By: Bridget Sinden
Stephen Wilson Jr. spent years being the guy behind the guy—crafting tunes and lyrics for Nashville’s biggest names while quietly perfecting his own voice. When he released his soul-baring album søn of dad in 2023, it wasn’t an instant connection with an audience but slowly by slowly his reputation as an artist started to take hold and it actually felt like everyone was just waiting for him to get here. He felt at the same time familiar and new with a voice that feels effortless – as if he’s singing to you personally and grabbing your heart and saying to it “you’re not using this right now are you? Let me take it for 3 minutes.”
The Songwriter’s Songwriter
Before Wilson Jr. became the artist making everyone pay attention, he was already making everyone sound better. His pen has touched tracks for Tim McGraw, Old Dominion, Caitlyn Smith, Trace Adkins, and plenty more.
Publishing exec Cowboy Chris saw it coming: “All this bro-country bullshit is gonna be gone in 5 years. You’re going to be ahead of the pack.”
Turns out, he was right about both things.
Wilson Jr.’s path wasn’t exactly linear. Indiana boxing champion turned scientist (doing R&D at Mars, because why not), then member of indie-rock band AutoVaughn—the guy seemed like he was collecting careers to avoid the inevitable – I can relate. I’ve done so many things as a sideline to the thing that I know I should be doing – and we’ve all taken the shitty job for the money. But when a mentor finally asked him the ultimate question—”If money weren’t a factor, what would you do?”—songwriting was the answer that stuck.
When Loss Becomes Art
Søn of dad isn’t just an album title—it’s a mission statement. Born from his father’s final words (“Write a good song for me”), the double album became what Rolling Stone called “a record for the ages.” Wilson Jr. found a way to channel grief into something that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
The album is a love letter to his father who passed away a few years ago and so the album is emotionally charged from beginning to end. You can hear every conversation or argument that he had with his old man playing out in these songs.
His approach blends classic country storytelling with Seattle’s abstract, grunge-influenced style. As he puts it: “I wanted to figure out how to write songs the way Nashville songwriters do, but also incorporate the abstract nature that Seattle brought… like Kurt [Cobain], writing in vignettes… you just kind of see little snapshots.”
In 2025 he added 5 more songs to the original album because he says “I wasn’t done. I had more to say about my dad, my upbringing, and how all of it is still shaping me. These songs are continuations—pages that fell out of the original journal.”
“Stand By Me”—Wilson Jr.’s heart-melting take on the Ben E. King classic became a viral hit with over 10M views and became the spark for his artist journey.
“Father’s Son” is a heart wrenching and beautiful song about his relationship with his dad.
I’m A song creates such a visceral picture of all of the moments that a song, or music has played in your life – and, he sings it from the song’s perspective which is a unique pov and a twist that Wilson Jr. is becoming known for.
“I was there the day you learned to drive
The first time that you got high
I even helped you realize that she wasn’t right for you
You fall down, I pick you up again
I helped a boy become a man
When your best friend died
I helped you cry and finally turn him loose”
The chorus then grabs our hand so we know that it’s with us and part of us…
I’m the words that’ll hit you
That’ll get you where you’re going
So you never go there alone
I’m the melody glued to the memory
That you can’t shake when it comes on
I’m the part of you that you listen to
Riding in the radio all night long
I’m a song
Whoa, oh
I’m a song
Whoa, oh
I’m a song
Stephen Wilson Jr.’s transition from Nashville songwriter to breakout artist feels both surprising and inevitable. Søn of dad showcases someone who’s mastered the craft of songwriting and is now ready to use that skill to tell his own story. With genre-blending instincts, genuine vulnerability, Wilson Jr. is positioned to be one of country’s most compelling voices for years to come.
Stay Wild. Stay Storytelling. Stay Country
