[singlepic id=78 w=320 h=240 float=left] CMC Exclusive: The six-feet, five inches tall, black rapping country artist takes his fans so seriously in fact, that they helped him decide what would go on his latest album, “Demolition Mission: Studio Blue Sessions,” released in Sept. 2009. The first half of the record features Cowboy Troy singing, while the second half features his signature “hick-hop”. Prior to the release of the album, he asked his fans and audiences to tell him what they wanted on the record.
“If they like it, tell me,” Cowboy Troy said. “If not, tell me.”
Already working on new material, Cowboy Troy will seek input from his fans once again. He has plans to debut some new material on tour this summer. Cowboy Troy’s Live and Loud Cowboy Stomp Tour will hit the Chicago-area March 15 for the US99 Kix Brooks Announcement Party; July 8 for the Joliet Race Fan Rally in downtown Joliet; the afternoon of July 10 for the US99 pre-race party concert in Joliet; the evening of July 10 at the Byron Festival; He’ll emcee at the LogJam Fest in Phillips, Wisc, July 30 – Aug. 1; and Aug. 29 for Zoo Tunes at Brookfield Zoo.
“I realize that I provide a service that no one requires,” Cowboy Troy said of his relationship with fans. “As a musician, no one requires what I do… if people have something of mine, it’s because they want it and I think it is important in providing a service that nobody needs but they want, that I provide what they want. That’s why I make sure I listen to what they say. They are the ones who are paying for it.”
With regard to the new album, Cowboy Troy encourages new listeners to play “Cash in the Cookie Jar” first, recognizing it is an up-tempo, snappy song that people seem to like. His favorite, however, is “Crown.”
“It talks about stuff that is very close to me,” he said. “It is my own personal experience. It is almost autobiographical.”
Cowboy Troy grew up in Dallas, Texas listening to a mix of country music, rap and rock, a combination he has used on all of his records.
“I’ve been doing that on all three of my major records I have done,” he said. “I’ve always kind of combined all three styles, so it’s not anything brand new to me. Once, it’s an accident; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.”
Because of a serious lack of radio play, Cowboy Troy relies on word-of-mouth to spread his music. To keep in touch with fans new and old, he utilizes social media including MySpace and Twitter.
“People can see the conversation we are having and people get to be in on that,” he said. “It’s kind of a cool thing.”
With 3,100 followers, Cowboy Troy is an avid “tweet-er”. When he’s just sitting around watching television, or his kids do something silly, or he goes out somewhere, he tweets about it. He thinks Twitter is a way to let all of his followers in on his conversations with others. Find Cowboy Troy on Twitter.com @cowboytroy.
On the web: cowboytroy.com – cowboytroyent.com
