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By Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

At just 16 years old, Lincoln County High School junior Damon Speigal is already making waves in the music world, balancing a budding career as a country musician with school and playing football. Speigal, who started playing drums at the age of 3, has steadily grown his musical talent, picking up the guitar by age 10 and beginning to sing and write songs at 13.

“I’ve always been involved with music,” Speigal shared. “When I was 14, I went to Nashville for the first time and recorded my first three songs. It’s been a great journey so far.”

Speigal credits his love for country music to his teenage years. Although he grew up surrounded by a family who listened to country, his personal music tastes leaned toward rock, inspired by his father. “I’ve always been a rock guy, listening to bands like AC/DC and Metallica,” he said. “But when I started singing country, I realized I could really connect with it.”

Finding inspiration in country and rock stars

Speigal draws inspiration from a mix of country and rock artists, including Hardy, Dylan Carmichael, and the legendary Montgomery Gentry. He hopes to follow in their footsteps by blending elements of hard rock into his country sound.

“Hardy’s ability to merge rock and country is something I really aspire to do,” Speigal explained. “He’s a big influence for me, along with artists like Aaron Lewis and classics like AC/DC.”

Balancing music, school and football

Speigal’s passion for music is balanced with the demands of school and playing on Lincoln County’s football team. “It can be tough coming home from practice exhausted and still finding the energy to pick up my guitar,” he admitted. “But I’ve learned that you can never stop practicing if you want to be successful.”

Despite the challenges, Speigal has experienced memorable moments in his young career. One of his favorite highlights was opening for the country band Little Texas in Somerset this past September. “That show was an amazing experience,” he said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Looking ahead

Speigal has ambitious goals for his future in music. “I want to be the biggest out there,” he said. “I’d love to tour the world and create music that people can relate to. Music has always been something that connects people, and I want to contribute to that.”

He is currently working on new material, though he admits to recently experiencing a creative block. “I’ve been bouncing ideas around and hope to get back to the studio soon,” he shared.

Support and advice

Speigal credits his family, friends, and the Lincoln County community for helping him along his journey. “I have the best support system, from my teachers to my grandparents,” he said. “The whole town has my back, and it’s incredible to have people cheering me on.”

As for advice for others pursuing their passions, Speigal offers simple but powerful encouragement: “Keep going. There will be days when you feel like quitting, but the rewards make it all worth it. God has a plan for everyone, and you just have to trust it.”

In addition to his solo career, Speigal also plays drums in a cover rock band called Heavy Holler. His latest single, from an upcoming EP titled Every Heart Has a Story, is set to be released at the start of the new year.