Recording "Head From My Heart" at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio:
When it came time to record my new song, "Head From My Heart," I knew it had to be at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the legendary 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield, Alabama. There's something about the history and the energy of that place that feels like pure magic — a magic that you just can't find anywhere else. And to top it all off, I was joined by an incredible lineup of musicians who helped bring this song to life in ways I could only dream of. muscleshoalssoundstudio.org

The Musicians Behind the Magic
The session was filled with some of the most talented and accomplished musicians around, each bringing their unique touch to "Head From My Heart." I had the honor of working with Will McFarlane, a Musicians Hall of Fame guitarist whose soulful playing has shaped countless hits over the years. On keys, Jeff McMahon brought his ACM-nominated flair and experience from his days with the Dance Hall Doctors, adding layers of emotional depth to the song. The rhythm section, held down by Jamie McFarlane on bass and Justin Holder on drums, gave the track its heartbeat and drive, turning it into something truly special.

The Heart of the Song"Head From My Heart," co-written with hit songwriter Mark Narmore, delves into the internal battle between logic and emotion. It's about those parts of us that we can't quite control — the quirks, traits, and decisions that tend to blow up when we least expect them. In the lyrics, I explore the push and pull between the head and the heart, that constant struggle to find balance and clarity in life.

"If I could only get the two to work in my favor,
There'd be no more push and pull,
No more second-guessing my first instincts..."

This song speaks to the universal experience of overthinking, of getting caught up in "what-ifs" and near-misses, and ultimately, the longing to find a way forward that feels true. It's a reminder that sometimes, the biggest obstacles we face are the ones we create ourselves.

The Recording Experience
Recording at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was like stepping back in time to the golden age of music. The walls are alive with the stories of legends who came before — Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd — and you can feel their presence in every note played. We wanted to capture that raw, authentic sound that Muscle Shoals is known for, and these session players brought that spirit to life.

Will McFarlane’s guitar work added a gritty, soulful edge that perfectly complemented the emotional pull of the lyrics. Jeff McMahon’s keys brought warmth and texture, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. Jamie McFarlane and Justin Holder locked in tight, giving the song a solid foundation while allowing space for every instrument to shine.

Breathing Life Into the Words
​The sessions felt like magic unfolding in real-time. The moment we started playing, I knew we were onto something special. The sound that filled the room wasn’t just music — it was a conversation between my lyrics and the talents of these incredible musicians. Each verse, each chorus felt like a chapter unfolding, telling the story of that eternal tug-of-war between mind and heart.

"I think, therefore I am always overthinking,
All the what-ifs, every near miss driving my drinking..."

The song's vulnerability was amplified by the musicians’ interpretations, with Jeff’s keys providing a haunting undercurrent to the words about overthinking and self-doubt. Will’s guitar solo echoed the yearning in the lyrics, while Jamie and Justin kept the groove both steady and unpredictable — much like the journey of trying to find balance in life.

Why This Song Matters
"Head From My Heart" is about those moments when we feel stuck in our own heads, wishing we could just follow our hearts without hesitation. It's a song for anyone who has ever struggled with indecision or felt torn between what they think they should do and what they truly want.
In Muscle Shoals, surrounded by legends and stories, the song came to life in a way I never imagined. It was as if the studio itself was adding its own voice to the recording, infusing every note with a sense of history and depth. This is a song about finding your way — and in that studio, we found a new way to tell that story.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. The magic of Muscle Shoals, the talent of these extraordinary musicians, and the depth of this song have created something truly special. I can't wait for you to hear it.
Stay tuned, and keep listening with your heart. 💙

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#HeadFromMyHeart #MuscleShoalsSoundStudio #NewMusic #BehindTheScenes #Songwriting #MusicMagic #MarkNarmore #WillMcFarlane #JeffMcMahon #JamieMcFarlane #JustinHolder #MuscleShoalsMagic

I'm excited to be up for four Josie Awards this year. I am up for Male country artist of the year, songwriter of the year (pitching portfolio), EP of the year, and Male vocalist of the year! The awards are held at the Grand Ole Opry October 27, 2024. If you'd like to attend you can get tickets here. Wish me luck!

A short article from The Tennessee Highlighter. Give it a read, click here.

I had the fantastic opportunity to be a guest on Biscuits & Jam with Nashville Channel 2's Meaghan Thomas on Instagram live. We talk about my career here in Nashville, how I got here and what I'm doing next. Watch the interview here.

Found out some great news. I have am a 2023 Songwriter Of The Year nominee by the Midwest Country Music Organization. This is truly an honor. The awards show is April 27th, 2024 at the Rooftop Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park, Iowa! If you are interested in attending you can get tickets here.

This is really cool! I am eligible for award nominations fo this year’s Midwest Country Music Awards. I released some of my most favorite songs in 2023 and I think they connected with you too. I would be so appreciative if you would nominate me for for this year’s awards. It’s a really simple process, go to this form, enter your name, email and my name and or song name in the categories. I would love to be nominated in the following categories: Male Vocalist of the Year (Troy Castellano), Song of the Year (Hell We Raised, Whenever I Can, This One’s On Me or write in your favorite from my Looking Back From Here EP), New Artist of the Year (Troy Castellano), Songwriter of the Year (Troy Castellano), VIdeo of the Year (Hell We Raised), Radio Station of the Year (BOB Country Radio) Click here for the nomination form! Nomination period ends February 9th!

