East Dallas Advocate profiles Chris J. Norwood

FEATURE


Hi! East Dallas Advocate has a great conversation with Chris J. Norwood, who says he’s “just a dude who pours his heart and soul into his music and does his best to try and write great songs that hopefully resonate with people,” about his upcoming album I Am Not Cool (August 20, State Fair Records).

Dallas peeps: Have you picked up tix yet to the record release show? Chris will be co-headlining with label mate Billy Law at The Kessler Theater and the show is sponsored by State Fair of Texas with food on site from Fletcher’s Corny Dogs.

Chris J. Norwood faces down suicide and gun culture on his new single, premiering today via The Bluegrass Situation

SONG PREMIERE


Honored to play a small part in helping Chris J. Norwood bring light to an important issue through his new song "Good Guy With A Gun," out this Friday via State Fair Records. Hear it today at The Bluegrass Situation.

Norwood says, “I’d already written several songs about my father’s suicide… but… losing a parent at a young age is always going to be a part of me. It’s part of my story. It’s tangled all in my roots. Truth be told, we as a country need to talk more openly about suicide. Especially as it relates to the gun debate and gun culture."

Twangville premieres Chris J. Norwood's mobile-ready new clip

VIDEO PREMIERE


Wednesday - it contains the word "wed." When watching (on a phone, as intended) the music video for Chris J. Norwood’s supremely catchy "I Need You (To Quit Breaking My Heart}," one has to wonder if Chris and his wife Carrie are going to hit the rocks. It's called suspense, folks… get into it! 

Thanks to Mayer at Twangville for this premiere - link in bio! You’ll be enjoying this tune throughout your Wednesday. This, my promise to you. Look out for the new Norwood album 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭, out August 20 via State Fair Records. 

Fair Shakes and Just Desserts highlights Chris J. Norwood's "honest, beautiful" new song

FEATURE


Chris J. Norwood might not be “cool,” according to himself at least, but Fair Shakes And Just Desserts says he and his wife Carrie make “simple, honest, beautiful music.” Link in bio to the review of single “I Need You (To Quit Breaking My Heart),” which the site compares to Jonathan Richman, Marshall Crenshaw, and The Smithereens. The full LP is due August 20 from State Fair Records. 

In his newest single, live now on Americana UK, Chris J. Norwood implores you to quit breaking his heart

SONG PREMIERE


Americana UK is live now with the premiere of Chris J. Norwood’s “I Need You (To Quit Breaking My Heart),” a duet with Carrie Norwood that has one of my fave song titles of the year.

The site praises the track’s “great lyrical hooks – who could resist listening on after hearing ‘I hope this letter finds you well but I need some time to myself… PS: here are my regrets’? Having reeled you in, the Dallas based singer-songwriter makes the stay more than worth the while.” Look for this one on the upcoming LP I Am Not Cool, out August 20 from State Fair Records.

Central Track picks up Chris J. Norwood in its latest White Noise roundup

FEATURE


More coverage of Chris J. Norwood’s new video for “I Am Not Cool,” this time in a White Noise roundup on Dallas’ Central Track. According to its website, “Central Track covers everything the young, outgoing Dallasite is interested in,” which does sound pretty cool, in actuality…

The song is the title track of Norwood’s new LP, which is on its way from State Fair Records. Pre-order now.

Americana UK praises Chris J. Norwood's bravery

FEATURE

Thanks to Americana UK, which wrote, “It’s a pretty brave career move to declare oneself as being uncool – but that’s exactly what Dallas-based Chris J. Norwood has done on this new song.”

The Boot shared the video for the song last week, telling readers that “Chris J. Norwood wants you to know the truth.” Stay tuned for more truth on Aug. 20, when the full length I Am Not Cool LP drops from State Fair Records.

Chris J. Norwood walks the red carpet in the new video for "I Am Not Cool," available now on The Boot

VIDEO PREMIERE

Wow, sounds opulent! “Scenes of Norwood walking a red carpet, performing onstage and being approached by fans..."

Oh, wait… “Chris J. Norwood has a whole lot of fun making his point in the music video for his cheekily titled new single 'I Am Not Cool.' The new clip, premiering exclusively on The Boot, juxtaposes the singer-songwriter's life in the spotlight with mundane slices of life out of it."

Well hey - at least Chris got to experience just a little bit of that sweet, sweet fame. It's all about those red carpets, am I right?! Link in bio.

New album I Am Not Cool arrives Aug. 20 via State Fair Records, and each purchase comes with a free evaluation of what you're wearing (no, it doesn’t).

Americana Highways shares Chris J Norwood's "I Am Not Cool," from the upcoming LP of the same name

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PREMIERE

If you ask me, Chris J Norwood is cool. But I am a fan of humility, so I will tell you on his behalf that his new singe, “I Am Not Cool," and his upcoming album of the same name (due August 20 from State Fair Records), is fantastic. It premiered earlier today on Americana Highways and will be out everywhere this Friday, May 21 - the same day Chris celebrates his birthday in Dallas. Americana Highways praises the song as “unpretentious and genuine,” and Chris says it’s “one of the most ‘me’ sounding tracks that [he’s] ever released.

Chris J Norwood's vulnerable, self-effacing songwriting - salted with a bit of required brainpower- is unique and uncool. "I Am Not Cool" arrives Aug 20th.

NEWS

Chris Norwood isn’t cool.

Or Chris J Norwood, as the Dallas-based singer-songwriter bills himself, is not cool.

So “not cool” that when searching for a synonym for “uncool” that starts with “J” in order to complete a lame joke, this writer could not find one.

Pretty damn uncool.

Norwood is honest, however, and in a world that becomes more cynical by the moment, the kind of honesty that he conjures and delivers so eloquently and elegantly on his new, very uncool, album I Am Not Cool (Aug. 20th, State Fair Records), well, that kind of uncool is... cool?

The album is the follow-up to Norwood’s much-praised 2017 debut record Longshot.

In addition to Norwood’s genial ability to say things you may not want to hear and leave you appreciating the experience, he is also masterful at a kind of tongue-in-cheek levity that is sorely missing from this genre.

There’s only two kinds of music

What’s true and what ain’t

It only takes three chords to set the record straight

Norwood sings these lyrics on the “I Am Not Cool” title cut, a perfect example of how his economy of words is quizzical, meta, and puts a smile on your face all at the same time.

I Am Not Cool, the second album by Chris J Norwood arrives via State Fair Records on Aug. 20th.