Stephen Cochran photo courtesy of Aria Records Nashville.
Stephen joined the Marines' light armored reconnaissance division and headed straight to Iraq. He returned safely, but wasn't so lucky on his next overseas tour – to Afghanistan. After losing a good friend to enemy fire, Stephen returned home with a broken back and a newfound determination to make his country music dream come true. He used his recovery time well, digging deep to reignite his passion for songwriting.
"I love the Marine Corps," he says. "Everything they did for me structured my life and gave me the drive to know that I can do anything I want to do."
From the Civil War-themed barroom balladry of "Four Chords & Seven Beers Ago" to the honky tonk swing of "Thinkin' I'm Drinkin'" (both Cochran originals), every song on this auspicious debut reflects the singer's hard-won wisdom and fearless determination.
Stephen's background is refreshingly, unflinchingly real. This is no manufactured artist, and listening to his music, it's crystal clear that Cochran has lived every word of every one of these songs and knows exactly where he needs to go. It's what dictates and defines his choices – both in music and in business.
Frustrated and determined to keep his music front and center, Stephen walked away from the majors. True to form, he turned the experience into one of the album's best songs, a kind of musical mission statement appropriately titled "Leave My Country Alone." He then set about finding the right home for his artistry and his music, signing with fledgling Nashville independent label, Aria Records Nashville.
"Aria Records is structured a lot like Broken Bow [indie home to country hitmakers Jason Aldean and Craig Morgan] and it feels like a family," Cochran says. "I get to be a part of that family, and every decision is made as a group."
As he prepares for the release of his first album, Cochran is taking his act on the road, and if the rapturous response he's getting from audiences is any indication, this is one country artist who's here to stay.
"My goal was to build a bridge between newer listeners and those who love the heritage of country," he says. "I believe God puts everyone here on earth to do something and you can only deny it for so long. And I believe I was bred to do this music."
