Change is constant in the world of music. Over time, artists evolve, groups go their separate ways, and solo careers emerge.
For singer/songwriter Neil Perry, the transition from the powerhouse trio The Band Perry to a solo career has been both an exciting and introspective journey. Known for his contributions to the chart-topping group alongside his siblings Kimberly and Reid Perry, Neil is now stepping into the spotlight on his own with original music, marking a bold new chapter that defines himself as an artist while exploring the musical territory he’s been longing to claim.
The Band Perry’s rise to fame was rapid. With their infectious blend of country, pop, and rock, the sibling trio achieved major success with hits like “If I Die Young,” “Better Dig Two,” and “DONE.” Their sound, often characterized by upbeat tempos, strong harmonies, and poignant lyrics, captivated a wide audience and earned them multiple awards and Grammy nominations.
But after years of hitting the top of the charts, in 2016, The Band Perry made a dramatic decision to move away from country music’s conventions. The band’s pivot to a more pop-oriented sound left fans and critics alike in a state of uncertainty, and in 2020, they announced they would be taking a break to explore solo projects.
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Describing the last few years as his “eat, pray, love moment,” Perry — like everyone else in the world — used the unexpected time off from the global pandemic to discover who he really was. Making his way to New York City, the 34-year-old found himself experiencing “big life moments” while reflecting on whether or not he should still pursue music as a career.
“With all this extra time on my hands, I found myself moving to New York, meeting my future wife, and falling in love, so quite some big life moments happening for me. I also had time to reflect and be like, ‘okay, is music what I’m meant to do still? Or is this God’s way of telling me to see what else is out there for you?'” Perry reflects to Celeb Secrets in an exclusive interview.
Neil then put more time and energy into his passion for fashion photography. But as much as he loved it, he tells us it still felt like a hobby, so, he left New York to study psychology, where he realized that creating music was truly the path he needed to take.
“I went to school for a little bit to study psychology… I was fascinated by that subject, but I did not even get one semester in. School is not really my thing,” he laughs. “I think in the search for what else could be out there, I found my love for music again. I think I had to get away from it to fall back in love with it again.”
While each sibling enjoyed success together, there was always an unspoken desire to branch out and express their own unique creative visions.
“I’d been bouncing around the idea of making my own music for awhile — I think when you’re in a band for a long time and as close quarters as we were, you start to have creative cravings; and I was certainly no exception to that,” the 34-year-old shares. “I think what I brought to the band was just a taste of my creative force. I wanted to give that side of me its full opportunity to explore itself. I had to fall out of love with music to fall back in love with it, and if that process, my creativity has opened up in a way that it’s never had the wings to before and it’s really exciting.”
Back in October, Neil shared his first taste of his new endeavor by releasing his debut solo track “If You Can’t, Don’t.” Written by Perry, Jet Harvey and Jackson Nance, this track showcases the demons we all wrestle with and accepting the truths of who we are, even if others cannot. It’s about returning to your first true love: yourself.
“When I wrote it, it felt really meaningful to me, but I just didn’t see it as the first song back into the space… it just didn’t feel that way,” he recalls.
But after his producer Nathan Chapman gave him some convincing arguments for it, he digested the feedback, trusted Chapman and released the track.
“He definitely took that one and elevated it in such a beautiful way… I’m so proud of that song,” he continues.
Last month, the 34-year-old let love take the driver’s seat as he heads into uncharted territory — whether that be in his relationships or in his upcoming project — by sharing the smoldering “Easy Love.”
Written exclusively by Perry, “Easy Love” has a catchy melody and a smooth rhythm that is complemented by romantic lyrics that evoke the simplicity of joy and love that doesn’t feel forced.
“‘Easy Love’ is that song you sing with your partner-in-crime, your ride-or-die, the Bonnie to your Clyde,” says Perry in a statement. “Even simple life moments like driving with your special person are sweet and thrilling. This song is so reflective of where I’m at, and I know the fans will relate.”
Going more into detail on the inspiration behind the song, Perry tells Celeb Secrets that the song is an inside look into his real-life love story with his now wife Sofia Sclafani.
“One day me and my wife were just driving and we saw the most beautiful sunset and she was just looking absolutely golden and radiant. It was a very simple moment that hit me in a very impactful way,” he explains.
“Life is kind of made up of really simple moments that create a meaningful, beautiful golden life. I think small moments shouldn’t be discarded as small necessarily, and that’s where ‘Easy Love’ came from.”
“Both songs reflect the concept of my upcoming record,” he continues. “It’s life made up of two of these things being held and in the same moment, I’m really proud of those. I’m super psyched on about all the songs coming — we just finished another mix on one of the eight new songs and it’s sounding absolutely insane.”
Speaking of new material, Neil tells us that 2025 will consist of releasing more singles throughout the year. The singer/songwriter is headed back to the studio with Chapman to record while planning the storyline he’s hoping to portray with the collection of new songs.
“I think the world has changed and how people release music has changed since TBP was out there in the world, and I could either be freaked out by it or just kind of jump in with both feet, and I’ve decided to jump in. The way I’m releasing this record is really exciting. I’m dropping it in single song increments to just keep giving people new, and new, and new. That way, I can embrace each song individually,”he reveals.
“Aesthetically, I can do content for each song and it kind of feels like I’m creating a whole storyline that otherwise would be difficult by releasing just another body of work on its own. It’s an exciting way to release music and one that I’ve had to wrap my mind around, but you know, it’s the Wild West out here.”
As Neil continues to carve out his place as a solo artist, he is focused on staying true to his artistic vision. With his debut solo tracks gaining traction thanks to soul-searching songwriting, emotional authenticity, and an ever-expanding musical palette, the future is looking pretty bright. And as he continues to explore his sound and share his story, country music — and music fans in general — are ready to see where he goes next.
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