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to call [ names a plethora of names in the industry , some who have been instrumental in helping to propel him ] and let ’ s just get out there and make this happen . Forty-five days later we were playing the Ryman , and I got a new record deal , way better than I dreamed of getting , and the rest , as they say , is history . Or at least my history . So , yes , it looks like the perfect puzzle looking back from here .
WE : You ’ ve been really persistent to keep going and never throw in the towel , when many would pack up their efforts , hats , scars and guitars , and go home . Where does that level of tenacity come from ?
DW : It ’ s just how bad I wanted it , and it ’ s who I am . I don ’ t quit . I ’ m a survivor , and this is what I was meant to do . My grandfather taught me that , my parents taught me that , and my fans that I already had deserved that .
WE : Lots of people are trying to put a tagline or a name on your sound . What would you describe your sound as ? Who are Drake White ’ s musical inspirations ?
DW : My sound is a kind of geographical melting pot of where I ’ m from . Being raised in church it ’ s got a gospel sound to it . It ’ s got my mom ’ s love of Ray Charles and Percy Sledge , It ’ s got some Lynyrd Skynyrd , being from Alabama and having that Muscle Shoals sound . It ’ s also got kind of an Appalachian , kind of hillbilly feel . Kind of a soul player meets the moonshiner kind of vibe . And , then , I ’ m a real product of my dad ’ s classic rock , vinyl collection . I mean here ’ s stacks and stacks [ he goes through a
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