Nashville, TN (February 12, 2021)
Tennessee natives and singer/songwriters Drew and Ellie Holcomb recently revealed two new songs “Feels Like Home” and “Hey Rivers” as part of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s “For the Love of Tennessee, Travel Safe” campaign. Written by the Holcombs and recorded in Sound Kitchen Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, the new tracks were inspired by an epic seven-day, 1600-mile R.V. trek the family took across the state as part of a video series to promote safe travel. The songwriting process was chronicled as the family of five explored Chattanooga, Kingsport, Lynchburg, Memphis, Nashville, Paris, the Smokies and more, capturing the picturesque sights, calming serenity and cherished memories that inspired new music along the way.

Known for their rich voices and folk-based material, the Holcombs championed their Tennessee vacation and brought those memories to fruition in “Feels Like Home” as homage to their home state and its storied history. Furthermore, “Hey Rivers” draws inspiration from the namesake of the youngest Holcomb, their two-year-old son, who was named in honor of Tennessee’s most famous rivers.

“I grew up in Memphis, went away to school in Knoxville, and settled down in Nashville. Even though I have lived in every region of the state, I had no idea how much of the state of Tennessee I didn’t know. It was such a gift to our family to travel the state, write songs, and see so much of the outdoor beauty our home state has to offer,” said Drew Holcomb.

This release marks a longstanding relationship between the state and the Holcombs. Over the past decade, the state has utilized Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors’ 2010 single “Tennessee” in a number of promotional assets. Tennessee Tourism will continue investing in music made for Tennessee, by Tennesseans, by licensing “Hey Rivers” and “Feels Like Home” for multi-year use across digital and broadcast content.

The campaign, launched in Oct. 2020 in partnership with VMLY&R, was part of a statewide initiative to remind residents to play—but play it safe—by exploring the state’s beauty, outdoor activities, urban centers and charming small towns while following key safety guidelines like mask-wearing, social distancing and sanitization throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Holcomb’s adventures were featured in a six-part web series which showcased the family visiting hidden gems and natural wonders in communities across the state while writing songs along the way.

To date, the campaign has netted more than 75 million views and 200,000 hours of video watched, approximately 23 years’ worth of viewing time.

Watch the “Hey Rivers” episode:

Watch the “Feels Like Home”  Episode:

Visit: www.tnvacation.com

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