If country music has a superpower, it’s the ability to transform life’s hardest truths into something melodic, something we can hold onto when words alone don’t cut it. That’s exactly what rising country artist XOLEX accomplishes with her latest single, “Time Won’t,” a hauntingly honest reflection on the one thing we can never get back: time.
URL: https://www.xolex-official.com/
“ Time Won’t” is a masterclass in storytelling, blending contemporary country with pop’s melodic accessibility and a touch of rock-tinged grit. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter—who’s been steadily building momentum with tracks like “Ain’t Buyin’ It” and “Rebel Child”—turns inward on this one, delivering a song that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
“Being a songwriter, I wanted to write something that was laying heavy on my heart recently,” XOLEX shares. “When I was younger, everyone would always tell me ‘time flies.’ Now that I’m grown, that saying haunts me every day.” That sentiment forms the backbone of “Time Won’t,” which lands somewhere between the raw emotional weight of Kelsea Ballerini’s “What I Have” and the bittersweet nostalgia of Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me.”
The song opens with a delicate, atmospheric arrangement—just a simple acoustic guitar and XOLEX’s voice, rich with feeling. She sings, “Wish I could go back to 1997 / So I could see my grandma once again.” As the song progresses, the production (handled by Nashville vet Bobby Terry, who’s worked with Garth Brooks and Faith Hill) swells, building into a chorus that demands to be sung at full volume. The result? A track that hits like a gut punch but feels like a warm embrace at the same time.
XOLEX, born Alexis Curran, isn’t your typical country newcomer. She’s got a bit of that rebellious streak that makes artists like HARDY and Lainey Wilson so compelling, with a voice that carries the grit of Ashley McBryde but the mainstream appeal of Carrie Underwood. Raised in Chariton, Iowa, she cut her teeth on small-town life before making the leap to Nashville, where she’s been refining her sound—one that blends country storytelling with pop hooks and a rock-and-roll attitude.
Her music is as unfiltered as she is. XOLEX has been open about her struggles, from overcoming a toxic relationship to battling an autoimmune disease that left her physically drained during college. But through it all, she’s channeled those experiences into songs that connect on a deeper level. “No matter what, my energy speaks for itself, and I hope that people can feel that and connect with me through my music—to know they’re not alone,” she says.
With “Time Won’t,” XOLEX proves she’s not just another country up-and-comer—she’s an artist with something to say. This song is a reminder to slow down, be present, and appreciate the moments that matter. And if this track is any indication of what’s to come, XOLEX is well on her way to carving out a space alongside the genre’s most exciting new voices.
Chadwick Easton