Emerson Drive Moments Video

Emerson Drive's new album on Midas Records Nashville proves they've definitely come to play. Over the past few years, the six talented musicians have patiently paid their dues, honed their skills and crossed the country dozens of times with a relentless touring schedule. They were virtually homeless, except for a tour bus, while they worked toward their turn at bat and now their time has come. After a year and a half of the most soul-stretching, creatively fulfilling work of their lives, they have emerged with an album that finally defines who they really are and what they're all about.

Emerson Drive's history is based on a solid foundation which garnered them their loyal fans. The band emerged from Canada onto the Nashville country music scene in 2001 with their brand of hip country combined with stellar musicianship and signed with DreamWorks Nashville. Emerson Drive is one of the VERY few bands ever signed to a major record label who have the distinction of playing their own instruments on ALL of their records. They humbly accept this honor because they are true instrumentalists. Their first release EMERSON DRIVE garnered numerous industry awards and nominations including, ACM Top New Vocal Group/Duo [awarded in 2003]; Billboard's ..1 Top Country Artist of the Year for 2002; R&R's ..1 New Artist MVP for 2002; Group of the Year for two consecutive years[2002 and 2003], from the Canadian Country Music Association; two Top 5 hits with "Fall Into Me" and "I Should Be Sleeping"; as well as a number one music video on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown with "Fall Into Me". Most recently the band took home top honors at the 2005 CCMA's with coveted spots in the "2005 CCMA All Star Band," Dale Wallace (keyboards) and David Pichette (fiddle) were awarded the distinction of being best on their instrument. Their release, the second on DreamWorks, WHAT IF, was released in June 2004 just before the band was prey to corporate restructuring and a company merger. Committed to their music and their genre the band set down roots in Nashville and purchased homes there and have dedicated themselves even more to their careers.

"These songs have incredible meaning and we are really proud of this album," says Mates. "There's a common bond between all them. You know, it's important to make an album that makes sense... you can pick songs all day long, but if they don..t belong together, or there's no common bond between them, you're basically just putting material on a disc and saying, 'Here's a bunch of music, I hope you like it.' But if you actually have something you can open up from front to back and have the story run through the whole thing, that's when you have a real album. We feel like we have accomplished that...We hope our fans enjoy COUNTRIFIED."