If the intro to this record is a bloke listening to the radio in his car then surely Kashus Culpepper is tapping into something quintessentially American here. The car, after all, has seemingly both powered the country and been the place to listen to music in the US of A for generations.
Then there’s the very name itself. Let’s be real here, there aren’t many Culpeppers in Britain and fewer still who’d call their offspring Kashus.
His story feels just as all-American. The kind that makes you think the world might not be quite as horrible as the news cycle suggests. Culpepper realised he could sing in church when he was little, but it wasn’t until the pandemic – when he was in Europe with the US Navy – that he started taking it seriously. Posting videos online eventually led to one of those proper modern-day fairy-tale moments when Samuel L. Jackson shared one.
Fast forward to 2026 and Culpepper is already on the Grammys’ “ones to watch” lists. Elton John is a fan. John Mayer too. And now there’s this: “Act 1,” recorded in the hallowed surroundings of Muscle Shoals and featuring 18 songs, all co-written by Culpepper himself.
Opening track “Southern Man” is perfect. Soulful, bluesy and full of quiet pride. Here is a man who “came up from the holler, ain’t got a dollar,” but knows exactly where he belongs. The presence of Marcus King as a guest sets the tone early.
Elsewhere he proves just how naturally he can shift moods. The piano-tinkled “Alabama Beauty Green” is laid-back and reflective, building beautifully as it unfolds.
Elton John once said Culpepper sounded like Bill Withers singing country music, and it’s hard to argue when you hear the likes of “Woman.” It has that same warmth and humanity.
“Break Me Like” smooths over its pain with a gorgeous ease, while “Believe,” a co-write with Foy Vance, reveals a darker side to his voice and songwriting.
The strings that swell through “Stay” give it the feel of a soundtrack piece, while “Mean To Me” shows Culpepper’s real gift: writing choruses that linger long after the song ends.
“Broken Wing Bird,” a duet with Sierra Ferrell, is utterly timeless. Their voices meld together in a way that feels effortless.
At a moment’s notice he can flip into a soul dinger like “Better Weather,” before settling somewhere between the two styles on the mellow “That’s The Feeling.”
“Man Of His Word” is already racking up streams in the millions and carries a uniquely American feel, the kind of thing bands like X Ambassadors have built their reputation on. Meanwhile, country bands everywhere would kill for a crossover tune as smooth and assured as “In Her Eyes.”
“Is It True” deals in heartbreak, while the Spotify hit “After Me” stands as one of the album’s highlights as he notes, “she’ll be happy ever after me.” Maybe it’s even the same girl from “Is It True.”
What’s striking about all this is how fully formed it sounds. This is far more assured than your average debut. Songs like “Out Of My Mind” don’t just happen.
Likewise the fiddle line that lifts “House On A Hill,” giving it a lovely folky glow, while “Cherry Rose” feels like a late-night confessional – 3am, the world quiet, and he still can’t forget her even if he wanted to.
Look, you have your whole life to make your debut album. But there’s so much to be excited about on “Act 1” that Act 2 is already filed under “highly anticipated.”
RATING 9/10
