Philadelphia Singer-Songwriter Goes Viral With New ‘Go Birds’ Country Anthem
Love the Philly love! Philadelphia singer-songwriter Holdyn Barder goes viral with new “Go Birds” country anthem. Just in time for the playoffs, right?
Holdyn is an aspiring country star that is Zach Bryan-esque. He put out his song “Go Birds” on socials and it’s been gaining a lot of traction. I’ve been chatting with Holdyn online and he was kind enough to send me a little synopsis of his journey. Check out his story and enjoy the show below.
Here’s what Holdyn had to say:
I grew up in Newtown, PA, but my whole family is originally from Northeast Philly in Holmesburg right by Frankford Ave. and Welsh Rd. I am 25. I went to Lafayette College for Physics and then my Junior year transferred to Belmont University in Nashville so I could pursue a career in country music. I moved to Nashville August 7, 2019. I interned at Big Machine Label Group in Spring 2020, got my degree in Music Business from Belmont in Summer 2021, and then have been pursuing music full-time in Nashville! After graduating, I also spent a year working at Grayscale Marketing, a boutique full-service entertainment marketing agency in Nashville.
I spend all of my summers at the Jersey Shore, splitting time between Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Ocean City. My family and I have been Eagles season ticket holders, and I have loved all things Philly my entire life. My cousin Shawn Mackin paints the logo on the field for the Eagles and lifts the field goal net during the game. My Uncle Ed Mackin is in the Quaker City String Band and has been for years.
Song Title = “Go Birds” (Acoustic)
Songwriters = Holdyn Barder, Kimberly Barder, Tyler Skye
Song Release Date = January 12, 2024
Also in June 2023, I performed at Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood with my band from Nashville and it was a blast.
Defined by a unique sonic identity capturing familiar summer-infused lyrics, Chesney-like anthems, and stadium-electrifying guitar riffs, Holdyn’s Barder’s distinct sound conveys the old soul within the 25-year-old. Whether it be a catchy beach tune or a heartbreaking ballad, Barder can execute it all. The young star’s musical journey began after discovering a blue guitar-shaped paperclip next to his tennis bag in 2013. Taking it as a sign to pursue music, Barder ditched his original plan of becoming a quantum physicist and moved to Nashville in 2019, finishing his undergraduate studies at Belmont University. The Houston-born, Philadelphia-native’s deep connection to country music doesn’t begin there, though. Barder grew up singing along to ‘90s Country in a booster seat in the back of his mom’s SUV.
Since moving to Music City, Holdyn Barder has collaborated with songwriters who’ve penned some of his role models’ biggest hits (for Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, et. al.). Holdyn Barder’s Jersey Shore anthem ‘Stone Harbor’ exploded in Summer 2022. Within a week of its release, NBC, FOX, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and more covered the song’s rapid success. The song also picked up editorial traction on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Country playlist and Amazon Music’s Country Heat playlist. Barder spent the rest of the entire 2022 summer promoting ‘Stone Harbor’ on an acoustic run throughout the South Jersey region to the point where it earned him a hometown museum display next to his fellow hometown star, Taylor Swift. Barder’s song ‘How Do I Get There From Her’ also found similar success in 2022. The Sam Hunt-penned breakup ballad, produced by Sony Music Publishing songwriter Chris Loocke, was featured on CMT and garnered over a quarter of a million streams in its first few weeks.
With aims of selling out stadiums in his lifetime, Barder looks forward to releasing new music and connecting with new country music fans every single day. With a goal to release a full-length project in Spring 2024, along with already having many successful singles under his belt, there is much in store for this young star.
