“You want to test your bones and see where they break,” he says, dropping one of the many bon mots that pepper his conversation. This is a man unflinchingly shining a light into some dark, uncomfortable corners of his psyche and bettering himself in the process. The title itself is reflective of his outlook on life - if LaRue has a mantra these days, it’s “keep moving forward.” His first album since 2015’s Us Time, Onward captures the husky-voiced singer looking not only ahead, but inward. LaRue highlights all facets of his complex persona on the inspiring new album Onward. He is a deft songwriter, informed traveler and self-aware philosopher, a troubadour who converses just as easily about Indian yogis and gurus as he does about Texas barbecue and dance halls. Over a nearly 20-year career, the Lone Star-born and Oklahoma-raised LaRue have transformed himself into an unlikely Renaissance man. Throw away any preconceived notions you might have about country singers - especially ones from Texas - because Stoney LaRue smashes them all.
