Luke Combs sits down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to talk about his new album ‘Fathers & Sons‘ He talks about how his own relationship with his father inspired the album, and how his perspective on his childhood changed once he had children of his own, but that ultimately, he wanted the album to be relatable to all versions of father-son relationships, saying “There’s so many different experiences that people have as a child or as a parent or as a grandparent or whatever. And it's like, I went there to be a little bit of a taste of all of that on the record.”
Luke Combs on Making ‘Fathers & Sons’ Relatable
Luke Combs shared with Apple Music his vision for his new album ‘Fathers & Sons,’ aiming to capture a range of experiences from different perspectives. “There are so many different experiences people have as a child, parent, or grandparent. I wanted the album to reflect all of that,” he explained. “It's easy to assume everyone feels the same way I do, but that's not the case. I have friends from divorced homes, friends who didn't have a dad around. It would be shortsighted to make an album that only reflects my own experiences.”
Reflecting on His Childhood and Relationship with His Father
Combs opened up about his own upbringing as an only child. “My parents worked hard, and my dad wasn’t always around because he worked long hours,” Combs said. “We lived on four acres outside of town, so weekends were spent maintaining the property. We didn’t have much money, so my dad was always fixing things around the house instead of spending time playing catch in the yard. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with me; he was doing what he thought was best for us. As a kid, it felt like he didn’t care, but now I understand he was showing love by ensuring we had what we needed.”
How Fatherhood Changed His Perspective
Fatherhood brought a significant shift in Combs' perspective. “Having kids made me realize so much about my parents and growing up,” he said. “You understand that not every feeling or thought you had as a child was accurate. Sometimes you hold grudges against your parents for not being around, but then you become a parent and understand the sacrifices they made.”
Inspiration Behind the New Album
Combs explained the inspiration for his album, which stemmed from writing songs about his children. “After my last record, I wrote a song about my first son. With a gap in touring, I wrote more songs as life quickly changed with another child on the way. I initially thought I could only include one ‘dad song' per record, but then I considered making an EP for Father’s Day. As I shared this idea, more songs came together, and I decided to make a whole album.”
Missing His Son’s Birth: A Defining Moment
One of Combs' most challenging experiences was missing his son’s birth while on tour in Australia. “On August 16th, I woke up to a text from my wife saying she was in labor. He was born on August 15th in the States. It was tough not being there, but I was grateful for my support system on the road and my wife’s support at home. It’s a defining moment that highlights the sacrifices and challenges of being in the music business.”
The Song “In Case I Ain’t Around”
Combs discussed the inspiration for his song “In Case I Ain’t Around.” “I wanted to create something for my kids to hold onto. You never know what could happen, and having something personal from a parent can be incredibly valuable. The song is a way for my kids to have a piece of me, no matter what.”
The Importance of Therapy and Mental Health
Combs emphasized the importance of mental health, which has been significant in his life since he was young. “It's crucial to talk about mental health. Everyone has something they’re dealing with, and it's important to recognize that.”
How the Music Industry Has Changed
Reflecting on the changes in the music industry, Combs noted the evolution from when he first started. “When I made my first EPs in college, streaming wasn’t a thing. The industry has changed a lot in the last decade, and now you can instantly see which songs people are connecting with. Back then, you had to guess which song would resonate the most. Now, you get immediate feedback, which has transformed how we approach releasing music.”
