Canadian country artist Mitch Zorn is drawing on his small-town upbringing and return to the oil patch for “Nowhere Town,” a new single that brings a grittier rock edge to his country sound.

Released Aug. 7 through 604 Records, the track was co-written and produced by Aaron Gillespie, drummer and vocalist of Underoath. It arrived two days before Zorn’s Aug. 9 performance at the Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Ontario.

The idea for “Nowhere Town” emerged when Gillespie asked Zorn where he was from during a writing session. Zorn’s answer sparked a conversation about growing up in Nakusp, British Columbia, and how a place that might seem insignificant to outsiders can shape the people who call it home.

“When Aaron asked where I was from, I kind of laughed and said, ‘Just some nowhere town in British Columbia,’” Zorn said. “But the more we talked about it, the more I realized there’s nothing ‘nowhere’ about a place that made you who you are. Going back to work in the oil patch gave me a lot of time to think about the music I want to make, and this song feels like the start of that – simple, loud and honest country music for people who work hard and are proud of where they come from.”

The phrase became the foundation for a song built around memories of family land, gravel roads and working through the week to make a living.

Zorn’s return to the oil patch also influenced the direction of his new material. Time away from the day-to-day demands of music gave him room to consider what he wanted to make next, leading to songs that are louder, simpler and more direct.

Raised in Nakusp and now based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Zorn spent four years living and working in Texas and Tennessee before returning to Canada. His time in the United States helped shape the combination of country and rock influences heard throughout his music.

“Nowhere Town” follows Zorn’s debut EP, released through 604 Records in June 2025. According to the label, the project has surpassed 5.6 million streams.

The EP includes “Stray Bullet,” which has accumulated more than 1.6 million streams and combines country with pop-punk influences.

Zorn has also spent the past year touring in support of artists including Jess Moskaluke, James Barker Band and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

His Boots and Hearts appearance came during the same weekend as the release of “Nowhere Town,” marking one of the first opportunities for Zorn to bring the latest chapter of his country-rock sound to a festival audience.