Chase Rice has lived a full and well-rounded life earlier than turning 40—and earlier than establishing himself as one in every of nation music’s hottest voices. Rice’s résumé contains elite school soccer athlete with NFL aspirations to a actuality TV star—ending runner-up on the hit TV collection Survivor, Nicaragua. Alongside the best way he additionally earned a pair of NASCAR Dash Cup championships as a pit crew member for high driver Jimmie Johnson.
Now the previous North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker’ drops his seventh album, Go Down Singin’, which he calls his finest work but. This comes after his earlier private fave, the uniquely titled 2023 album I Hate Cowboys and All Canines Go to Hell. Over a decade after he began his pursuit of music greatness, Rice, who simply turned 39, is assured on this newest launch.
“This album is my favourite album I’ve ever finished,” Rice says, “as a result of it’s actual, it’s private, it’s nice songwriting, it’s storytelling, and it’s nation.”
Rice’s entry into nation music is something however bizarre. As he rehabbed an ankle damage that ultimately lower his soccer profession brief, Rice turned to the web for DIY guitar classes. After studying a couple of chords, Rice turned a low second of his life (his father had additionally handed away on the time) right into a nation music alternative. Rice has developed right into a profitable singer-songwriter who continues to depend on a hard-nosed work ethic—much like the dedication that helped him earn a beginning spot at UNC. Whether or not it’s transferring up the charts, or protecting match, Rice is aware of the method going ahead will all the time be a steady grind.
“Different persons are extra gifted than me,” he admits. “Morgan Wallen is a manner higher singer than me. Zach Bryan’s a manner higher poetic songwriter than me… So what can I do higher than [them]? That’s the aggressive aspect of this. However I’m simply attempting to be the very best model of me.”
Chase Rice Enjoys the Outside Life
Rice plans a tour within the spring of 2025, throughout that point he’ll even be engaged on songs for his subsequent album. The delay he says is to permit his followers to soak within the album. “I’m going to provide the give individuals time to study the album and actually dig into it,” he says.
However whereas he doesn’t hit the weights as typically or intense as he did throughout his enjoying days, Rice, who additionally owns a buffalo ranch exterior of Nashville, does use his time away from the stage to benefit from the open air.
“I’ll be elk searching, deer searching, duck searching with my canine,” he says. “When winter rolls round, I’ll snowboard, and I’ll have time to put in writing numerous songs.”
One expertise that also stands out to him personally was a rucking journey with famend bow hunter Cameron Hanes, which included carrying a boulder up a mountain. Rice mentioned Hanes took it straightforward on him, however it was nonetheless one thing he recollects fondly whereas acknowledging how intense it was.
“He’s an absolute animal,” Rice says. “He may’ve smoked me, however he didn’t. Cam’s an excellent man. He’s been a giant affect on me.”
Carrying a boulder up North Carolina’s Mount Pisgah was troublesome, he says, however like each different problem, Rice has discovered methods to regulate and succeed when confronted with sturdy types of adversity. His knowledge will be utilized to each bodily and life challenges.
“You bought to be smarter than everyone,” Rice says. “You bought to be work tougher and be smarter than everyone.”
He used to use that precept on the gridiron and firstly of his music profession, however now he invests extra time and power into himself with out concern for outdoor elements.
“I simply need to bust my a** and make the very best music that I could make,” he says. “That’s the one likelihood that I’ve to be the very best artist and the very best individual that I will be, and that’s the place I’m at.”
Eternally a Soccer Mentality
Rice’s hard-nosed mindset was cast partially due to the burden room. He spent numerous time lifting for his school coach at North Carolina, and all the pieces had a objective—get higher to carry out higher.
“We did numerous bands, numerous squats. numerous energy cleans,” he says. “[Our coach] was massive on fast-twitch muscle tissues. Something we have been doing that was fast and quick, that was enormous, which I don’t do anymore, and I must get again on.”
Rice not works with that coach, however he by no means misplaced that fireside for coaching. He began working at a CrossFit gymnasium and met the proprietor, who grew to become his coach throughout the pandemic. That coach is now on the street with Rice and his staff working in a administration place. The exercises contain extra body weight and bands than plates and bars. However the work continues to be difficult and rewarding whereas he maintains a weight of round 205 kilos.
Chase Rice defined, “I’m simply attempting to optimize my physique now, versus being a loopy match dude. I simply need to be in fine condition.”
Making ready to get onstage is far totally different than placing on the pads and taking the sector. However there are nonetheless many individuals watching him do what he does, and he by no means loses sight of that. The principle distinction is as an alternative of getting ready his physique for the collisions each down, he’s getting ready his voice to encourage and entertain the followers.
“I need to be optimum whereas I’m up there on stage and have the ability to sing and provides the individuals the very best present that I can. So, yeah, it’s a recreation day,” he says.
Rice continued by explaining that the mindset is kind of totally different as effectively. “Soccer, it was do your job and be an absolute murderer on the defensive aspect of the sector. That’s the aim. And music will not be that it’s very it’s creative, it’s feeling, it’s vulnerability, it’s being essentially the most actual model of your self.”
Chase Rice is a DIY Nation Music Star
Rice’s expertise on the guitar really got here to him whereas he was recovering from an ankle damage. He began studying from watching YouTube movies, then a pal confirmed him some chords. These chords ultimately grew to become part of Florida Georgia Line’s hit music, Cruise, which grew to become his first No. 1 music as a co-songwriter. Despite the fact that he’s thriving in nation music, he’s nonetheless a pupil in his thoughts.
“The method continues to be taking place, which is the loopy half, like I’m studying new s*** day-after-day on these new information.”
His dedication to the method and success he has seen in recent times goes again to that linebacker mentality—do no matter it takes to win, and don’t contemplate every other consequence.
“I’ve not had a plan B since I began doing this, which is a big a part of it.”
That mentality goes to be helpful as Rice enters future phases of his musical profession. He’ss at present a free agent as an artist. He just lately ended his report take care of a earlier label and is now exploring selling himself and his music independently. He isn’t one for self-promotion however is adjusting to it.
“I logged into TikTok [receently] for the primary time in my life,” he admits
As Rice did on the sector, within the weight room, and on his boulder-carrying journey with Hanes, the end-goal is what issues, and Rice’s present aim is obvious.
“What’s necessary to me is individuals liking my music, coming to reveals and sing alongside, and us having an excellent time.”
Rice’s new album is out there to pre-order now. You possibly can observe him on Instagram @chaserice.