Back in 2020 I had the pleasure of sitting down with hit songwriters and producers Joe West and Mike Shimshack. It was an honor to hang out and chat about my musical path. Check out the full podcast right here.

The Press Release for my new EP, Looking Back From Here makes it into Grimes Magazine! Grimes Magazine is an Illinois based monthly Print & Digital Social  Media Music Magazine. It was founded in 2020 by Social Media Influencer and Star Alicia Grimes, who is the magazine's Founder, Chairwoman and CEO. Grimes Magazine has published 46 Magazine issues to date and reaches more than 250K+ people each month and our website gets from 500K - 800k+ visits a month. Grimes Magazine presently works with the entire publicity department of RCA Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Sony Music/Nashville, Sony Music Ent and Warner Music Group. 

I'm excited to announce that my song "This One's On Me" (Castellano, Eagle, Deckant) makes it onto BOB Country FM Radio's Minnesota Salute to Country Salute CD Volume 10. The CD project is released and sold by the radio station, to raise money for Minnesota military families. All proceeds go to military veteran's families, and those currently serving. I am honored to be able to help out in some small way with a song on this release! BOB Country Radio is throwing a party on November 11 Veteran's Day 2023 at at the Buffalo, Minnesota American Legion. The party starts at 6pm with sales of the CD! The single for this song will also be available on all streaming platforms including; iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Youtube, etc. at midnight on Veteran's Day! Be sure to PRE-SAVE the song and share this news!

This past week, my song "Hell We Raised" aired on the Midwest Country Music Originals radio show with host PT from 102.9 The Wolf. I heard the show on KIK 100.7 on my way back to Nashville from Minnesota. The show airs on all the stations in the pic. I love that there is an organization that supports Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North & South Dakota independent artists! Pretty cool. I hope to get some more of my songs on the show soon!

This was pretty cool to find out about! I am a Josie Music Awards 2023 Songwriter of the year nominee. I don't get my hopes up about these things because it usually sets me up for a let down but I'm thinking this would be pretty cool to put that headline in some posts: Troy Castellano, 2023 Songwriter of the Year! The awards are later this October. Crossing my fingers. Send some positive vibes and a prayer! What can it hurt :)

I posted the full official video for my song Hell We Raised the second week of September 2023. Since then the video has been shared over 1300 times, over 4000 comments and reach over 200K viewer. I am so grateful for all of the love that you have shown me on this song! If you haven't watched the video yet, check out here on my Youtube channel. Be sure and subscribe while your are there! Don't forget the full EP Looking Back From Here, with the song Hell We Raised comes out to streaming on October 27th!

I recently started a monthly Troy Castellano merchandise giveaway! Congratulations to Dave Matchinsky for winning the first bundle giveaway. I have sent him a t-shirt, some stickers and my 3 CDs. Get your chance to win. Simply sign up for my newsletter. Once you've signed up you are entered for the next month's drawing. I do the drawings the first part of the month on Facebook live! What do you have to lose? Why not enter now!

My latest EP Looking Back From Here comes out to streaming on October 27th, 2023!  Previous singles from this compilation like “Hell We Raised” have connected with listeners like never before. I am super proud of this EP as I wrote all but one of the songs by myself. The one song that was cowritten is a song called “Make Me Sing” which was written with hit songwriter Billy Lee (Gary Allen’s #! The One).  I also produced the EP out of home studio, My Blue Heaven Studio, in Columbia, Tennessee. Another cool thing about this release is you can buy a signed copy of this CD right now! Song list: 1. Hell We Raised, 2. In My Genes, 3. Whenever I Can, 4. Make Me Sing, 5. Looking Back From Here. All orders are signed and sent USPS Priority Mail! Pre-save the song for streaming or get your physical copy today!

Nashville country artist Maddye Trew releases her music video for her latest single, "Long Gone John." It debuted on CMT! It is a song about girls supporting their friend whose relationship with her boyfriend is one-sided she's getting the short straw on the relationship. In the video, the girls get together to support their friend and say so long, Long Gone John! I produced this song at my studio, My Blue Heaven Studio as well as co-wrote it with Maddye and seasoned keyboardist and side man Jeff McMahon (formerly with Tim McGraw, currently playing with Chris Cagle)! The video sounds fantastic in surround sound! Now playing on CMT online!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIm8VTJKS64&t=573sI recently had the pleasure of sitting down with my good friend and fantastic musician, Jeff McMahon on his new podcast called McMahon says. Jeff currently play with Chris Cagle and also spent years in Tim McGraw's band (if you've heard "Live Like You Were Dying" you've heard Jeff! Jeff and I have done quite a few things things together and it was super cool for me to be on his show! Click here or play the video below.