In the years since his first album, 2004's Last Call, Nashville singer-songwriter Stephen Simmons has wandered the wide landscape of American roots music, from contemplative country and finger-picked folk to rugged and ragged blues-rock.

 On his 12th album, Hunch, released October 24, 2025, he hints at the thread that ties 20 years of ideas together.

"It makes me feel better when I tap into the truth" he sings in the closing track on Hunch, "Someone Like You," a ballad brimming with Rhodes chimes and gentle longing.

Tapping into the truth doesn't only mean one thing, and the 10 tracks on Hunch show the breadth of what it means to mine what feels real, from connection and disconnection to wonder, sorrow, reflection and confusion.

"It's not therapy, but it's therapeutic," Simmons says. "People talk about when you first start writing, sometimes it's almost like clearing your throat. You're not really at the thing yet, and sometimes you write for a while before you get in some kind of flow. And then something starts coming together. And when you feel it, you know it's true — and you didn't know yet how you were gonna say it 'til it comes out. It's gratifying."

Hunch's predecessor, 2020's Family Album, explored the truth of where Simmons comes from in deep detail, with 18 songs about family and hidden history captured inside his grandmother's empty house in Woodbury, Tennessee.

Released amid the pandemic, it originated and unintentionally stayed close to home, as Simmons and so many of his contemporaries got stuck introducing and supporting new music virtually, smartphone sets streaming from living room to living room.

Hunch is the post-pandemic door flung wide open, carrying Simmons back to the road and miles away from Tennessee. He's in a Dresden sushi bar, wondering how and why love sparks. He's in a rented car in Amsterdam, tracing what takes us toward wrong turns. He's gazing at the moon.

But wherever Hunch travels, the narratives always seem to pull Simmons back home.

Mid-tempo country cut "Grandpa's Jacket" considers how we crave ties to where we came from, even while we chase adventure. The album's title track, while just as imbued with truth, comes at life decisions with a wink and a bluesy lurch. Everyone had ideas for where that kid from Woodbury might go. But, "Uncle Glen had the best plan of the bunch," Simmons sings, "strummin' on the guitar and live your life on a hunch."

"That's the only one that's a little cheeky," Simmons says. "It's tongue-in-cheek. It's a blues-rock song. Then everything else goes a completely different direction. I don't know why, it just kinda felt like a pivot."

 To render the full pivot, Simmons turned to folks who've been part of his musical story tracing almost back to when he first left Woodbury.

 Goffrey Moore (Jonatha Brooke, Maia Sharp) produced Hunch in his Madison, Tennessee, studio, and he and Simmons invited contributions from lap and pedal steel player Paul Niehaus, singer/pianist Molly Jewell, bassists Dave Jacques and Billy Mercer, and drummers Matthew Crouse and Bryan Owings.

 All accomplished players who've collaborated with country and Americana greats from John Prine to Patty Griffin, they've all played with Simmons on various songs and stages over decades.

These well- and long-established personal and musical connections allowed Moore and Simmons to experiment in comfort, letting songs go where they seemed to want to. The songwriter's initial intent was to hole up in Moore's century-old cabin to capture a stripped-down set. But as the recording progressed and friends came in, Hunch took a more dynamic and textured turn.

 "It was a different way to do it for me," Simmons says. "It kinda lent itself to, like, 'OK, well, maybe we'll go big on this one.' And then all of a sudden, it presents itself."

 Call it following intuition. Call it living on a hunch.

Hip hop artist, singer, songwriter, musician, lyrical mastermind etc. From Nashville, TN. My first album "Barely Breathing" is set to be released this year. Check me out on youtube and follow me on :
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Beginning as an old school hip hop/funk/soul Dj and still staying true to the elements of turntablism, he has an ear for what moves the crowd. Combined that with blending and scratching skills, smooth transitions and a whole lot of heart and soul.
   Now offering his talent as a full service mobile Dj to bring quality music to any event. Wedding, parties, school dances, you name it.
Previous and current clients include the Tennessee Titans, Yelp, Red Bull Records, BMI, Autism Speaks, The Governor's Club and Rockettown as well as growing list of private parties and weddings. 
Chozen has performed at many Nashville venues including Anthem, Seen, 12th and Porter, The 5 Spot, Exit/IN, Marathon Music works and many others. 
He has opened for classic Hip Hop artists Digital Underground as well as Phife Dog of ATCQ and Maseo of De La Soul. Also a staple to the underground Hip Hop scene in Nashville he shared stages with Vinroc, Peanut Butter Wolf, Babu, Mr Dibbs, Alejan, Grand Wizard Theodore, Egon and countless others. 
He has been featured at longtime monthly's The Boom Bap and Mashville, and also a participant in the 2013 DMC battle. 
In 2013 Chozen was picked as one of 130 Dj's worldwide for the Red Bull Thre3style battle.


Hello, I am an artist in all sense of the title. My medium is sound visual auditory graphics creativity. I've been writing songs, making music, drawing, painting, and recording for most of my natural life, which is also where I draw my inspiration from (life in general). I enjoy the spontaneity of the abstract and metaphysical forms of art. Some one asked me the question what is art? To me there is only one answer... everything.

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