The idyllic Cypress Spring in Vernon, Florida is a summertime staple destination for local residents to cool off, hang out and have fun. Now, three natives of the 2-mile-long Florida Panhandle town are bringing Cypress Spring to the country rap scene. Paul Roche, Kalan Miller and Tyler Ackerman make up the trio aptly-named Cypress Spring and have big plans as they take on the genre with a “cowboy up or sit down” attitude.
At 16 years old, Paul was playing with his dad’s southern rock band in bars before he was old enough to get in, covering songs by artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Merle Haggard. Kalan is a rapper, influenced by artists like Nelly, T.I. and Ludacris, who has always loved meshing country lyrics with a hip-hop beat. Tyler, a former high-school classmate of Paul and Kalan’s, is a talented guitarist and vocalist who also co-writes many of the band’s songs.
Paul, Kalan and Tyler are already making headway in the country rap genre. The lifelong friends grew up playing together in the dirt and now, budding artists, play together on stage.
Their small, southern town with a population of 750 and one total streetlight hugely inspires Paul, Kalan and Tyler’s music. They spend much of their downtime going hunting, fishing, mudding and “shinedrating” – hydrating with moonshine. Their songwriting naturally reflects their inspirations and lifestyle. The trio spent a solid month writing for their brand new album, “Denim,” and another week recording it.
Released on Nashville-based Average Joes Entertainment (also home to Colt Ford, The LACS, Montgomery Gentry, Sarah Ross and many others), this 12-track album offers songs about what’s engrained in the souls of Paul, Kalan and Tyler; simply put, their way of life. The title track, “Denim,” was a staple in Season 2 of the top-rated CMT Series, “Party Down South.” Cypress Springs’ engaging 20-webisode series, “Way of Life,” has also given fans an inside view into the trio’s everyday life and happenings.
You’ll hear songs about dropping a tailgate, bumping a good song on a dirt road and being proud of where you’re from. The hit single, “Way Of Life,” featuring The LACS and Danny Boone, talks about Cypress Spring’s southern lifestyle and how they’re proud to live the life that they do. The corresponding video has already garnered 8 million views on YouTube and almost 11 million track streams.
“We have appreciated and loved music all our lives,” said Kalan. “Finally, this is our moment to take what we’ve learned and our passion and share it with the world.”
Boasting true country lyrics seamlessly melded together with a hip-hop beat, “Denim,” by Cypress Spring is a must-have for any country rap fan looking to expand their collection. This is just the beginning for Cypress Spring.
