Music and lifestyle brand Country Rebel has launched Country Rebel Records. The company’s founders, brothers Darin and Kevin Blue, also announced singer-songwriter and veteran Justin Holmes as the label’s first signing. His debut single, “Damn Addiction,” is available everywhere now.
Holmes and Country Rebel first connected in 2017 when the brand shared one of Holmes’ Facebook cover videos. After sharing to the Country Rebel network of over 18 million fans, the video went viral.
In 2019 Country Rebel invited Holmes to perform his original song “Damn Addiction” in The George Jones Sessions in which the brand hosted over 30 artists to record acoustic sessions to promote on its platform. In January 2022, the track was discovered by users on SoundCloud and TikTok, and has now been used in over 9,000 videos on TikTok and garnered over 220,000 streams on SoundCloud in a month’s time.
A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Homes got his first guitar at 15 years old, shortly before his father passed away. Quickly becoming an outlet to express himself and feel a sense of release while dealing with his father’s death, he grew very interested in songwriting and singing on stage.
Holmes enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Forces member at age 18 and spent most of his 14 years of service as a weapons instructor. He took his guitar with him and often played for his fellow service members. Songwriting became an emotional outlet for Homes, pulling from past traumas, addiction, his love for his family, and his spiritual beliefs.
“We moved the Country Rebel operations from San Diego to the Nashville area for several reasons,” shares CFO and Co-Founder Darin Blue. “The main two were to be closer to the artists, labels, management companies and publicists we’re so closely allied with and to immerse ourselves in the industry and learn the business side of music from every angle. Creating Country Rebel Records was in our long-term plans, and signing Justin Holmes is the perfect artist to launch the label.”
“We first became aware of Justin through his music and we were incredibly impressed by his talent, songwriting and his character as a father and husband,” adds Co-Founder Kevin Blue. “His authentic character, passion for country music, and God-given talents made him the perfect first signing for Country Rebel Records.”
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