Jake Banfield - Open Bars
- Samuel Stevens
- Oct 1, 2025
- 3 min read
On his debut album Open Bars, which was released on September 26, 2025, via EMPIRE, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jake Banfield arrives with undeniable confidence and a fresh approach that blends country, hip-hop, and pop into a sound entirely his own. Across twelve incredible tracks, Banfield builds a body of work that is both anthemic and deeply personal, positioning him as one of the most exciting genre-bending artists to emerge in recent memory.
Banfield has already proved his knack for viral success with “Lasso,” a country-rooted smash that twists traditional twang with trap-inspired hi-hats and sleek pop production. With over twenty-five million streams to its name, it could’ve easily pigeonholed him as a one-hit crossover act. Instead, Open Bars demonstrates that he has far more to offer than a single breakout moment.
The titular “Open Bars” is a centrepiece of the record—an instantly memorable breakup anthem that captures the shared humanity found in late-night dives and neon-lit watering holes. “Without girls breaking hearts, those bars wouldn’t be open late, pouring the drinks strong,” Banfield explains, and the track feels both celebratory and cathartic, the kind of song destined to become a singalong staple on tour.
Other standouts on the album that showcase Banfield’s range: “What She Wants” pulses with woozy beats and sharp rap verses, giving the project a modern urgency, while “Sunburn,” “Nights Like,” and “Hennessey in Tennessee” lean more into playful, summery territory. However, the latter two tracks feature a more heartfelt vibe to them. By contrast, the aching ballads reveal Banfield’s emotional depth. “Still Feels The Same,” featuring fellow rising country singer RaeLynn, aches with piano-driven vulnerability and haunting harmonies, while “Thought of You” strips things down to raw emotion, spotlighting Banfield’s storytelling gift.
That storytelling ability is no accident. Hailing from a family of coaches and athletes, Banfield’s path to music wasn’t straightforward. A promising basketball player in Oklahoma, he saw his sports career end with a devastating injury. During his recovery, he stumbled upon a guitar at a pawn shop, sparking a new passion that eventually led him to writing sessions in Los Angeles with artists such as Madison Beer, and later on, he moved to Nashville to carve out his own artistry. That resilience and reinvention pulse through Open Bars, giving its themes of heartbreak, healing, and hope an authentic edge.
Banfield’s delivery is as versatile as his production choices—sometimes gritty and rapped, sometimes soulful and melodic, but always vulnerable. He has a natural ability to make listeners feel like they’re living these stories alongside him, whether it’s the nostalgia of “Anywhere But Home” or the triumphant swagger of “Hall of Fame.”
As Banfield gears up for a string of tour dates to close out 2025, Open Bars feels like the perfect launching point for his career. It’s a record that invites listeners into his world—a little heartache, a little celebration, and a lot of honesty. And if the crowds singing back to him are any indication, his journey from injured athlete to rising star was indeed, as he says, a “blessing in disguise.”
Jake Banfield’s Open Bars is a bold and heartfelt debut that cements him as a shapeshifting storyteller with staying power. A record to cry, dance, and heal to—it’s proof that sometimes the biggest detours in life can still lead to the most rewarding destinations.
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