Brian Kelley reclaims personal mantra with 'Sunshine State of Mind Season Two, Chapter One'

The album drops this summer independently

Building on the soundtrack of his life, diamond-selling superstar Brian Kelley announces the release date of his forthcoming studio album, Sunshine State of Mind Season Two, Chapter One. Out June 20th independently, the full-length project features 14 tracks co-written by Kelley, as he returns to his personal mantra, and the feel-good foundation of his acclaimed solo career.

Capable of making gravel roads and gray skies feel like the sugar sand of his Florida home, Kelley’s new songs were penned alongside his 2021 release, Sunshine State of Mind Season One, and saved for another day. Much has changed in the years since – including delivering two more albums (Tennessee Truth and Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son) – but its sing-along themes remain relevant, with creative passion and country-born pride expressed through Kelley’s laid-back beach town vibe.

Steeped in the tropical twang and serene tones of his signature “Coastal Country” sound, acoustic guitars and flip-flop beats mix with sunset-soaked steel and Kelley’s smooth baritone under producer Katlin Owen (plus Corey Crowder and Jake Rose on a select track). With the effortless, no worries wisdom his family calls the “Kelley Glad Game,” Season Two, Chapter One finds Kelley back in his element, and primed for more to come.

In celebration of the announcement, Kelley follows the first song released from the album, “Palm Tree Country” – which has become an apt description of Kelley’s brand – with the mood-boosting “Saltwater Ranch,” and a sunny-and-75 lyric video for the track. Co-written by Kelley with Jake Rose and Corey Crowder (with Crowder and Rose also the producers), the bright mix of country and island-pop serves up an ideal early taste of Season Two, Chapter One – an anthem for beach bums with the right attitude, even if they live at the wrong latitude.

Meanwhile, Kelley’s expansive creativity was recently showcased on Fox’s The Masked Singer season 13, where he made it to the show’s final round. Unmasked as the Mad Scientist Monster, judge Robin Thicke applauded his closing performance as the “best vocal of the season.” Kelley recently spoke to us about the fun he had on the show. Our full conversation will air on an upcoming episode of The Music Universe Podcast, where we also discuss the new album and more.

Looking ahead, Kelley will welcome Season Two, Chapter One during his ongoing beachside residency, Surf Post Sessions, next month at Tribe Kelley Surf Post in Grayton Beach, Florida. And starting July 24th in Savannah, Georgia, he’ll hit the road to headline his Sunshine State of Mind Tour with dates continuing through September 7th in Raleigh, North Carolina.