Young Singer/Songwriter to Bring
New Jersey Flare to Nashville
BY SHANNA O’MARA
For a 21-year-old singer and songwriter from New Jersey, perhaps there
are expectations – what he should look like, how he should sing, who he
should be. But one local artist isn’t settling into a mold crafted by expectations.
He’s paving his own path, one that leads to Nashville and stardom.
Meet Colts Neck’s Gary Frost.
Frost began writing his own lyrics seven years ago after taking an interest
in singing from a young age.
“I grew up listening to music with my parents all the time,” Frost said. “I
started taking voice lessons when I was 7 or 8 years old.”
As a child, Frost hummed along to country tunes his mom and dad
would play in the house. During his adolescent years, he began listening
more to what was being played on mainstream radio.
“I used to be inspired by artists like Ed Sheeran,” he said. “Around 18
years old, I really started drawing from other genres, and I realized the best
use of my voice was through country music.”
He turned back to his roots and channeled stars like Tim McGraw, Blake
Shelton and Luke Combs. He described his style now as “modern country
with a little more pop.”
“My stuff is denitely radio-friendly,” Frost said. “One goal is to get onto
Thunder 106. I think my song ‘You Remind Me of Whiskey’ would be perfect
for that.”
“You Remind Me of Whiskey” was written as a love song with pop are,
Frost said. He wanted to nd something within himself to put to a tune and
realized love is something his listeners could relate to.
30 APRIL 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
“I was at a bar with a girl, and she ordered a Jack and Coke,” he said.
“I just started thinking about what I could do with that and it just kind of
clicked.”
Frost’s other recent releases include an upbeat, heartfelt song called
“The Way” and the edgier title track “Dancing With Fire.” Before recording
his rst studio album at The Jam Room in Howell under his new label, Big
B Unlimited LLC, Frost recorded in Tinton Falls. He has also played various
venues around the state, including local restaurants and bars like Wonder
Bar and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park as well as Harborside Grille in Atlantic
Highlands.
“When I sing for bigger crowds, I have a local band that plays with me,”
Frost said. “Usually, though, I just sing and play the acoustic guitar. I also play
the piano.”
While his style is similar to the country stars he looks up to, one thing
sets him apart.
“I think the biggest thing that distinguishes me is that I’m not from the
south,” Frost said. “I have a little bit of a different voice, and I keep some rock
in my style. I don’t want to follow the norm of what’s expected in country
music, so I always throw a little Jersey rock or pop into my sound.”
Frost hopes to move to Nashville in the next three years and start as a
songwriter in the epicenter of country music. But before he can get there, he
plans to shoot a few more music videos to accompany his release of “Come
Through” on YouTube.
“I want to be my own person as an artist,” Frost said of his ultimate goal.
“I want to spend weekends traveling. I want that tour bus life and to do this
full time.”
To learn more about Frost and to listen to his music, visit GaryFrost-
Country.com and follow him at Facebook.com/GaryFrostMusic.
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