"Because, deep down,country music is about the story."

And Crouse is indeed a storyteller. Though he grew up in Holland,Massachusetts and not the Deep South, the small New England farming town gavethis pastor's son the rural life experience that he needed to grow a strongconnection with country music and its timeless art of the song. It was his Alabama-bred grandfather who boughtthe then thirteen-year-old his first guitar and schooled him on the likes ofMerle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, and he was instantlyenamored: by the age of sixteen he'd already begun writing songs, honing hissignature strumming style and formed two bands. Since then, he's been workingtirelessly to bring his music straight to his fans: no gimmicks, no realityshows, no shortcuts. Just hard work and fearless talent that have taken himfrom playing dive bars to opening for the likes of Taylor Swift on her RedTour, The Band Perry and Darius Rucker.

Crouse's debut studio album, Even The River Runs, is a story of this path – his joy, hisstruggles, his romances (for better or for worse). Whatever he may be singingabout, one thing is constant: each and every lyric is completely true tohimself. "My songs will always be about honest experience," he saysabout the ten tracks, each one of which he co-wrote. " I always want to bethe one telling my story."

Because at 22, Crouse has alwaysdone it his own way. Signed to a record deal at just 19, he knew how importantit was to follow his gut even in his early teenage years. Inspired by everyonefrom Jennings to Keith Urban to John Mayer, his sound formed free of genre walls."When songs would move me," he muses, "it didn’t matter whatgenre they were in." It's an approach that helped inform his own unique nichethat's a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll and completelyoriginal. Growing up as a true fan of music, he says, and not any particularcategory, helped breed this diverse and exciting point of view.

Crouse has built up a fan base in theold-fashioned method – on the road, in bars and arenas – and he's become known forelectric live shows that have charmed audiences originally there to catchsuperstars like Swift and Rucker into lifelong, devoted followers. "I try very hard to bring as honest of aperformance as possible to my fans both old and new," he sayspassionately. It comes through loud and clear, beaming out in his concerts.

Produced by JamieHouston, Even The River Runs, spansthe gamut of Crouse's musical lexicon, from thumping, honky-tonk barn-burnerslike "Don't Tell Me" (co-written by Crouse, JamesDean Hicks and Jamie Houston and featuredon the CW's Hart of Dixie), tothe breakout bluesy-twang romper "If You Want Some" or Crouse'spersonal favorite, "Ruby Puts Her Red Dress On," which is anchored bya smooth vamp evoking his treasured classic rock influences. "It's aboutsome friends deployed to Afghanistan," he recalls. "It's a storysong, and one of the deepest on the record."

Crouse is also not shy aboutexposing his love life in song – though his tales of romance are certainly asrooted in honest experience as everything else on the record. Take "I Never Said I Was In Love,"an emotive ballad built on a piano lick that evokes a southern-steeped BryanAdams. "It's about my commitment issues," he says with a laugh. Others,like the mid-tempo groove of "You Could Break a Heart Like That"showcase his own vulnerable side – and his vocal range, which can go fromsultry lows to a stunning falsetto in one fell swoop.

Another track, the fan favorite"Why God Makes Love Songs," is the perfect grooving, clapping ode tosummertime love, and on moments like the title track, "Even The RiverRuns," all of his sides – vintage rock, modern country and dusty blues –come together in one perfect, rollicking ride that puts his guitar chops onfull display.

As a writer, Crouse only continuesto grow – working with some of the most influential pens in Nashville, from LukeLaird to Craig Wiseman, honing his own style – which sometimes means eschewingcurrent trends and paving his own path that's a departure from current party-oriented,tailgate-loving radio hits. "You might bond with those songs on a Fridaynight," he says. "But what songs are you going to bond with Mondaythrough Friday, when it's just you in your car? Those moments by yourself,where you just want to relate to someone: those are the songs I want towrite."

Andsome of Crouse's influences aren’t what you might think. "Lyrically, I'minspired by people who took chances on their music," he says, beforenaming people like Nirvana and Eminem as well as Tom Petty and the Lumineers."When you're a true artist, you have to show that raw nerve."

Crouse has come a long way fromplaying Nashville's Lower Broadway - thestreet corners, to be exact, because he wasn't even old enough to play in thebars – but he's forever connected to his roots and committed to expressinghonesty and tried-and-true country storytelling with a modern spin through hismusic. "I'm so excited to share my experiences on this record," hesays, not before adding, "but I'm already working on new songs."Always creating, always in motion, but never forgetting the past: that'sCrouse.