Ansel Brown Marks His Return to Country with Gritty New Single
Country artist, storyteller, and creative force Ansel Brown has made a powerful return to music with the release of his latest single, “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me”.
Produced by longtime collaborator Cliff Downs, the track kicks off Brown’s next chapter with the drive, edge, and emotional punch that define his long-awaited new album, Gravity, arriving Fall 2025. The song is available for pre-save here.
Written by Jesse Labelle, Rob Crosby, Liz Hengber, and Ian Flannigan, “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me” is a mid-tempo track that leans into the push-pull of love that lingers — the kind that shows up after midnight, runs on memory, and fades with the sunrise.
“I chose to record ‘The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me’ because it’s real country storytelling — about how a heart never truly lets go,” says Brown. “It’s not just about drinking. It’s about remembering, about feeling, about still believing there’s a chance to be missed—even when the miles, or the mistakes, get in the way.”
“When I first heard it, it felt like it already knew my story,” he adds. “It’s a song for anyone who’s been loved, been left, and still believes that sometimes, love finds its way back — even if just for a night.”
With a voice steeped in soul and grit and lyrics drawn from a life fully lived, Ansel Brown’s music resonates with authenticity. Raised in a Navy family and born in Greenville, South Carolina, Brown’s early life was shaped by discipline, movement, and the healing power of music. From singing in the Hawaiian Children’s Choir to overcoming personal battles and ultimately earning a college degree with honors, his story is defined by resilience and an unshakable belief in second chances.
Ansel’s professional music career took off in the mid-2000s, landing him the MusicRow Discovery Award and a spot on the CMA “Who New to Watch” list with the release of You’re Just Smoke and its breakout single “Mine’s Bigger.” But just as his star began to rise, life interrupted: a battle with chronic A-Fib, a difficult divorce, and the heartbreak of supporting a son through a deeply challenging season. Through it all, Ansel found strength in faith, family, and songwriting.
“Gravity tried to hold me down. Life tried to break me. But I wasn’t broken — I was becoming,” he shares. “Every scar, every story, built the voice I bring back now — louder, stronger, and truer than ever.”
The decision to reunite with Cliff Downs, the producer who helped build the foundation of Brown’s early sound, was a natural one. Their renewed collaboration adds depth and perspective to this new body of work.
“This isn’t just another single for me — it’s a reflection of everything I’ve lived through to get here,” says Brown. “I’m not chasing trends. I’m making music that hits you straight in the chest.”
That ethos carries through Gravity, a bold and deeply personal album split into two EPs: The Rise and Falling Into Place. Songs like “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me,” “One Color,” and “Gravity Hill” off his upcoming EPs explore the pull of life’s defining moments, told with Brown’s signature blue-collar sincerity.
Beyond music, Ansel has built a multi-dimensional life. He invented one of the world’s first sifting litter boxes, founded a creative agency (nvisionative), and collaborated with NASA to write and perform at the final Space Shuttle events. He’s acted in indie films, written music for youth football programs, and championed veterans, children’s hospitals, and faith-based causes. He also creates content with his daughter, Sophia, on their YouTube channel, Seriously Sophia, and shares life with his wife, a Colombian-born ER CNA.
Now, with Gravity and the release of “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me,” Ansel Brown isn’t just returning to country music — he’s reclaiming it, on his terms.
To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here.
Never miss a story… Follow us on:
Instagram: @Maverick.mag
Twitter: @Maverick_mag
Facebook: Maverick Magazine
Media Contact
Editor, Maverick Magazine
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920
Email: editor@maverick-country.com
