“For Connor Christian, frontman & principal songwriter of The Southern Gothic, life has always been about the journey. ”
The son of an American serviceman & diplomat, that journey started at 6 months old, when his family moved from Los Angeles to Jakarta, Indonesia and from there on to places such as Singapore, South Korea, and Belgium, as well as stints all over the US. “I never lived anywhere long enough to think of it as a hometown, to make those lifelong memories and associations, so I learned to take little pieces from every stop and make them part of my story”.
That story led Connor to Atlanta, GA, as a young adult. Stints in several other bands led to the formation of The Southern Gothic with former Truckadelic drummer Shawn Thacker. What started as a high energy, house cover band at venerated Atlanta dive bar, Dixie Tavern, grew along with Connor’s writing to become the band that Billboard Magazine called it’s ‘Band on the Verge’. Ten months later, the band’s second album, ‘New Hometown’ debuted #1 on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart and #17 on it’s country albums chart. The same month, the first single from the record, “Sheets Down” reached #1 on CMT’s Pure Country 12-Pack Countdown, a spot it held for 4 weeks. The album, a 20-song semi-autobiographical opus, equal parts Tennessee Williams & Homer, “Tumbleweed Connection” era Elton John, Guns n Roses and Chris Stapleton - tells the story of a man looking for a home, and artist searching for his muse, and a band finding its own way.
People surprised by the band’s ‘overnight’ chart success hadn’t been paying attention to the way the band built that excitement. Averaging almost 200 shows per year for the previous 4 years, the band built a chemistry with each other and a reputation for an electric live show – even the acoustic ones. Sharing stages with bands as diverse as Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Uncle Kracker, Styx, Zac Brown Band, and Heart, SoGo’s honest lyrics, heartfelt melodies, and stellar musicianship cut through to appeal to fans across the world without regard to genre, age, or locale.
With the 2020 release of the Southern Gothic’s New EP, Burnin’ Moonlight, Connor, Thacker and the band prove again that they will continue to evolve, unbound and unafraid to explore new territory every time out. Working with Grammy-winning producer Jonathan Roye (Kelsey Ballerini) and Grammy-nominated producer Keith Hetrick (Charlie Wilson) SoGo explores the intersection of americana, pop, and rock n’ roll to create something uniquely now and undeniably, The Southern Gothic.
Artist Release Schedule
Ain’t Gonna Lie - Single (January 17, 2020)
Ain’t Gonna Lie - Lyric Video (May 19, 2020)
Past Midnight - Single (October 23, 2020)
Past Midnight - Music Video (November 12, 2020)
Burnin’ Moonlight - EP (December 4, 2020)
“Ain't Gonna Lie” Single - JANUARY 17, 2020
“AIN’T GONNA LIE” - Press Release
Surprise! The Southern Gothic is back with their first new single in over 5 years. The band, who’s last album New Hometown, made waves with a #1 debut on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, with the video for lead single, “Sheets Down”, spending 4 weeks at #1 on CMT’s Pure Country Countdown, made a surprise return today with a new single, “Ain’t Gonna Lie.
A rollicking stroll through the dance of modern dating, “AGL” takes you inside the mind of a man in love but hesitant to take the leap and say so for fear of ruining what he’s already got. Personal, relatable, and rocking, this song is the perfect song to blast in your car or truck, maybe on the way to that date where YOU have to decide if you’re going to speak up and let her/him know that you’re feeling some type of way….
Available everywhere today!
“Aint’ Gonna Lie” Lyric Video - May 19, 2020
“Past Midnight” Single - OCTOBER 23, 2020
“PAST MIDNIGHT” Press Release
The Nashville band continues to push Americana into exciting new territory.
The Southern Gothic released albums that blurred the lines between country and alternative rock, before taking a long hiatus in 2016. In that downtime, frontman Connor Christian, dug deeper into all of his musical roots - moving past the band’s heavy reliance on country sounds and bringing back nods to the rock and pop songs that shaped who he was as a young man and a music fan. Now, the band has reemerged with a newly inspired sound that pays tribute to a life lived instead of dreamed of.
‘Past Midnight’ is an ode to living in the moment, and worrying about tomorrow when it comes. With its irresistible hook and dynamic energy, it’s the perfect late night summer soundtrack. The song’s thrumming counter-melody delivers an exciting and unexpected spirit, showing just how far the boundaries of Americana music have expanded.
