Kashus Culpepper’s “Out of My Mind” Is a Southern Storm You Won’t Forget

Alabama-born singer-songwriter Kashus Culpepper returns with his latest single, “Out of My Mind,” a track that feels like stepping into the heat of a Southern summer storm—turbulent, raw, and deeply soulful. Culpepper, known for his gritty, gravel-tinged voice, channels the South’s musical traditions with a sound that’s equal parts country, blues, and swamp rock, but it’s his authenticity that sets him apart. His newest release is no exception, offering a haunting journey through heartbreak that’s bound to resonate long after the final note fades.

Credit: Cole Calfee

Written by Culpepper alongside Brian Elmquist, the co-producer and creative force behind The Lone Bellow, “Out of My Mind” unfolds like a late-night confession. The song is a slow-burn, drenched in the kind of pain that only heartache and regret can conjure. It kicks off with a sludgy, almost grimy thump, as Culpepper’s growl tells a story of loss and longing—about a love that left, a man alone in the pine woods of the South, trying desperately to move on.

The song’s lyrics dive into the aftermath of a relationship torn apart by unresolved questions and missteps. There’s a poignant simplicity in lines like, “Did a girl text my phone? / Did I stay out way too long? / I guess I’ll never know,” which capture the confusion and self-blame that often accompany breakups. As the track progresses, the listener is drawn deeper into Culpepper’s emotional unraveling, marked by nights spent drinking and dancing in a futile attempt to forget a love that won’t let go. The refrain, “’Til you out of my mind,” becomes a mantra, equal parts resignation and defiance.

What makes “Out of My Mind” so compelling is not just the lyrical content but how the music itself reflects the emotional rollercoaster of the song. The arrangement is a masterclass in dynamics—one moment you're swept into the murky depths of heartache, the next you're lifted by a delicate banjo pluck, suggesting a flicker of hope. Just when you think there’s a chance for recovery,

Culpepper plunges back into the song’s brooding, swamp-tinged swagger.

Vocally, Culpepper is a force. His voice, husky and rugged, carries the weight of every story he tells, giving the song a lived-in, almost weathered feel. It’s that voice—raw, unfiltered, and unmistakably Southern—that distinguishes him from the pack. There’s a gritty realism to his performance, a sense that Culpepper has lived every word he sings, which is precisely what makes this song so captivating.

Beyond the heartbreak, there’s a universality in “Out of My Mind” that will strike a chord with anyone who’s tried—and failed—to shake off memories of a past love. It’s a story of wanting to forget but being unable to, of the haunting power of nostalgia and the pain of holding on to something that’s long gone.

In a landscape of polished pop-country, Kashus Culpepper’s brand of raw, soulful storytelling is a refreshing throwback to the kind of music that feels deeply personal and steeped in tradition. “Out of My Mind” proves that he’s not just another artist with a Southern drawl—he’s a student of the South’s musical history, a purveyor of its heart and soul. And with this release,

Culpepper firmly cements himself as an artist to watch, one whose star is rising and whose stories are as timeless as the South itself.

If this single is any indication, Culpepper’s rocketship to stardom is about to take off—and you won’t want to miss it.