Kashus Culpepper “Stay” Review: The New Sound of Southern Soul

To give this post a soul that matches Kashus’s “sandpaper growl,” we need to lean less into marketing buzzwords and more into the grit and sweat of his actual journey.

Here is a rewrite that feels like it was written by a fan who’s actually spent a night in a Mississippi dive bar.

Why Kashus Culpepper’s New Single “Stay” Feels Like a Modern Classic

If you haven’t heard the name Kashus Culpepper yet, you’ve likely felt the void he’s filling. In an era where country music can sometimes feel a bit too shiny, the Alabama-born crooner is a breath of unfiltered, humid air.

His latest track, “Stay,” isn’t just a song; it’s a mood. It’s the sound of a voice that’s been through it—weathered by church pews, Navy deployments, and the salt air of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Man Behind the “Freight Train” Growl

Kashus doesn’t just sing; he bellows. Critics often describe his voice as a “sandpaper growl,” and while that sounds rough, there’s a deep, soulful warmth underneath it. It’s the kind of voice that sounds just as home at a midnight bonfire as it does on a Nashville stage.

But the most interesting thing about Kashus isn’t just how he sounds—it’s how he got here:

  • The Spark: He found his voice in church at five years old, but he didn’t pick up a guitar until the 2020 pandemic while stationed in Rota, Spain with the Navy.

  • The Grind: Before he was a Big Loud Records signee, he was playing dive bars along the Mississippi coast, winning over crowds one cover song at a time.

  • The Rise: He managed to sell out headline shows across the South before he even had an official single on Spotify. That doesn’t happen by accident—it happens because people recognize the real deal when they hear it.

What Makes “Stay” Different?

Following the momentum of his previous hit “Believe,” “Stay” leans into what Kashus calls “Southern Sounds.” It’s a messy, beautiful intersection of blues, folk, and rock.

While The Guardian points out his “smart, often witty” songwriting, there’s a haunting quality to “Stay” that sticks to your ribs. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever been caught between the urge to run and the need to linger. It feels reminiscent of legends like Chris Stapleton or even the grit of Charley Crockett, but with a raw vulnerability that is purely Kashus.

The Verdict

Kashus Culpepper isn’t just another artist being pushed through the Nashville machine. He’s a “reverent purveyor” of the music that made the South what it is. With “Stay,” he’s proving that he’s not just a flash in the pan—he’s a storyteller with a long road ahead of him.

Turn it up, pour something strong, and let “Stay” do the rest.