CMT Blog: Archive

Where did this guy come from? That's the question I kept asking myself while watching Troy Olsen's music video for "Summer Thing." With beautiful visuals, swimsuits and lots of Arizona sun, the video makes me feel like I should leave the office when no one is looking and head for the nearest lake. The video has such a polished, professional look to it that I was sure this guy had been around for a while. But how did he slip under my music listening radar? After some investigation, it turns out that "Summer Thing" is Olsen's first music video and the lead single from his new, self-titled digital EP. He's been playing on the road since high school graduation and has been practicing his songwriting skills after moving to Nashville in 2002. All of this background experience and practice seems to have paid off. In addition to "Summer Thing," he co-wrote Tim McGraw's "Ghost Town Train" and Blake Shelton's "I'll Just Hold On." I think the experience Olsen gained before emerging as an artist makes him feel much more conditioned and refined than your average country music newcomer. I expect this video won't be the last we see from this new artist.