FILMORE has never been one to follow the expected path in Country music, and his new album ‘Atypical' makes that clearer than ever. The Missouri-born singer-songwriter has steadily built a reputation for blending sharp songwriting with genre-bending production, earning hundreds of millions of streams and a growing national profile along the way. After stepping back following 2023’s ‘Mean Something' to focus on family and creative renewal — while working closely with mentor Pitbull — he now returns with a project that feels both personal and purposefully bold.
‘Atypical' signals a new chapter as FILMORE becomes the first Country artist signed to Pitbull’s Mr. 305 Records. The 21-track collection, largely co-written and co-produced by FILMORE himself, mixes candid storytelling about love, heartbreak and everyday life with an expansive sonic palette that pulls from Outlaw Country, rock, hip-hop, pop and beyond. The result is an album designed to showcase his crossover ambition while reinforcing the core idea that not fitting the mould can be an artistic strength rather than a limitation.
The album lives up to its title from the outset, delivering a deliberately genre-blurring country record that borrows as freely from pop and hip-hop as it does from Nashville tradition. It often recalls the crossover instincts of Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, yet FILMORE’s personality keeps it from feeling derivative. His conversational vocal phrasing and knack for hooky choruses allow him to move across stylistic borders while maintaining a cohesive artistic voice.
The album’s most immediately accessible material sits in its commercial pop-country lane. ‘Blame a Country Song,' co-written with hit songwriter Trannie Anderson, stands out as the album’s high point — packed with small-town imagery, crunchy guitars, clever time changes and a huge sing-along chorus built for live crowds. ‘Betcha Gonna' follows with a smoother, radio-friendly vibe reminiscent of modern country chart leaders, while ‘Love at First Fight' blends pop rhythms, 80s-flavoured guitar touches and a clever lyrical twist about realising you’re in love mid-argument. These tracks show FILMORE operating comfortably within contemporary country expectations while still injecting his own personality.
A more introspective streak appears in ‘Dark Side of Drinking,' ‘365' and ‘Only Heaven.' The acoustic restraint in ‘Dark Side of Drinking' lets the lyric “Who knew sad songs were on the jukebox?” land with emotional clarity, while album closer ‘365' frames self-improvement as a yearlong promise: getting life together “my next 365.” These quieter songs reveal depth beneath the album’s party-ready exterior, offering maturity that contrasts nicely with its more carefree moments like the breezy Thomas Rhett-inspired ‘Made for the Summer.'
The album’s middle stretch leans heavily into genre-blending southern pop. ‘Beach Bar' mixes breakup country storytelling with tropical pop production in a way that’s unexpectedly catchy, while ‘Reality' goes furthest afield, embracing glossy electronic textures, robotic backing vocals, and philosophical lyrics about modern disconnection. ‘The Moon,' ‘Nobody Ever Loved You' and ‘Reel Life' balance nostalgia, heartbreak and rural imagery against sleek pop sonics, creating a hybrid space where country identity becomes more thematic than musical as the production values swing wildly to slick, keyboard sounds and Pop-leaning sonics.
The final stylistic lane feels like scenes from a neon-lit Miami nightclub. ‘Hola' channels Latin pop energy reminiscent of Enrique Iglesias, all horns, rhythm, and flirtation. ‘Yeehaw,' meanwhile, is perhaps the boldest swing, blending country references — even nods to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash — with hip-hop club bravado influenced by Pitbull and the genre-bending approach of Shaboozey. Elsewhere, ‘Cost of Living' and ‘South on Me' continue that nightlife atmosphere, pairing heartbreak and romance with Latin-inflected dance beats. The latter even comes replete with Spanish words and phrases as FILMORE enjoys watching his woman dance in some style!
At 21 songs, the album arguably overstays its welcome. There’s little breathing space and listening straight through can feel overwhelming without palate cleansers between stylistic shifts. Yet that same maximalism is part of the appeal: FILMORE clearly isn’t aiming for safe cohesion. Under the influence of a pop-leaning label environment, he delivers a bold fusion of country storytelling, pop accessibility, Latin rhythms and Floridian nightlife gloss that shouldn’t fully cohere — but often does thanks to his consistent vocal presence and narrative voice.
‘Atypical' quite literally means not typical or not conforming to type — and that definition fits both the album and the artistic philosophy behind it. Blending country roots with a modern, genre-fluid edge draws from an expansive sonic palette — from Outlaw country grit and rock energy to hip-hop rhythms, pop melodies and beyond. The goal isn’t to fit neatly into a single lane, but to let strong songs lead the way. The result is music shaped by genre defying crossover ambition yet still grounded in Country storytelling – it won't be for everyone but FILMORE hasn't made an album to appeal to everyone: it's a calculated risk but with the weight of Pitbull behind him, it's a risk well worth taking.
Tracklist: 1. Blame a Country Song 2. Betcha Gonna 3. Beach Bar 4. Hola 5. Yeehaw (feat. Pitbull) 6. Love at First Fight 7. Dark Side of Drinking 8. Breakup Tattoos 9. Reality 10. The Moon 11. Picture Perfect 12. Cost of Living 13. Only Heaven 14. Reel Life 15. South On Me 16. Made for the Summer 17. If I Was You 18. Love Lovin You 19. God Knew Best 20. Nobody Ever Loved You 21. 365 Record Label: MR 305 Records Release Date: February 20th Buy ‘Atypical' right here
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