A sound affectionately described as Country Soul, Warrick McZeke an native of Loris, South Carolina, experienced a path to Country Music that was unlike many others in the industry. Warrick, a graduate of Clemson University followed by a degree at North Carolina Central University that led to a career as a Speech Pathologist, always dreamed of singing, but never knew how.
That was until one night, June 29, 2017, “God spoke to me saying, ‘You should write a Country Music song.” And for whatever your spiritual beliefs, it’s hard not to see some kind of hand in the seemingly unrelated chain of events, circumstances, and coincidences that led an African-American Speech Pathologist to a career in Country Music.
As with many aspiring musicians, Warrick loved music as a child, but his aim was not the Country Charts. “I always wanted to be a R&B singer. I had dreams of being the next Brian McKnight or Usher.” However, those dreams would end once he enrolled at Clemson. Ironically it would be that enrollment that heightened his awareness of Country Music past, his only reference point of Reba McEntire, from her sitcom Reba.
Warrick’s freshman roommate from random selection was a guy by the name of Lee Brice. Lee would play Country tunes in their dorm, making Warrick more familiar with the genre. That was until Brice did not return for his second semester. Ten years later, Warrick would learn that it was Lee’s pursuit of a dream that led to him not returning to Clemson, once the two reconnected in Charleston, South Carolina, where Brice was playing a show.
Fast forward to 2017, Brice allowed Warrick to join him on stage at the Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where Warrick surprised Josie, his now wife singing Brice’s first song to radio, She Ain’t Right. Warrick dropped to one knee and asked Josie for her hand in marriage, with her reply of “I will absolutely marry you!” instead of the traditional Yes!
In addition to being overjoyed & newly engaged, Warrick got a taste of what it was like to perform for thousands of people. Those words and that feeling stuck with him.
Two weeks post CCMF Warrick and Josie were road tripping back from their friend’s wedding when a NASH Next commercial was heard asking do you have what it takes to be Nashville’s next Country Music Star. “I assumed it was going to be something similar to The Voice, where you sung other artists songs, but I read the official rules and found out you had to write your own song. So I quickly realized that I couldn’t participate.”
Then came that night in June. With God’s Spoken Word, a pen, paper, the kitchen table as a beat machine, and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, the story of Miss Absolutely was written to song. The iPhone recording was submitted to the competition and ultimately Warrick walked away as the 2017 NASH Next Charleston Regional Winner. He made the conscience decision to not continue to the next round of voting, opting to record the song as an independent artist.
Miss Absolutely was released March of 2019, which tells the ultimate love story of a boy finding the one, and from the opening line, “Have you ever met a girl, that made you lose your mind?” it’s a song for the ages. Warrick would follow this up with his debut EP entitled C’Mon. The title track, C’Mon, is sure to get you into party mode for the weekend! Car Man, a song paying homage to his dad whom Warrick credits for always keeping his vehicles in top running shape, takes you back to the good ol’ days of your tree mechanics that are able to fix anything. The restored 1986 Jeep Grand Wagonner pictured on the EP cover is compliments of his dad. Then there’s Told Ya So, because every album has to have a breakup song. This song helps us all relive our relationships that went wrong, especially when you were the last to realize…”I Told Ya So!”
The EP concludes with Thank You. Warrick adds, “The idea of this song came to light when I was leaving a Darius Rucker show in Charleston. It was pouring down rain, yet everyone was having a good time. Walking out there were people with trash bags over their heads saying, ‘That was so amazing!” and at that point, I said to myself that if I was ever truly blessed to live out my musical dream, I wanted to write a song to the fans thanking them for allowing a kid from Loris, South Carolina, to sing music, and for being a part of this journey. They could truly be anywhere else, yet taking in one of my shows or listening to my music is what they decided to do and for that I say Thank You!”
Excited for 2021 and all to come, Warrick released his latest single, Small Town in April, and simply adds, “Everyone has a Small Town story, so here’s mine!”