Cody Joe Hodges

 

With his debut radio single 'The Good Stuff' rocketing up the charts, Cody Joe Hodges and his unique brand of straight-talking country rock is rapidly becoming a cross-over success story.
 

There is something unique happening with Cody Joe Hodges and his hard-rocking band out of College Station, Texas. With an honest, disarming vocal style, tight acoustic arrangements and socially conscious lyrics, this rising country star out of Texas appears to be dabbling in musical alchemy. And by all measures, it's working. Cody Joe started playing music at an early age, but it wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he became serious about his art.  Impassioned by such country greats as George Strait, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, Cody Joe wrote his first song, “Daddy’s Dream”, his freshman year in the dorms at Texas A&M University. Not long after graduating from Texas A&M in 2006, Cody Joe took off to Nashville, where he was lucky enough to find a place to stay with the late, great Johnny Paycheck’s steel guitar player, Jay Andrews.   Jay was kind enough to help Cody Joe get a job working on Broadway.  After his stay in Nashville, he decided to move back to Texas and join the Army. While in the Army, (duty station, Fort Carson), he was playing music on a street corner in Colorado Springs with a homeless man, when he was discovered by an Army affiliate.   He was then asked to audition for the group "Harmony in Motion," a vocal ensemble based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.  After auditioning, they extended an offer to join them, and Cody Joe began traveling across America playing for large entertainment venues.  Upon discharge, his dad had a talk with him about a career in the power line business as a lineman. This sounded like something exciting and also a great opportunity to draw upon for songwriting, so he joined the energy field in 2010.  At the same time, he started a band with the help of his buddy Dan Kuciemba, and a couple of students from Texas A&M.  Calling themselves “The Linemen”, they came out with their first album as a band in 2012. Due to quality, the album received limited airplay. In the spring of 2013, he decided to focus on his music and see what plans God had for him.  That was a pivotal decision, with his first recording contract being signed in December 2013, a hit song on radio and a significant global buzz now surrounding this country artist. Cody Joe Hodges’ music has been described as 'outlaw country', with a strong influence by the country greats and performers who started the genre in the late 70’s and 80’s. Yet upon closer examination, his writing style reaches across the aisle to both the old and new generations, offering not only something from the past, but something from the present and future as well. Independent reporter Lily Clark recently interviewed this exciting new artist and got an inside look at his career, musical inspirations and plans for the future.

LILY: When did you first discover your love of music?
CODY: Not really sure if I was old enough to remember. My mother and father would take my sister and I dancing quite a bit when I was younger (that was back when parents could do that kind of thing). I would imagine that had a lot to do with it.  
 
LILY: Your song is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
CODY: I'm all about the ‘good stuff,’ and optimism is definitely up on the ranks for me. It's always a pleasure to know that people love my music and the direction that I'm headed. Without listeners, I'm just another fella picking and grinning in the wood shed.  
 
LILY: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
CODY: My wife and I wrote the song, and we just wanted to get some good, positive country music out in the market. I have a style that is just a little different from what's going on in the mainstream country world.  

LILY: Would you say that the mood of your other songs is in the same vein as your debut radio single?
CODY: No way, my music has lots of different moods.   It just depends on my creative process that day. I'm just like a lot of the listeners- I like to be diverse, but I do consider country music my genre. When you hear my name, you're not going wonder what kind of music it is...you're just gonna know, this is country music.

LILY: How would you characterize yourself as a musician? (ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving...)
CODY: You might have to ask my wife for a better description, as there's no one in this world who knows me better. I consider myself to be a hard working perfectionist, who knows how to have fun, but also knows that if I want to get where i want to be, it takes some seriousness as well. I'm more of a lover than a fighter, and have been known to have a shy bone at times.  

 

LILY: Did you come from a musical background?  Are there other musicians in your family?
CODY: My musical background was listening to country radio. None of my immediate family played music.  

LILY: What do you find most rewarding about being a musician?  What do you find most challenging? 
CODY: I enjoy meeting new people, traveling, and playing original music.  I have found that building a brand, and all the business work that goes into the music has been the most challenging... (that's probably a typical musician answer).

LILY: Who are your role models in music?
CODY: My role models are people who have worked very hard to get to where they are at and don't mind giving a pointer or two to others trying to make it in the business.

LILY: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
CODY: One of the most memorable performances was with Harmony in Motion, a vocal group I performed with in the Army at The Texas Motor Speedway for a NASCAR race. I was standing on the stage, and as far to the left and as far to the right as I could see, the people just wrapped around me. And...I got to perform an original tune.

LILY: Do you have a music video for your hit single? If so, what can you tell us about it?
CODY: I do not have a music video for ‘The Good Stuff’ yet, but I do have a video made with pictures our fans submitted to us for our release ‘Getting Back to Country.’ I'm currently working on a video with a label out of Nashville for a song to be released next year called ‘One More Drink.’

LILY: What advice would you give to young, aspiring musicians out there who are unsure and need guidance?
CODY: Quit...and if you can't quit, keep going. You will be guided, and it's always good to talk to people who have been in your shoes.

LILY: What's next for you as an artist?  Is there a new single in the works?  If so, what can you tell us about it?
CODY: We have quite a bit of ‘good stuff’ in the works. I signed my first record deal through Tate Music Group out of Oklahoma this past December for the Album ‘The Good Stuff.’ We will be releasing a few more singles on that album. I also signed my second recording contract this past March through Lamon Records out of Nashville. They will be releasing a single/video this next year titled ‘One More Drink.’  I wrote it with my wife while we were on vacation in Mexico. 

LILY: I look forward to hearing it, Cody. Thanks for taking time out to share your story with me. I wish you good luck and continued success!

www.codyjoehodges.com

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