Country Hits: Songs from Nashville

When Rick Brantley made the move to Nashville, he established himself as one of the most in-demand young writers on Music Row with cuts ranging from Meat Loaf to David Nail. An artist and dynamic performer as well as a songwriter, Brantley has toured nonstop all over the world, opening for everyone from John Hiatt to Kiefer Sutherland, Zac Brown, and Brandy Clark, as well as headlining his own solo shows.

Brantley continues to add to his impressive portfolio, producing acclaimed records with artists like Rob Baird and Justin Halpin, and directing music videos in his down time.

Grace Leer, a Northern California native, started singing at age six. She knew there was nothing else she would love more than being on stage with a microphone in her hand, making people feel something through her voice. Throughout her younger years, Grace sang anywhere and everywhere she could throughout the Bay Area as well as playing competitive soccer and excelling in her work. She earned a soccer scholarship to the University of California Berkeley to play Division 1 soccer where she not only was voted “Captain” her senior year, but led the Bears to the NCAA tournament each of her four years.

After graduating from Berkeley, Grace headed to Nashville to pursue her dream of becoming a country music singer/songwriter. Holding down a full-time sales position and performing and writing songs for four years, Grace auditioned for Season 18 of American Idol. Moving through the competition quickly, it was Katy Perry’s reaction to her performance of “Natural Woman” during Idol’s Top 40 Showcase that landed Grace in the Top 20 but then onto the Top 10!

“She literally came out here and made everyone else look like they were on a talent show” – Katy Perry

As American Idol came to an end, Grace headed back to Nashville with a massive fan base and proceeded to sign her first Record and Publishing deal with 19 Entertainment/Industrial Media, and a management deal with Red Light Management, Empire Publishing and UTA. She also made her Ryman Auditorium debut in November of 2020. Grace hit the songwriting room hard, getting in rooms with Nashville’s best songwriters to find what truly makes her “Grace.” After a year, she has found her voice and her sound that incorporates her California roots and her favorite things about 90’s country. She released her debut EP with producers Dan Fernandez and Jared Hampton in 2021. Grace continues to hit the stage performing and writing.

In addition to her love of song writing and performing, Grace has always had a love of acting and filmmaking. She made her Acting Debut in a Supporting Actress role of Riley in the Hallmark film, Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas, which debuted in November, 2023 and aired throughout the holiday season. She also wrote, recorded and released “Star On Top Of The Tree,” a song featured in her Hallmark film, as well as several holiday playlists!

A multi-talented singer, songwriter, actress, model and athlete, Grace heads into 2024 with more music to release. She has an EP in the works and perhaps more filmmaking. Stay tuned.

Dean Berner is a musician, photographer, and educator. He lives in Nashville, TN with his partner Rachel Beauregard, their two daughters and dog Sharkey.

Dean is an in-demand session player and is currently touring with MCA Recording artist Catie Offerman. Over the last few years, he’s worked with Andrew Ripp, Mackenzie Porter, Maggie Rose, Lucie Silvas, Jana Kramer, Clare Dunn, Rick Brantley, Paul McDonald and others. From 2003-2013, Dean was a member of country/bluegrass trio Edens Edge (Big Machine Records) and toured with Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, and Lady A. 

Also an avid photographer, Dean holds a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Hartford and teaches at Nashville State Community College. 

Native Virginian and Nashville transplant Bryan Dawley has been making music professionally for the past 15 years. His journey began at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, where he not only double majored in Classical Bass Performance and Jazz Studies but began to experiment with traditional Appalachian instruments.

Fusing the two, Dawley began playing professionally in the DC area and eventually started his band of 10 years, Native Run, with friend and fellow collaborator Rachel Beauregard. After a move to Music City, the two enjoyed great success, signing to Showdog Universal Records and Creative Nation/Combustion Publishing, and touring the world with various artists spanning from Lady A to John Hiatt to Carrie Underwood. 

In recent years, Dawley has toured with singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly, and began a music production career in 2019. Bryan lives in East Nashville with his wife Karrie and two kids, Clara and Levi. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jon Epcar is a drummer and composer. Epcar has worked with many artists including Bono, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, Carly Rae Jepsen, The 8G Band on Seth Meyers, Klangkarussell, Cristian Castro, Matt Morris, Katie Melua, Evan Rachel Wood, SYML, Jesse James, Joan Osborne, John Cameron Mitchell, Taryn Manning, Madison Beer, and Danielia Cotton, among others.

Epcar was a founding member of Interscope recording group, Carney. On Broadway, he originated the drum chairs for Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Amelie, and Tina Fey’s Mean Girls. Epcar’s debut album as a songwriter, bandleader, and producer, MORNING DRONE, was released in 2017, and his sophomore release SOLO DUO TOOT was released 2021. Jon appreciates the great people at Paiste Cymbals, Craviotto Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Reflexx Drumpads, and Aquarian Drumheads for their support and incredible craftsmanship.

Andrew Sovine is a multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and composer originally from Nashville. He has collaborated with such artists as Big Kenny (Big & Rich), Wynonna, Chase Rice, Don Gallardo, Cale Tyson, Kelsey Waldon, Kink Ador, Janelle and the Gentleman, Kaylyn Scardefield, Bobby McGrath, Harold Allen, Birdcloud, Maureen Murphy, Meghan Linsey, and most notably Ashley McBryde.

Sovine’s work has garnered multiple GRAMMY® Award nominations and has a style that embraces his love of noise, fuzz, delay, open tunings, and general mischief. In addition to his touring and recording work he also owns and operates The Back Room Record Studio in Savannah, GA.