The recent Top 40/Dance song “The Middle” might be exactly what superstar singers Alan Jackson and George Strait railed about in their hit song “Murder on Music Row” a few years back about the Nashville, Tenn., music scene.
They lamented the demise of the traditional sounds of country music—the steel guitar and fiddles—as the sounds of the genre moved in a different direction, one certainly exemplified by “The Middle,” sung by country superstar Maren Morris.
Don’t get me wrong. “The Middle” is a dang good song. It’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to (let’s see who remembers that reference).
But here’s one thing Alan and George would agree with: Credit is due to the songwriters who toil in the backrooms and studios to write and produce the songs that make the whole world sing (OK, another cheesy reference). Even a couple of traditionalists like them would give a tip of the hat to the new Writers Studios at the iconic Hutton Hotel in Nashville’s Music Row district.
Photo credit: Huttonhotel.com
The new creative spaces yielded their first hit when record producer Zedd, singer Maren Morris and musical duo Grey met and worked together on “The Middle” in the Writers Studios.
The new spaces are quite inviting. As part of a recent multimillion-dollar renovation to the hotel, the fully outfitted rooms with state-of-the-art equipment each have a unique style. Working with interior design firm Studio 11, country singer Dierks Bentley, a 13-time Grammy nominee, influenced the West Studio with his Arizona background, incorporating Saltillo tile, a vintage Ouija board and layered Navajo area rugs. The second room, East Studio, has a more urban industrial loft feel that fits the style of OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.
These rooms are not just for show, as proven by the team behind “The Middle.” The fully functional space includes modern and retro gear including premium tube amps and handcrafted microphones. Bentley reportedly will also be doing some work in the studio.
“Both local and traveling musicians and writers absolutely love the rooms, not because they are so cool, but because they are comfortable, functional and have Hutton Hotel’s hospitality,” Adam Spivey (MPI Tennessee Chapter), director of sales for Hutton Hotel, told me ahead of my trip to the rejuvenated property. Sure, he works there, but that’s still high praise from MPI’s Mr. Cool himself.
Photo credit: Huttonhotel.com
So not only can professional musicians and songwriters utilize the space, but so can those of us who are aspiring novice songwriters with their upcoming Writers Retreats in 2019. A must-see is the rack of Martin and Gibson guitars available for use.
Don’t be surprised to see musicians and songwriters roaming the hotel, either. The design team at Studio 11 also influenced the new Analog, a 5,000-square-foot, 300-person entertainment venue for uniquely Nashville live music that was part of the hotel renovation. A color palette of eclectic jewel tones provides energy as well as contrast when the lights are lowered for a performer to hit the stage, further enlivening the intimate space.
There’s more, too. The hotel’s 250 guest rooms have been redesigned along with the lobby, which features an open layout including a music library, a curated art feature wall and access to the WestEnd Kitchen & Bar.
The hotel added a three-bedroom Hutton Suite, a two-level suite offering amenities such as a full kitchen, spacious living area with fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows and the bedrooms featuring European-style showers with full soaking tubs. The hotel’s two signature Penthouse suites are oversized one-bedroom accommodations that were updated with a new design and color palate of blue-grays, white marble and rich bamboo woods mirroring the residential feel that began in the hotel lobby.
Speaking of WestEnd Kitchen & Bar, this is one kitchen you need to try. Led by Executive Chef Nicholas Hertel, the menu features an international flair on traditional Southern cuisine. I tried the hushpuppies and smoked chicken wings for starters, then indulged in the West Ender, an angus burger with crispy onions and sharp cheddar cheese. One very nice aesthetic feature is the original reclaimed barn wood floor that was refinished during the renovation to preserve the Hutton character.
Photo credit: www.yelp.com
“Hutton Hotel Nashville is continuing to redefine how guests experience Music City,” says Jonathan Bartlett, the hotel’s general manager. “The combination of exceptional service, residential-style rooms, a music venue for displaying creativity, an inventive dining experience and the writing spaces for artists serve the needs of our lifelong clients and foster a new generation of Hutton fans who are seeking inspiration from their travel experiences.”
The renovation of Hutton Hotel comes as Nashville continues to impress as a meeting and event destination. While Nashville’s music scene and the home of the Grand Ole Opry makes it a strong leisure travel destination, meetings and events are driving much of the new growth.
At the beginning of the year there were more than 50 hotels under construction or in development in Nashville, driven in large part by convention business. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. reports that about 40 percent of the city’s visitors are convention attendees. Nashville is also within a day’s drive of more than 50 percent of the U.S. population, so it’s easily accessible.
It’s all about music in Nashville, and the renovation of the four-star Hutton Hotel has only amplified the connection. One can cross West End Ave. for a meal at the famed Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and scurry back to see a full moon rising from your hotel room, knowing tomorrow’s hits just might be coming out of the Writers Studios at the iconic Hutton Hotel.
That’s a song worth singing.
