Alexander Ludwig‘s Highway 99 album is out! The singer and actor released the ambitious 16-track project on August 26. Ludwig co-wrote six of the tracks on the record, which also includes songs by hit songwriters like Marv Green, Brad Tursi, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Kerr, HARDY, Morgan Wallen and more.

“Country music is some of the greatest storytelling on the planet, just like film and television,” Ludwig says “Good songs can capture a moment in time, and Highway 99 brings me back to so many places, times, and stories in my own life.”

It was Jason Aldean who encouraged Ludwig to pursue a career in music, with two of his own band members, Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy, producing Highway 99. While the Canadian feels most at home within the country music genre, Highway 99 represents his love of all kinds of music, not just country.

“I never wanted to chase trends,” Ludwig tells Everything Nash. “I think there’s room for all types of music. I love all types of music, but for me, when I play a show, I want it to be like the rock and roll concerts I grew up going to. My favorite show to date — Jason Aldean is up there for sure — but also AC/DC, and those, which is so out of the blue. But what I love about country music so much is that to me, it’s really that last form of rock and roll. You get this whole great band together and these incredible musicians.”

Ludwig might, at least up until now, be known for his roles in movies like The Hunger Games,  Vikings and more. Although grateful for his successful acting career, Ludwig is also equally grateful to now be able to pursue one of his earliest passions as well.

“Perhaps it’s just because there’s something in the brain with artists,” Ludwig reflects. “But for me,  the only reason I’m an actor first and not a country artist is simply because one took off before the other. The music industry is a hard one to crack, especially country music. It’s such a small town. I feel like once you’re in, you’re in, but people need to see you first. And the last thing I ever wanted people thinking was like, ‘Oh, this is some actor from Hollywood just wanting a deal.’  That’s so not the case for me. I really could care less. I just wanna play great music, and I want as many people to hear it as possible. I’m just grateful to be able to do that.”

Ludwig is eager to show fans more of who he is with all of the songs on Highway 99, which he says are very autobiographical to his own life.

“Highway 99 is a painting of my life,” he says. “It takes me back to all the places where I heard my first songs by Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Brantley Gilbert. So many other styles of music try to sell a dream or something you need to attain, but in Country music, the dream is already here. You’re living it. For someone who’s always on the road, it was Country music that helped get me through the tough times. It’s always reminded me to take a breath and be grateful for how good things really are.”

See a track list for Highway 99 below. Find all of Ludwig’s music by visiting his website.

Highway 99 Track List:

1. Sunset Town
(Marv Green, David Lee Murphy, Justin Wilson)
2. Faded On Me
(Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne)
3. That’s The Life I Want
(Kyle Fishman, Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy, Cole Taylor)
4. Rough Around The Edges
(Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy, Johnny Murphy, Justin Weaver)
5. How It Rolls
(Eric Arjes, Brad Tursi)
6. 201 Melrose Avenue
(Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy)
7. That Kinda Love
(Alexander Ludwig, Michael Dulaney)
8. Back
(Alexander Ludwig, Kurt Allison, John Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan)
9. If You Don’t I Do
(Joe Clemmons, Jacob Durrett, Michael Hardy, Morgan Wallen)
10. Like She Wanted To
(Alexander Ludwig, Nick Brophy, Michael Dulaney)
11. Summer Crazy
(Alexander Ludwig, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Justin Wilson)
12. After You
(Josh Kerr, Tony Lane, Deric Ruttan)
13. Malibu Blue
(Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi, Andrew Rollins)
14. Can’t Outrun You
(Alexander Ludwig, Kurt Allison, Michael Dulaney, Tully Kennedy)
15. Love Today
(Greylan James, David Lee Murphy, Matt Roy)
16. Let Me Be Your Whiskey
(Alexander Ludwig, Michael Dulaney)

Photo Credit: Courtesy of BBR Music Group / Daniel Delgado Jr.