Speaking from a studio in London,Tyler Hubbard cuts a relaxed but reflective figure. A decade on from reshaping modern country as one half of Florida Georgia Line and now firmly established as a solo artist, the singer-songwriter is taking stock of the journey that brought him here. In this candid conversation with Entertainment Focus, Hubbard opens up about the evolution of his songwriting, the pressures and freedoms of stepping out on his own, and how a transatlantic perspective is reshaping his sense of where country music can go next.
Tyler Hubbard on evolving beyond Florida Georgia Line and redefining his solo identity
Speaking from a quiet corner of his London hotel, Hubbard admits that stepping out alone meant “unlearning the default settings” that came with being in one of country music’s biggest duos. He talks about reclaiming his own instincts-from how he phrases a chorus to how he tells stories that aren’t designed for two voices. Rather than chasing distance from his past, he’s carefully building on it, stripping back the overly polished edges and leaning into a rawer, more organic sound. In the studio, he’s more likely to chase a half-sung melody caught on his phone than wait for a “perfect” idea in a scheduled writing block, and he describes these new tracks as “journal entries with a backbeat” rather than radio calculations.
- Creative control now sits firmly in his hands,from artwork to track sequencing.
- Touring choices are shaped around smaller rooms where he can “see every face”.
- Collaboration has shifted from a fixed partner to a rotating circle of writers and producers.
| Era | Focus | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| FGL Years | Arena anthems | Big hooks, heavy polish |
| Solo London Sessions | Personal stories | Warmer, more intimate |
Onstage, that shift is just as visible. Hubbard frames the new chapter as a dialog with the audience, not a greatest-hits victory lap.Set lists are built to trace his journey-early duo smashes reimagined with leaner arrangements,solo cuts slotted between them like confessionals,and the occasional deep cut that never quite fit the FGL blueprint.He acknowledges that some fans arrive expecting a nostalgia-only night,but he’s agreeable letting the music recalibrate expectations: “If they walk out knowing a little more about who I am when the lights are off,then I’ve done my job.”
Crafting country hits in a global city how London shapes Hubbard’s songwriting perspective
Watching double-decker buses roll past the Thames while sketching out a lyric, Hubbard admits, has rewired the way he hears stories. The blue-collar vignettes and front-porch confessions that defined his early work are now filtered through a city that speaks a dozen languages on a single Tube carriage.He leans into that contrast, pairing small-town detail with big-city atmosphere – a steel guitar line rubbing shoulders with a late-night, neon-lit metaphor.In sessions here, he’s become more deliberate about space in his songs, letting verses breathe the way London’s parks interrupt the rush of its streets.
Collaborating with UK writers and producers, he’s also discovered a different sense of restraint and irony that sneaks into his choruses. British co-writers push him to trim sentimentality and sharpen imagery, turning what could be a straightforward love song into something more layered. That cross‑pollination shows up not only in his lyrics but in the production choices he’s toying with on new demos: a slightly grittier drum sound, a hint of indie warmth under the familiar Nashville polish.
- Story roots: Southern upbringing, faith and family remain the emotional core.
- Urban lens: London’s pace, skyline and late-night solitude reshape the framing.
- New collaborators: UK writers challenge structure, hooks and phrasing.
- Broader audience: Songs tested live on European crowds inform what connects.
| Inspiration Source | Songwriting Shift |
|---|---|
| London commutes | More reflective, observational verses |
| Pub conversations | Tighter, conversational hooks |
| Mixed music scenes | Bolder genre-blending in demos |
Inside the writing room Hubbard’s process, inspirations and practical tips for aspiring songwriters
Hubbard admits that, despite years of chart-topping success, every song still starts in the same vulnerable place: a blank page and a half-formed feeling. He talks about “chasing the spark” rather than chasing radio, often beginning with a conversational phrase he’s overheard on the road or a single image that won’t leave his mind. From there, he leans on rhythm and melody to test whether an idea has legs, singing nonsense syllables until a hook naturally appears. London, he says, sharpened his observational instincts; walking along the Thames or people-watching in cafés gave him fresh storylines that feel both small and cinematic. For Hubbard, the true alchemy happens in the room where trust is high and egos are low, allowing collaborators to pitch bad lines freely until the right one finally lands.
When talking directly to aspiring songwriters, Hubbard breaks his approach down into simple, repeatable habits rather than mystique. He keeps a running note on his phone that he treats like a catch-all net for real-life dialogue, sermon lines, book quotes and stray emotions, and he revisits it before almost every session. He also emphasises the importance of finishing songs,even the flawed ones,arguing that completion builds creative stamina. Among his go-to practices are:
- Write fast, edit slow – separate the creative burst from the critical rewrite.
- Protect the first instinct – initial melodic choices frequently enough carry the most emotion.
- Co-write widely – sit with writers from different genres to stretch your perspective.
- Live a life worth writing about – travel, read, and leave the studio often.
| Phase | Hubbard’s Focus |
|---|---|
| Idea Hunt | Real conversations, daily notes |
| First Draft | Melody and emotion over perfection |
| Refine | Cut clichés, keep the strongest lines |
| Road Test | Play live, watch the crowd’s reaction |
Balancing chart success with authenticity Hubbard’s advice on longevity in the modern country landscape
Speaking from a rainy London afternoon, Hubbard is candid about the tug-of-war between topping playlists and staying rooted in the stories he wants to tell. He describes the streaming era as “a constant scoreboard you’re never meant to win,” but insists that the only enduring metric is whether a song still feels honest a year after it’s written. Rather than chasing TikTok-ready hooks, he leans into narrative detail and lived experience, even if that means a slower climb up the charts. For him, the real pressure is not first-week numbers, but maintaining a catalog he can stand behind when he plays an unplugged set in a small room, far from the pyrotechnics and arena crowds.
Hubbard outlines a quiet, almost methodical strategy for surviving in a trend-obsessed genre, one that’s increasingly influenced by pop and hip-hop production cycles. He talks about building a “long game” around fan trust, where consistency matters more than viral spikes. That ideology shapes everything from co-writer choices to release schedules:
- Song filters: tracks must pass a “front-porch test” – if he wouldn’t sing it with just an acoustic guitar, it doesn’t make the record.
- Career pacing: alternating radio-minded singles with more vulnerable deep cuts to keep both programmers and core fans engaged.
- Live validation: testing new material on the road before committing to a final mix or single push.
| Focus | Short-Term Win | Longevity Move |
|---|---|---|
| Songwriting | Trend-heavy hook | Personal, time-proof story |
| Releases | Algorithm spikes | Steady catalogue growth |
| Brand | Flashy moments | Trust and authenticity |
Final Thoughts
As Hubbard signs off from this London chapter, his reflections underscore a career defined less by spectacle than by steady evolution and an unshakable commitment to the craft of songwriting. From arena anthems to more intimate solo moments, he continues to navigate country music’s shifting landscape with a clear sense of who he is and where he’s headed.If his time in the UK proves anything, it’s that his stories – rooted in Nashville but shaped by a broader, global perspective – resonate far beyond the American South. And as new music and further international dates loom on the horizon, Tyler Hubbard’s next verses look set to be as candid and compelling as the ones that brought him here.
