Parker McCollum has made his debut, he’s beaten the sophomore slump, he’s earned the hits, and now he’s left to figure out where to go next. Luckily, he found his way to Never Enough—undoubtedly his most exciting release yet.
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When American Songwriter last talked to McCollum, he revealed that his impending record would be “the same ol’ me”—the heartbreak songs and classic country croon he made his name on would not be going anywhere anytime soon.
That was back when “Handle On You” was the only teaser from what would become Never Enough, and the rest of the record was a mystery. Now, with the album out, McCollum has proven himself to be a man of his word—but he couldn’t let the release pass without throwing a few curveballs in the mix.
A lot of McCollum’s effort in the writer’s room is concerted toward not becoming “bored” of himself. Whether that means pushing himself into new lanes or bringing in outside writers, McCollum says he doesn’t want to fall into predictable rhythms.
“I get really bored with the sad, slow country song sometimes,” McCollum tells American Songwriter. “I want something more fun to play on stage. It’s not what I think I’m best at, but I crave them.”
The 15-track album is rooted within McCollum’s early inspirations, the likes of Keith Whitley, the Judds and, of course, George Strait. But elsewhere, there are harder offerings that tiptoe into the rock world.
“I was digging into some old country that I grew up on,” McCollum says of the recording process. “I was trying to write songs like that, but I really only succeeded in that effort maybe two or three times. Some of them are borderline rock ’n’ roll songs. So it’s a pretty diverse record.”
That balance isn’t so much a calculated effort for the Texas native, but is instead him following his muse wherever it sees fit to lead him.
“I just try to be as honest and genuine with whatever I’m feeling that day,” he says. “If I’m in the studio and it feels good, I cut it and put it on the record. Being a songwriter, the less you can think about it and put your heart into a song, the better.
“Maybe somebody will find that song in the perfect moment and it helps them get through something,” he continues. “Songs are powerful like that, and certainly carry enough weight to have that effect on people.”
There is no shortage of powerful songs on Never Enough. One of the album’s singles, “I Ain’t Going Nowhere,” was inspired by McCollum’s wife, Hallie Ray.
“My life was really hectic for several years,” McCollum says. “Once I met Hallie Ray, I had no choice but to find that fine line. Chasing the dream provides so much juice for writing songs so it’s really hard for me to relax. Eventually, Hallie started to inspire a couple of songs so I could lean into slowing down and stepping away.”
McCollum is known for his “love going terribly wrong” songs. So how did he manage to find inspiration for heartbreak when he’s committed?
“I like to think that I can just turn it on when I need to,” he says. “That’s not always true, but it still works. For a split second sometimes, if I’m running down the road or looking out the bus window, I have like a split-second nostalgia—that free feeling that I had for so many years in my 20s.”
Among that pack are the songs McCollum originally penned on Instagram Live, “Stoned,” and the equally melancholy “Burn It Down” and “Best I Never Had.” McCollum has amassed a reputation for being an assuage amid a break-up—a mantle he has managed to hold on to, which will no doubt keep his fans content.
McCollum let other writers take the reins on a song titled “Things I Never Told You.” The song, written by Monty Criswell, Lynn Hutton, and Taylor Phillips, utters what is left unsaid between a child and a parent. Though he didn’t craft the words himself, they carry an immense weight for McCollum.
“It reminds me a lot of my mom,” he says of “Things I Never Told You.” “It reminds me of my dad and my sister. So many people in my family have been so supportive both during crazy times in my life and the good times in my life. Being a country singer is probably a lot to put up with as a family member. I probably always didn’t handle it as well as I should. I owe a lot of me being where I am today to a lot of those people.”
Where McCollum is seems to be on the edge of becoming a genre heavyweight. Never Enough strengthens his hold on the country music space. With the release, it’s pretty clear to see that the “Limestone Kid” is not going anywhere anytime soon.
