Bio
THE SOUTHERN TIERS — Samuel J Barrows and Michelle Knopick convey the memories, milestones, and moments on their journey as a married couple into spunky, eclectic, and meaningful anthems steeped in singer-songwriter tradition, yet amplified by alternative styles, traditional country-folk energy, and pop intent.
Building a fanbase through their debut album “ALL I NEED” which released in July 2021 and has clocked in over 525k Spotify streams thus far, their new music has hit the airwaves on stations such as KCMP The Current’s Radio Heartland in Minneapolis, KFMG in Des Moines, WEFT in Champaign, Jive Radio in Cedarville, CA and CJTB in Tête-à-la-Baleine, Quebec, The Train and The Fast Train on AccuRadio, WCLX Farm Fresh Radio in Burlington, VT, WUWF in Pensacola, FL, and CJRU in Toronto, Ontario to name a few.
Along the way, they have garnered acclaim from outlets such as BBC, WSM, Capitol Music Group, AccuRadio, and more. Working with Nashville’s local underground sensation Evan Sieling (Adam Agin, Kyle Reynolds, Lance and Lea, Bonner Black, Alex Stern), the duo illuminates the tenacity of their bond, the scope of their musical influences, and the warmth of their stories together. Their first full length album “Cookin' Up Trouble” is to be released on October 16th 2026.
Industry Quotes:
“I can't help but love this… You truly have remarkable voices.” - Tom Osborn, Easy Eye Sound.
"The next time you'll be seeing Michelle is with Gold and Platinum Records on the wall."- Bill Cody, Grand Ole Opry. WSM
"I'd play your music on my station all day! When people hear your voice and then see you they'll automatically think Sex Icon. What a beautiful sultry voice." - Captain Jack, Renegade Radio Nashville.
"I KNOW YOU"LL LOVE THEIR MUSIC, I DO."- Marie Crichton, BBC British Broadcasting Corporation.
“Listened to the demo on repeat for about an hour with Colton Dixon, needless to say we LOVE the sound!!” - Laura Guthrie, Capitol Music Group
"Shawn McDonald loved the style and depth of the lyrics. He was impressed."- Grant Hubbard, Capitol Christian Music Group
“Keep up the good work! We love what we're hearing!” - Chip Morgan, Farm Fresh Radio
"I LOVE your sound, and am playing songs from the ep whenever I can. My only complaint is that there's not enough of it!” - Joe Vincenza, WUWF, Pensacola
