HARDY‘s 17-track the mockingbird & THE CROW album is out! The record, which includes his current “wait in the truck” single with  Lainey Wilson, has collaborations with Morgan Wallen and Jeremy McKinnon included on it as well. It also combines his love of rock music, country music and songs that resonate deeply with others, regardless of the genre.

“It definitely was more freeing, but at the same time, I definitely want people to know that although it’s half of a rock and roll record, it’s also a little bit of my take on, maybe my spin on, country music as well,” HARDY shared with Everything Nash and other outlets, during a recent virtual media event.

“It kind of opened the door for obviously doing the rock and roll thing,” he adds. “But it also opened the door a little more wide open for me to kind of give my own rendition of country music, or throwing a very country lyric over a rock and roll sonic production.”

The idea of releasing a record with two very distinct genres might seem daunting, or even dangerous, to some. To HARDY, it was the best way to express who he is as a songwriter and artist, without compromising in either genre.

“I will say I kind of got lucky and acclimated myself without me knowing it,” HARDY reflects. “Like ‘Boots,’ a song off my old record [A Rock] and ‘Ain’t A Bad Day,’ were kind of testing the waters, if you will. And then I put out that ‘Blurry’ cover,  which was kind of testing the waters. So I feel like I unintentionally acclimated myself. But the rock community is different, and maybe not as nice as the country community, to be completely honest. S,o I was nervous. I mean, truly, I was curious if that community and those guys were gonna look at me and be like, ‘Look at this country artist that’s coming in here and thinking he’s hot.'”

Fortunately, the 32-year-old quickly discovered that his fears were unfounded, and his music really could transcend one specific genre.

“Everybody has been awesome, truly, and has made any sort of reluctancy of any kind go away,” he says. “They are very accepting. And even in the country community, people have been really cool, and not being like ‘You’re ruining country music, or you’re giving it a bad name, the way you’re making it sound.’ Everybody’s been really, really cool. So I’m very thankful.”

HARDY has already released not only A Rock, but Hixtape, Vol. 1 and 2 albums, along with two EPs, This Ole Boy and Where to Find Me. But it’s a mockingbird & THE CROW that Hardy says best represents who he is as a singer, songwriter and artist.

“the mockingbird & THE CROW is, in my opinion, the best thing I’ve made so far,” HARDY maintains. “I had a lot of time to get in the weeds making this record with some of my favorite people in Nashville, and it truly captures every part of who I am as an artist. I’m honored that I get to share it with you.”

See a track list for the mockingbird & THE CROW below. HARDY will spend part of this year serving as the opening act on Wallen‘s One Night At A Time World Tour. Find music and tour dates at HardyOfficial.com.

the mockingbird & THE CROW Track List

1. beer (Michael Hardy, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
2. red feat. Morgan Wallen (Michael Hardy, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice)
3. wait in the truck feat. Lainey Wilson (Michael Hardy, Renee Blair, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt)
4. drink one for me (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps)
5. i in country (Michael Hardy, Smith Ahnquist, Nick Donley, Jake Mitchell, Hunter Phelps)
6. screen (Michael Hardy, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt Dragstrem, Hunter Phelps)
7. happy (Michael Hardy)
8. here lies country music (Michael Hardy, Cole Taylor, Brett Tyler, Will Weatherly)
9. the mockingbird & THE CROW (Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Brett Tyler)
10. SOLD OUT (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps)
11. JACK (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
12. TRUCK BED (Michael Hardy, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
13. .30-06 (Michael Hardy, Cameron Montgomery, Hunter Phelps)
14. I AIN’T IN THE COUNTRY NO MORE (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
15. RADIO SONG feat. Jeremy McKinnon (Michael Hardy, Zach Abend, Nick Donley, Jeremy McKinnon, Cody Quistad)
16. KILL SH** TILL I DIE (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps)
17. THE REDNECK SONG (Michael Hardy, Andy Albert, Nick Donley)

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Big Loud Records / Tanner Gallagher