Rob Wheeler on Nashville, Northern Country, and the Journey Behind Leave Tomorrow
For British country artist Rob Wheeler, the road to his forthcoming album Leave Tomorrow—out June 6th—was paved not only with rich musical collaborations but also with personal resilience and a fierce determination to honour his roots. Written and recorded during an extended stay in Nashville, the album marks a defining chapter in Wheeler’s evolving journey as a songwriter, producer, and performer with a distinctly British soul.
Finding Home in Nashville
While Wheeler may have landed in Nashville as an outsider, the welcome he received was anything but cold.
“Nothing could prepare me for how I was welcomed by the Nashville community,” Wheeler recalls. “I know I’m not the first UK artist to head over there, but my experience was truly magical.”
The warmth of the city’s legendary music scene was matched by the caliber of its contributors. Wheeler worked with a roster of top-tier writers and producers—a feat he’s rightfully proud of. But perhaps even more impressive was how these collaborators immediately understood his mission: to blend the atmospheric richness of Nashville’s country tradition with the authenticity of his own British identity.
“My ambition was to capture the atmosphere and soundscape of Nashville, but stay true to my roots and perspective—and I believe we did just that.”
Classic Storytelling, Modern Mindset
Wheeler’s musical DNA is deeply influenced by legends like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, but Leave Tomorrow is no throwback. It’s an album where classic country storytelling meets modern restraint.
“As a self-producer, the temptation to overproduce is always there,” he says. “But what I’m most proud of is the restraint I showed. Classic country allows the music to prop the story up, the focus is always on the melody and the lyrics.”
That philosophy is most apparent in songs like Throw A Little Light My Way, a hauntingly sparse arrangement featuring just guitar and strings.
“The fragility of the theme needed a fragile soundscape to match it,” he explains. “The music should sound like what the song is about, and never anything more.”
Hard Truths and Humour in Why Whisky Why?
The album’s latest single, Why Whisky Why?, digs deep into Wheeler’s personal battles with alcohol—but not without a healthy dose of self-awareness.
“I think both in the UK and US, we share a culture of trying to find answers at the bottom of bottles,” he says. “And we all know damn well the answers aren’t there—but we tend to go and take another look anyway.”
The song strikes a unique balance of accountability and humour, something Wheeler considers essential to the storytelling process.
“I wanted to bring a little bit of my self-deprecating humour to the song as well… take responsibility, take a look at myself, have a laugh at myself—and probably order another whisky!”
A British Voice in a Nashville World
Navigating the country music landscape as a British artist presents unique challenges, but Wheeler is determined not to imitate.
“Because country music is rooted in authenticity, a lot of UK artists act like they want to be from America—but they’re not. That’s inauthentic before one chord has been strummed,” he says candidly.
Instead, he leans into his heritage, coining his sound “Northern Country” and drawing on the British folk and rock influences that shaped him.
“Just as the Beatles took rock n roll, Motown and country and fused it with their own world to create their sound—I’m doing the same with my genre of country – Northern Country!”
On Tour and On a Mission
Wheeler’s Leave Tomorrow UK Tour kicks off soon with stops in cities like London, Crewe, and Liverpool, and fans can expect a rich, immersive live experience.
“We’re performing songs from the new record—including all the singles—and I’ve also dug up some tracks from earlier albums I haven’t played in a while,” he says. “Hopefully those will be a nice surprise for fans who’ve been following me for some time.”
Joining him on tour is Hughzy (Ben), a singer-songwriter in his own right and also a member of Wheeler’s live band.
“Ben’s just one of those rare people who are as nice as they are talented,” he adds.
From Setbacks to Songwriting
Wheeler’s career is not just a story of artistic growth, but of personal resilience. A serious medical diagnosis pushed him to finally chase his dream of becoming a recording artist.
“I felt I had nothing left to lose,” he says. “So why not just go for it and believe I have something to say that people may want to hear and connect with?”
That leap of faith paid off—not just in terms of career success, but in the deeply human connections he’s made through his music.
“What I lost has become something found elsewhere,” he reflects. “The joy of having fans tell me that my songs have helped them through their own struggles is a very beautiful and emotional thing.”
Looking Back—and Forward
As Wheeler gears up for the release of Leave Tomorrow, he reflects on the pivotal moments and people that shaped his journey—none more significant than the day he convinced a producer named Kristian Gilroy to listen to his demo instead of paying him cash.
“That was the day my life changed,” he says. “It was step one, and I’ll always be grateful.”
Following the tour, Wheeler plans to undergo a couple of minor operations, but he’s already looking ahead. There’s a new single, No Man’s Land, slated for Remembrance Sunday, and a deluxe edition of Leave Tomorrow arriving in December. There’s even talk of a live album from Nashville, and new songs are already in the works for his next full-length project.
“This album has been an emotional rollercoaster for me and my family,” Wheeler says. “So I’m praying it will be a success and enjoyed by fans. Then I’ll see when the time is right to go back in the studio… and make what I always intended to be the sequel to Leave Tomorrow. Watch this space.”
Leave Tomorrow is out June 6th on all major streaming platforms. Rob Wheeler’s UK tour dates are here.
