Ed Earl’s world of Navy Reserve Officer by day and country rocker by night might seem an odd balance, so I sat down with him to find out how he juggles the two careers.
Not many people balance a military career with one in music. How did you manage to juggle such different worlds?
It really comes down to compartmentalization and drive. My military career is built on discipline, structure, and service values that I carry over into my songwriting and professional life. When I’m in uniform, I’m 100% focused on the mission and my crew. When I pick up the guitar, that same intensity shifts into storytelling. It’s a challenge, sure, but the structure of the military actually helps keep my music career organized. I’ve learned that if you want something bad enough, you find the time—usually in the early hours or late at night—to make it happen.
The other thing that you seem to balance well is the traditional sound of country with a more forward-thinking sound. Is that an intentional move or just the way things come out when you write?
It’s definitely intentional. I grew up on that 90s sound— Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Alan Jackson; plus the 70s & 80s hit makers like Merle Haggard, Earl Thomas Conley, Gary Stewart —where the instrumentation was authentic but the production was polished. I don’t want to just copy the past; I want to honor it while moving it forward. My goal is to make sure you hear the fiddle and the steel, but deliver a song that feels current. It’s about keeping that ‘country’ heart beating in a modern body.
And who would you cite as influences? Who are the artists that you play the most when you are at home relaxing?
The foundation is always those titans— Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Alan Jackson. But when I’m at home relaxing with the family, I’m usually listening to stuff that reminds me of home or highlights great songwriting. You’ll hear a lot of that classic, blue-collar country. I’m also a huge believer in the song itself—if a track tells a real, honest story, it’s going to be in my rotation. I grew up with a lot of classic rock and blues as well. One of my favorite bands is Los Lonely Boys. So pretty eclectic overall taste!
The latest single, “HonkyTonk Degree”, is an unabashed tribute to a certain type of country music and the South from where it emanates. What does Honky Tonk mean to you, and what is the message in the song?
HonkyTonk Degree is all about the lessons you learn in the honky tonks on any given Friday or Saturday night. It’s about having fun and cutting loose! I think we achieved what we were looking to do in the song for sure. We wanted a song people could vibe to and dance to in any country club in the USA.
In the face of scenes like Americana and alt-country, how important is it to keep such connections to the original country rock sound?
It’s vital. Americana and alt-country are doing great work, but there’s a specific magic to that original country-rock sound—that grit and that drive—that I think we lose if we stray too far. Keeping those connections alive is how we maintain our identity as artists. It’s about keeping the ‘country’ in country music. If we don’t hold onto those roots, we lose the thing that made us fall in love with the genre in the first place. I miss hearing fiddle and pedal steel ringing out on country radio.
And will you be touring to take this new single out on the road?
Absolutely. We’re already building momentum and expanding our shows throughout the Southeast. I’m looking forward to my first ticketed headlining event at Pioneer Pointe on September 19th in New Market, TN. We’re planning to get out there, play hard, and bring that high-energy honky tonk and country experience to as many people as we can.
Who would you like to share a stage with or perhaps collaborate with?
I’d love to share a stage with anyone who respects the craft as much as I do. Working with people who have truly lived those stories would be an honor. Honestly, if you put me on stage with an artist who is focused on songwriting and keeping the tradition alive, I’m going to be happy, man. In terms of dream collaborators, I’d love to write a song with any of the following: Terry McBride, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, George Strait, and Alan Jackson.
And what does the future hold for you, both musically and in a broader sense?
“Musically, it’s full steam ahead. I’m working on my next release, which I plan to drop in July. Beyond that, I’m just focused on writing, recording, and growing as an artist. In the broader sense, I’m balancing my service, my family, and my music. I’m proud of what I’m building—both as an Officer in the Navy Reserve and as an artist—and I plan to keep pushing both missions forward with everything I’ve got.”
Thanks for giving me an insight into your world and best of luck with whatever the future holds.
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