Independent country music sensation Chase Rice continues to forge his own path as his Aug. 19 release Ignite the Night lands at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with over 44,000 in first week album sales.
Rice’s own Dack Janiels Records marketed Ignite the Night and oversaw promotion efforts, enlisting the radio promotion team at Columbia Nashville to push his new music at country radio. The album’s lead single, “Ready Set Roll,” earned its Gold certification from the RIAA before it had entered the Top 20 at mainstream radio and was sitting at No. 13 upon the album’s release.
“We’ve built things a little bit differently, starting with live shows and building up our fan base through touring,” said Rice. “Now people are showing up night after night to sing these songs right along with me, and to do it the way we’ve done it and have the No. 1 country album in the nation this week is unbelievable. It’s surreal.”
In a recent interview with ESPN, Marty Smith calls Rice “a rarity,” noting “it is difficult to fathom his story. [. . .] The odds are ridiculous. The mere notion is ridiculous. But Rice has done it all. Every bit.”
Rice, whose non-traditional career path into music has placed him as a one-time NFL hopeful, a Survivor contestant and a NASCAR pit crew member; initially gained attention in Nashville as a songwriter. He co-wrote 12 of the 15 tracks on Ignite the Night, which was produced by Chris DeStefano, and three of four bonus tracks included on a special iTunes “Party Edition.”
USA Today’s Brian Mansfield notes, “The ‘Cruise’ co-writer knows his audience, playing to it with single ‘Ready Set Roll’ and songs about flirty, tan-lined girls and lots of alcohol. He can do more than this, but right now, he doesn’t have to” and Taste of Country raves, “Chase Rice’s ‘Ignite the Night’ album serves up more of what fans love from the hit single ‘Ready Set Roll’ before offering some very satisfying, pensive ballads. The singer shows emotional depth, but not so much to distract fans from the unapologetic rock and R&B influenced showstoppers that make his live show an event to catch in 2014.”
Rice is currently performing at headlining dates across the country and officially kicks off his Ignite the Night Tour on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colo. The opening act for the tour’s inaugural date will be selected from a pool of final contestants in Snagajob’s “The Hourly Gig” contest, with which Rice partnered earlier this summer to give aspiring musicians the chance to perform in front of a sold-out crowd. Special guests Old Dominion and Michael Ray will also join Rice on select dates throughout the Ignite the Night Tour.
For more information and the latest updates, visit www.ChaseRice.com or connect on Twitter and Facebook @ChaseRiceMusic.
