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Warren Zeiders Talks ‘Betrayal’ And Opens Up About Discovering His ‘New Sound’ [Exclusive]
“I was going through some stuff when I wrote that song,” he reveals.
Warren Zeiders; Photo by Austin Screws
Warren Zeiders tells a painful story of “Betrayal” in his brand new song, recently released to streaming platforms.
The raw and honest heartbreak anthem, written by Zeiders with Blake Pendergrass, Justin Ebach, Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, and Ali Tampos, finds the chart-topping artist grappling with the downfall of a relationship that was once strong. After his other half did him wrong, he’s left feeling shocked and dealing with the intense pain that came with the realization that he was being used by his ex. He also admits that he’s finding it difficult to move on despite the hurt.
“This is a story about betrayal/ Why’s it always happen without fail/ Why’d ya have to go and run us off the rails/ What the hell/ This isn’t how I pictured you and I/ Smile in my face while ya twist the knife/ Shame on me if ya fool me twice/ Fooled me twice/ Yeah, even though I hate you/ How come leaving ain’t as easy/ As loving you… as loving you” he sings.
Zeiders’ gritty vocals take center stage throughout the song and powerfully convey the feeling of heartbreak through every line and verse.
This release marks a new chapter in Zeiders’ musical journey, following his debut album, Pretty Little Poison, which dropped late last summer. He poured a personal story into “Betrayal,” making the release particularly meaningful to him.
“I was going through some stuff when I wrote that song and felt it to be a very special song and wrote it with some really kick-ass people,” Zeiders told Country Now of “Betrayal” while chatting backstage before the ACM Awards. “[It was] actually my first time writing with a couple of them, which was super cool. And I’ve since then got back together with them to kind of start forming this new sound that I kind of found through the winter time, which was really cool, and it’s making this next record process a lot of fun for me.”
Zeiders went on to tease another song, set to drop two weeks after the May 17 release of “Betrayal.”
“I have another song dropping… ‘Relapse’,” he revealed
“They play together. So that’s what makes things really exciting. And they’re blowing up on social media. I already got people in shows singing them back to me, which is crazy,” he admitted.
These new releases come on the heels of Zeiders’ first-ever No.1, “Pretty Little Poison.” With his first chart-topping single under his belt, Zeiders admits he’s driven to add to his collection of chart-toppers.
“I’ve always put pressure on myself being an ex-athlete, and I think that I am the only one that can expect the most out of myself. And if I don’t want it, no one can want it for me. And I think getting that first number one under your belt feels good. Makes you hungry for the second, third, and so on,” he said.
Warren Zeiders will bring “Pretty Little Poison” and his brand new music on the road later this summer when he joins Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Tour.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.