After spending the past year immersed in Nashville’s world-renowned music scene, Australian country artist Jackson James returns with his first new music since 2023, unveiling the infectious new single ‘Rich Guys’.
A breezy, feel-good anthem packed with coastal charm and modern country energy, ‘ Rich Guys’ reminds listeners that life’s greatest riches aren’t found in bank accounts. Blending Jackson’s Australian upbringing with the contemporary sounds of Music City, the self-produced single delivers an instantly memorable chorus that feels tailor-made for life’s simple pleasures.
“‘Rich Guys’ is about realizing the richest moments in life aren’t measured by money – they’re found in backyard parties, good friends, cold drinks and warm summer nights,” tells the singer-songwriter.
Written alongside Melanie Dyer and Angus Gill, ‘Rich Guys’ took over a year for everything to fall into place.
“Some songs are written in hours and some even take years for all the elements to line up and the universe to deliver the song. Melanie, Angus and I wrote the title and chorus hook quickly and the rest of the song followed about one year later. I’m a very visual person, I can visualise then create and songwriting works the same way, see the story, write the story, tell the story.”
Jackson also took full creative control behind the console, producing the single himself from his Nashville home studio. Beginning with an acoustic guide recorded while back in Australia, the track evolved through collaborations with some of Nashville’s finest musicians, including acclaimed guitarist Gideon Boley.
“I love the idea of cutting a song with a live band – that’s the Nashville way – however I also love having time to hand pick the exact players I want and the efficiency of having them record their parts in their own spaces. You can refine your parts with this process and cherry pick what works best for the song and that’s how this one came together. To have great players and friends come together from opposite sides of the world, ‘It don’t get better than this’!”
Following his previous release ‘Get Around to It’, which reached #43 on the CountryTown Hot 50 airplay chart, Jackson’s latest single marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Since relocating to Nashville alongside partner and fellow country artist Melanie Dyer, he has immersed himself in one of the world’s most respected songwriting communities, while continuing to build a career that spans songwriting, session work, filmmaking and production.
It’s been an unforgettable year for Jackson, who has performed at CMA Fest in Nashville, SXSW in Austin and represented Australia at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C., performing for members of the Royal Australian Air Force, United States military generals, ministers and diplomatic guests.
Away from the stage, he has continued refining his craft inside some of Music City’s most respected studios, working alongside musicians whose credits include Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, The Chicks and many more.
Already recognised as an award-winning filmmaker and photographer before relocating to the United States, Jackson’s visual storytelling continues to shape his songwriting, bringing a cinematic perspective to songs that feel equally at home on Australia’s coastline and the streets of Nashville.
With ‘Rich Guys’, Jackson James delivers a poignant reminder. While the song playfully imagines how the wealthy might spend their evenings, it ultimately lands on a far simpler truth – the best moments in life can’t be bought.
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