The Jay Franzi Show recently featured an extraordinary talent who brings a truly unique perspective to country music. Chris Erasmus, a country music recording artist hailing from London but with roots in Zimbabwe and South Africa, shared his fascinating journey and approach to music-making that transcends conventional boundaries.
Erasmus’s story begins far from the traditional Nashville scene. Growing up in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, within a game reserve, he developed an authentic connection to rural life that would later inform his music. His family’s relocation to South Africa during political unrest marked the beginning of a global journey that would take him to Montana as a working cowboy, to Australia for academic studies, and eventually to London where he now bases his music career. This remarkable background gives him something few country artists can claim: genuine experiences as a real cowboy who has worked with horses and cattle across multiple continents.
What makes Erasmus’s approach to country music particularly intriguing is that he never intentionally set out to be a country artist. As he explains, “I didn’t set out to actually do country music. I wrote music and everyone was like ‘oh, this is country.'” This organic evolution of his sound speaks to the authenticity that lies at the heart of his creative process. Erasmus draws inspiration from storytellers like Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, and Chris Stapleton, embracing the narrative tradition that defines great country music while bringing his own global perspective to the genre.
The conversation revealed fascinating insights into Erasmus’s creative process. Unlike many songwriters who follow a single method, he alternates between starting with lyrics and beginning with melody at the piano or guitar. This flexibility allows him to capture inspiration in multiple forms. Sometimes a compelling story drives the creation; other times, it’s an earworm melody that needs to be explored. His openness to collaboration has expanded his artistic range, particularly on his upcoming album where he’s working with a diverse array of musicians and producers.
Perhaps most striking about Erasmus is his multidisciplinary approach to performance. Beyond music, he has worked as an actor in musical theater, competed as a decathlete at the national level in Australia, and even performed as a stuntman. Rather than viewing these pursuits as distractions, Erasmus sees them as complementary disciplines that enhance his musicianship. The physical discipline required for athletics transfers directly to the stamina needed for touring and performance, while his theatrical background strengthens his ability to connect emotionally with an audience through storytelling.
Erasmus’s business education from the University of Queensland provides yet another dimension to his artistic journey. While he jokes that his business degree hasn’t directly influenced his music career, it has given him a crucial understanding of his value as an artist. In an industry where performers are often pressured to work for exposure rather than fair compensation, Erasmus maintains the perspective that professionalism requires appropriate valuation of one’s craft and time.
Country music fans looking for something that honors tradition while offering a fresh perspective will find much to appreciate in Chris Erasmus’s work. With new music on the horizon, including an upcoming single and album, his unique voice—shaped by experiences spanning continents and disciplines—promises to continue challenging and expanding our understanding of what country music can be in a global context.