Kristen Budde – “Drive” [Song Review]

“Drive,” the new single from country/Americana singer-songwriter Kristen Budde, is one of those creamy, shimmering, contagious songs that lures you in, and once there, you don’t want to leave.

Talking about “Drive,” Budde says, “Music, like driving, can be a great means of escape when life starts to feel a little too heavy. This song is about unapologetically moving toward a better future free from fear and regret.”

Co-written with Debbie Olson, the inspiration for the song appeared during a writing retreat with Greg McFaden, Grace Hunt, and Jennifer Bast, and was later modified by Budde and Olson.

Produced by Nicole Witt, “Drive” features the musical talents of Sol Philcox-Littlefield (guitar), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Grayson Wright (piano).

Budde arrived on the scene in 2022, releasing her debut single, “Come Sit Down at My Table.” In 2023, she dropped her debut EP, Begin Again, a collection of songs about fear, letting go, and living with passion.

Kristen Budde, photo by Karen Richard Photography

Opening on an emerging intro, “Drive” flows into an alluring melody, displaying a delicious pushing-lite rhythm and enchanting, gleaming-lite layers dipped in a swaying motion that’s at once warm and hypnotic. Budde’s voice, oh-so evocative, pulls you into the passenger’s seat and envelopes you in charming, velvety surfaces.

Moving atop an irresistible, graceful melody, “Drive” is a rarity, a song that approaches perfection and feels almost preordained.

Run Time: 3:28
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Record Label: Independent