Hunter Riley

From blood, sweat and blue collar work; to bands, beers and writing down words. The life of Hunter Riley has been one of many paths, just like his music. But it wasn't always banging on guitars and singing in bars. 

With the anticipation of his debut album release in April of 2025, a single that landed in the top 100 on Nashville Music Row Identifier, playing stages from the heart of Texas to Broadway in Nashville, TN, sharing the spotlight with country favorites and rock stars, our story begins in the outskirts of Columbia, Mississippi; population 6,500.

With his childhood being a blur of moving from town to town across the state until his early teenage years, Hunter found his home in music. Picking up guitar at 15, he had his first EP recorded by age 17 with a local rock band of buddies. At graduation, his peers were planning their big moves to college while Riley was prepping to hit the road and play shows as an opener act with his band, for some of his favorite rock bands. 

Though it seemed he was destined to be the first rock star from his hometown and all its gas-station conversation glory, it didn't seem to add up to the down home lifestyle that made Riley who he was. After departing his guitar role in the group, Hunter set out to the oilfields of west Texas. It was there he discovered his voice after a night at the local Kareoke bar with other work hands between rig moves. Unsure how he would convert his rock method of writing, inspiration struck after seeing multiple Texas Country acts present a rock and roll attitudes under country twang accents. 

"Burn You Out" would become the first experiment that would be created Hunter Riley brand. This single would create opportunity to be considered for festivals, larger sized venues and the first small taste of radio play. Soon after "Got Me Drinkin'" would be the follow up single to showcase Hunter's classic country writing abilities, silencing the traditional country gatekeepers and critics. This single would also gain more radio play than its predecessor, along with the confidence to go all-in on music. 

After being forced into hiatus with the events that unfolded in 2020 Hunter took time to write 5 more songs, which would be preserved for an album. Unknowingly one of the songs, "Small Town Dream" would be released in 2021 gaining national radio play and be acknowledged by Nashville Music Row Identifier. After a great year of music and the new beginnings of starting a family, Hunter would relocate himself and his family to Nashville, TN where he excelled in writer's rounds, broadway performances and sharpening his overall skills as an artist.

A dream that seemed to take a lifetime to create finally became reality. In 2024 Hunter would return to Warlord Studios to bring Up To No Good to life. After many months of meticulous recording sessions, countless hours spent listening to mixes and juggling ideas, the 10 month project would be complete. With latest single, "Bitter" featuring American Idol's, Kayleigh Clark, generating over 40,000 collective streams, it's just the beginning of what's to come with this body of work. With 8 new tracks ranging from certified bonfire bangers to heartache healers, Up To No Good will quickly become one of the most versatile albums of 2025.