Redferrin

Redferrin first surfaced in Nashville circles through his connection to Florida Georgia Line, for whom he penned the later hits “New Truck” and “Countryside.” His wiry, playful delivery often evokes the sense of a younger sibling to the duo, yet he pushes their restrained electronic textures further while sharpening a rebellious bite in his Southern drawl. The result modernizes bro-country for the present decade, lending it greater boldness and polish. That approach crystallized with his breakthrough track “Jack and Diet Coke,” a simmering party anthem drawn from Old No. 7, the debut EP issued early in 2024. Its successor, “Just Like Johnny,” achieved comparable traction.

Born Blake Redferrin in White House, Tennessee, he devoted his early years to dirt bikes and secured a place on the professional motocross tour. A severe crash in his early twenties underscored the cumulative toll of repeated injuries and prompted a shift toward music. Although he had begun playing guitar after his father brought home a Gibson, it was his departure from motocross that truly ignited songwriting.

That same sport nevertheless shaped his musical path. Early in his creative pursuits, Redferrin reconnected with Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, who also competes in motocross recreationally. In 2019 Hubbard brought him onto Tree Vibez Music, the publishing imprint run by Hubbard and Brian Kelley. During his tenure there Redferrin co-wrote Florida Georgia Line’s “New Truck” and “Countryside,” Nelly’s “Lil Bit,” and Dean Brody & the Reklaws’ “I Can’t Help Myself,” which became a Canadian country hit.

Following two years as a staff songwriter at Tree Vibez Music, Redferrin began releasing material independently. In 2021 he issued the singles “Red in My Last Name,” “Wouldn’t Hurt,” and “Stuck,” then followed with “Tell ’Em Why” and “Doin’ Good” before signing with Warner Music Nashville midway through 2022. Subsequent releases “Mossy Oak” and “Downhome Dreams” preceded “Jack and Diet Coke,” the light yet moody track that amassed millions of streams after its June 2023 arrival.

“Jack and Diet Coke” served as the centerpiece of Old No. 7, the EP that surfaced in February 2024. The project climbed into the Top 20 of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and also contained “Miss Summer” and “Doin’ Life.” Later in the year Redferrin returned to the charts with “Just Like Johnny,” which was followed by the single “Ruin My Night.”