Riley Green’s third album opens with some sage advice. On “That’s a Mistake,” a warm and tender track with ’90s Tim McGraw vibes, Green runs through a laundry list of minor miscalculations—forgetting to get an oil change, perpetually running late—before revealing the kind of misstep that leaves a lasting impression: a romantic one. It’s an understated opening to Green’s boldest release yet, one that finds the Alabama-born star pushing himself as both a songwriter and a vocalist. Standout tracks on the record, which follows 2023’s Ain’t My Last Rodeo, include “Turnin’ Dirt,” a laidback ode to blue-collar life, and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” an emotional duet with country singer-songwriter Ella Langley. The record wraps with the hit song “Worst Way,” a soulful solo write that shows off Green’s sultry side. Green wrote four of the album’s 18 tracks by himself, telling Apple Music that he’s unlocked a new level of artistry since reframing his approach to his songwriting process. “When I was a kid, I always thought [writing a song] was a lucky thing,” Green says. “You had those one-hit wonders, and to write a hit song seemed like, ‘Well, sometimes you just get lucky, or you get in the right room, or have the right idea.’ And when I started thinking about songwriting as something that you could get better at, like a skill, it really changed my whole mindset on it. It just motivated me to write better songs and write songs that people connect with.” Below, Green shares insight into several key tracks. “That’s a Mistake” “I grew up listening to a CD from front to back. I don't know that everybody does that anymore, but it's certainly a way I like to do it. And I always try to schedule my songs on my album for that reason. But it's just such an easy listen. I can remember when the song—it sounds like it ends. I didn't want it to end, and then it keeps going. And the whole time I was just into it. And it's tough, with a song that's kind of down or midtempo like that, to keep somebody's ear that whole time. But I just love that song and the vibe of it. And I thought that was a cool way to start the record off, and then, we bring it back down at the end.” “Turnin’ Dirt” “It's a strange thing when you cut outside songs, for me, because I haven't really done that a lot. I write so much of my own music. But I cut songs that sound like something I would write, that I just didn't write. ‘Turnin’ Dirt’ is one of those. It sounded like I wrote that song. People would argue with you that I wrote it, probably.” “Chip Off the Ol’ Block” “I love writing songs that are common sayings, especially Southern country sayings. So ‘Chip Off the Ol' Block’ is writing a song about my dad and the ways that we're similar, writing in a fun, lighthearted way. But I wanted to do it like The Band, Levon Helm, something kind of swampy. There's a song Lynyrd Skynyrd had called ‘Made in the Shade,’ and it is that kind of thing. So, I'm glad it came out that way and it's got a different feel than a lot of stuff I have, too.” “Don’t Mind If I Do” (feat. Ella Langley) “All the duets that I really loved growing up, you always wondered, ‘Is there something going on?’ or whatever. And I think, as a fan, you like for stuff to be true. When you hear a song, it's a love song, and that's what made George [Jones] and Tammy [Wynette] so big, I think, is that all their songs were about what was really going on. And then, when they split, George is still writing these lovesick heartbreak songs. So for me and Ella to have two songs we do that are doing that much, I'm sure there's a lot of rumors and speculation, but it's cool, man. It's cool to see people react and have emotion to something that you write. More than anything, that's what's enjoyable about it.”