Jordan Davis has just announced that this next album, Learn The Hard Way, will arrive August 15. In anticipation of the upcoming release, the hitmaker caught up with Country Now at Live In The Vineyard to dish on the ins and outs of this project, from the creative process to stories behind the songs, musical inspirations and more.
As he began working on the project, Davis knew he wanted to head in a different direction from his last record, Bluebird Days. During early conversations with his longtime producer, Paul DiGiovanni, the two realized that this next chapter needed to feel both fresh and reflective of the spark that inspired Davis’ first record, Home State.
“I kind of came to Paul and said, ‘Hey man, I want to get back to what we did with Home State.’ And I credit him for being like, ‘what does that mean? Do you want to get back to that style of writing? Do you want to get back to my style of production on that?’ And the answer to both of those was ‘no.’ And so we were kind of in this weird spot where he’s like, ‘well then I don’t understand what you mean,’” Davis recalled.
Tapping Into Early Influences
The two shared further discussions over what this next collection would look like and ultimately came to the conclusion that Davis wanted to get back to the sounds that inspired that first set of music. So throughout the new project, fans can expect to hear sounds that Davis grew up on, like Tom Petty and The Allman Brothers, as well as the bluesy music he listened to during college. Country will still be at the forefront of the project, but bits and pieces of these other elements will also be incorporated throughout.
“So not just going back and trying to make a record that I’ve already made, but going back and diving into the kind of the bluesy soul music that I listened to in college, the southern rock and roll that my dad grew me up on,” Davis shared. “I think that gave me something to aim for and it gave Paul something to aim for in the studio cutting it. So I think that’s where we wanted to go back and be like, ‘Hey man, let’s not just talk about influences. Let’s actually try to show some of these influences through these songs.’”
Reflecting On The Success Of “Bar None”
On the track list, listeners will find previously released songs like his latest No. 1, “I Ain’t Sayin’,” as well as “Know You Like That,” and “In Case You Missed It,” and his current single “Bar None,” which has quickly gained momentum among listeners.
Davis revealed that despite the fact he “couldn’t stop listening” to “Bar None,” he initially didn’t think it should be released as a single. He eventually came to realize that he was the only one among his team not pushing for this tune to be sent to radio.
“I love the fact that we can have those conversations, and I fully trust everybody. And I went into it, I mean, obviously I love the song enough to put it on my record, but the response has been crazy,” he admitted. “The first time we played it out, it was immediate, already felt like it was a well-known song.”
He continued, “It feels like a song that I haven’t done. It feels like it has that different kind of going back to what we were talking about the record, it just feels like it’s a new sound for me. And man, I love playing it live. I mean, I think that’s another thing that is big for me…the response has blown me away.”
Fans will soon get to see “Bar None” come to life in a brand-new way, as Davis teased that a music video is on the way.
“Learn The Hard Way” Out Now
Plus, alongside the news of his new record, the Louisiana native dropped the title track after giving fans an early preview with teasers on socials. “Learn The Hard Way” finds Davis putting warmth and comfort on display through his signature vocals. Throughout the mid-tempo tune, he flips the script on heartbreak and illustrates the emotions of someone who, instead of being the heartbreaker, is now the one left feeling the pain of someone they love leaving.
He sings, “I’m ’bout to get a taste of my own damn medicine/ Safe to say I’m ’bout to get me a lesson in/ Tables turning like tires on the Chert rock/ And how them goodbye lights look fading off.”
So whether it’s revisiting earliest influences, embracing new sounds, or finding fresh ways to challenge himself in the studio, Jordan Davis truly believes that Learn The Hard Way will mark a turning point in his musical journey.
“This is by far I think the best music that we made. Paul produced it. I think we really wanted to take a step up in songwriting, in production, in sound, and I feel like we did that.”
Ain’t Enough Road Tour
The news of his new album comes on the heels of Davis’ recent tour announcement for the Ain’t Enough Road Tour. Kicking off fall of 2025 in Greater Palm Springs, CA, Jordan Davis will make stops across bucket list venues such as Red Rocks, Radio City Music Hall, The Greek Theatre and more before wrapping up in Estero, FL in October.
He will be joined by special guests Mitchell Tenpenny and Vincent Mason, two acts who Davis holds in high regard.
“Super excited to have him back out,” he said of Tenpenny. “Obviously we were in Australia with Luke [Combs] and Mitchell, and then we toured together all last year. But yeah, I mean love him to death. And then when Vincent, when we were able to get him, I just think that kid’s a superstar, love his songwriting, just an awesome dude. And that’s huge when you’re going out on the road for two, three months…I’ve learned from guys like Dierks [Bentley] and Old Dominion, touring needs to feel like a family and those guys fit right into it.”
Fans planning to see the country star live in concert this year can expect a new moment in the show that he calls the “minivan rock set.” This segment will feature iconic songs that have inspired Davis’ career. Plus, he plans to incorporate plenty of tracks off Learn The Hard Way.
The post Jordan Davis Reveals Details Behind Upcoming Album, ‘Learn The Hard Way,’ And The Fan-Favorite Single ‘Bar None’ [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
