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At just 16 years old, Ferndale musician Luke Powell has caught the attention of several prominent figures in Nashville’s music scene, including country singer Shaboozey.

After seeing a video of Powell warming up before his performance at the Humboldt County Fair last summer, a group of record producers invited Powell out to Nashville to record a few tracks. During his trip to Music City last month, Powell seized an opportunity to perform at the Bluebird Café and Fox & Locke, two of Tennessee’s most iconic music venues. That’s where he met Shaboozey, a Nigerian-American country hip-hop artist who skyrocketed to stardom in 2024 with his breakout ballad “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

“I had just finished my set at the Fox & Locke, and I was talking to one of the producers I’m working with outside when [Shaboozey] just randomly showed up to go watch the last performers,” Powell told the Outpost in a recent phone interview. “My grandma went up to him and asked if he would listen to one of my songs, and he came up to me and introduced himself and asked me to play him a song.”

Powell chose one of his originals, “Out Here,” a dreamy, almost angsty song about leaving your hometown behind and high-tailing it up Highway 101 with the windows down on a sun-drenched summer day. “It’s about freedom and just getting out of a place you’re stuck in,” Powell explained, noting that he’s drawn inspiration from country singer-songwriters Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan.

Shaboozey loved it.

Video: Stephanie Powell.

“He said it was a really great song, and told me to send it to his manager and producers at his label, Empire Records,” Powell said. “We did, and I’m waiting to hear back from them.”

In true proud mama fashion, Stephanie Powell interjected to emphasize that Shaboozey had actually asked her son “four times” to submit the song to his agent. “He pulled Luke aside and asked him if he was signed yet, and said that he was pretty incredible for a 16-year-old,” she said. “It was just pretty cool to see because he really took the time to listen, and he was just super supportive.”

“I’m just so proud of Luke and his dedication to music,” his mom continued. “He’s a really good kid with a huge heart, and he works so hard at everything he does.”

Powell is currently working out a record deal with Father Figures, a Nashville-based “songwriting and production dream team” with connections to Sony Music Publishing. Once the legal paperwork is wrapped up, he’ll start working on an EP and, eventually, a full-length album.

“I think it’s hinged on how the deal pans out, but if I sign, the first one will probably be a six-song EP, and then I’d release the record the following year,” he said.

In the meantime, Powell has a few shows lined up here in Humboldt. As a matter of fact, he’s playing a set tonight at Tuya’s Cantina in Ferndale. He’s also performing at the Stampede Country Music Wine & Beer Festival at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds at the end of May and Country on the Coast during the Fortuna Rodeo in July. You can find him on Instagram.