The Country music door is wide open these days with several cross-genre artists stepping through to immerse themselves in the family-like fanbase. In turn, established Country artists have had their own fun with cross-genre collabs and trying on new sounds, but if you ask Jon Pardi — there is a limit.

“You’re missin’ out if you’re not going to take advantage of all this influence coming in from everyone,” he said of welcoming new influences.” You’ve got HARDY screamin’ and playing out crazy amphitheaters, then you got Post Malone here — he actually cut a really great, pretty Country, Country record — so it’s just like everybody is kind of having fun and I feel like you’ve gotta experiment a little bit.”

He continued, “It’s fun, but you don’t wanna go too crazy… I’m not gonna do nothin crazy.”

Pardi shared traditional Country will always be at the root of his music as he recalled listening to the greats in the ‘80s alongside his grandmother. He loved it so much, in preschool his teacher shared he came to class each week claiming his name was a different Country artist.

“I was told I came to preschool with a different Country singer’s name every other week or so,” he shared. “One week I was Randy Travis one week I was Merle Haggard. I was George Strait one time.”

While childhood was all about Country for Pardi, he ventured out to some Pop/Punk music in his high school years, which he still enjoys today. While the Alternative sound isn’t something he plans to incorporate into his music, the lyrics and overall feel is something that he says helped him with songwriting.

“In high school I was really into Rock and Punk Rock… If we’re going to throw it out — I’d really love to meet Blink-182,” he shared. “I’ve pretty much X’d out [met] all the Country heroes, so I’m moving on.” He continued, “It was fun music, it was happy and it pumps you up. I took a lot of that kind of style of writing and energy to bring it to Country music.”

Some of that songwriting will be featured on Pardi’s forthcoming album, which is expected to be announced in the coming months. Fans got their first taste of what’s to come with the brand new single, “Friday Night Heartbreaker,” available now.

“We went a little more Rock ’N Roll, it’s still got fiddle and steel [guitar],” he said of the record. “There’s just a little more of Soul and Rock in this next record. Even in 'Friday Night Heartbreaker,' you kind of hear it.”

Find out more about the album, Pardi’s greatest influences and additional info by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Rob + Holly