Born in the small town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, Arvie Bennett Jr. started from humble beginnings. Money was tight but Arvie inherited things more precious than money.. A strong faith in God, undying resilience in the face of pain, and a passion for life’s possibilities. The country singer/songwriter started out singing in choir which led to his journey into the music industry. He travelled to Nashville, Tennessee where he experienced the high’s and low’s of the industry, as every musician does. In 2008, Arvie met his beautiful wife Bunny and released his second solo project, That's Just Me, this gained him major success, many releases and every a band for a period of 6 years and many events and performances. In October 2018, Arvie, now a solo-artist, signed a recording contract with Winter Records-Nashville. He immediately went into Yellow Hammer Studios and recorded “Just A Cowboy”, a six-song EP of original music.
The single “Just A Cowboy” is a truthful motif from the heart. Arvie Bennett Jr’s vulnerability shines through in the most beautiful way. The lyricism and meaning behind the song lay a powerful foundation for the precise acoustics and melody. The song “Just A Cowboy” is about staying true to who you are and Arvie stays true to that theme throughout the track. He’s proud of who he is, an introverted, emotional, human being, with feelings of his own. “I’m more than a cowboy hat, more than the dirty boots I wear. I’m just a cowboy trying to tame this wild horse inside, there are days I take the reigns and days I let it ride” he offers, perfectly describing the struggle inside everyone's mind. I think that Arvie Bennett Jr. has a mesmerizing vocal ability and an accomplish way of connecting with his listeners. His audience can interpret his lyrics in whichever way relates to them most. With so much success already we can’t wait to see what Arvie Bennett Jr. delivers next!
Listen to "Just A Cowboy" here and get to know more about Arvie Bennett Jr below!
Hello Arvie, we love your single “Just A Cowboy”. What inspired you to write it?
"Just A Cowboy" was written almost 10 years ago and has been a fan favorite over the years. I believe that each of us struggle with certain parts of our personality that we don't like or that we wish we could eradicate from our lives. For me, my personal struggle is with OCD and Depression. With the month of May being Mental Health Awareness Month I thought this would be an awesome opportunity to share a song that deals with the constant mental struggle that I face. The struggle between trying to be the person I want to be and the person my mind tries to convince me that I am. "Just A Cowboy" chronicles that journey.
What brought you to country music?
I was born to teen parents in the small town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina. My dad was nineteen and my mom was sixteen and they had to work their fingers to the bone just to support us. So, I spent most of my time with my grandparents who lived on a small farm just outside of town. It was there that my love for the country lifestyle developed. As they say, I learned to rope and ride and shoveled a lot of crap over the years. Country music was as natural to me as breathing because it spoke of the life that I lived everyday.
What do you think is the best trend in country music right now?
I love all styles and genres of music, so I am not one of those that says country music needs to get back to its roots. I believe music is an expression of the individual artist and as long as you are true to yourself then no one has a right to tell you how to produce your music. With that said, I really like some of the "Not-So-Famous" guys that around now...Cody Jinks, Ryan Bingham, and Tyler Childers. They really stay true to themselves.
Who are your musical influences?
My influences range from George Jones to Geto Boyz. I listened to it all coming up. My dad was a football and baseball coach so we moved a few times to different places with vastly different cultures. Each culture introduced me to a new and different style of music. I can remember "beat-boxing" and rapping with some of my teammates on the way to football/baseball games on the back of the bus. I was blessed to be influenced by every genre of music.
What’s your live performance and stage presence like?
I am a storyteller. I like for my audience to really get to know me throughout the night, to know my pain, my struggles, my strengths, and my weaknesses. I want them to walk away feeling like they are my friends and not just my fans. I always say that I create family not fans!
Connect with Arvie Bennett Jr on social media
Instagram: www.instagram.com/arviejrmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ArvieBennettJr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/arvie.bennett
www.arviejr.com