Ernest Keith Smith, better known as Ernest, is easily one of the most interesting artists in Country music right now. The 34-year-old was known for co-writing tracks for the likes of Florida Georgia Line, Chris Lane and Jake Owen, before he signed his own record deal and released debut album ‘Locals Only’ in 2019. Since then he’s continued to write for other artists, and he’s released three albums so far – his debut, 2022’s ‘Flower Shops (The Album)’ and 2024’s ‘Nashville, Tennessee’. Yet to find the success he deserves as an artist in his own right, Ernest today releases his fourth studio album ‘Deep Blue’.
An artist that’s shown an incredible amount of versatility across his career so far, Ernest is setting his sights on being our summer soundtrack with ‘Deep Blue’. The 13-song collection is undeniably Country, staying true to Ernest’s roots, but it’s influenced by the waves, the coast and all things beach and sunshine. The album kicks off with ‘Lorelei’, which immediately transports you a sun-drenched beach next to a wide blue ocean. Ernest’s voice recalls the greats of the genre; he sounds like he should have been making music next to George Strait in his prime. The instrumentation on this track, and the entire album, nods to classic Country and steers well clear of current Country music trends.
The sunshine vibes continue with the sing-a-long chorus of ‘Edge of the U.S.A.’, which will have you grabbing for a cold one, and Ernest shows he can deliver a powerful midtempo number on the gorgeous “What’s a Little Rain”, one of my favourites on the record. For ‘Lucky’, Ernest leans into swoonsome Country and strips things back, showcasing just what a raw talent he is, while on the upbeat acoustic-driven ‘Quit While We’re Behind’, Ernest’s voice oozes soul and if you didn’t know better, you’d think this was a Strait classic.
Heading into the second half of the album, Ernest keeps things laidback on the dreamy ‘Somewhere in the Carribean’ before putting his vocals into the spotlight on the beat-driven ‘End of the Night’. Another highlight comes on the uptempo ‘Deep Blue’, a song that finds Ernest rising above a breakup that almost sunk him. The lyrics have a sharp edge, and they are a great example of Ernest’s abilities as a songwriter. In the final stretch of the record, Ernest channels 70s Country on the emotive “If I’m Not Careful” and delivers a true classic-sounding ballad on the wonderful ‘Same Moon’.
Before he bids adieu, Ernest delivers another highlight on the fantastic ‘Boat Named After You’, where he reflects being in the middle of the sea on a boat that was named after an ex. There’s a hint of sadness to the song but the production is uplifting and catchy. For the final track on the record, ‘Time is a Thief’, Ernest collaborates with Lukas Nelson on the reflective ‘Time is a Thief’. Could we be seeing the start of a new way of Highwaymen?
Ernest should be one of the leading stars of modern Country music. ‘Deep Blue’ continues an impressive streak for the singer-songwriter, and he’s making some of the best music in the genre. At a time when Country music seems to have largely lost its identity, Ernest continues to forge his own path and connects what he does to the greats that have come before him. ‘Deep Blue’ is an homage to real Country music, and it may be one of the most traditional Country records I’ve heard in quite some time. There’s nothing cynical here and nothing geared to social media algorithms – just good old-fashioned honest Country music that makes you feel damn good. At times the album is sentimental and wistful, but it’s never dull and Ernest brings a lot of class to collection. ‘Deep Blue’ should be the album to finally catapult him to the next level, and I can’t think of a more deserving artist.
Track list: 1. Lorelei 2. Edge of the U.S.A. 3. What’s a Little Rain 4. Lucky 5. Quit While We’re Behind 6. Somewhere in the Caribbean 7. End of the Night 8. Waste a Day 9. Deep Blue 10. If I’m Not Careful 11. Same Moon 12. Boat Named After You 13. Time is a Thief (feat. Lukas Nelson) Record label: Big Loud Release date: 1st May 2026 Buy ‘Deep Blue’ now
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