Most that know multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, and industry executive Chris Farren know him for one aspect of his career or another. In L.A., he was known as a writer/artist, and for his extensive work in writing and performing on jingles and film and tv projects. In Nashville, perhaps for his production of Deana Carter’s breakthrough hit album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, his 8 #1 singles as a writer, his discovery and signing of 3x BMI songwriter of the year Jeffrey Steele, 4x Billboard Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley and 4x GRAMMY® Award Winning rock band Kings of Leon, and 8x Christion ASCAP songwriter of the year Matthew West. Or, more recently, his parade of production and artist development on fast-rising stars Jameson Rogers, Corey Kent, and Kolby Cooper. Still, few realize the true level of success that’s come for Farren given his multifaceted nature - a direct result of his uncanny ability to balance his creative and analytical thinking, paired with an incomparable resilience and willingness to reinvent. “I take great pride in my versatility. I’ve been able to find some level of success in just about every aspect of the music business. I think that’s pretty unique.” 

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His enviable positioning as a leader on the forefront of Nashville’s sound always seemed destined, driven by both a love of music and an insatiable desire to work with those who create it. “From an early age, I didn’t know what to do if I wasn’t doing music.” Born in Washington, D.C., he started playing piano at age 5, and soon started practicing every instrument he could get his hands on. His upbringing in Maryland saw Farren helm several bands and, ultimately, see some small-town notoriety. That all changed, though, upon his move across the country to Los Angeles. “I had a rude awakening there. I’d been a big fish in a small pond for so long, and it was exactly the opposite in L.A.” 

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Though most venues in L.A. didn’t pay, Farren found a spot in Pasadena that enlisted him to play five nights a week - and paid him to do so. To supplement his modest income and meet new people, he took jobs singing, writing, performing, engineering and producing demos in his home studio for himself and other artists. His hustle paid off when Farren caught the ear of a guy that had built a career in singing jingles, and recommended he give it a try. “My first jingle was for GMAC trucks, and it paid like 100 bucks. The guy that commissioned the jingle called one day and said, ‘Great news - the jingle you sang just went final.’ I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but the result was a pretty large payout over the next year. I was hooked.” Farren quickly established a career in writing and recording jingles and music for film and TV that led to publishing and record deals - and, for a time, put him on a production roster with The Eagles. 

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Even with his mounting success, a pivot was on the horizon. “L.A., at the time, was pretty much all hair bands, which wasn’t me. My publisher, MCA, recommended I give Nashville a try - which didn’t feel like a natural fit at the time, but I knew how good the songwriting was, so I was up for it.” His first trip to Nashville came in 1988 and proved lucrative: Farren co-wrote eight songs on his first trip… And five got cut. He started traveling to Nashville more, his love of Music City growing with every trip. Back in LA, in the early 90’s, a chance encounter with songwriter Jeffrey Steele further cemented his path toward a move east. “Jeffrey and I were a few of the only ‘country guys’ in L.A. at the time.” Farren and Steele started working together a lot, and their work soon landed Steele’s band Boy Howdy a record deal. Farren produced and co-wrote all of Boy Howdy’s records, yielding 5 top 10 singles, while at the same time, he entered the publishing ring by signing Steele to his first writing deal. 

 

In 1995, he finally made the move to Nashville after being tapped by up-and-comer Deana Carter to produce her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs For This? “I was a bit of an anomaly at the time, living between LA and Nashville. I think that was part of what had some people interested in working with me initially. it opened some doors for me…” The album yielded three No. 1 songs, including the iconic “Strawberry Wine,” and the LP went on to sell 6 million copies. Along with his new production and songwriting success, his publishing company - Windswept Pacific - gave Farren the infrastructure and funding to start his own Nashville-based publishing company, and Combustion Music was born. Continuing to back his uncanny ability to dictate the next “big thing,” his first two signings were none other than now-60x No. 1 songwriter Ashley Gorley, and breakout indie rock outfit Kings of Leon. “Running a publishing company proved successful, and I really loved having a team to work with and a stable of writers to foster, so I shifted my focus away from my own artistry and more on nurturing theirs.” 

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Since Combustion’s establishment in 2001, Farren’s heart, hard work, and unwavering belief in those he’s employed and signed has paid off. Celebrating 20 years in 2021, the company also celebrated its 100th No. 1, continued success in artist development and production, and formally announced its move into the business of masters. Regardless of shape or form, the constant has been Farren’s “songwriter- and artist-first” approach, and his collaborative caring nature toward his staff - many of whom have been with Combustion for several years. “This isn’t just my company, it’s our company.” 

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That rare mindset, in partnership with his immense experience, has led to 110 No. 1 songs from a roster that includes writers like five-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Matthew West, “Cold Beer Calling My Name” co-writer Brett Tyler, and budding songwriters, Austin Goodloe and Sam Bergeson, multiple ASCAP and BMI Award wins, and the successful development of several acts (Sony Nashville’s Jameson Rodgers, BBR/Combustion’s Kolby Cooper, Sony/Combustion’s Corey Kent). 

Individually, Farren is producing both Rodgers and Kent (including the #1 smashes “Some Girls” and “Cold Beer,” and Kent’s “Wild As Her”), as well as the latest Combustion signings, Payton Smith and Faren Rachels. He has had his songs recorded by artists like The Backstreet Boys, Greg Allman, Michael McDonald, Air Supply, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Deana Carter, 98 Degrees, and Olivia Newton-John (to name a few), and has amassed an impressive lineup of awards, including 11 ASCAP Awards, six GRAMMY® nominations, and a CMA and ACM Award. 

“At my age, to have had my first No.1 30 years ago, and have another No. 1 just last week - it’s pretty special.” 

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Nonetheless, Combustion’s patriarch is quick to reaffirm the drive that’s taken him from ‘small town famous’ to a key voice in Music Row’s sound. “I’ve done this my whole life because I still love music, and those that create it. I love getting to use both sides of my brain to assist and champion all creatives - whether it be in a room writing and producing songs, or strategizing and promoting those songs and artists.” 

Farren’s deep love and heart for music has also translated into philanthropic endeavors, including his annual Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival on Elbow Cay, in the Bahamas. To date, the festival has raised over $1 million for the local community over the past 10 years by bringing some of the world’s best songwriters and artists to donate their time and talents - especially important when the island was decimated by hurricane Dorian in 2019. 

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“Hope Town is an incredibly beautiful place, but it still has plenty of need. I realized early on the importance of giving back to this place that has given me and my family so much. It’s been a very trying time for the people of these islands since hurricane Dorian, but I'm super grateful to all of my friends and countless supporters for helping us aid in that recovery in some way.”