Eric Hagen - Accuse Me
Eric Hagen is a powerhouse in modern americana, bringing grit, soul, and storytelling to the stage with a voice that stops time. Based in the midwest, Hagen‘s sound is rooted in classic country, steeped in blues, and brushed with gospel depth — often described as if he wiretapped the soul of a timeless jukebox. His songs hum with the dust and ache of a well-traveled road, painting vivid portraits of heartache, hope, and the spaces in between.
From the haunting beauty of “Accuse Me,” praised by Glide Magazine as “moving soul meets twangy bliss,” to the aching honesty of “Americana Lonesome,” he delivers every lyric with conviction and cinematic depth. With a growing list of accolades, including multiple Josie Music Awards nominations, a midwest CMA nod for male vocalist of the year, and an unsigned only honorable mention — Hagen has earned recognition as one of the most compelling emerging voices in americana.
He's also a three-time international songwriting competition semi-finalist and a 2024 WAMI awards nominee. Hagen has shared the stage with artists such as Sunny Sweeney and Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3), holding his own with a stage presence as commanding as his vocals. Now signed to Young Outlaw Music - YOM, Eric Hagen is gearing up to release his highly anticipated album, Make Country Sad Again, with major distribution through Virgin / Universal Music Group.
With this release, he's not just carrying on the tradition of country heartbreak — he's redefining it. Eric Hagen presents the song ”Accuse Me.” ”I had finished recording drums for four songs on my last EP with the drummer I use. We were in the control room and I said that I thought I needed a 5th song. I had the chorus for something, but no verses. So, in the interest of simplicity, I suggested we just keep the same chord progression for the verses so we could record drums that night and I would come up with lyrics for the verses later.
We recorded the drums and a scratch track of my vocals and guitar. I really love old soul records and wanted to do something like that. Having horns and backing singers. I thought, what would it be like if Chris Stapleton sang a Marcus King tune and recorded it at STAX in Memphis? Accuse Me is what I came up with; Country Soul.
