I recently found myself deep in the heart of Tennessee, walking the streets of Nashville with McAlister Kemp, the country duo I’ve been working with on the social media front. It was part work trip, part crash-course in Southern culture and 100% unforgettable.

I didn’t go looking for revelations. I thought it’d be gigs, gear and maybe some good beers. But like the best songs, Nashville surprised me with its layers.

Here are 10 things that stuck.

1. Southern hospitality isn’t just a stereotype

There’s a warmth in the South that isn’t performative. Strangers greet you like they’re halfway to adopting you and bartenders remember your name.

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2. Authenticity gets amplified

Nashville doesn’t reward pretence. Whether you’re performing on Broadway or pitching a song in a backroom bar, what cuts through is sincerity. That extends beyond music to conversation, business, even your morning “coffee” (note: nothing like what we call coffee back home) order.

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3. Live music every night should be a human right

You haven’t really experienced live music until you’ve sat in a room with six songwriters trading stories and hooks over beers. No frills. Just talent. The sheer volume and quality of performance in Nashville is unmatched. You really need to walk too far to hear something amazing.

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4. Social media is local, too

Working on McAlister Kemp’s social media in a new country reminded me how crucial it is to localise your voice not just your time zone. Posts that landed in Australia needed a little tweaking to hit the same in Nashville.

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5. Grit and grace can co-exist

The best country songs and the people who sing them know how to blend strength and softness. Nashville taught me that storytelling isn’t about polish, it’s about truth. The cracked voice, the offhand comment, the quiet nod… they all count.

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6. A well-timed “y’all” fixes everything

I’ll be honest: I started saying it ironically. I stopped pretty quickly. “Y’all” is one of the most efficient, inclusive and charming linguistic inventions going. And it beats “you guys” by a country mile.

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7. Saying yes opens more doors than planning does

We had plans for the week but before long someone’s cousin knew a guy playing a late-night gig. The best moments, the connections that stuck, weren’t in the itinerary. They were in the saying yes.

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8. Boots aren’t just fashion. They’re commitment.

I learned this the hard way after a night out. Real cowboy boots aren’t made for walking. They’re made for standing tall and meaning what you say. And if you’re gonna wear them, you better show up with purpose.

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9. Creativity loves community

Nashville isn’t just a city, it’s a network. People co-write. They collaborate. They share contacts over breakfast biscuits. Creativity doesn’t feel scarce here… it feels like something you feed by feeding others.

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10. Good clients become better humans when you travel together

Working with McAlister Kemp from across the world was one thing. Being in the trenches: airports, interviews, live shows, dodgy Wi-Fi added texture to the relationship. You learn fast who people really are when things go wrong or when you’re running on no sleep and barbecue.

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I went to Nashville for work. I came back with stories, new instincts, and the kind of admiration you only get when a place surprises you. I still smile when someone mentions it not because it was easy, but because it meant something.

And yeah… I still say y’all.