“Because I love Chris Stapleton or Shovels & Rope, that means I can’t love Sia and Tame Impala or Young the Giant? That’s crazy” says Christian. “ I love music and I want to be able to explore - where EVER that takes me”. Those wide ranging influences can be heard in the interplay between the rollicking piano, artful and effortless storytelling, and Connor’s visceral rasp and timbre, delivering one undeniably catchy melody after the next.
Produced and co-written with Grammy nominated, R&B/K-pop wunderkind, Keith Hetrick (Pitbull/Charile Wilson/Got7), ‘Past Midnight’ is sure to be playing on repeat across America all year long.
‘Past Midnight’ is available everywhere October 23, 2020.
“Past Midnight” Music Video - November 12, 2020
“Past Midnight” Official Music Video Press Release
Nashville based The Southern Gothic showcase a more modern, stylish side in the video for their latest single, “Past Midnight”. With the song, written by frontman Connor Christian, with Grammy nominated R&B/Kpop producer, Keith Hetrick, and Music Row mainstay, Mason Thornley, the band hopes to break free of genre labels. The song, an ode to those first electric moments between two people finding a connection, musically touches on Rock, Pop, and Country without falling neatly into any box. It’s a reflection of the dynamic energy of this group: untethered, effortless, and free.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Mil Cannon (Usher, Carrie Underwood, Collective Soul), “Past Midnight” is a collaborative effort between Mil and Connor that explores a stylish, contemporary side of the band that often gets overlooked. With the video’s monochromatic palette, artful angles, and Christian’s straight-to-camera delivery the focus remains squarely on the vibe, the song, and the feelings that they create.
“I want this video to remind people that The Southern Gothic is an ever-evolving force to be reckoned with. We took a nice long hiatus after 4 years of touring around the New Hometown record, so this is a great demonstration of how we’ve continued to grow – musically AND stylistically, along with the world around us since the last time you’ve seen us. While this song may be a little different than our last work, it’s still us. My songs, our voice” The official music video for “Past Midnight” gives people their first look at the band in some time, reintroducing this new incarnation of The Southern Gothic to the music world. The video will be available November 12.
Burnin’ Moonlight EP - December 4, 2020
Burnin’ Moonlight - Press Release
Nashville band again stretches the boundaries of Americana.
For years, The Southern Gothic has released music that explored the space between alternative rock, country and folk, while building a following on their stellar live show and the distinctive growl of frontman/songwriter, Connor Christian. On the band’s newest EP, Burnin Moonlight, Christian has found some new ground to cover, and in doing so, a new place to explore – the studio.
“In the past, the songs have grown up on the road, and when we got to the studio, they were fully formed pieces, forged from hundreds of performances. On this record, the songs all I went in with an iPhone worktape, and got to sit down with some really talented people and experiment, which was a new and really exciting experience for me in music making”.
A six song journey through the life cycle of a relationship from those first electric moments (“Past Midnight”) and falling in love (“Up On Your Love”), through those feelings of seeming invincibility (“Classic”) and finally the bitter end (“Villain”). Burnin’ Moonlight features production by Grammy winner, Jonathan Roye (Kelsea Ballerini), and Grammy nominee, Keith Hetrick (Got7, Charile Wilson), cutting a wider musical swath than The Southern Gothic’s previous work. Touching on rock, pop, country and soul, the band brings disparate elements and finds a way to make it all feel at home in the Americana world.
Fans will have the chance to dive deeper into Christian’s mind and The Southern Gothic’s sound when Burnin’ Moonlight releases on December 4, 2020.
Milestones
Jan 2013- "Sheets Down" music video reaches #1 on CMT Pure Country's 12-pack countdown - 4 weeks at #1, 23 total weeks on countdown
Feb 2013 - "New Hometown" album debuts #1 Billboard Heatseekers album chart, #17 Billboard country albums chart
June 2014 - SoGo & Connor win Creative loafing Atlanta 'best band', 'best singer' & 'best instrumentalist'
March 2015 - Connor Christian wins Georgia entertainer of the Year at GA Entertainment Awards
Jan 2016 - Signed with Dan Hodges Music as a staff writer
