Midland brings traditional country back to radio

On a recent Saturday night backstage at the 125-year-old Ryman Auditorium, the members of the new country trio Midland have stacks of their debut album, “On the Rocks,’’ spread out around their dressing room waiting for their signatures. They also have about six kinds of liquor on the makeup table, including a bottle of tequila and a bowl of limes and lemons.

Cameron Duddy, 31, Jess Carson, 38, and Mark Wystrach, 37, not only sound retro, but they look the part too: shaggy hair and moustaches, denim with sewn-on patches, bespoke Western wear and vintage T-shirts.

Suddenly, the evening’s headliners, Little Big Town, burst into the dressing room. The fourpiece vocal group has come to congratulate Texas-based Midland on the success of their first single, “Drinkin’ Problem,’’ a George Strait-inspired song with a little “Urban Cowboy’’ flair. The song powered the trio to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s emerging artist chart, which ranks new artists.

Wystrach, Midland’s lead singer and former actor and model, isn’t having it. He shouts, “Hey! This is our time!’’ and wags a finger at the Grammy-winning vocal group. Little Big Town singer Karen Fairchild protests, “You’re hoarding all the drinks!’’

Before the interview was interrupted, the trio talked to The Associated Press about their modern traditionalist country music and invoking the sound of the genre’s past for a new generation of fans. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: Is this the right time for a traditional country album?

Duddy: This couldn’t have come out two years ago. I remember sitting there watching the CMAs and Chris Stapleton winning that year and it really felt like there was a sea change going on. “Drinkin’ Problem’’ was written two years ago and we’ve been sitting on that song since then. It’s really been a lesson in patience.

Carson: When we cut “Drinkin’ Problem,’’ it was a lofty idea that it would be played on radio, let alone be a No. 1 song. Personally I didn’t even dream that big.

Wystrach: The fact that it did go No. 1 and as fast as it did is a great indicator that there is a thirst for modern traditional or neo-traditional or however they are calling our music.