The concept behind Chrome Horse Records was to develop songs that relate the truth in people’s lives.

The phrase “all you need for a country song is 3 chords and the truth” was famously coined by the songwriter Harlan Howard to describe the essence of country music.

The saying emphasizes that authentic, relatable storytelling, combined with a simple musical structure, is the key to a powerful country song. The three chords typically refer to the simple I-IV-V progression found in many folk and country songs, while “the truth” represents the honest, often emotional, lyrics about universal human experiences.

The chords: Refers to the simple, foundational chord progressions, like the I-IV-V (one-four-five) pattern, which are easy to play and form the backbone of countless songs.

The truth: Represents the honest, heartfelt lyrics that connect with listeners on an emotional level, often focusing on universal themes of love, loss, joy, and sorrow.

Harlan Howard: Was a highly successful country songwriter who wrote hits for artists like Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash and lived by this motto throughout his career.

Broader application: While originating in country music, the principle of simple structure and honest storytelling has been adopted by other genres as well. In the case of Chrome Horse Records we explain how and why emotions and instincts play such an important role in the honest story telling reflected in the songs.

Applying this method to Chrome Horse Records productions often means songs that reflect a “Gritty Roads and Shallow Hearts” understanding of life. Natural selection has provided us with emotions and instincts that are encoded in our DNA and greatly influence our behavior and decisions. Only traits that would have propelled the genes responsible for them through the generations in our ancestral social environment should, in theory, be part of human nature today; there has been no reason for every evolved behavioral tendency to fall under conscious control. In fact, sometimes it is emphatically not in our genetic interest to be aware of exactly what we are doing or why.