Marshfield, Mo. – Country trio DEK of Hearts, whose members include hometown singer Kollin Bailey, Emily Clapp and Dylan John, celebrated a major streaming breakthrough this month. Their latest single, “Pieces of Us,” released on October 23, quickly earned a spot on Spotify’s coveted “All New Country” editorial playlist and more than tripled the group’s monthly listeners.
Streaming success rooted in small‑town stories
“That’s our first time ever getting playlists at that level. It was a huge milestone for us,” Bailey said. “We’ve seen exponential growth in our streams – seriously thousands more streams than normal.” The track, co‑written with Callie Prince and BMI Icon Award‑winning songwriter Jeffrey Steele, reflects the trio’s shared small‑town upbringing, exploring nostalgia, past relationships and the memories people carry from their hometowns.
New holiday single offers a reflective take
Riding the momentum, DEK of Hearts turned its attention to the season with an original Christmas ballad titled “December’s Almost Over.” Unlike many upbeat holiday anthems, the acoustic‑driven song takes a somber, introspective tone. The idea originated from a songwriting assignment the members completed while attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.
“I was just writing about reflecting on the season,” John explained. “When people come home for Christmas, sometimes they’re super excited and doing really fun, festive things. And sometimes, like for people in my family, they’re remembering loved ones.” The trio hopes the song encourages listeners to pause amid the hectic holidays and cherish time with family.
Clapp added, “I’m reminded every time I go home that you never know how many more seasons you have with the people that you love. Songs like this one remind me that time is just so fleeting with the people that you love.”
First full‑band holiday tour announced
Both “Pieces of Us” and “December’s Almost Over” are now streaming on all major platforms. To bring the new music to fans, DEK of Hearts announced its first full‑band holiday tour, “DEK the Halls with DEK of Hearts.” The tour will make a local stop at the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon, Missouri, on Sunday, December 6. Ticket and tour information is available on the group’s website.
The trio’s success underscores how hometown talent can achieve national recognition while staying connected to their roots. Their story offers a hopeful example for other small‑town musicians seeking broader audiences.
Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.
