In a bold move that challenges the traditional music industry norm, BLACK STONE CHERRY has decided to take full creative control of their sound by ditching outside producers. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a step towards artistic freedom or a risky gamble in an industry that thrives on collaboration? In a recent heart-to-heart with Chas Byrne, the band’s frontman, Chris Robertson, spilled the beans on their upcoming EP, Celebrate, dropping digitally on March 6, 2026, via Mascot Records. This six-track gem, plus a killer cover of SIMPLE MINDS’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) featuring Tyler Connolly of THEORY OF A DEADMAN, was a labor of love—self-produced and engineered by Jordan Westfall and the late Mark Owens, a cherished member of the BSC family. Chris gushed, “We had a blast doing it all in a tiny studio. It’s not much to look at, but it sounds incredible.”
When asked if this DIY approach is here to stay, Chris didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. We’ve been self-producing since our *Kentucky record, so no outside producers since 2013 or ’14. No shade to producers—we’ve worked with legends like Joe Barresi, Howard Benson, and even John Fred’s dad, Richard Young. But at some point, we realized we know exactly what we want to sound like. We can tell the difference between a killer part and a dud.”*
And this is the part most people miss: Chris called out the old-school record label mindset of signing a band only to tweak their sound or pair them with songwriters. “Why not let the band do their thing first and see how it lands? Luckily, we started in ’06 when labels still developed artists. Recording in Kentucky and sleeping in our own beds? That’s priceless.”
In a separate chat with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF, Chris tackled why they chose an EP over a full-length album. “Society’s appetite for new content is insatiable. New iPhones every September, but album cycles take two years. Fans want fresh music faster, and we’ve got these songs ready to go. Why wait? Let’s see how they resonate.”
Here’s the kicker: Chris admitted the shift toward singles has him feeling nostalgic. “I’m probably in the minority, but I miss putting on an album and letting it play from start to finish. Growing up with cassettes, you couldn’t skip songs easily. There’s something special about that. Cassettes have this warm, fuzzy sound that feels like home.”
Celebrate was recorded at High Street Studios in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and features tracks like Neon Eyes, Caught Up In The Up Down, and the anthemic title track. In another interview with Terrie Carr of Barrett Media, Chris hinted at a fresh vibe: “We wrote these songs at Ben’s house, not on the bus. It feels different—still us, but with a new energy. I’m stoked for fans to hear it.”
BLACK STONE CHERRY’s journey—from Screamin’ At The Sky in 2023 to their Record Store Day release in 2025—shows they’re not afraid to experiment. Their recent Celebrate tour with THEM DIRTY ROSES and AYRON JONES proved they’re still a force to be reckoned with.
So, here’s the big question: Is self-production the future of music, or does the industry still need the magic touch of an outside producer? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
