Meet Luke Powell: The 16-Year-Old Country Newcomer Who Turned A Shaboozey Encounter Into His Debut Release

At just 16 years old, Luke Powell is already turning his small-town dreams into something much bigger. Raised in Ferndale on California's rugged North Coast, the self-taught singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has performed before nearly 10,000 students, opened for country hitmakers Shenandoah and even received an invitation to audition for American Idol.

Now Powell is introducing his distinctive country-pop sound with a heartfelt cover of Shaboozey's "Good News." The song also launches an ambitious four-part mini-movie filmed along the Northern California coast and in the hometown that helped shape him. In this exclusive interview, Powell discusses teaching himself piano and guitar, meeting Shaboozey in Tennessee and why this debut feels like the beginning of a lifelong dream.

Q: For listeners discovering you for the first time, who is Luke Powell, and how would you describe the country-pop sound you are developing?

I'm a 16-year-old kid from Ferndale, California, who is just trying to make music that I love and that other people can connect with. I think the sound we have been chasing is really cool and different from much of what people are hearing right now.

Q: You taught yourself to play piano and guitar after traditional lessons did not quite work for you. How did learning by instinct shape your approach to songwriting and performing?

I think it really shaped my songwriting by giving me the confidence and ability to be creative. It taught me to try different things, listen closely and see how they sound rather than feeling that I always have to follow a particular formula.

Q: Your debut release is a cover of Shaboozey's "Good News." What drew you to this particular song, and how did meeting Shaboozey in Tennessee influence your interpretation of it?

When I met Shaboozey and asked whether I could play one of my songs for him, he was a genuinely great guy. He took the time to sit there and listen. I saw him again at Stagecoach, and he recognized me. I chose to record "Good News" because I feel that I owe something to him for taking time out of his night to listen to me. It is also simply a great song.

Q: Your version of "Good News" reflects your experience of feeling misunderstood and longing for something bigger. How did you make the song personal while still honoring Shaboozey's original?

I think "Good News" reflects experiences that connect with many people's everyday lives. I wanted to add my own twist to it and put my heart into the way I sang it while still respecting what makes the original so powerful. I just hope people love my version as much as I do.

Q: "Good News" begins a multi-part mini-movie filmed along the Northern California coast and in your hometown of Ferndale. What story will the film tell, and why was it important to place your hometown at the center of this project?

We spent a week filming a short movie along the coast, traveling from north of San Francisco all the way to my hometown of Ferndale. It tells the story of a kid who gets into a disagreement with his mother, packs his belongings and leaves home.

Across the four songs featured in the film, viewers follow everything that happens next. He wanders around without knowing what to do, spends time at the beach with his friends until morning and eventually returns home to make peace with his mother.

We filmed in Ferndale because I wanted people to see what a unique and beautiful place it is to grow up. Having the local scenery surrounding the story makes everything feel more real and genuine.

Q: At only 16, you have performed for nearly 10,000 students, opened for Shenandoah and received an invitation to audition for American Idol. What have those experiences taught you, and what do you hope this debut will lead to next?

I have learned that I truly love what I am doing, and I hope it is something I can continue for the rest of my life. I love writing, singing and performing for people. It has always been my dream, so this release is genuinely a dream come true for me. I feel truly blessed.

My goal now is to keep improving as both a performer and a songwriter. I want to become better with every song and every performance, connect with as many people as possible through my music and hopefully create songs they will love as much as I do.

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