners. When you make the time to listen to his music truly, you’ll surely find a sense of identity that flows throughout each track, offering more than catchy tunes with relatable phrasing. On his new EP, Out Of The Blue, Wyatt opens the door to the darkest corners of his soul with stories that urge listeners to remember the things in life that matter the most.
If you’ve followed Waylon Wyatt’s journey up to this point, you’ve likely picked up a few things about him. For one, he had just graduated from high school, a milestone he reached while his music was already gaining serious traction, forcing him to balance rising fame with everyday teenage life. If you already know that about him and understand how close he is to his family, songs like “Sincerely Your Son” hit even harder. In a heartfelt message to his parents, Waylon reflects on how much he misses his mother on the road and the respect he holds for his father. With messages that are sensitive and vulnerable, Wyatt consistently delivers them with honesty and a youthful sense of clarity.
If you listen closely, several tracks on the EP echo themes of devotion and distance. Throughout songs like “Smoke & Embers” and the title track “Out Of The Blue,” Waylon sings to a lover physically out of reach. You can feel its weight in his writing, and it’s clear this isn’t just a passing thought but something that lingers heavily on his heart. Describing a fleeting relationship that mimics two passing ships in the night, his words capture the ache of loving someone deeply, knowing that it might never fully work out for reasons like life on the road or timing that never lines up.
Recording his earliest releases in his kitchen, Waylon’s music has always embraced an unfiltered sound. With more support, he’s expanded his palette, adding drums, bass, and even steel guitar to complement his stripped-down style. These enhancements enrich the tracks without sacrificing the sincerity that defines his music. “Smoke & Embers” arguably carries the fullest sound he’s ever introduced, still derived from the unvarnished musical foundation he’s known for, with even the boldest choices landing naturally and preserving the sincerity at his core. Beyond the production choices, the melodies on this project carry a distinctive style that feels unmistakably Waylon. His songs contain a musical fingerprint that sets him apart from anyone else.
Of all the stories Waylon tells in this release, “Old Habits” is the rare songwriting that sits with pain instead of trying to fix it. The song follows a girl battling drug addiction, a struggle that ultimately leads to her death. Lines like “Addiction’slike an evil spell; a cure only the devil sells” showcase Wyatt’s insight into the dark realities of a cycle that takes the lives of many, highlighting how difficult it is to break free from patterns ingrained in today’s culture. Songs like this show that a music career is more than a paycheck for Waylon. He uses it as a vehicle for truth.
Through Tyler Childers’s songs and songwriting, Waylon Wyatt has always used music as a coping mechanism. Whether or not these songs directly reflect his personal life, it’s important to note that, except for his collaboration with Willow Avalon on “Smoke & Embers,” Waylon wrote every track by himself. Deep inside, Wyatt found the inspiration to put pen to paper and place his heart on display.
Waylon Wyatt delivers more than just a new chapter to his growing discography with Out Of The Blue. He offers a deeply personal and resonant listening experience, marked by a willingness to expose his vulnerabilities and tackle difficult themes. Listeners can expect more honest, no-frills storytelling from Wyatt as he works through the ups and downs of youth, love, and loss. If you’ve enjoyed his music before this new EP, you’ll likely find something here, too. However, if this EP is your first taste of his music, it’s also a great window into the mind and soul of Waylon Wyatt, and a taste of what’s to come.
