Randall King Talks Roots, Songwriting, and New Album Ahead of San Angelo Show

SAN ANGELO, TX — Country music artist Randall King says staying true to traditional honky-tonk helped him find his voice after early struggles in Lubbock’s red dirt scene.

In an interview with San Angelo LIVE!’s Tessa Koskovich, King said his style comes directly from the artists who shaped him, naming George Strait, Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley and Alan Jackson among his strongest influences.

“That kind of sound, that kind of honky-tonk in the country, shaped a lot of what I do,” King said.

King explained that when he began performing in Lubbock, he felt disconnected from the Americana-leaning sound his band was playing.

By 2015, he shifted back to the traditional country music he grew up with.

“I just needed to find my way,” King said. “That helped me figure out what I don’t want to do. Failures help you learn and grow.”

As a songwriter, King described himself as an observer who draws inspiration from conversations, stories, and his upbringing in Amarillo.

He credited his father’s storytelling and even his first job bussing tables at Pancake Station as experiences that taught him to listen and translate real stories into music.

“That’s what country music is supposed to be,” King said. “It’s supposed to be stories, not just beer, tailgates and dirt roads.”

Looking ahead, King is working on his fourth studio album following the release of Into the Neon in early 2024. He said the new project, expected in May, will be stripped down compared to the darker, more modern tone of his last release.

“I really want this next record to be right down the line of George Strait,” King said, adding that it will feature 11 new songs.

It will also be his first independent record since parting ways with Warner Music.

The singer noted that his first and last projects with Warner were dedicated to his late sister, Leanna, making his departure from the label a full-circle moment.

“Forever her name is in country music,” King said.

King also praised the fans who continue to fill venues and sing his songs back to him.

“The best part is seeing them pack the house,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that my music means that much to somebody.”

Fans will get a chance to see King perform in the Concho Valley when he takes the stage at Cooper’s Bar-B-Q in Christoval on Sept. 26. He also highlighted his upcoming King Fest in Floresville, north of San Antonio, which will feature Neal McCoy and other artists.