Rising Nashville-based artist Lyrx is releasing a new single, "Take the Money," and she's letting Taste of Country readers hear it first.

Lyrx' music is an interesting mix of very progressive contemporary country music balanced out with roots in southern rock and more traditional country, and "Take the Money" juxtaposes all of those elements. The ground track is aimed squarely at country radio with its loping electronic handclaps and pop elements, but incorporates banjo and harmonica for a sound that is truly unique.

The lyrics to "Take the Money" make a defiant statement against going along with the crowd. "I'd rather be an outlaw," Lyrx sings, adding, "You can take the money / I'mma take the country."

"I decided to write a song when I woke up from the thinking of trying to change who I am in order to be a Nashville artist," she tells us. "I don’t need fame, money, or power. Country music is about telling a story. So this song is my way of saying I know I’m different, I know my music isn’t the typical country sound but I’m doing me. I’m blazing my own path on my own terms."

She comes by that attitude naturally. Lyrx — whose real name is Gabby Mooney — grew up in the tiny rural town of Natural Dam, Ark. She sang with her sister Erica and their brother Shay — who is now one-half of Dan + Shay — in church when they weren't doing chores on the family farm.

Lyrx has already made a name for herself as a songwriter in Nashville, writing with top writers including Shane McNally, Jeffrey Steele, Zac Maloy, Shay Mooney, Danny Orton and Benji Davis, among others. She's one of the co-writers on Walker Hayes' most recent single, "90's Country," and with "Take the Money," she's stepping into the spotlight on her own.

"Take the Money" is set for release on Friday (Jan. 11). For more information about LYRX, visit her official website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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