“When I write, I try to envision my live show and how the songs will translate to my fans. Personally, I’m in a really good place, and I am sure my new material reflects that”

Eric Dodd grew up in Greensboro, Georgia chasing two things: golf balls and guitar. He had a passion and natural gift for both. He earned a golf scholarship to Georgia College and State University, where he majored in business. When he wasn’t playing in golf tournaments, he was playing in frat houses with his band. He eventually transferred to the University of Georgia to pursue a music business degree and immerse himself in the fertile Athens music scene (R.E.M, Drive-By Truckers).

In the end, it was lyrics over links that brought him to Music City. Dodd gained national attention in 2016as a CMT Discovery Artist, but he honed his craft playing more than 200 dates a year throughout the southeast performing in clubs, SEC colleges, and music halls where his likable personality, feel-good lyrics, musicianship, and energetic stage presence earned him a faithful following in a region with strong musical tastes and a deep pool of talent.

“I aim for my shows to be high energy and want to connect with each person in the audience,” he explained of the years spent playing gigs and sleeping in a van to make ends meet. “Music is an escape from reality, and I want to give people that and take them on a trip during the hour I get with them.”

Since moving to Music City, Dodd has opened for Sam Hunt, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, Corey Smith, Cole Swindell, Rodney Atkins, and recently for Sister Hazel, which was especially meaningful. “Opening up for Sister Hazel’s sold-out show at the Georgia Theatre in Athens (Georgia) has to be one of my favorite moments onstage,” Dodd offered. “I earned my music business degree from UGA so it was one of those full-circle moments.”

His musical journey has him weaving seamlessly between Country, Pop, and Americana, with themes that speak to the heart of Friday night, as well as Monday morning. As a songwriter, he can be sweetly nostalgic and equally rambunctious.

‘The Reason’, released in June 2018, has gone on to garner more than 4 million streams across the various music services. It was included in multiple playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, and YouTube. The video, which features Dodd’s wife was featured on CMT’s ‘Must-See Indies You Need To Know’ and the ‘12-Pack Countdown’. Wide Open Country called the song “heartfelt and anthemic.”

Dodd found that inspiration during a first time co-writing with Gavin Slate and Travis Wood. “I never know what to expect going into a room with people I have never written with before. After talking for a while about life and music, I realized the chemistry was right, and I felt like it was the perfect time to throw out my idea. I told the guys I wanted to write a song for my fans who spend their hard-earned money to come to my shows. I wanted to give them a high-energy experience that they could dance to with their significant others. As we started to write the song, the positive vibes were there right out of the gate, and by the time I left that day, I knew we had something special. It was one of those moments where I knew this was going to be a great song for my wife and for my fans. I put [it] in my setlist that weekend at a show.”

He’s a romantic with a wild side. Dodd also sang and co-wrote the theme song for ‘Wild Outdoors’, the longest-running series on The Sportsman’s Channel. Dodd has also lent his talent to the Georgia Music Foundation, which supports cultural enrichment and music education programs in his home state.

Oftentimes, writing four songs each week, Eric’s songwriting prowess has led to success with his songs being recorded by artists such as Colt Ford, Allie Colleen, Ryan Robinette, Chancie Neal, Kalie Shorr, Spencer Crandall, Lance Carpenter, the Dutch country superstar, ‘Waylon’, and more.

“Whether it’s writing songs or playing shows, it’s all about getting to the people and keeping in touch with them,“ said Dodd.