It starts with a simple, almost rhythmic guitar lick that feels like it’s been around for a hundred years. Then that voice hits. It’s gravelly. It’s soulful. It sounds like a Sunday morning apology after a Saturday night mistake. When people ask about what are you listening to chris stapleton, they aren’t just asking about a tracklist on a Spotify algorithm; they are asking about a specific moment in 2020 when country music felt real again.
Music moves fast. Too fast, honestly. But this song, the lead single from the Starting Over album, has some serious staying power. It isn't a "trucks and beer" anthem. It’s a question. It’s an interrogation of the soul.
The Story Behind the Song
Chris Stapleton didn't just wake up and decide to be a superstar. He spent years in the Nashville trenches. He was writing hits for guys like Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney long before the world knew his face. "What Are You Listening To" was actually his debut solo single back in 2013, way before the Traveller explosion at the CMAs.
Think about that for a second.
The industry almost missed him. This song was the first time the public really got a taste of what Stapleton could do as a frontman. It’s a mid-tempo masterpiece about the post-breakup obsession. We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in your car, or you're at home, and you wonder if the person who left you is listening to the same song you are. Are they sad? Are they dancing? Are they over it?
The lyrics are painfully relatable. He’s asking if it’s something "sad that makes you lonely," or something "fast that makes you move." It’s the uncertainty that kills you. Stapleton captures that specific brand of heartbreak where you're not even mad anymore—you're just curious about the silence they left behind.
Why This Track Defined a Modern Era
If you look at the landscape of country music in 2013, it was dominated by "Bro-Country." It was all about backroads and tan lines. Then comes this guy with a beard and a vintage Gibson, singing about emotional transparency.
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It was a risk.
Mercury Nashville released it, and while it didn't hit number one immediately, it laid the groundwork for everything that followed. It proved there was a massive, underserved audience that wanted more than just catchy hooks. They wanted grit. They wanted a guy who sounded like he’d actually felt the pain he was singing about.
The Production Nuance
Dave Cobb, the producer who has become synonymous with Stapleton's sound, understands space. In what are you listening to chris stapleton, the instruments have room to breathe. You can hear the fingers sliding on the strings. It’s organic. It’s the polar opposite of the over-produced, snap-track heavy pop-country that fills the airwaves today.
The song relies on a classic 4/4 time signature, but the way Chris drags his vocals across the beat gives it a bluesy, almost hypnotic feel. His range is on full display, but he isn't showing off. He’s using those high notes to punctuate the desperation in the lyrics. It’s a masterclass in vocal dynamics.
Dealing With the "What Are You Listening To" Legacy
Interestingly, some fans get confused. They look for this song on the record-breaking Traveller album and can't find it. Because it was a standalone single originally, it has this weird, legendary status among die-hard fans. It’s like a secret handshake.
When you dig into the discography, you realize this song was the bridge. It bridged the gap between Stapleton the songwriter and Stapleton the icon. It’s the DNA of his entire career. If this song hadn't worked, we might never have gotten "Tennessee Whiskey" or "Fire Away."
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Honestly, the song is a mood. It’s what you play when the sun is going down and you’re feeling a bit reflective. It isn't a party song. It’s a "sit on the porch and think about your life" song.
Analyzing the Lyrics: The Psychology of a Breakup
"Is it a lonesome fiddle playing? / Is it something loud and fast?"
Stapleton is tapping into the idea of music as a mirror. We use songs to amplify what we are already feeling. If she's listening to something upbeat, she’s moving on. If it’s a lonesome fiddle, there’s still hope. It’s a brilliant way to frame a breakup song.
Most writers would just say "I miss you." Stapleton says "I wonder what soundtrack you've chosen for your new life without me." That’s the difference between a good songwriter and a great one.
The bridge of the song is where the tension peaks. He’s basically admitting that he’s stuck. He’s the one listening to the "static in the dark." It’s a haunting image. We’ve all been there, staring at a phone or a radio, waiting for some kind of sign that we aren't the only ones hurting.
How to Experience the Best of Stapleton
If you're just getting into what are you listening to chris stapleton, don't just stop at the studio version. Go find the live acoustic performances on YouTube. There’s a version he did at the Grand Ole Opry that will absolutely wreck you. Without the full band, the raw power of his voice is almost overwhelming.
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You can hear the influence of Otis Redding and Ray Charles in his delivery. He’s a country singer, sure, but he’s a soul singer at heart.
Actionable Listening Guide
To truly appreciate the depth of this track and Stapleton’s wider impact, try this specific listening order:
- Listen to "What Are You Listening To" (Original Single): Pay attention to the clean production and the vocal restraint in the verses.
- Transition to "Whiskey and You": This is from the Traveller era. It carries that same DNA of loneliness and "the morning after."
- Watch the 2015 CMA Performance with Justin Timberlake: This is the moment the world changed for Chris. It shows how his "blue-eyed soul" style can command any stage.
- Spin "Starting Over": The title track of his 2020 album. It’s the thematic sequel to his early work—moving from asking what she is listening to, to deciding what they will listen to together.
The reality is that Chris Stapleton changed the trajectory of a whole genre. He made it okay to be vulnerable again. He made it cool to have a song that wasn't designed for a TikTok dance.
If you find yourself spinning this track on repeat, you’re tapping into a tradition of storytelling that goes back to George Jones and Waylon Jennings. It’s timeless because the feeling is universal. We are all just wondering if the person on the other end of the line—or the other side of town—is feeling the same vibration we are.
Next time you’re scrolling through your playlist and that familiar intro starts, don't skip it. Let it play. Lean into the "lonesome fiddle." There’s a reason this song still resonates a decade after it was first pressed to vinyl. It’s honest. And in an industry that often favors glitter over grit, honesty is the rarest thing you can find.
Check your local record store for the Starting Over vinyl or the earlier single collections. Hearing this on an analog setup, where you can actually feel the warmth of the low end, changes the experience entirely. Grab a pair of decent open-back headphones, sit in a dark room, and let the bridge of the song hit you. You’ll understand why he’s the king of the modern Nashville sound.
Practical Steps for New Fans
- Explore the Steeldrivers: Before his solo career, Chris was in a bluegrass band. If you like the grit of "What Are You Listening To," you need to hear "If It Hadn't Been for Love."
- Check Songwriting Credits: Look up your favorite country hits from 2005 to 2012. Chances are, Stapleton wrote at least three of them. It gives you a whole new perspective on his "voice" as a writer.
- Support Live Music: Stapleton is one of the few artists who sounds better live than on the record. If he’s touring near you, sell whatever you have to to get a ticket.