Sam Barber has surprised fans with the release of not one, but two new EPs. The multi-platinum country artist has unveiled Outlier, a six-track collection released through Atlantic Outpost, before following it with an unexpected second release, Dyin’ Times, featuring four additional songs. Both projects are available now.
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Produced by Joe Becker, whose previous work with Barber includes Indigo and Straight and Narrow, the two EPs bring together ten new tracks and continue a remarkable year for the Missouri-born singer-songwriter. Barber recently took home the Breakthrough Country Artist award at the 2026 American Music Awards and is currently on his extensive The American Route Tour.
The paired releases offer another opportunity to explore Barber’s increasingly distinctive approach to country music, built around emotionally direct songwriting, reflective storytelling and an unvarnished vocal delivery. Outlier comprises the title track alongside If I May, Turn The Light Off, Good Faith, Northern Weeds and Settle In. The surprise companion EP, Dyin’ Times, adds Dark Sky, Yellow Diamonds and War to its title track.
The releases arrive following the success of Barber’s second studio album, Broken View, which came out earlier this year. Co-written and co-produced with Becker, the record also features additional songs co-produced with Aaron Dessner at Long Pond Studio. Its introspective writing explores love, loss and self-discovery, examining the complexities of life through Barber’s personal perspective.
Barber’s rise has been accompanied by a growing live following. Having progressed from selling out smaller clubs to performing at major venues, he has recently played two nights at New York’s Pier 17, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and made his sold-out headline debut at Red Rocks Amphitheatre over the summer. A concert film capturing the Red Rocks performance is also available to watch online.
Raised on a farm in southeast Missouri, Barber first began playing music as a teenager after picking up his great-grandfather’s Gibson guitar. That early connection to music has developed into a career built on independence and deeply personal material, earning him an international audience and more than 3.4 billion global streams. He is now based in Montana.
His 2024 debut album, Restless Mind, achieved RIAA Gold certification and established him as one of country music’s most compelling emerging voices. The double album features the 2x Platinum-certified Straight and Narrow and Platinum-certified Indigo, featuring Avery Anna. The latter has accumulated more than 828 million global streams and reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Barber has also shared stages with Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS Saturday Morning’s Saturday Sessions, and contributed Tear Us Apart to the soundtrack of the film Twisters.
With Outlier and Dyin’ Times, Barber adds ten new songs to an already prolific catalogue, giving listeners two connected collections that further demonstrate the breadth of his songwriting. As The American Route Tour continues, the releases provide a timely snapshot of an artist whose momentum shows little sign of slowing.
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