Chase Rice Debuts Steamy ‘Lonely If You Are’ at CMA Fest
Check out the follow up to his Number One hit, "Eyes On You."
Chase Rice had a lot to celebrate at Nashville’s 2019 CMA Music Festival Thursday night (June 6th). His latest single “Eyes On You” became his first No.1 at country radio last month, and he was headlining the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater that night — so he decided to give fans something special.
Speaking with Sounds Like Nashville backstage, Rice set up his news by explaining that the CMA Fest fans are extra hardcore. “These are the most dedicated fans in country music,” he said. “I mean they come to us. We don’t go to them for the only time all year, and that’s why I love this week.”
With that in mind, Rice figured he’d reward those dedicated fans with a brand new song during his rainy night-cap of a show. Friday morning he officially released his lusty next single, “Lonely If You Are,” and he debuted on the Ascend Amphitheater stage Thursday night.
Starting off simple and stripped down with just Rice’s voice and acoustic guitar — the same way he performs it live — “Lonely If You Are” opens up into a steamy romantic groove, all about a call he’s willing to take any time … no questions asked.
“It’s about a guy and a girl, and she’s out with her friends doing her thing — or maybe even in with her friends,” Rice said. “But it’s like ‘Whenever your friends leave, hit me up. I’m lonely if you are, and I’ll be right there.’ I think it has a chance to be even bigger than ‘Eyes On You,’ and that’s saying a lot.”
The new track was co-written by Rice with Lindsay Rimes and Hunter Phelps, and it also marks the turning of a page in Rice’s career. He says it will serve as the first song off a brand new album — but cautions that it might be a while before that project comes out. First he’ll likely release a couple of remixed versions of his “Eyes On You” hit, and will likely follow “Lonely If You Are” with another single or two, so the next full project won’t arrive until next year.
In the meantime, Rice will be plenty busy. After CMA Fest wraps up, he’ll be on the road with fair and festival dates all summer, followed by a fall headlining tour.
