Moxie has sent yet another surprise The Eye’s way, but this time, it’s not another angsty pop star like Benson Boone or California band like Almost Monday. Instead, it’s the refreshing sound of fifteen-year-old country singer-songwriter Maddox Batson. With another promo package, this time featuring Batson’s music, it’s clear that this Zach Bryan/Morgan Wallen hybrid is gearing up to make it big.
But who exactly is Maddox Batson? And why has Moxie decided to bring this relatively unknown artist to Edison High’s doorstep?
Who is Maddox Batson?
While I was researching Batson, his name didn’t immediately ring a bell until I discovered that he co-wrote Lana Del Rey and Quavo’s hit song “Tough” last summer, and he’s also set to support Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind Tour this fall. So though he’s been advertised as such, Batson clearly isn’t a complete unknown; he already has some pretty significant industry clout, at least as a writer behind the scenes.
But the Nashville-born, Alabama-based artist first started getting attention for his own music covering songs from Zach Bryan and Red Clay Strays (and doing GRWMs on TikTok) with his dad before he started writing his own songs. Like Benson Boone, he signed to Warner Records in 2023, and in the past year, released singles such as “Tears in the River” and “Southbound,” garnering almost half a million monthly listeners on Spotify.
With a smooth, melancholic blend of folk and 2010s pop, Batson is certainly “country’s answer to Justin Bieber,” as Zach Sang christened him. For a freshman in high school, his voice and lyrics have a great range of emotional depth, covering topics of growing up, self-doubt, and young love— relatable themes for Gen Z.
First Dance: Batson’s Debut EP
To be honest, I wasn’t totally impressed with Batson’s pre-EP singles: “Tears in the River” felt like an empty shell of a One Direction love song with periodic guitar twangs. But First Dance changed that, featuring tracks with more sophisticated production and meaningful lyrics.
“Girl in Green” is easily my favorite song from the EP. Its lyrics capture the nostalgic longing of a fleeting connection and the emotional impact of a brief encounter with a girl despite the lack of meaningful interaction or even knowing her name. It’s here where you can really hear the mixed influences from Justin Bieber and Zach Bryan, with Batson’s naive yet confident voice paired with dreamy yet punchy production that blends country twang with pop sensibilities.
“God Talkin’” and “Problem” are also a testament to the great production on this EP, to the credit of Jake Torrey and J. Kash (who’ve worked with all our favorite 2010s artists like Charlie Puth, Maroon 5, One Direction, Britney, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and countless others). The production shines through with the polished, radio-friendly sound of the 2010s pop era, blending electronic elements with catchy hooks and punchy beats. You can hear the influence of EDM, hip-hop, and R&B, with smooth synths, crisp drums, and infectious basslines driving the energy forward. Batson’s boyish Bieber-like vocals pair perfectly with the mix of danceable rhythms and electronic flourishes of 2010s pop while staying true to his country style.
Just as we saw with Benson Boone’s carefully curated marketing blitz, Moxie knows how to create a buzz, and Batson’s recent promotional package is no exception. In an era where TikTok and social media drive music consumption at lightning speed, it’s easy to dismiss these kinds of campaigns as just another way to manufacture virality. But in Batson’s case, the strategy actually makes a lot of sense.
At just fifteen, Batson is living the same high school experience as the students these packages are being sent to. Unlike industry plants banking on algorithmic hype, he’s an artist teenagers might genuinely relate to— writing about fleeting crushes, personal struggles, and the dream-big mentality that feels all too familiar to anyone still navigating high school hallways. If there’s any audience that should be discovering him organically, it’s us.
And that raises an interesting question— why aren’t we paying more attention to young, up-and-coming artists in our own community? From singer-songwriters to guitar players to even SoundCloud rappers, there’s no shortage of students making music. Maybe instead of letting labels dictate what we listen to, we should start looking closer to home.
Whether Moxie’s latest promo push is just another example of the industry’s obsession with viral marketing or a smart way to introduce a genuinely promising young artist, one thing’s for sure: Maddox Batson is on the rise. With a major tour, a solid debut EP, and industry heavyweights in his corner, he’s definitely an artist to watch— whether you’re a country fan or not.
