Chris Bullinger evokes Dr. John and J.J. Cale with his smoky new single Payin’ Dues — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The poet and singer-songwriter’s latest release is a standout track from his forthcoming double album Waitin’ To Be Seen, slated for release on Aug 16. This album is a rich tapestry of 23 songs, each a vignette that collectively narrates a story of love, self-discovery, and the search for genuine connection.
Payin’ Dues arrives as the album’s midpoint and serves as a thematic cornerstone. “It follows the meeting, breakup, self-reflection, and, maybe, reconciliation of the singer and gal he meets along the way,” Chris shares. “And it’s right here at this halfway point where — after being alone, together and then alone again — the singer admits that although they split, maybe, just maybe, he’s the one who lost his way.”
Musically, Payin’ Dues evokes the vibrant atmosphere of an old-timey circus sideshow, weaving a soundscape of layered instrumentation — vibrant horns, chunky guitar riffs, and twinkly keys — all underscored by Chris’s distinctly gruff vocals. “It’s a stomp of a song — think Dr. John and J.J. Cale — about bubble baths and garden paths and getting shot on a rocket into outer space,” Chris shares.
Raised in the Midwest and influenced by hard-luck, outlaw country singer-songwriters, Chris has made singing a defining part of his artistic identity, complemented by his soulfully weary vocals. A seasoned songwriter, he writes songs of earned-wisdom in the spirit of icons like Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt. “As a songwriter, I write about truth more than fact,” he explains, revealing his deep connection to the craft of storytelling through music.
In college, Chris started recording for himself, later moving between jobs to cut records in the studio. However, his music career temporarily took a backseat as his enterprising spirit led to the founding of several successful business ventures with his twin brother, including one that grew into one of the largest renewable energy power plant developers in North America. Now that he’s achieved his goals in the renewable energy business, Chris is ready to focus more of his energy on his music career.
The ensemble of Nashville musicians featured on Waitin’ To Be Seen have developed an intuitive interplay over years of working together at Nashville’s iconic Bomb Shelter Studios. This album concludes Chris’ Bomb Shelter Trilogy, a series of works that reflect his deep and enduring commitment to his music. Reflecting on his path, Chris shares, “I always felt I was doing the songs some sort of injustice not putting them out there. I feel very grateful knowing that these songs are out, and will, undoubtedly, connect with someone somewhere, whether it’s one person or one million.”
To date, Chris has recorded five critically acclaimed albums. His 2022 album, True Rendition and 2023’s How to Bleed was No. 1 Added on NACC Folk. He’s garnered 100k monthly listeners and over 2.8 million video views. As a songwriter, Chris believes the process of songwriting — and art in general — comprises three key components: Observation, empathy, and rhythm. Accordingly, he is an astute observer of the human condition, often focusing on one key instant, empathizing with it, and then expanding that moment through rhythm.
Waitin’ To Be Seen marks a pivotal moment in his career, and is a testament to his profound ability to translate the human experience into music that resonates. It’s a collection that promises to captivate and connect, reflecting both the nuances of individual stories and the universal truths of our shared human condition.
Waitin’ To Be Seen (Part 1) Track List
1 | One Complete Connection
2 | Ain’t Life Grand
3 | Doin’ Bad Good
4 | Darlin’ ‘n’ Me
5 | Up All Night
6 | Carving Tree
7 | Already Broke
8 | The Way Things Go
9 | I’m Not Comin’ Back Home
10 | Gotta Save Yourself
11 | Temporary Baby
12 | Payin’ Dues
Check out Payin’ Dues above, hear more from Chris Bullinger below, and see him on his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
