Wyatt Durrette (Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs) and Mel Washington share “Love Wins.”

“‘Love Wins.’ draws a line in the sand against hatred and bigotry, and the message couldn’t have been delivered in a timelier or more moving fashion.”

American Songwriter

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(AUGUST 19, 2020) The current political, social, COVID-oriented, climate is one of the most vocal, conflicted times this generation has ever experienced. Social distancing and self isolation have created new barriers in communication. What the world needs most right now is conversation; an honest dialogue that ignites positive change. Today, songwriters Wyatt Durrette and Mel Washington give listeners precisely that with “Love Wins.”

Love wins

Love mends

This ends right now

Love wins

Gotta lay down hate,

And let change begin

This ends right now

Love wins

“Love Wins.”, a collaborative effort from two of the music industry’s finest, offers the resounding affirmation that above all else, ‘love wins.’ Wyatt Durrette, who has written 14 #1 Country songs with the likes of Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs, and more, typically spends more time at the songwriting table than the stage. Mel Washington, born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, a former member of All Get Out, has been performing for almost two decades and is only 35. The two men came together in these tumultuous times to have a chat about everything going on. They listened, they spoke, and mostly they shared a great deal of respect for one another as artists and as human beings. Together, their discussions melded into the powerful anthem “Love Wins.”, which isn’t just a song, it’s a much needed piece of the bigger picture that will ultimately lead this world to a more unified place.

“The song was really birthed out of a conversation,” Washington explains. “We wanted to talk about what we’re all feeling without making it political, without yelling at one another, but really helping each other understand our experiences and our perspectives a little better.”

“At the end of the day, our goal is to spread the positive message that with all of the emotions that we feel, the thing that’s going to get us through this is love. We hope to communicate clearly and with passion that love wins.”

Durrette continues, “I believe right now we are all tired, scared, hurt, confused, mad and so ready for things to change. I also believe with all of my heart that if we all could try to lead with love, we can get to, and get through the conversations we need to have to invoke real, thoughtful, lasting change. LOVE WINS.”

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ABOUT MEL WASHINGTON:

Mel Washington, 35, was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. He’s been a singer songwriter since he was 18 years old and has played venues across the US and Europe. Mel has pursued his career relentlessly and without exception to his principles; he believes music to be profoundly healing and that it should be shared with an open heart and mind.

Aside from his talents on the stage, Mel is a gifted conversationalist able to get to the heart of any story through his emotional range and intelligence. His life experience has been marked by the usual trappings of a traveling musician, the charm of southern religion, and even a stint of homelessness. He brings a genuine warmth to conversation that evokes great storytelling from even a casual acquaintance.

Wyatt Durrette is an acclaimed singer/songwriter originally from Richmond, VA who now is based in the Charleston, SC area. Best known for his work with Luke Combs and Zac Brown Band, Wyatt’s songs have garnered a record-setting collection of hits. Most recently, Combs’ song “Beautiful Crazy” co-written by Wyatt, won the CMA Song of the Year, has gone 4X PLATINUM and sat at #1 for seven weeks. Luke Comb’s next single, “Even Though I’m Leaving”, was also co-written by Wyatt and topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart at #1.

In total, more than forty artist songwriting collaborations have led to 2 BILLION digital streams, 24 MILLION singles sold, 9 MILLION albums sold, 14 Numbers Ones and 17 Number Ones at Country & Rock Radio. Hot off the heels of a Grammy win for the Zac Brown Band as “Best New Artist,” the band made history as the first artist to achieve four #1 songs in a row from a debut album—all four of these songs co-written by Wyatt, including #1 platinum hits “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” as well as “Whatever It Is,” and “Highway 20 Ride.” His songs have since helped secure 8 GRAMMY Awards and countless nominations.

Wyatt has been presented with the incredible honor of the CMA Triple Play Award not once, but twice, as “Chicken Fried,” “Whatever It Is,” and “Toes” were all chart-topping hits within a twelve-month period, followed by “Highway 20 Ride,” “As She’s Walking Away,” and “Colder Weather.” Wyatt’s writing also led to GRAMMY and Academy Award nominations in 2010 for “Where the River Goes”, a song written for the motion Picture ​Footloose​. Furthermore, the song “Homegrown” co-written by Wyatt, was named Song of the Year by SESAC in 2015.