Jon Pardi Infuses Fresh Energy Into His Signature Sound On New ‘Honkytonk Hollywood’ Album

After nearly two and a half years, Jon Pardi is back with his highly anticipated new album, Honkytonk Hollywood, a record that marks a new chapter in his career and a fresh sound.

Across the 17-track collection, listeners will likely notice a shift in tone and storytelling that sets this record apart from his past releases. Since becoming a dad, the country star says he’s started leaning into a more mature image, which has resulted in him trading the drinking and party anthems for songs with more heart and self-reflection. However, knowing how much fans love his late-night bangers, he made sure to keep a few in the mix on his fifth studio album.

“I guess having kids and starting with a family and just finding songs that you can sing a little more and relate to more and feel a little more is what the album is. It’s just a different chapter of my life,” he recently told Country Now and other outlets.

In order to make this shift, Pardi enlisted Grammy Award-Winning Producer Jay Joyce, along with a slew of Nashville writers to help bring his vision to life. This new team allowed the country superstar to step away from the traditional Nashville recording system, without straying away from the hard work ethic he’s developed over the past decade. He spent around four weeks hunkered down in the studio building each track from the ground up, with his touring band taking the lead on most of the recording process.

“I just went from what I was taught from the 10 years of making records and made one of my best records of my career,” Pardi admitted. “Just got to get in and get it done. Get your hands dirty. That’s nothing new to me.” 

The entire recording process certainly was different from what Pardi was used to, however, looking back, he believes it “couldn’t have gone better.”

“It was such a movie how we made this record. I mean they were laying around, we’re sitting outside, we’re having some beers in the studio, we’re waiting around, we’re listening to songs…it was such a non Nashville way we made this record. And I say that not in a negative or mean way, it was just, we had the boys and the band and we were making music and it was magical man…I mean now I totally understand Jay. I totally get it, but it is a wild ride with the professor.”

The Rock ‘N’ Roll Approach

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The final product is something that’s a little bolder, a little grittier, and a whole lot more in-your-face than anything he’s done before. Taking the “rock and roll” approach to this creative process has allowed him to take a step back from the more polished feel of his previous projects.

“They say all our records are kind of in your face, but this one’s really, the vocals are just there,” he admitted. “And I think that’s what they’re going to hear on this record is a little more of like, damn, this is good…there’s actually not that much rock and roll on our album, but it’s the way it was recorded, delivered and it sounds that has a different tone that sets the example of ‘Honkytonk Hollywood.’”

Sharing His Vision With Songwriters

Before diving into the studio, the singer/songwriter assembled a team of writers in Nashville to share his vision with. He explained that his ultimate goal was to stay true to himself and the current chapter of life he’s in putting a fresh spin on his signature sound.  

“I said, everything doesn’t need to be a hit. Doesn’t need to sound like a Morgan Wallen song. Most of the pitches we get, a lot are geared towards the Morgan Wallen sound and I feel like we got a lot of great songs and even just that little discussion in January knowing that we’re going in and recording with Jay Joyce changed the path of the record and what songs we got…It’s like the worst year to release album cause there’s so much music coming out,” he said. “But I felt like ‘Honkytonk Hollywood’ was going to stand out of all the releases and I’m proud of that and confident in it.”

Inside The Track List

Setting the tone for the mix of pure country storytelling and grungy grooves is the title track “Honkytonk Hollywood,” which is placed strategically in the center of the collection. This song honors both sides of Pardi’s worlds, tipping his hat to his home state of California and celebrating the life he’s built in Nashville.

Moving to the very top, is the “friday night fever”-inducing track, “Boots Off,” followed by his current single, “Friday Night Heartbreaker.” Later on, he crosses the line to tender storytelling with his tribute to hard-working fathers on “He Went To Work,” elevates the heart rate with the steamy “Love The Lights Out,” and wallows in misery from a barstool with “Bar Room Blue.”

Bringing things full circle with his initial goal of staying true to himself, Pardi celebrates the creative independence of this entire project with the final track, “Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way.” Offering a grungy set of instrumentals and a message that sums up where the country sensation is, the tune gives listeners a sense of what’s to come on his next record.

“I just think it’s staying true to yourself and being who you are…it just really delivered that stamp of, for me it’s like keep doing you and don’t be afraid of doing something different. And that’s why it’s the last song and it’s just so grooving and cool and fresh. it also sets the tone for the next record too. What’s to come? What’s after the 17th track?”

Jon Pardi has lived with this album since last July, meaning he is more than eager to finally get to bring these songs to the stage. And he will do so with the launch of his HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR.

Beginning April 25, Pardi will travel to 16 arenas and amphitheaters across the US with support from Corey Kent and Kassi Ashton (on select dates).