Based in the Midwest, his well-rooted sound rings with perplexing authenticity, suggesting he illegally phone-tapped into the wellspring at the heart of all timeless classics. Often praised for his powerful voice, he can infuse a modern story with gospel-like depth.

Hagen's music is a heartfelt ode to the timeless dance between joy and sorrow wrapped in the faded splendor of a bygone era. His performances are like vintage postcards, each one a snapshot of a wistful journey through a land where the echoes of heartache linger in the dusty corners of forgotten jukeboxes.

Make Country Sad Again is Eric Hagen leaning into the kind of country music that values songwriting over image and honesty over polish. Rooted in classic honky-tonk, country rock, and Americana, the album mixes sharp storytelling with a worn-in sound built around pedal steel, telecasters, and live-room energy. The songs focus on flawed people, complicated relationships, small-town restlessness, and the tension between tradition and modern country culture. Rather than chasing trends, Make Country Sad Again feels grounded in the spirit of the records that inspired it — direct, human, and unafraid to sit with uncomfortable emotions.

“Make Country Sad Again” was listed as one of anticipated albums of 2025 by Saving Country Music.

Recent Accolades:

2026 Midwest Country Music Organization Songwriter of the Year

2026 Midwest Country Music Awards Nominations: Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year
2025 Unsigned Only Music Awards Americana Song of Year Runner Up
2025 Josie Music Awards Nominee: Americana Song of the Year for Accuse Me
2025 Midwest Country Music Awards Nominations: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year & Americana Artist of the Year
2024 Winner Honorable Mention Unsigned Only Music Competition
2024 Josie Music Awards Nominations: EP of the Year, Male Country Vocalist of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Americana Song of the Year
2024 WAMI Awards Nominations: Country Song of the Year
2021, 2022 and 2023 International Songwriting Competition Semi Finalist

Hagen has opened for and shared the stage with acts such as country star Sunny Sweeney, rock legend Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) and Daniel Rey of the Gufs.