By: Laura Santaguida
Texas singer-songwriter Angel White is the true definition of a cowboy. His authentic lyrics and classic country sound blend together with his Texan identity to create music that’s honest and uniquely country. We had the opportunity to sit down with Angel to talk about his creative process and his latest single “LONESTAR GIRL” which just released this past February.
When asked about how “LONESTAR GIRL” was created, White says “I was in LA, headed to a session. That morning I was listening to a bunch of Ray Charles and just like old Texas blues stuff and some Stevie Ray Vaughn tracks, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, just a bunch of blues guys. And then Jeffery, the other writer on the song, is from Texas as well, and we were like lets just write a classic blues song. And when we decided that, we just ran with it and then we got LONESTAR GIRL”.
Just last year, White released his debut album “GHOST OF THE WEST”, a project full of vulnerability, storytelling, and soulfulness. We asked White what putting out that project meant to him where he told us “it was like I was able to record twelve years of life in twelve days. For me it was like finally I’ve processed all of this stuff, and now I’m able to put it out for people, and they can hear my story and resonate with the story, and that was really the goal”.
The album and White’s music are a true product of authentic country roots. Raised in McKinney, Texas, White comes from a family who has raised horses for 50 years and he brings his Texan identity with him on the road and in his music. When asked what about his Texan identity inspires him most White says “Probably my heart, to be honest, I feel like there’s, you know, the southern hospitality thing and just with my family that’s always been a thing, just leading with your heart. And I do feel like people from Texas and down this way do lead with their heart and with everything they do, and that for me, when I’m thinking of Texas pride, yes I love texas, but I love everybody and everything”.
With White’s Texas identity being such a big part of his music, we went on to ask him who has inspired musically, where he says “they’re kind of all over the place, but my top would be Ray LaMontagne, Frank Ocean, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Henedirx. I mean there’s a lot, Sturgill Simpson, Willie Nelson, Erykah Badu, I could go on for a while.” When speaking about how these artists have shaped the music he creates, White says “Those early on – Ray LaMontagne, Erykah Badu, and Stevie Ray Vaughn – kind of shaped what I was liking, just wanting to listen to and then later down the road when I really started making stuff, I feel like there was a space of discovery and exploration, so I was listening to stuff like Jeff Buckley and trying to find more things. I feel like that’s when the sound started to shape, was when I was hearing stuff that I hadn’t listened to and was able to apply all these new sonics and ideas to stuff that I already knew and the direction that I was going. The newer stuff is what really shaped it”.
Looking ahead to later this year, White is already thinking about upcoming projects and new music, he says “I’m definitely going to have a project this year, we’ve got shows coming up, but definitely expect an album” adding on “a great album at that”. He goes on to say “Expect a lot of shows, around summer and fall and that might be when the record would come out, but we’ll see, at least that’s what my projections are, but definitely expect a project”.
As White speaks on his passion for playing shows, he told us that “my favorite part about performing live is just that – it’s live, it’s real, you’re getting more than just hitting play on a phone or whatever you’re listening on, you’re getting the essence of whoever is performing. We all have different performing styles, some people are pretty personal and some people are super fun the whole time, and I think being able to witness that is the best part, you get to see the person”.
Later this March, White is set to open for Carter Faith on her “Cherry Valley Tour” in Nashville and is also joining Shelby Stone in April. You can also see him play at Texas Forever Festival on April 18th. If you’re like us, you won’t want to miss what Angel White has in store for 2026, so be sure to keep an eye out for his upcoming music later this year.
Stay Wild, Stay creative, Stay Country.
