Nate Smith’s long-awaited new album California Gold is out now, and with it comes the vulnerable “Fix What You Didn’t Break”. This is no ballad, though, as Smith pairs an emotional message with big, crunchy guitars and an instantly catchy chorus. Smith tells Apple Music that, despite his quickly rising star, he cares most about connecting with other people through his music. “I'm always having to go back to my core identity of who I am and why I make music,” he says. “Is it touching lives at the end of the day? Is it reaching human beings? Are they going, ‘Oh my gosh, bro, your music's getting me through the darkest season of my life’?” This playlist tracks what’s happening from the heart of the country scene to its outer edges. Check back here early and often, and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.