Dylan Brady’s Personal ‘I Hate California’ Relies on Strong Storytelling [Listen]

Dylan Brady's performance during "I Hate California" quickly identifies him as a skilled country storyteller. The newcomer and "Over Us" singer doesn't hide from the personal nature of this breakup song, but it's one that fans can easily swap any state or city into to replace the object of his disdain.

Emotion and tight lyrics make the song remarkable. The pop-country shine and west coast allusions will draw some Brett Young comparisons, and that's 100 percent fair. As you do during so many songs from the Brett Young album, you just want to give the guy a hug by the time he whispers the final breaths of his chorus, seemingly exhausted.

The native New Yorker doesn't subscribe to the theory of holding back just a little to let fans access a fine country story, and he's better for it. That theory is for people not willing or able to take what's driving the song to the edge and show real vulnerability. "I Hate California" proves that middle ground is actually quite boring.

Did You Know?: Brady's "I Hate California" was produced by Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts.

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Dylan Brady's "I Hate California" Lyrics:

You always loved the thought of the city and you’re too damn pretty not to be there / You were mine in my arms, but you and L.A. had a love affair / Just like I thought you would / I know I said I understood.

Chorus:
But I hate California / That it keeps you warmer / Than I ever could’ve / Couldn’t ever have your heart / Because it was somewhere in those hills in / A studio apartment / Livin’ the dream that you always wanted / And I love that you love it / But I hate California.

Yea we fit together, but you fit in better way out there / On rooftops with stars, tell me when did you start to put us in the past / Forget everything we had / Didn’t when I saw you last but …

Repeat Chorus

Yeah I hate, I hate, ohhhh

I hate California / I hate that that’s how I lost ya / I hate that I still love ya / And that somewhere in those hills in / A studio apartment / Livin’ the dream that you always wanted / And I love that you love it / I love that you love it / But I hate California.