Who the Heck is Rhys Rutherford? The DeVille Records Prospect Making a Spellbinding Debut with ‘Southern Belle’

Today (Wednesday, April 16th), DeVille Records prodigy, Rhys Rutherford, has released his playful debut single, ‘Southern Belle’, as part of ERNEST's Cadillac Sessions project. Holler sits down with the fast-emerging artist to delve into his illustrious musical upbringing, the creative process behind his new release and much more.

With a mixtape-esque project from ERNEST's Cadillac Music publishing house being teased for months now, fans had been excitedly speculating as to who would be featured.

In tandem with the official unveiling last week, which was spearheaded by a blockbuster collaboration between ERN and Snoop Dogg, ‘Gettin’ Gone’, the core Cadillac Sessions line-up was revealed to Rhys Rutherford, Cody Lohden and Chandler Walters.

While there are stellar features from Miranda Lambert and Jake Worthington, the spotlight undoubtedly falls on the DeVille Records crew, with Rutherford, Lohden and Walters all delivering multiple solo tracks as they introduce themselves to the world.

Following ‘Gettin’ Gone’, Rhys Rutherford keeps the momentum high with ‘Southern Belle’, a witty, nostalgic take on heartbreak, with Rutherford's charismatic baritone taking centre-stage. It's a smooth, playful offering that doubles-down on the DeVille Records modus operandi - bringing classic, ‘real’ country music back.

Growing up in Nashville with revered songwriter Rivers Rutherford - the man behind Brooks & Dunn's ‘Ain't Nothing ‘Bout You’ - as his father, before being taken under ERNEST's wing, Rhys Rutherford has had an unrivalled education in country music history.

“My dad has had the biggest influence on my music”, Rhys Rutherford shares with Holler, “I grew up listening to his radio hits as well as all of the other songs that never got cut”.

He expands on his overarching mission, with Rutherford attempting to infuse the hallowed sound of the ‘90s with today's feel, “My goal was to try and blend the country that I grew up on - Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Brooks and Dunn - with todays country - Ernest, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs - and I think I got pretty close”.

As for how the irresistible ‘Southern Belle’ wordplay came about, Rutherford recalls, “I was writing one day with John Pierce and Clara Park. Clara had this awesome track and an idea about reminiscing on small town, Southern culture “that rings a southern bell”. I loved the idea and told them it might play better if we put an ‘e’ on the end of ‘bell’ and made the song about a southern woman. They agreed”.

Prior to hitting the writing room for The Cadillac Sessions, Rhys Rutherford gained an array of coveted cuts for the likes of ERNEST, Morgan Wallen (‘Hangin’ On’) and Bailey Zimmerman (‘Is This Really Over?’), which has helped to consolidate the fast-emerging artist's ability to nimbly flit between an array of moods and textures.

“I like making so many different styles of music”, the ‘Get Her Name’ singer-songwriter emphasises, before reflecting, “But being a writer has helped me find my own style. I think having had the opportunity to write so many songs with so many different people has helped me narrow down the kind of songs I identify with as an artist”.

ERNEST, the founder of DeVille Records and the driving force behind the Cadillac Sessions, which in many ways feels like country's G.O.O.D Music: Cruel Summer, has been integral to Rhys Rutherford's journey so far, with Rutherford crediting the ‘Cowgirls’ chart-topper for giving him the freedom to hone his own distinctive sound.

Rutherford endearingly stresses, “ERN has been a big supporter of my writing and singing since I put my first song on SoundCloud in 2017. He saw the potential and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. He took a dream of mine and made it a reality”.

He goes on to highlight how ERNEST has armed him with a deeper awareness and insight into the thornier, industry-related side of Music City - something many are forced to contend with through a baptism of fire, “I’ve learned so much from him, not only about songwriting, but about finding my way through this crazy business”.

Rhys Rutherford then touches on the origins of both DeVille Records and the Cadillac Sessions as a whole, “Ever since I signed on with Cadillac publishing, a record deal had been discussed between ERN and I. I didn’t know when or how it was going to happen but I couldn’t be happier about the way everything worked out”.

Although these are framed as ‘sessions’, Rutherford outlines how the vast majority of offerings that have made the cut for the 16-strong tracklist were penned before the concept of a collaborative mixtape had even been broached, “I think most of the songs on The Cadillac Sessions were written before the idea for this record was conceived. But as soon as I found out we were making this record together, I knew 'Get Her Name' and 'Southern Belle' were gonna be on it”.

What radiates throughout the Cadillac Sessions is the heartwarming camaraderie shared by the DeVille Records crew, with Rhys Rutherford paying homage to ERNEST and his fellow label-mates, “'Turn Me Up' [by ERNEST] is one of my favourite songs on the record. It just feels so good. Cody’s song, 'TV On', is another favourite of mine. He sings the hell out of that one. I love both of Chandler's songs as well”, before quipping, “But I’m biased because I was a writer on both of them!”

With the Cadillac Sessions serving as the perfect launchpad for Rutherford, Lohden and Walters, following the arrival of ‘Southern Belle’ and the impending release of the full project on May 9th, fans are already clamouring for more music from the gang.

Rutherford assures us there's plenty on the horizon, teasing what listeners can expect from him over the next few months, “A whole lot of writing, recording, performing and just living. I’ve been in the studio the past couple months recording a solo project that I’m very excited about. I just feel blessed to have these kinds of opportunities and to get to live out this dream surrounded by people I love”.

As you listen to ‘Southern Belle’, you will undoubtedly feel as though you're ‘drinking in a world of deja vú’, with Rhys Rutherford transporting you back to the so-called golden era of country music, while still infusing a contemporary ambience into the track.

It's an impressive debut from the up-and-coming songsmith, one that ensures the anticipation remains high ahead of the Cadillac Sessions and Rutherford's full-length solo album.

For more on The Cadillac Sessions, see below: