Interview: Ben Gallaher talks success, new EP 'Bullet'

Kristin Barlowe, Quartz Hill Records/Stone Country Records

The five-song EP is available now

Stone Country Records’ triple-threat singer, songwriter and self-taught guitarist Ben Gallaher releases his new five-track EP, Bullet, across all digital retail and streaming partners. The project's title and focus track is an epic rock ballad about being willing to lay down your life for the one you love. With high-wire electric guitar and dramatic drum-work in 6/8 time, Gallaher penned the do-or-die pledge alongside hit songwriters Chris August (Keith Urban’s “God Whispered Your Name”), Kelley Lovelace (Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood’s “Remind Me”) and Neil Thrasher (Jason Aldean’s “Rearview Town”).

Produced by Neil Thrasher and Patrick Thrasher, Bullet is Gallaher’s second major release on Stone Country Records and the first since his 2023 debut album, Country in the House, which has helped his music catalogue surpass 27 million total audio streams.

The project's "Kinda Can’t Say No" is a lust song for an irresistible woman a man can’t walk away from when he knows he should, while “Cuts Like a Knife” is a must-hear cover of Bryan Adams’ classic No. 1 hit, with Gallaher playing every guitar part on the track. The EP also features “Dirt Ones,” a road-trip anthem that reminds us to take the road less travelled, and “Mistakes,” a no-regrets rocker about how life’s wrong turns usually only make us stronger.

Gallaher’s online fan base has exploded in the past 18 months with his viral guitar riff “Stomp” generating over 36 million organic social views. The riff has also inspired more than 10,000 fan-created videos, earned praise from guitar heroes including Peter Frampton and helped Gallaher amass nearly 400,000 social media followers to date.

The modern-day guitar hero hit the highway as a teenager, kickstarting an acclaimed career that has since taken the songwriter from small-town Pennsylvania — where he grew up listening to ’90s acts like Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw and BlackHawk — to stages across the country, opening for the likes of Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr, Lee Brice and more.

The Music Universe had a chance recently to chat with Gallaher about his success.

Please tell us about your EP, Bullet, and its title/focus track.

Between the feel, vibe, and message of each track, I feel like there’s a song for everyone on this EP. There’s love, heartbreak, life, wrong turns, lessons learned, and hope.

“Bullet” is one my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of. I wrote it about my wife, and it then took on a whole new meaning after our son was born. If you’ve ever loved anybody at all, you can relate to “Bullet.”

The EP is your second major release on Stone Country Records. We'd love to hear more about how that partnership came about.

I met Benny Brown through Will Overton and Ben Vaughn in 2020. We hit it off right away and not long after our first meeting, he offered me a record deal. Our visions of the music and where we’re going have always been aligned and on the same page.

We live in a singles world these days and smaller projects, like EPs, tend to be the norm. Do you expect to release additional full albums in the future?

We’re currently in the process of a full-length album. There’s something special about a full-length album compared to singles or EPs because you’re able to take a listener on a 10-15 song musical journey, an emotional rollercoaster.

You're inspired by Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw and BlackHawk, all 90s country acts who have incorporated rock into their sound. It's the best era of country music, in my opinion, and seems to be making a comeback. How important is it for you to pursue that style of country in 2025?

I love that 90s country – it's what made me fall in love with the genre. And as much as I was inspired and influenced by it, my music doesn’t sonically sound like 90s country.
That’s the awesome thing about making music, you can be inspired by all of your influences and still make your own sound that’s unique to you. That’s always where I’ve
lived.

You're a self-taught triple threat — singer/songwriter/guitarist — who recently had a viral guitar riff generate nearly 40 million social views, and shoutouts from major players in the industry. Tell us how "Stomp" came about and what it feels like to get praise from Peter Frampton.

When I’m writing, sometimes the lyric comes first, sometimes the melody comes first. For “Stomp,” it was the guitar riff. I wrote that riff five years prior to posting it on Instagram. It took off and went mega viral. Not long after that, we wrote the full song and released it. It’s a huge blessing to be able to connect with that many people over a piece of music you write. I was blown away to see THE Peter Frampton shout it out!

Nashville is so saturated with musicians that it's hard to stand out. What do you think contributed to your success to gain the attention you have?

There’s so many unbelievably talented people in Nashville, from all over the world. When it comes to standing out musically, I’ve always believed that being myself and doing what I do naturally is really the only way to stand out. As opposed to chasing something that someone else is already doing.

Can fans see you live this year?

A lot of tour dates are soon to be announced for the rest of 2025! So, keep following my socials and BenGallaher.com.