Around that same time, McKinley also lost his mother. Stealing dark from the night sky.ĬAMPBELL: John Prine died two years ago after being hospitalized for COVID. MCKINLEY: (Singing) And that's why we'll run from the shine of the sun. And everything else is kind of just extra. MCKINLEY: To get noticed and get on his radar, probably the biggest success for me. McKinley was the last artist the legend signed to his record label. The city's queen, and she holds me till the first sight of daylight.ĬAMPBELL: A few years ago, he caught the ear of John Prine.

MCKINLEY: (Singing) I sleep to dream in this old house, only wake for the night. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, 'STEALING DARK FROM THE NIGHT SKY') MCKINLEY: A lot of old country I listen to, but I also keep up with hip-hop and metal, punk music still. But McKinley says music of all kinds helped shape him. I think look a little like Bob Seger.ĬAMPBELL: In fact, he looks more like the kid who years ago played in punk and metal bands around his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. MCKINLEY: Just a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy, long hair and a beard and tattoos. His new album is called 'This Mess We're In.'ĪRLO MCKINLEY: (Singing) Goodbye never is the easy part.ĬHAD CAMPBELL, BYLINE: He sounds like a country singer, but Arlo McKinley doesn't necessarily look like one. In songs like 'I Don't Mind,' Arlo McKinley reflects on loss, addiction, self-forgiveness and navigating this post-pandemic world. (SOUNDBITE OF ARLO MCKINLEY'S 'I DON'T MIND')

Songs like fishing in the dark